How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

‘Should I choose one among the knights of Ajas?’ I let out a sigh as I thought back to the faces of Ajas’ knights I knew. ‘Even if you have good skills as a knight, that doesn’t mean you have outstanding abilities as a teacher.’ ‘I can’t ask Alex to come north and leave the Knights Templar.’ No, before that, my brother wasn’t the type of person to teach anyone. He taught me self-defense, but he ended up giving me a big bruise on my arm and got a big scolding from my parents. ‘Choose among the vassals? No. What if those people do something stupid again?’ In the book, even though Noah became the Marquis, weren’t there quite a few people who were not loyal? I just couldn’t trust them. Speaking of people I can trust in the opposite sex, my bodyguards and…..ah! ‘Should I ask him?’ As if he knew I was thinking that, Lucius knocked on the door and came in, informing me that someone had come from the Hiyela Gate. “The master has sent a letter to you and the Young Master.” “Letter?” Lucius handed me a letter, then handed Noah a letter. There was no surprise or unexpectedness in Noah’s face as he put down the photo he was holding and received the letter. My heart was touched by Noah’s attitude as he received the letter as if it were a given. ‘That child, who couldn’t even imagine receiving a letter from his father,…’ I had a feeling that something wasn’t going well between the two of them, but it seemed that was Leonhard’s delusion. I thought about correcting him but decided to keep my mouth shut. ‘He should try harder if he knows that Noah is still keeping his distance from him.’ ‘Besides, this isn’t something that other people usually tell you. How proud would you be the moment you realize that fact yourself?’ I opened his letter, imagining what kind of expression Leonhard would have on his face at that moment. And then I saw something very shocking written inside. “What? He is going to close the dungeon?” “What do you mean, Ma’am?” “My husband went to close the dungeon outside the Hiyella Gate.” ‘But he talks about closing the dungeon like he’s going on a business trip?’ I looked at Lucius, wondering if it was something serious, and fortunately or unfortunately, he also had a puzzled look on his face. “He is going to close the dungeon?…When?” “From what it says, it seems like he has already departed.…?” “What?” “And…” I blinked and checked the contents of the letter two or three times. “He wants to get married as soon as he gets back…” It’s a good thing we’re already married. If not, it’s a death flag, a death flag! “Marriage? Right now? When exactly is His Highness talking about?” “I don’t know. How long does it usually take to close a dungeon?” But Lucius didn’t seem to know either. Let’s look for someone who seems to know well. Leona and Ethan exchanged glances and made puzzled expressions. “As far as I know, it takes about a month on average to close a dungeon. However, since His Highness has personally visited, it shouldn’t take longer than a month.” “Maybe three weeks… No, it doesn’t take that long, maybe a week…” It seemed like no one thought it was impossible because he was Marquis Ajas. As if Lucius did not doubt that Leonhard would close the dungeon and come back so quickly, he took out his pocket watch in a hurry. “Of course, I’ve been preparing this and that, but it’s impossible to have a wedding in two weeks.…Ah, why didn’t he tell me? Ma’am, I’ll just step aside.” “Uh…Okay, go away.” “What should I look into first? No, it would be better to postpone the wedding date, no matter what the master says.…” Muttering to himself, Lucius’ steps were very fast as he walked outside. He usually comes and goes quietly, but seeing him making footsteps makes me think he’s really panicked. It felt like a huge storm had swept through. I quietly read Leonhard’s letter and asked Noah. “Noah. What did your father write in the letter?” Noah, who had finished reading the letter, answered with a slightly bewildered expression, just like me. “If he closes the dungeon and comes back, He will be the one who taught me about the military.” “Really? I was thinking of asking your father anyway!” The person I was thinking of was Leonhard. I could trust him with Noah without any worries. I was very happy that he and I had the same thoughts, but I was even happier that he, who had been hesitating and taking a step back from Noah, reached out to Noah first. “That’s great, your father will definitely teach you well, aren’t you looking forward to it, Noah?” “Yes.” After patting the child’s head as he smiled brightly, I took out a piece of paper to write a reply. “Noah. Let’s take some more pictures. I’ll send them to your uncle and aunt. Oh, while we’re at it, I should send them to my older brother too.” I asked Leona to take a picture of me and Noah. I took 4 pictures. I was going to send three of them to my sister and brothers, and one to Leonhard. ‘It seems like he has already set off for the dungeon….’ ‘The back footer might follow him for something like supplies. Or he can close the dungeon and come out to see it.’ [Leonhard Ajas, to my only husband.] At first, it felt awkward to write “husband,” but now I’m quite used to it. I wrote a letter to Leonhard, thinking of him sleeping soundly with his arms out to me. [I don’t know why you suddenly thought of closing the dungeon, but you’re not doing anything dangerous, right? If you come back injured, I’ll nag you a lot. And this is a picture taken with a magic tool that my sister invented recently. You can think of it as a portrait that is created in an instant using magic. I’ll send you a picture of Noah and me, so look at our picture and cheer up, and don’t go to dangerous places. At least for the sake of your wife and son who will be very sad if something goes wrong.] ‘Um…Come to think of it, isn’t looking at pictures of your wife and son in a dangerous place also a death flag?’ I was wondering if I should send this, but I decided to just send it because I was worried that the world’s greatest Marquis Ajas would be flagged for death. [I’ll be preparing well for the wedding. We will do that as soon as you get back, so just take care of yourself. Okay? Don’t worry about Noah, I’ll take good care of him. Just worry about yourself. I’ll be very sad if you get hurt. Right. You said you were going to teach Noah about the military when you got back? I was going to ask you to do that too, but we must have connected. We’re a married couple.] I continued writing the letter, chewing on those words that were nothing new and caressing my cheeks that had turned red for no reason. [We arrived at Ajas Castle in the winter and it’s already spring, but I think the real Ajas life will begin when you return to the castle. That’s when you and our entire family will gather. At that time, I can use the bedroom on the fifth floor, right? I’ll tell them to clean it well, so come back quickly and safely.] As I was writing the letter, I suddenly wanted to say, “I love you.” But that’s not something I can say. Timing is timing, but I wanted to say that directly to his face, not by writing it down on paper. So I ended the letter with another word instead of ‘I love you’. [I think I’m going to miss you every day until you come home. So come back soon before I run after you because I miss you. I’ll be waiting for you. Your only wife, Raenel Ajas.] After rereading the letter from the beginning, I realized that I had told him to come back safely too many times. But I thought it would be a good thing if Leonhard felt burdened by it, so I folded the paper and put it in an envelope. Along with the photo I took with Noah. “Noah, have you finished replying?” “No, not yet.” “Take your time. I still have a lot to write.” After stroking Noah’s hair as he held the quill pen tightly in his small hands, I took out a new piece of paper. ‘First, I’ll reply to Lily and Alex.….’ I should send a letter to my older brother, too. Along with a picture of Noah. If my family loved me, I’m sure they would love Noah too. I wanted Noah to be loved by many people. It wasn’t because Noah, who couldn’t do that in the book I read, became the villain. This child deserved to be loved. There is no particular reason. Because children are inherently worthy of being loved. [To my beloved sister Lily. I received the letter you gave me. And the camera you sent with it. You said it would be difficult, but you finally made it. I knew you could do it.You’re a genius magic toolmaker. I took a picture of Noah and me with the camera you sent me. I was actually planning on sending a portrait, but I thought it would be more meaningful to send you the pictures I took with the camera you sent me. Sister, isn’t your first niece cute? He’s even cuter in person. I want to introduce him to you soon, but it’s too bad you’re so busy. If Clover Magic Tool Company opens a branch, I did not forget to suggest that the first one be in Ajas Castle. Of course, I was going to invest. Since I also have a stake in Clover Magic Tool Company as the idea provider. I also did not forget to ask about Benjamin’s well-being. I also want to meet my first nephew soon and I can’t wait to meet my older brother. If he has a handsome face and decent qualifications, why doesn’t he have a fiancée? As expected, my only hope was my sister.] I also wrote a note to my older brother asking him to send me an invitation when the wedding date was set. It was like my first declaration that I would put aside my husband and son and rush to the wedding. [You said you weren’t relieved because you didn’t see me in person, but you really don’t need to worry about me. I’m doing very well here. I think I’ll be doing better in the future. It’s not an empty word. but even as I write this letter, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It will be even more so when the one I love comes home.] The corners of my mouth were already twitching with excitement. I couldn’t hold it in, even though I tried to hold it in. If I take a picture of my face now and send it to her, Lily won’t have to worry about me anymore. I hoped that my excitement would be expressed in the letter, and I ended my letter with a short phrase. [Until the day we meet again, I hope you stay healthy, peaceful, and happy. With love. Raenel Ajas.] * * *