I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 13

“Ugh, I’m so tired. Why was today so long?”

I just want to see Fleur.

Dealing with employers is exhausting. Ah, it’s draining my energy.

No, seriously. If someone calls you over, they should lead the conversation themselves. Why make me do all the talking? Sigh. I really thought I was going to age rapidly.

Thanks to that, I ended up saying so many pointless things. A complete rambling fest. Ah, I want to dig a hole and hide in it.

‘But why didn’t he find fault with anything for once?’

Did the loneliness of being a manager suddenly hit him and he needed someone to comfort him?

‘A conversation partner, perhaps?’

No way. That can’t be it. Today must have just been special. He’s a busy man, after all.

‘Or maybe my reaction to receiving the bonus today was too lukewarm?’

Every time I tried to get up, he’d stop me, and every time I tried to leave, he’d hold me back. It was really strange.

I barely managed to end the conversation by using the excuse that I was worried Fleur might have woken up.

‘Next time I receive a bonus, I should make sure to show a clear reaction.’

* * *

“Young master~ How does it look?”

I showed Fleur my hair decorated with the hairpin I received as a bonus from Morgan yesterday.

It felt like a small galaxy was spreading across my head.

I really liked how the hairpin sparkled even more when placed in my hair.

“Pretty. Marisselle is pretty no matter what she does.”

“Aww~! Thank you, young master~”

I hugged Fleur tightly and gently swayed him left and right in my arms.

Fleur really loves being held like this.

We made a promise. To only hug like this when we’re alone together.

If anyone else found out, it would be shocking. Especially if Morgan found out, he might have a fit.

How dare I treat the Duke’s Household heir so rudely, like treating a subordinate.

“His Grace the Duke gave this to me as a gift. It’s all thanks to you, young master.”

“Why? Thanks to me?”

“Well…, because you started speaking. He was happy about that and gave me this gift. You should be the one receiving the gift, young master. But I received it instead. I want to give you a gift too, young master. What would you like?”

Fleur’s eyes sparkled brightly at the word “gift.”

I don’t know how far his imagination was soaring, but it seemed to go quite far as his face kept changing from bright to cloudy in a flurry.

“Young master, you don’t have to tell me right now. You can think about it thoroughly and tell me later.”

“Okay. Then I’ll tell you later.”

Freed from his worries, Fleur looked much more comfortable. I feel elated seeing that peaceful face.

“Um, young master, is there perhaps a gift you’d like to receive from your uncle too?”

“…A gift?”

Fleur lowered his head and murmured quietly.

Unlike before, his eyes drooped and wrinkles formed between his brows, making him look deeply troubled.

Even after quite some time passed, his tightly pressed lips showed no sign of opening.

“Is it because you don’t know what you’d like to receive from your uncle? Or is it because you think he won’t listen even if you ask?”

“…”

Is it difficult to say? I should rephrase the question.

“Number 1. There is a gift you’d like to receive from your uncle. If that’s right, nod your head. How about it?”

Fleur nodded his head.

“Number 2. You’ve never asked for what you wanted and received it, so you’re scared to speak up. If that’s right, nod your head. If not, shake your head.”

Fleur nodded his head again this time too. My guess was correct.

He wanted to get along well with his uncle, but he was instinctively afraid that if he made a request and got rejected, the hurt would be great.

The pain of disappointment is proportional to the size of one’s expectations, after all.

It broke my heart that at such a young age, he already understood the magnitude of disappointment so well.

A child should be childlike, filled with hope rather than disappointment, naturally looking forward with anticipation.

‘Fleur. I’ll definitely make your wish come true.’

“Young master… Uncle Morgan, you see, cares for you very much. And your uncle is different from your mom and dad. Ah! I don’t mean your parents were bad, but that he thinks differently. As proof, your uncle even allowed you to make cookies. How about it? Doesn’t that seem different?”

Fleur fell into thought for a moment, then soon blinked his big, clear eyes and nodded his head.

“Now, shall we talk about it?”

After a moment of silence, Fleur made a determined expression as if he had made up his mind.

“…I want to go on a picnic with Uncle.”

Gasp!

A picnic? With Uncle? This difficulty level is way too high?

That busy man’s most precious commodity would be time…

This was troubling. The difficulty was at high level from the start. What should I do…

After making such bold promises, I couldn’t disappoint the child again.

‘The weight on my shoulders is heavy…’

“Young Master, since we need to coordinate with Uncle’s schedule, shall we go talk to Uncle together later? If you ask him directly, Uncle will gladly make time. But since he’s a busy person, we might have to wait a bit.”

The shadow lifted from the child’s face and hope bloomed.

‘Ugh, so cute.’

I want to protect that smile somehow.

‘Boss. I’ll be seeing you again soon. Sigh.’

* * *

I finally received my salary.

Now I could treat Porel, Mary, Jeffrey, and Abilene.

“For a company dinner, pork belly and soju would be perfect!”

‘Pork belly… what a shame. Such a shame…’

Wait- even if soju isn’t available here, grilling pork belly might be possible, right?

I could put a grill over charcoal in the kitchen or outdoors. Even if there’s no substitute for ssamjang, I could probably manage to gather side ingredients like oil sauce and vegetables, right?

It would be a good memory if Fleur joined us for grilling too. For drinks, I’ll adjust to Fleur and serve juice.

Hmm- a barbecue party, that’s not a bad idea?

‘I should go see Jeffrey.’

Marisselle left Fleur’s room as he had just fallen asleep for his nap and headed to the kitchen.

“Chef Jeffrey~ How have you been?”

The kitchen always smelled warm and delicious whenever I came here.

Jeffrey stopped chopping vegetables and turned his head at the familiar and welcome voice.

“Oh my, the nanny has come. Of course. I’ve been doing very well thanks to you, Nanny.”

“You’re too kind saying it’s thanks to me. I don’t know where to put myself. Hohoho.”

“Oh my! Nanny!”

Abilene also saw Marisselle, stopped what she was doing, and ran over in one stride.

“Abilene, you’ve been well too, right?”

“Of course, Nanny. Strangely, many good things have happened since then. I think you’re someone who brings fortune to the Duke’s Household. Other people are also saying that the atmosphere in the Duke’s Household has completely changed from before.”

“…Really?”

Marisselle was momentarily bewildered by the unexpected news.

‘The atmosphere changed because I came? And for the better?’

“That’s right. Everyone says as a greeting that since you came, the Duke’s Household has regained vitality like a place where people actually live. Ah! Is this expression too rude?”

Jeffrey worried that he might have spoken too freely about what the servants usually discussed casually among themselves, since he was comfortable with Marisselle.

“Oh, no. When I first came to the Duke’s Household, I also felt it was so bleak that I wondered if people actually lived here, so don’t worry about it.”

Marisselle waved her hands dismissively, saying it was nothing to worry about. Only then did Jeffrey breathe a sigh of relief.

‘As expected… the nanny is special.’

“Nanny…, but what brings you to the kitchen…”

Jeffrey asked with a much more relaxed expression.

“Ah! The reason for today’s visit is that I have some inquiries, suggestions, and wanted to hear your expert opinion. Hohoho.”

Marisselle remembered her original purpose for visiting and couldn’t help but smile.

“I finally received my salary. So I want to have a small party with our cookie gang of six, but it’s something rather unusual, so I need Jeffrey’s help.”

“If it’s something I can help with, I’ll help with anything. Please tell me.”

Jeffrey’s eyes sparkled, caught by the word “unusual.”

“I need quite a lot of thick bacon. I’ll be grilling it over charcoal, so I need charcoal too.”

“Thick bacon, you say? How thick should it be?”

“Hmm…, about this much?”

Marisselle showed him a size of about 1cm with her fingers.

“Ah…, that’s possible. Don’t you need anything else?”

“Of course there is…!”

Marisselle explained in detail with a mischievous expression the additional necessary items: grilling grates, kitchen scissors, meat tongs, ingredients for making sauce, and vegetables.

After listening to everything, Jeffrey scratched his head and said:

“I have no idea what you’re planning to do, Miss. But I’ll try my best to prepare the ingredients you mentioned.”

“Thank you, Jeffrey. Just prepare the ingredients and I’ll take care of everything else, so please just enjoy the food.”

Since Jeffrey had joined the Duke’s Household as a cook, all food had gone through his hands, so he had never thought about someone else cooking for him.

But a meat party? And having a noble young lady take charge of hosting it was a first in his lifetime.

He had already experienced something special once. But seeing Marisselle planning another special event so soon after made her seem truly unique to Jeffrey.

Moreover, Marisselle didn’t look down on or despise commoners.

To Jeffrey, she was a special person in many ways.

“Heh heh heh. Living this long, days like this come around quite often. Then it’ll be important to pick a day when everyone can gather together.”

“I’ll talk to Butler Porel about that and gather everyone’s opinions.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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