I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

Marisselle’s atmosphere was quite different from usual. Morgan was momentarily startled.

 

The woman he held in his heart was narrowing her eyes, and it strangely made him nervous.

 

What words would come out of that small mouth…

 

‘…?’

 

But the words that seemed ready to burst out any moment couldn’t escape her small mouth.

 

Her cute lips repeatedly pursed and relaxed, like a flower bud hesitating whether to bloom or not.

 

Pfft.

 

Morgan couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

 

How could even something like this look so pretty.

 

He thought he wanted to press those rosy lips with his finger.

 

But he couldn’t put it into action. If he acted rashly, Marisselle might feel burdened and distance herself from him.

 

“What are you worrying about so much. How about stopping the worrying and just talking?”

 

“…!”

 

Then Marisselle looked up as if surprised.

 

‘Hah. This is dangerous in its own way.’

 

Morgan swept his face with one hand and gathered his composure.

 

And looking down at Marisselle intently, he asked gently.

 

“Do you need more time?”

 

“N-no…”

 

Marisselle let out a short breath at Morgan’s gentle words and spoke with a motherly expression.

 

“Your Highness…? You want the young master, who is your heir, to grow up as a person full of confidence, don’t you?”

 

‘What grand introduction is she planning to say…’

 

Morgan found Marisselle’s expression amusing, but her opening words were also quite intriguing.

 

“Of course.”

 

Crossing his arms with an expression that said she was asking something obvious, Morgan looked down at Marisselle.

 

‘He took the bait. Good.’

 

Marisselle thought Morgan had taken the bait and pushed forward more boldly with her next words.

 

“Then, I recommend that you lose to him subtly, without making it too obvious.”

 

His face slowly contorted.

 

“Are you telling me to lose dishonorably right now? Do you know how humiliating that is for a knight?”

 

“Of course I know. But Your Highness, the young master is only six years old, just a sprout. A sprout needs hope that they can surpass someone they admire. Not a knight’s honor.”

 

Then Morgan’s expression became even more distorted.

 

To lose on purpose. It was the first such request he’d ever received in his life. Even when he was six years old, he had never heard such words. It was a truly shocking request for Morgan.

 

Marisselle felt like she had hit a wall seeing him more shocked than she expected. And on one hand, she felt a little annoyed.

 

To her eyes, chivalry seemed like an excuse.

 

She had clearly seen the corners of his mouth barely rising every time he won a game, yet here he was, acting all innocent and talking about chivalry.

 

“Your Highness, this isn’t a sword competition, it’s just playing with a child. It’s the kind of play where it’s virtuous for adults to tactfully lose by a narrow margin. How about you consider it?”

 

‘Consider it…?’

 

He unconsciously flinched at Marisselle’s serious expression and tone.

 

Come to think of it, as Marisselle said, this wasn’t swordsmanship but a game. It didn’t seem right to invoke chivalry over a game.

 

“Ahem… Well, to consider something like this… Fine.”

 

When Morgan accepted with an awkward expression as if embarrassed, Marisselle immediately responded, worried he might change his mind.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness. That’s truly an excellent choice.”

 

Then she smiled with her eyes half-closed.

 

‘Hah. This is driving me crazy.’

 

Just looking at her quietly made his heart flutter, but those violet eyes with that jewel-like eye smile.

 

After confirming his feelings, it was hard to maintain his composure whenever he stood before Marisselle.

 

A woman with a face that anyone would fall for and who stimulated protective instincts.

 

On top of that, that eye smile was like pouring oil on a fire.

 

‘If she showed that smile to another guy…’

 

Just the thought made him feel unpleasant. Would someone who looked pretty to his eyes look different to other people’s eyes?

 

Morgan was suddenly struck by anxiety.

 

“You. Don’t smile like that anymore.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Marisselle looked up at Morgan like someone struck by lightning from a clear sky.

 

‘What’s he talking about out of nowhere?’

 

Marisselle thought he was just finding fault for no reason.

 

“….”

 

‘Wait. No. Could it be… was my smile that strange?’

 

But even so, there’s no need to say it with such a serious face, right?’

 

When Marisselle reached the conclusion that there might be something wrong with her smile, embarrassment took precedence.

 

“Ahem. …I, I’ll be careful.”

 

Though Marisselle had some doubts, she quickly composed her emotions since Fleur was waiting.

 

‘But it does feel oddly uncomfortable.’

 

“Ahem! If you have nothing more to say, go.”

 

Morgan was also embarrassed and cautious about adding his true feelings, so he ended the situation with an awkward cough.

 

‘She said she’d be careful, so that should be enough…’

 

“Yes… I don’t. Your Highness. Let’s go.”

 

Morgan took the first step toward where Fleur was.

 

When Fleur heard footsteps approaching, he immediately composed his expression as if he had never been crying.

 

But he couldn’t hide the redness around his eyes.

 

Seeing Fleur’s eyes, Marisselle felt upset and secretly glared at Morgan once.

 

With a feeling of ‘You’re the one who made my child cry?’

 

Sensing her gaze, Morgan considered looking at Marisselle, but decided to pretend not to notice her cute glare.

 

“Young master, shall we resume the game now?”

 

Meanwhile, Fleur seemed to have renewed his resolve, his eyes sparkling with determination.

 

“Yes. I’ll definitely win this time.”

 

“Of course. You’ll definitely win this time, young master. The person who wins at the end is the true victor. Hohoho.”

 

Marisselle deliberately smiled as she laid the groundwork and sent a signal to Morgan.

 

‘You understand this time, right? If you make my child cry again, I won’t let it slide!’

 

With that kind of feeling.

 

Morgan found it both absurd and fascinating how Marisselle would stop at nothing when it came to Fleur.

 

“The world of competition is cold, Fleur.”

 

Morgan deliberately spoke unsettling words as if to show Marisselle.

 

‘No way, is this man going to win again this time too?’

 

Though Marisselle was boiling with anger and anxiety, she had to hope it was just her worry.

 

Since she couldn’t make a scene and argue in front of Fleur.

 

‘Morgan, I’m trusting you.’

 

Marisselle clenched her mouth shut and sent an intense gaze toward Morgan.

 

‘Does this so-called uncle even understand what I’m saying?’

 

As the game progressed, anxiety slowly began to rear its head.

 

When Marisselle faced the few remaining blocks and the precariously standing tower, her sense of betrayal and anger toward Morgan shot straight up.

 

Her tightly clenched fists trembled.

 

But Morgan, paying no heed to this, reached for a block when his turn came.

 

At that moment.

 

“Wait a moment. Ex, excuse me.”

 

Unable to hold back, Marisselle clenched her teeth and grabbed Morgan’s hand to stop him.

 

Morgan stared quietly at his wrist caught in Marisselle’s grasp.

 

A wrist held by a woman for the first time.

 

Then he slowly turned his eyes to Marisselle.

 

He met triangular eyes glaring up at him with an angry gaze that seemed to say ‘Are you really going to do this?’

 

Facing this strange phenomenon where angry eyes that didn’t even try to hide their flushed expression somehow looked adorable.

 

He let out an incredulous sigh and a snicker escaped him.

 

‘She’s really anxious that I might not keep my promise.’

 

Seeing that expression, a mischievous urge to tease her arose.

 

He pretended not to know and spoke innocently.

 

“It’s my turn, isn’t it?”

 

He looked at Marisselle teasingly and leisurely pulled his wrist from her grasp.

 

“Ah! Is, is that so? Oh my, I must have made a mis… mistake. Hehe.”

 

Marisselle rolled her eyes and forced a smile as she responded to Morgan’s words.

 

And another round passed.

 

Now this was really the last one.

 

Marisselle stared at Morgan intently, desperately, piercingly.

 

Please fall down, fall down, she prayed with all her heart again and again.

 

Morgan felt Marisselle’s murderous aura.

 

‘She looks like she’s about to kill someone.’

 

Morgan had originally planned to lose when Marisselle grabbed his wrist.

 

But when Marisselle didn’t trust him and grabbed his hand, he felt a petty spite.

 

However, she was now glaring at him as if she could bore holes in his face, rushing at him with murderous eyes.

 

Somehow he felt like he had become the villain.

 

He looked at Fleur. His face was clearly tense.

 

The young boy had furrows in his brow, watching the precariously balanced tower with the intensity of pouring all his year’s luck into it.

 

He wondered if he should really let him win, or if deceiving him, even though he was a child, was wrong.

 

He looked at Marisselle again.

 

This time, she had changed tactics and was pleading with deer-like eyes.

 

Her deer-like eyes pierced his heart so deeply that chivalry didn’t even come into view.

 

‘Sigh. This is another look that shouldn’t be shown to other men.’

 

Marisselle had far too many expressions that shouldn’t be shown to other men.

 

Things that should absolutely only be shown to him.

 

Things he didn’t want to share or divide with any other man.

 

Her strategy succeeded. Without time to reconsider chivalry, his concentration scattered as his finger touched the block.

 

At that moment, the precariously balanced blocks came tumbling down.

 

“Wow~! Marisselle. The tower fell! I won!”

 

“Oh! You’re right!”

 

Maricel cheered and clapped at the top of her lungs.

 

“Finally, young master won! As expected, our young master is the embodiment of perseverance. A man who gets up eight times after falling seven! Hehehe. Well done! Congratulations, young master!”

 

Fler and Maricel did high-fives with both hands, hopped around excitedly, and even spun around in circles holding hands.

 

Seeing this made it clear.

 

Maricel and Fleur were allies, and he was the enemy.

 

Morgan felt that their bond was strong, yet there was something bitter about it.

 

After savoring the joy of victory for a long while, the allied forces, having enjoyed their triumph to the fullest, turned their attention back to the enemy.

 

“Your Majesty? Surely a single defeat couldn’t have tarnished Your Majesty’s dignity, which is as lofty as the heavens?”

 

Morgan let out a hollow laugh, finding it absurd that the cat seemed to be thinking about mice.

 

How should I respond? Maricel seemed a bit annoying.

 

But Morgan was the head of a ducal house and knew well how to treat an heir.

 

“What do you take me for.”

 

Morgan congratulated Fleur.

 

“Congratulations, Fler. You persevered and stayed focused through all the challenges, and ultimately claimed victory in the end. Your dedication to giving your best until the very last moment was truly admirable. You have the qualities to become an excellent leader.”

 

“Yes, Uncle! I’ll work hard and become a wonderful person that you can be proud of. Just like you.”

 

“Yeah. Look forward to it.”

 

Morgan looked at Fleur with pride and patted her head.

 

Maricel also smiled as she looked at Fleur.

 

Then he moved closer to Morgan and cupped his hands around his mouth to whisper in his ear.

 

“Your Highness. Thank you for keeping your promise. This is absolutely a secret. You understand, right?”

 

At that moment, starting from his ear where Marisselle’s breath had touched, Morgan’s face and neck quickly flushed red.

 

Morgan covered his ear with his hand and thought.

 

‘Does this woman even know how dangerous what she’s doing is?’

 

No. She probably doesn’t know. She wouldn’t have done it if she knew. She wasn’t the type of person who would ever do such a thing if she understood.

 

He had to vividly realize just how innocent yet enchanting the woman he liked was.

 

And separate from this realization, his heart was already beating uncontrollably fast.

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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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