I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

“Didn’t you come here because you had something to say?”

 

“Well, yes… but it’s not urgent. If Your Highness had pressing matters, I could always come back later.”

 

“Ahem. Mine wasn’t urgent either, so come in.”

 

Morgan hurriedly ushered Marisselle inside.

 

“Yes… Then, I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

 

Marisselle gave a light greeting to Morgan, who held the door open and stepped aside to make it easier for her to enter, then stopped in front of the desk.

 

“Why are you standing there?”

 

“Hm? Oh, I just need to give a brief report, so I wanted to save Your Highness’s time.”

 

Morgan felt bitter.

 

It was clearly a considerate answer, and her smile with that ‘didn’t I do well?’ expression was cute, but…

 

It was frustrating. She didn’t even know his feelings and planned to stay briefly like the wind before leaving.

 

How could he hold onto this wind-like person…

 

No matter how much he racked his brain, perhaps because his heart was anxious, nothing suitable came to mind.

 

His normally sharp mind strangely creaked and groaned whenever he stood before Marisselle. It was quite displeasing.

 

Having no choice but to take reluctant steps, suddenly—a sinister curve formed on Morgan’s lips and eyes.

 

His destination changed from the desk to the Conference Table.

 

“If you’re not busy, come sit down. By any chance, did Fleur also attend the meeting?”

 

Morgan recalled how Marisselle had seen off the tutors together with Fleur just moments ago.

 

Marisselle was someone who would rush into fire and water like a moth to flame when it came to anything related to Fleur, so if he asked about Fleur, she would surely get excited and passionately talk without noticing time passing.

 

“Ah!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, just as expected, Marisselle’s eyes sparkled brightly.

 

Heh.

 

‘I knew she’d react like that.’

 

Marisselle’s eyes were already eager to pour out stories about Fleur.

 

‘Sigh. I wish I could receive even one-tenth of the attention she gives Fleur.’

 

How immature of him to be jealous of his nephew. Even knowing it was childish, he couldn’t help it since his own heart wouldn’t obey him.

 

“So, how was Fleur during the meeting?”

 

As if she had been waiting, Marisselle poured out stories endlessly from her small mouth without pause.

 

Morgan thought to himself.

 

While it was true that Fleur was born with many good qualities, it was Marisselle who drew out those qualities into abilities.

 

What would it have been like if he had met someone like Marisselle during his own childhood?

 

If his mother hadn’t passed away so early, wouldn’t she have played such a role?

 

If his mother had lived longer, wouldn’t his father have never changed?

 

Then Sister wouldn’t have lived such an unhappy life either.

 

Morgan fell into bitter reminiscence, layering hypotheticals onto past days.

 

When he was with Marisselle, he often found himself recalling the past.

 

In that regard too, Marisselle was special.

 

His gaze lingered on Marisselle’s chattering lips, her bright eyes, and every gesture of her moving hands.

 

Could she really be that excited? Watching her, jealousy rose in him once again.

 

‘Ha! This crazy bastard.’

 

Just how pathetic was he going to become? He let out a bitter laugh.

 

“…Marisselle!”

 

His voice dropped low, his expression hardened. Marisselle tensed up.

 

“Yes… Your Highness.”

 

Regrettably, Marisselle had to stop her story.

 

But he remained silent.

 

“Your Highness?”

 

Marisselle’s worry grew with his prolonged silence.

 

Seeing Marisselle’s worried expression, he delayed no longer and opened his mouth heavily.

 

“…Stop it. That’s enough.”

 

In the end, though it was utterly pathetic, he revealed his honest feelings.

 

If she listened any more here, she felt like she would really show an ugly face distorted by jealousy.

 

“Ah. Yes… I suppose I got carried away and talked too long again. Hahaha. But since the young master is so excellent. Without realizing it. Ha, hahaha.”

 

Marisselle burst into an embarrassed laugh while ending with praise for Fleur.

 

‘Ha. It’s Fleur from beginning to end.’

 

He was dumbfounded.

 

“Would you also… do that… for me?”

 

“What?”

 

Words muttered in a low voice.

 

Maricel couldn’t quite understand and asked again.

 

“Pardon?”

 

‘What is he saying out of nowhere?’

 

She doubted her own ears, wondering if she had heard correctly.

 

The Empire’s one and only Grand Duke, a person who boasted the highest authority next to the Royal Household, wanted praise from a governess?

 

It was either teasing or a warning.

 

But the atmosphere wasn’t heavy enough for a warning, and he looked too serious to be teasing.

 

She was confused. She couldn’t just ask outright ‘Are you teasing me?’

 

But just letting it pass felt unsettling. There was risk involved, but confirmation was necessary.

 

“Your Highness. Are you truly saying this because you want to hear my praise?”

 

She swallowed dryly while asking this one question.

 

Morgan looked at Marisselle’s serious expression and chuckled as if finding it cute.

 

‘She thinks my words are a joke.’

 

“Why? Does it sound like a lie? Do you think I’m joking?”

 

“Not really, it’s written all over your face.”

 

When her clumsy lie was exposed, Marisselle’s face turned red.

 

“I mean it literally. You praised him so pleasantly that I found myself envious of Fleur. So I wanted to hear your praise too.”

 

He deliberately used the indirect expression of being envious instead of the direct word jealousy. But Marisselle’s situation was different.

 

‘No. How can he say such embarrassing words without any change in expression?’

 

The words about wanting to be praised sounded very direct, making her unable to lift her face.

 

Thinking back to when she first met him, it was something she could never have imagined.

 

Saying he felt good hearing his nephew’s praise so he wanted praise too.

 

How should she accept this situation? Marisselle’s head became complicated in a different way.

 

“Your Highness… if I may be so bold, why do you say you envy the praise of a mere governess?”

 

No matter how much she thought about it, it didn’t make sense to Marisselle’s mind, so she asked again.

 

But Morgan’s complexion turned strangely cold.

 

The change was so stark that she became tense.

 

She instinctively knew something had gone wrong.

 

‘Was the question itself presumptuous?’

 

Her heart was racing in surprise, but she had no idea what went wrong.

 

It felt like falling straight from heaven to hell in an instant.

 

The only thought that came after was wanting to escape from here quickly.

 

Then, Morgan’s coldly sunken voice heavily resonated through the study.

 

“Why are you a mere governess? I would prefer if you never used the modifier ‘mere governess’ in front of me again. It’s unpleasant to hear.”

 

“Why are you just a mere nanny? I’d prefer if you never used the modifier ‘mere nanny’ in front of me again. It’s unpleasant to hear.”

 

“Yes…? Ah….”

 

The answer came out before I could think.

 

‘So… you’re saying I’m angry because I belittled myself as just a mere caretaker?’

 

I felt strange, perhaps because I had heard something so unexpected.

 

‘This means you’re acknowledging me, right?’

 

Maricel’s earlier shock had completely vanished, and instead she felt her shoulders puff up with pride, her nose tingle with emotion, her stomach flutter with butterflies, and a pleasant feeling gently wash over her.

 

‘No. You said you wanted me to compliment you. Why are you the one giving compliments and making a fuss?’

 

I could feel the heat rising to my face, whether from embarrassment or not.

 

Her face was probably burning red. She couldn’t see a mirror, so as a last resort, she pressed her palm against her face. She couldn’t feel any temperature difference.

 

‘Maybe the back of my hand would be better?’

 

She pressed the back of her hand against her face.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Morgan reached out with worried eyes.

 

“Do you have a fever? Why are you suddenly feeling unwell? Should I call a physician?”

 

When his large hand suddenly reached out and touched her cheek, Marisselle reflexively flinched.

 

But Morgan’s hands covered both of Marisselle’s cheeks even more.

 

“This won’t do. Your fever seems to be rising. I should call a physician right away.”

 

It wasn’t because she was sick – how embarrassing would it be if he called a physician now!

 

With the single-minded determination that a physician absolutely wouldn’t do, Marisselle firmly grabbed Morgan’s hands that were covering her cheeks with a decisive grip!

 

“Your Highness? That… it’s not a fever from being sick, but rather, Your Highness… you praised me, no, lavished praise on me, so I’m just blushing from embarrassment. So there’s no need to call a physician…”

 

Once she spoke the truth aloud, she became so embarrassed she wanted to hide in a mouse hole, and her voice gradually grew smaller.

 

Morgan stared blankly at Marisselle with slightly widened eyes, then with a face that showed understanding half a beat late, he let out a soft, incredulous laugh saying “Ah.”

 

“Ahem. Ah. So, so that’s what it was. I’m relieved you’re not sick…”

 

However, Morgan still looked at Marisselle with a worried expression.

 

It seemed like he was checking to see if there was any deception.

 

His eyes, having determined it wasn’t a lie, moved to Marisselle’s hands that were firmly gripping both his wrists.

 

Following his gaze, Marisselle was startled and quickly lowered her hands.

 

“Ah, I… ah, that, Your Highness, I, I have committed a discourtesy.”

 

Marisselle immediately apologized.

 

But then…

 

‘…Huh?’

 

As if time had stopped for him alone, Morgan’s two hands were still cupping Marisselle’s two cheeks.

 

‘What’s this?’ When Marisselle widened her eyes with a puzzled expression, only then did Morgan’s arms slowly, reluctantly move away from her cheeks and lower.

 

Regret dripped from his expression and his slowly falling touch.

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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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