I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 4

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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 4

“Please wait here for a moment, and His Grace will come to you.”

“Thank you.”

Porel, who had guided Marisselle to the Interview Room, turned around.

“Um, Porel?”

He turned back gracefully, befitting a butler of the Duke’s Household, and attended to Marisselle.

“I have something to ask.”

“Please go ahead.”

“How many people besides me had interviews today?”

“Two people have already come and gone. You are today’s final interviewee, miss.”

“I see. Thank you…”

Marisselle smiled brightly as she offered her thanks.

After Porel left, Marisselle was left alone in the spacious Interview Room.

Sigh, it’s unnecessarily too large.

Everything she had seen from entering the Duke’s Household until arriving at this Interview Room had been massive.

Even a single pillar was so large that it would take two people with outstretched arms to barely wrap around it.

Moreover, the Corinthian columns erected on both sides of the long, wide corridor leading from the central hall to the Interview Room gave the illusion of entering an ancient temple.

The scale itself was incomparable to the Manua Barony.

Luxurious window frames, cleanly polished glass. Neatly hung velvet green curtains on both sides of the windows.

The bright late morning sunlight streaming through them illuminated the spot where Marisselle stood.

“The sunlight comes in so beautifully.”

The outdoor scenery viewed from inside the Interview Room was truly gentle and beautiful.

‘Hmm, if I work here, I’ll certainly feast my eyes on beauty. Good.’

While waiting, Marisselle looked around at the furniture and display cabinets arranged in the Interview Room.

Everything looked expensive without exception.

‘As expected of a wealthy family.’

“Oh?”

Then she discovered something unexpected. A full-length mirror in one corner of the display cabinet.

‘It wouldn’t be proper to just pass by a mirror.’

Marisselle stood in front of the mirror. Then she carefully examined her reflected appearance.

Platinum hair and fair skin. She was as fresh as a pink rose that had just bloomed.

In the past, she hadn’t understood the saying that youth itself was beautiful, but seeing Marisselle reflected in the mirror now, she understood it completely.

The Indian pink dress, neither too plain nor too fancy, harmonized with Marisselle’s purple eyes, supporting her with both calm and radiant beauty.

‘Hmm. Even I think I’m pretty.’

“But isn’t Morgan running too late? It feels like it’s been quite a while since I finished looking around…”

Knock knock.

Just then, a knocking sound was heard.

‘Speak of the devil and he appears.’

Marisselle quickly moved to where the chairs were.

But contrary to her expectations, it was Porel who showed his face.

“Miss. I apologize. His Grace says he will be delayed, and if you don’t wish to wait, you may return home.”

Marisselle was momentarily shocked and held her breath.

‘What? What kind of bolt from the blue is this? Just leave? That’s ridiculous.’

Crisis alert sounded. She quickly put her mind to work.

“That also means I can wait if I want to, right? Or does it mean I should come another day?”

It occurred to Marisselle that Morgan might be testing her.

“If I’m allowed to wait, I’ll wait.”

“Then I’ll prepare some refreshments for you.”

“Ah. Yes. Then please do.”

Porel bowed slightly and stepped back.

“Ah! Wait a moment. Could you tell Emma, who came with me, not to worry and to wait?”

After Porel said he understood and left, Marisselle exhaled a sigh of relief as her tension eased.

‘As expected, nothing in this world is easy.’

Not long after, Porel came back with refreshments. The tea and cookies he brought out looked quite neat.

As the subtle and sweet tea fragrance reached her nose, her tense body and mind seemed to gently relax.

The cookies weren’t too sweet, pairing well with the sweet tea and lifting her mood.

Once one cookie went down, she suddenly felt hungry.

Having woken up late this morning and barely eaten due to nerves, the tea and cookies went down like a proper meal.

‘I should maintain the dignity of a Noble House young lady…’

She had already consumed quite a large amount of cookies. Marisselle debated whether to eat more or not.

A moment later.

She should have left a few for courtesy’s sake. Seeing the completely empty plate, embarrassment washed over her.

Ugh. Whatever. Who knows when that man will come… Being full makes me less nervous anyway.

Marisselle leaned back deep into the sofa and sat comfortably. She could straighten her posture as soon as she heard a knock.

Tap- Tap- Ta-ta-tap.

Marisselle rhythmically drummed her fingers on the sofa’s armrest.

Her boredom seemed to ease a little. But the effect was short-lived.

Seeing that the sun illuminating the Interview Room had moved a bit further west, at least an hour seemed to have passed.

She was no longer hungry. However, having sat for so long, her back and the sofa had pressed together and become warm like a heated mat.

‘When is Morgan going to come?’

Marisselle slowly closed her eyes.

Various thoughts, including expected interview questions, branched out in all directions.

* * *

“My lord. How about stopping here and going to see her?”

Rino, who served as Morgan’s friend, aide, and guard, urged him while deliberately using formal speech.

“The fact that there’s no message from Porel means she’s still waiting.”

He replied indifferently without even looking up from his documents.

“Making a lady wait too long is a bit…”

Morgan stopped reading the documents and looked at Rino.

“She said she would wait. There were plenty of other options. And she didn’t come here to be treated like a lady.”

“That’s true, but. This indifferent and heartless guy.”

Rino let out a short breath and shook his head.

Thirty minutes later. Morgan, having finally finished processing all the documents, stood up from his seat.

“Pass this to Ronan. Tell him to process it as quickly as possible.”

While Rino delivered the documents to a subordinate waiting outside the Study, Morgan put on his coat.

Though he usually preferred white shirt attire, he had dressed properly today since there was an interview.

“Let’s go.”

“By the way, that baronet’s daughter. She seems serious about being a nanny. Seeing how she’s waited until now. If I were the employer, I’d want to give her high marks…”

Morgan walked silently, while Rino expressed his curiosity and expectations about Marisselle as they headed toward the Interview Room.

Rino’s curiosity was partly fueled by Porel’s subtle difference in treating Marisselle compared to the previous two interviewees.

Though Rino couldn’t define it clearly, all these things excited him.

Knock. Knock.

After Porel knocked, he immediately opened the heavy door of the Interview Room.

“Huh? What? There’s no one here?”

Rino showed his disappointment.

“Pardon?”

Porel looked inside with confusion, thinking that couldn’t be right.

Indeed, Marisselle, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.

“What happened?”

Morgan asked irritably.

“She didn’t say she was leaving. She didn’t come out of the Interview Room either.”

Porel was also troubled by this unexpected situation he was facing.

After hearing Porel’s words, Morgan considered looking inside the Interview Room, but decided there was no need for such trouble and coldly turned away.

Just then.

Snore. Snooore~

A sound came from inside the interview room.

Everyone’s steps came to a halt.

Morgan walked irritably toward where the sound was coming from.

“Ha!”

Morgan let out a bitter laugh at the absurd scene he was encountering for the first time.

He kept his gaze fixed in the air and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

Then Rino and Porel also quickly came over to assess the situation.

“Gasp!”

Porel was startled and immediately turned his head away.

“Pfft!”

Rino began laughing uncontrollably.

The young lady they thought had left was fast asleep on the sofa, snoring peacefully without a care in the world, having finished all the tea and snacks. This exceeded expectations.

“I really like this young lady! I’ve never seen anyone be so bold—no, beyond bold—so comfortable in the Duke’s Household!”

Rino wiped away the tears that had leaked out from laughing with his hand.

Porel, who couldn’t bring himself to laugh, composed his awkward expression and carefully woke Marisselle.

“Miss. Miss Marisselle. Please wake up. His Grace the Duke has arrived.”

But Marisselle didn’t even stir.

Porel called to Marisselle again. When there was no response, Porel became troubled once more.

When he was about to call again, Morgan stepped forward to stop him.

“Stop sleeping and wake up.”

Morgan’s voice dropped low.

It was chilling and cold, like an angry beast growling low.

Then Marisselle slowly opened her eyes, rubbing her arms from the sudden chill that came over her.

“…Mmm, …why is it suddenly cold- HIEEEEEK.”

Marisselle was horrified. A strange shriek that she had never heard come from her own mouth burst out.

A man with an atmosphere very similar to that daytime reaper she had seen a few days ago and who had just appeared in her dream was glaring at her fiercely with blue eyes.

Her heart pounded so fast and violently it felt like it would burst through her breastbone.

Marisselle clutched her startled chest and gasped for breath.

She was confused whether this was a dream or reality.

Moreover, one person seemed to be lost in giggles, laughing uncontrollably.

She turned her head.

She saw Porel, who couldn’t hide his troubled expression.

Only then did she realize this wasn’t a dream.

Still, her startled heart wouldn’t calm down easily.

“Miss. This is His Grace Duke Morgan Ergana Yohaim.”

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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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