I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 47

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

Chapter 47

 

Seeing me fidgeting restlessly like a puppy that needs to poop, Morgan asked.

 

“Are you uncomfortable because I came?”

 

“What? Oh, no. It’s not like that…,”

 

I was a bit taken aback.

 

Actually, I’m happy and glad to see him. Unlike before, I feel reassured when I see him.

 

But thinking that he had seen what I just said and did made me so embarrassed that I could hardly bring myself to speak.

 

“Oh, no. It’s not that.”

 

I quickly cut him off because I didn’t want him to misunderstand.

 

“I’m embarrassed because Your Highness caught me cursing and punching the air.”

 

I’m so ashamed I don’t know what to do with myself.

 

Morgan’s eyes waver. Eyes that are pondering what to say in response.

 

“Never mind. Don’t say anything. It would be even more embarrassing if you spoke.”

 

Feeling upset at his wavering eyes, a rather blunt tone slipped out.

 

“Ah…, I understand.”

 

The way he smiled slightly and looked relieved.

 

A somewhat bitter smile crossed my face.

 

“But, what brings Your Highness here…”

 

“But, Your Majesty, what brings you here….”

 

“I was thinking of going to bed early tonight and stood by the window, when I saw you heading toward the path where we used to walk together. I thought I might be intruding, so I stayed quiet. But I found myself missing you. I wanted to see with my own eyes how you were doing. I hope I’m not disturbing you?”

 

“No. I was actually planning to visit and pay my respects to Your Majesty anyway. It’s just been delayed until now because Your Majesty has been so busy.”

 

He smiled as if relieved.

 

“That’s a relief then. But… who made you angry? Don’t tell me… it was me?”

 

As Morgan spoke, he seemed to realize that he himself might be the target, and quickly shifted course to focus on himself.

 

“…Am I being good to you? Me…?”

 

He asked back carefully, as if confirming with a face full of expectation.

 

“Of course. The day I collapsed, you sent such tremendous comfort gifts that rumors spread throughout the neighborhood about how much Your Highness cherishes me. Thanks to that, even that bastard Kazuri has been quiet.”

 

As soon as I finished speaking, Morgan stared at me like I was a strange person, as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.

 

At that moment, I thought ‘Oh no.’

 

‘That bastard.’

 

A word that couldn’t come from a lady’s mouth, or at least shouldn’t come out in front of a Grand Duke, had slipped out.

 

‘Kazuri, that bastard. Ugh.’

 

Another wave of deep ‘rage’ rose up.

 

I should have filtered it and softened it. I blurted it out too unfiltered.

 

But what can I do? I have to fix it now.

 

I belatedly tried to salvage the situation.

 

“Ah! Ka, Kazuri Youngsik. Aha, haha. My words were a bit rough… Ahaha.”

 

“Ah! Ka, Kazuri Youngsik. Aha, haha. I was a bit rough with my words… Ahahaha.”

 

“That bastard deserves to be cursed. So, was Kazuri also the target of your cursing earlier?”

 

Morgan’s expression changed as he asked seriously.

 

“Yes. I don’t even want to say that bastard’s name.”

 

I was beyond disgusted—I was revolted.

 

Just thinking about that bastard made him want to beat him to a pulp.

 

What did I say wrong?

 

When Morgan fell silent, I instinctively looked him over.

 

“Of course.”

 

I continued matter-of-factly.

 

“My body was fine from the day after I collapsed. The reason I returned home late wasn’t because I was sick, but because my parents were overly worried. And thanks to Your Highness caring for me so much, I felt comforted and gained strength. Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

I conveyed my sincere gratitude.

 

“…I’m glad it was helpful. But…”

 

I conveyed my heartfelt gratitude.

 

“…I’m glad it was helpful. But…”

 

I waited for his next words, but he was taking quite a long time to speak.

 

It seemed like he was thinking of a question that would be difficult to answer.

 

“Perhaps… are you taking your time because you’re about to ask a difficult question? If that’s not the case and I’m just overthinking, I apologize…”

 

“No. You’re right. It might indeed be a question that’s difficult for you to answer.”

 

He responded hastily as if he had been waiting for those words.

 

“Then, perhaps… are you curious about what Kazuri said to me?”

 

“…Huh? …Yes, I suppose I have to say that’s right.”

 

“…I’m sorry, but that’s difficult for me to tell you. Even when my parents begged me to tell them, I didn’t say anything.”

 

Not only did I hate the very idea of speaking those filthy words to someone with my own mouth, but I didn’t want to make others continue to taste that disgusting feeling either.

 

Nothing would change even if they knew, and it would only upset them. Especially my parents.

 

And the same goes for Morgan. He’s just another person, and somehow bringing it up to him feels shameful, I suppose?

 

Anyway, though I can’t define it clearly, I don’t like it.

 

Worried that the conversation might drag on longer, I abruptly stood up from the bench.

 

“Your Highness. I shall… take my leave now. Please have a comfortable night.”

 

I bowed politely and began to walk away.

 

Just as I had taken a few steps and was about to leave the bench area, Morgan grabbed my wrist.

 

“I’d like you to tell me. What that bastard said. I need to know.”

 

“Pardon? Why would Your Highness…?”

 

I was surprised that he had grabbed my wrist, but I was even more surprised by his low, sunken, resolute voice.

 

“Because it’s important.”

 

“Why is it important to Your Highness? If it’s important, it was important to me.”

 

I was curious about his intentions for wanting to know about my private, and moreover, humiliating affair.

 

“…It’s important to me too. My course of action will change depending on what that bastard said.”

 

“Your Highness… forgive my boldness, but this is an extremely personal matter of mine. No matter what you say, I cannot tell you.”

 

“Even if it’s your personal matter, it’s important to me. If I judge it as important, then it becomes a matter of the Duke’s Household. So I’d like you to tell me.”

 

He was still gripping my wrist tightly and speaking with his head lowered.

 

Was it my imagination that he looked dejected?

 

“Even so, what will you do if I say I don’t want to?”

 

“Then… I’ll have no choice but to use it.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“That time, the price I was supposed to receive in exchange for letting Fleur win. I’m claiming it now.”

 

“What? No, you’re going to use that here and now?”

 

It was so absurd that my voice rose sharply without me realizing it.

 

“I need to know, and you say you can’t tell me, so what choice do I have?”

 

“No, is it that important? Why on earth would you want to know such an extremely private matter…?”

 

I was so agitated that my words came out quickly, as if I were interrogating him.

 

In the midst of this, I worried whether I might have seemed insolent.

 

But completely unexpected words flowed from his mouth.

 

“Because I want to protect you.”

 

I was momentarily dazed.

 

‘He wants to protect me?’

 

Even to the extent of knowing private matters? Why? Why bother?

 

But I decided not to dig deeper.

 

If I dug deeper, words I couldn’t handle might come out.

 

But on the other hand, I thought that if I was that important to him, perhaps I could make a deal?

 

I calculated strategically for my survival.

 

After encountering Kazuri, I realized that simply avoiding involvement in Fleur’s kidnapping incident wouldn’t be enough.

 

Putting the puzzle together, though it wasn’t mentioned in the original work, there was a very high possibility that the involvement in the kidnapping incident was also a result of Kazuri’s perverted obsession with Marisselle.

 

If that’s the case, then as long as House of Zelkova remains intact and Kazuri is alive, Marisselle and House of Manua won’t be safe.

 

The problem is that House of Manua doesn’t have the power or disposition to bring down Zelkova.

 

‘Sigh. House of Manua is too kind-hearted.’

 

Then I need help, and fortunately, the Duke’s Household where I’m staying is the greatest ally.

 

Positionally, it stands in opposition to Zelkova, and it’s the second most powerful house after the Royal Household while maintaining friendly relations with them.

 

The problem is that even asking for help requires justification, and in a situation where that’s lacking, Morgan is thankfully saying that I’m an important person to the Duke’s Household and that he wants to protect me.

 

Where could there be more welcome words than these, and where could there be better justification?

 

“Am I such an important person to the Duke’s Household?”

 

Then he nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“If that’s the case… I’ll tell you. However, I have one request. I hope you’ll grant it.”

 

“I’ll hear it out and grant it if it’s reasonable.”

 

He looked up at me seriously and carefully took my arm to guide me to sit back down on the bench.

 

I looked into his earnest eyes, remained silent for a moment, then forced my reluctant lips to part.

 

“When I first met Kazuri, he confessed his love to me.”

 

At that moment, his hand that was still holding my wrist froze, then instantly tightened its grip.

 

“Ah!”

 

I let out a groan of pain for a moment.

 

“Oh, my. I’m sorry.”

 

Morgan looked startled and quickly let go of my hand.

 

“It’s fine…”

 

I gently rubbed my wrist that had been gripped and sat down on the bench.

 

“Then he said he would send a marriage proposal and told me to accept it while trying to touch my face. Of course, it was only an attempt.”

 

To be precise, I successfully defended once and failed once, but strangely, I didn’t want to tell him that that bastard Kazuri had actually touched Marisselle.

 

“…”

 

I could see his face instantly harden.

 

‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to talk about it…’

 

“The second time…”

 

I told him about everything that had happened – the talk of legal wives and concubines, the death threats, and how I had recovered all the memories I’d forgotten because of Kazuri, all thanks to Kazuri himself.

 

I laid it all out plainly and honestly so he could properly judge just how despicable and insane Kazuri was.

 

Throughout my story, Morgan sat rigid as a rock with his fists clenched tight. In some ways, he looked like he was holding back his anger.

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