I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 48

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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 48

 

“That’s the full account of what happened.”

 

“…It must have been difficult. I don’t know what to say… Sigh. So tragic…”

 

Morgan couldn’t continue his words and rubbed his face with dry hands, then buried his face in both hands as if deeply saddened.

 

He remained like that for a while.

 

Though it might seem selfish, his anguish strangely brought me comfort.

 

Unlike my parents, I felt my pain lessen.

 

I even thought this was someone I could trust and follow.

 

“Your Highness?”

 

“…”

 

He gave no response.

 

He should be able to hear me though…

 

Should I wait? Should I call him again? While I hesitated for a moment, he raised his head.

 

‘Whoa. Did he cry?’

 

His eyes were red. No, they seemed to be red.

 

Wanting to see more clearly, my body naturally moved closer. It seemed right.

 

“Your Highness. Did you perhaps shed tears…?”

 

Then Morgan quickly turned his head to the opposite side as if he wouldn’t show his face.

 

‘Whoa. It’s real.’

 

A man who cries along with others’ pain…

 

It was so different from his image of appearing like a cold-blooded person without blood or tears.

 

‘Sigh… Why is this man being so touching today…’

 

Just as my nose began to tingle, I heard his voice.

 

“…What is your request?”

 

He still had his head turned away.

 

But his voice was moistly wet. This made it clear that he had been crying.

 

‘What is this. This man, really…’

 

A starlit night, a bewitching man crying for me.

 

Is there anyone whose heart wouldn’t flutter at this?

 

Really, if there were no restrictions, I’d just bite him. What a shame.

 

But my situation was too urgent to be lost in romance.

 

“…I want to bring down Zelkova. That’s the only way for House of Manua to survive. Please protect House of Manua until I bring down Zelkova. If you do that, I will serve Your Highness as my lord and offer my loyalty.”

 

“…”

 

He slowly turned his head to face forward. Even at a glance, his expression was stern.

 

There was no way to know what he was thinking. I could only guess that perhaps my request was excessive, or he didn’t think I was worth that much.

 

“Besides being a nanny, I’ll be useful in many other ways. You saw it when Sir Rino went on that long business trip, didn’t you? I also learn quickly and pick things up fast. I’ll build up my stamina too. Also…”

 

“Stop. You don’t need to say more.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

An ambiguous tone that I couldn’t tell was positive or negative.

 

I was anxious.

 

“I thought the answer was already given.”

 

“…Pardon? You already gave an answer? I just… Ah!”

 

Only then did I remember. The reason Morgan had asked such a deeply personal question.

 

That he wanted to protect me.

 

‘Whoa. Then did I just dig myself into a hole? All that talk about being a lord and offering loyalty wasn’t necessary. Can I take it back?’

 

“Ah. Um… Then, Your Highness…?”

 

“Mm?”

 

“That… about offering loyalty, can I take back what I said…?”

 

“No. You can’t. It’s loyalty already offered. I’ve already received it. And since you yourself said you’d be useful in many ways, I’m looking forward to it.”

 

‘Where did that emotional and romantic man from earlier go, leaving only this heartless man?’

 

This is why you need to keep your wits about you to avoid losses.

 

“Ah… This feeling of being at a loss…”

 

Oh no!

 

The words I was only thinking came out of my mouth along with a sigh.

 

“Receiving my protection shouldn’t be a loss, should it?”

 

When Morgan retorted with sharp eyes, I couldn’t say a word.

 

What could I possibly say? I could only respond with “Yes.”

 

“Oh my. Of course. It’s absolutely not a loss… I can only be grateful. Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll work hard.”

 

I had to smile and agree with his words while holding back tears.

 

Then he looked at me and chuckled as if he found it amusing.

 

‘Please don’t do that, Your Highness. What I’m doing right now isn’t really smiling. It’s like signing a contract without seeing the last poisonous clause written in small print. Sob.’

 

Morgan was busy laughing, oblivious to my inner thoughts.

 

* * *

 

Crash! Thud!

 

Clatter! Whoosh! Whoosh!

 

All sorts of miscellaneous items on the desk toppled over, fell, were thrown, shattered, and broke.

 

“You fool! You, you stupid fool!”

 

Count Jerome Zelkova, unable to contain his anger, swept away everything on the desk, and still not satisfied, picked up an ink bottle.

 

Kazuri tensed up completely upon seeing the ink bottle in his father’s hand.

 

It was obvious that if that ink bottle was thrown, it would surely be aimed at him.

 

“F-Father, please calm down, no, please compose yourself. I’ll, uh, somehow manage it.”

 

Kazuri stretched out both arms and waved his hands frantically to prevent the ink bottle from flying toward him.

 

Moreover, his bottom was pulled back, making his posture look ridiculous.

 

“Calm down? Compose? What do you mean somehow manage?”

 

Zelkova’s hand holding the ink bottle trembled even more precariously.

 

Then.

 

The precarious ink bottle drew a straight line through the air and hit Kazuri’s forehead with a thud!

 

Trickle. Black liquid ran down his cheek and dripped below his chin.

 

Black dots and lines left chaotic marks on his cream-colored satin clothing.

 

A small bump rose like a hill on Kazuri’s forehead, and he could only blink his eyes in shock, unable to say anything.

 

Every time he blinked, black droplets dangled from the tips of his eyebrows.

 

Tobias crouched in a distant corner, holding his breath and making himself invisible to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

 

Kazuri seemed to regain his senses a little and stammered as he opened his mouth.

 

“F-Father… how could you… to me… how…”

 

Zelkova shouted, still not having calmed his anger.

 

“I don’t want to hear it! I can’t stand the sight of you! Get out right now!”

 

Just as Kazuri was about to open his mouth to somehow persuade his father Zelkova instead of leaving, Kazuri caught sight of his father reaching for a new ink bottle from the drawer.

 

“Ah! Father! I’ll leave. I’m going!”

 

Kazuri was startled and hurriedly agreed, fleeing from the study.

 

“What a blockhead.”

 

Zelkova had no great expectations for his son, but he had at least a glimmer of hope that he wouldn’t mess things up.

 

But when he should have been loosening Morgan’s guard, he had only heightened it instead.

 

Recently, rumors had spread widely that Marisselle had fainted after meeting Kazuri.

 

The fact that Morgan had sent an endless procession of consolation gifts to House of Manua and even sent the Duke’s Household’s personal physician was a major issue in noble society.

 

This was enough to plant the perception that the Duke’s Household valued House of Manua highly.

 

Now House of Manua had become an entity that was difficult to touch.

 

Moreover, House of Manua owned many fertile plains, making it a family with high utility value.

 

That stupid son had ruined everything.

 

Zelkova’s anger didn’t subside even thinking about it again.

 

Then, someone knocked on the door.

 

“Your Excellency. It’s Hanko.”

 

“Come in.”

 

When Hanko opened the door, he saw the study furniture scattered about messily and black ink splattered haphazardly on the floor, and immediately grasped the situation.

 

He had seen Kazuri stained with black ink from a distance when coming up to the study, so he could picture the scene without even seeing it.

 

“Welcome, Count Debrang.”

 

Tobias welcomed Hanko as if he had found an ally.

 

“Good to see you. Tobias, you’re still having a hard time as always. Hahaha.”

 

Count Hanco Debrang gave Tobias his usual greeting and immediately approached Zelkova.

 

“Hehe. It looks like quite a storm passed through here. Your Excellency.”

 

Hanko smiled slyly as he looked at Zelkova.

 

“Never mind that. So, how did your business go?”

 

Jerome cut straight to the chase and pressed him for an answer.

 

“Hehehe. After a storm passes, the sky should clear up, but I’m not sure if the news I bring will be clear.”

 

Hanko put on quite a show as he leaned close to Zelkova and whispered his next words.

 

“The atmosphere is positive. You just need to join this delegation, throw out some appropriate bait, and drive in the final nail.”

 

Zelkova’s brow, which had been severely furrowed from the earlier incident, smoothed out completely the moment he heard Hanko’s words, as if by magic.

 

“Hehehehe. That’s truly welcome news after so long. You’ve done well. In that spirit, shall we have dinner together tonight?”

 

Zelkova praised his efforts in a cheerful voice, as if he had never been angry at all.

 

“I’m grateful for the offer, but the journey was long and I need to recover from the travel fatigue.”

 

“Yes, yes. Of course you should. Naturally. We can have dinner another time. Go ahead and rest up.”

 

Jerome stood up and personally opened the door for him, patting Hanko on the back.

 

“Having you around really is reassuring.”

 

Zelkova praised him once more as they went downstairs together.

 

The person most recognized by Jerome. Count Hanco Debrang.

 

He was Zelkova’s right-hand man and brain, serving as his strategist.

 

Though younger than Zelkova, his face looked old enough to appear similar in age to Zelkova.

 

But his aged appearance was part of his survival strategy.

 

He could present himself as younger, but he deliberately made himself look older than his actual age.

 

From his voice and manner of speaking to his every gesture, he intentionally crafted himself to exude experience and gravitas.

 

Since Zelkova had a strong tendency to look down on young people, Hanko didn’t consider his youth worth preserving for his goals.

 

And Count Hanco Debrang was the person who handled Zelkova the best.

 

Tobias looked at the messy floor and let out a deep sigh.

 

Already exhausted to his limit, he wearily pulled the bell cord slowly.

 

If Hanko hadn’t come, he would have become Zelkova’s second victim after Kazuri.

 

In that sense, Tobias was extremely grateful to Hanko.

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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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