I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 62

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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 62

“Your Highness. Here are the materials you requested.”

Porel placed the materials Morgan had ordered on the table.

“…What is Marisselle doing?”

“The nanny received a medical examination from Samuel this morning, had a simple meal, and has been at the Library until now. She also asked me to tell you that she won’t be able to attend the remaining banquets.”

‘Huh?’

One of Morgan’s eyebrows raised.

“Where is she hurt? Is it serious?”

“It’s not that serious. She has muscle pain throughout her body and wounds on her heels, but he said they’re injuries and pain that will heal with a few days of rest. However, it’s difficult for her to even wear shoes, so she said she’s giving up on the remaining banquets. Your Highness… what will you do about tonight’s schedule…?”

‘Hmm… at least it’s not too serious…’

He was more concerned about her being hurt than about her not being able to attend the banquet.

Just muscle pain and scraped wounds…

He felt relieved.

And he smiled faintly, very satisfied that his strategy had affected the remaining banquets as well.

“There’s no reason to attend the banquet, so tell Marisselle to have dinner with me.”

“…Then what about Young Master Fleur?”

“Fleur…”

‘He’d be quite disappointed if I said I’m having dinner alone with Marisselle, wouldn’t he…?’

“Ask Fleur too and let him join if he wants. Ah! I’ll tell Marisselle myself, so just tell Fleur.”

“Yes, Master.”

* * *

“Welcome…”

The Librarian quickly stood up and was about to greet Morgan when he appeared. At that moment, Morgan quickly raised his index finger to his lips, signaling for quiet.

The Librarian quietly blinked and nodded.

“Hmm… this isn’t quite right…”

Marisselle was concentrating on her book, muttering to herself without noticing someone had come.

“What book are you reading so intently that you don’t notice when someone comes?”

“…?”

Marisselle casually turned her head toward the sound and jumped up when she spotted Morgan.

“Oh? Your Highness, what brings you here? Oh wait, the only reason to come to the Library would be for books, so I asked a foolish question… Ahaha.”

Marisselle reflexively asked in surprise, then immediately corrected herself, remembering how she was scolded last time for asking what brought him there.

“Wrong. This time I didn’t come for books, but because I have business with you.”

“What? With me? Why?”

Marisselle widened her eyes and pointed to herself as she spoke.

“I heard you’re hurt. That you got injured too.”

“Ah… you heard…”

Marisselle remembered yesterday’s events and answered sullenly with suppressed resentment. It was her own petty revenge.

“Thanks to a certain someone who semi-forcibly made me dance four songs in a row yesterday, I’m in so much pain that the remaining two days of banquets are completely! Com. Plete. Ly. out of the question.”

Morgan put on a deliberately sympathetic expression.

“That’s too bad. In that case, let’s have dinner together tonight.”

“I respectfully decline, Your Highness. This unfilial daughter who couldn’t fulfill her parents’ wishes will eat simply by herself.”

He chuckled.

“Are you protesting?”

‘Protesting? So he does recognize he was somewhat at fault?’

“Protesting? How absurd, Your Highness. I’m simply apologizing for my disloyalty in not fulfilling my parents’ wishes, so please don’t misunderstand.”

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

“The Viscount wanted you to look for a husband?”

Marisselle quietly pushed the book she was reading to the side and looked straight at Morgan as she spoke.

“Of course. My parents are like any other parents. Someone reasonably suitable…”

Morgan cut her off sharply.

“There isn’t one. No one suitable for you, no one decent.”

“Why should Your Highness be the one to judge that?”

She spoke angrily at him for crossing the line. But the person she expected to back down came out unexpectedly strong.

“Because I’m a man. Because I’m your superior. Because I’m someone who cares about you. I have better judgment than you. That’s why I’m saying this.”

Ha! What ridiculous nonsense was this? No matter how much he was a man with good judgment, this was overstepping his authority. She couldn’t just let it slide.

But then.

“Someone who can draw out and support your abilities. They’re not there.”

Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something, he spoke.

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

Marisselle was bewildered by his unexpected words.

“Exactly what I said. You’re capable and clever. You also have a lot of potential.”

“Ahem.”

‘Why is he suddenly praising me again…?’

Marisselle, who was weak to compliments, cleared her throat with a cough.

“It would be a waste for someone capable with so much potential to just pick any suitable person from the marriage market when it’s time to marry. Stay by my side to further develop and display your abilities. When the time comes, I’ll find you a decent person.”

He spoke quite seriously and sincerely. As if he truly treasured Marisselle, like someone precious to him.

“…Your Highness.”

Marisselle felt her nose tingle. These were words she had never heard in this life or her previous one.

It was the greatest praise she had ever received in her life.

‘Did I get it wrong again?’

Marisselle had only thought that Morgan was interfering with her marriage prospects because he liked her.

‘I was completely mistaken just because I received one proposal…’

Her face grew hot and flushed. She covered her face with both hands. She could feel the heat as expected.

“…Ah, I didn’t know Your Highness had such deep intentions. Thank you for thinking so highly of my abilities.”

Marisselle’s mood quickly softened.

Once again, Morgan’s strategy had worked.

Morgan had finally mastered the art of handling Marisselle, who was weak to recognition and praise.

He smiled imperceptibly.

“Thank you for understanding my sincerity. Then, let’s have dinner together tonight.”

“Ah… yes…”

An affirmative answer flowed obediently from Marisselle’s lips.

It wasn’t a lie. These were thoughts he’d had while observing Marisselle regularly. It was something he’d wanted to say someday, but the reason he said it now was because Marisselle kept making annoying comments with that small mouth of hers about finding a husband.

“However, I do feel some responsibility for depriving you of the opportunity to explore for yourself, so tell me if there’s anything you want.”

‘Huh? Why is this man acting like this today? Saying all these conscientious things.’

“Would it be alright if I think about that a bit and tell you next time, Your Highness?”

He nodded lightly.

“Of course.”

* * *

Two weeks had passed since then.

The mornings and evenings grew cool, and autumn colors began to appear on every leaf.

Fleur, who had decided to enter the Academy next year, was now doing excellently with his home tutoring.

So much so that negative thoughts sometimes crept in about whether I might lose my role and be dismissed.

I hadn’t expected Fleur to improve this quickly. It was wonderful for Fleur, but it created anxiety for me.

I was receiving a lot of money from the Duke’s Household, but was it right for me to occupy this position without much to do? Such thoughts kept creeping in.

Sitting leisurely in the library reading books while Fleur was in class was fine for a day or two.

But I wasn’t at peace with it. …And strangely, things were too quiet on Zelkova’s side too.

Anyway, Morgan handled most of Zelkova’s matters himself, so there wasn’t much for me to worry about. Still, it was unsettling because it was too quiet.

‘Should I go find Morgan and have a showdown about whether I can continue as a nanny?’

“This won’t do. I should at least go find Porel and ask him to arrange a meeting with Morgan.”

I left the library and looked for Porel. After asking a servant I encountered, I learned that Porel was at the forge.

I was curious about the forge, which I had never visited before, so I set out to find it myself.

The forge was divided into areas with and without roofs.

Clang! Clang! The sound of hammers pounding, the hissing sound of heated metal entering cold water, faint sweat odors and hot heat mixed in the wind and wafted over.

I first entered the roofless forge and quickly scanned it with my eyes. Porel was nowhere to be seen.

I was about to quietly leave, thinking I might be in the way, when a man called out to me.

“What brings you here, miss?”

I didn’t know if he knew me and was calling me miss, or if he was just calling me miss based on my appearance, but I greeted him brightly anyway.

“Ah! Hello. I’m Marisselle, the young master’s nanny. I came looking for Butler Porel, but he’s not here.”

When I briefly identified myself and smiled, the man continued speaking.

“The head butler should be in the workshop next door. This place handles weapons like combat swords, bows, and spears, and right next to it is where they make kitchen tools and gardening equipment.”

The man kindly explained while wiping the sweat from his forehead with his rough hands that were blackened with dirt.

I became curious.

“Um… can these things only be made with His Highness Morgan’s permission?”

“That’s right. We only move on His Grace the Grand Duke’s orders. Of course, that foundry over there operates under the head butler’s command.”

“I see. You work very hard. Would it be alright if I came to look around sometimes?”

“Of course. Just looking around is allowed without permission.”

The man showed his yellowed teeth and smiled broadly.

I exchanged a few more words with the man and went to the forge next door.

Here too, the clanging and hammering sounds were just as loud, though not quite as much as the weapons foundry.

As the man had said, I could see Porel. He was having some kind of conversation with a blacksmith.

Not wanting to disturb Porel, I quietly stood by the entrance and waited until he finished his work.

Thud, thud.

I heard footsteps. Porel was approaching toward me.

“My. Nanny. What brings you all the way here?”

“Hello, Butler. I heard you were here. I came to take a look around the forge as well.”

“Is there something you need?”

“It’s not really anything urgent, but I have something to discuss with His Highness, so I wanted to ask you to schedule an appointment. I haven’t been able to see His Highness at all lately…”

“Haha. I see. His Highness has been very busy lately. He’s practically living in the Annex Office Wing.”

“Really? Why? Is there that much work? Or has some urgent matter come up?”

“Hehe. You’re perceptive. It’s both. That’s why he’s been holding meetings with the vassals day after day.”

“Then Lord Rino must be busy too.”

When Morgan was said to be busy, Rino came to mind like a set.

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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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