I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 67

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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 67

“Tell me honestly what you think. It’s alright.”

Despite Morgan’s permission, Marisselle hesitated to speak and fidgeted with her fingertips.

“Whatever you say will be fine, so don’t worry and speak.”

Only when Morgan spoke again did Marisselle finally open her mouth.

“In my opinion, it’s Your Highness’s authority over public security. I believe they’re laying the groundwork to undermine trust in Your Highness and steal that authority.”

When the words “authority over public security” came from Marisselle’s lips, a murderous glint appeared in Morgan’s eyes.

“Then. Escalating matters means they’re calculating to shake and steal the Grand Duke’s authority over public security by causing theft to turn into robbery and murder. Damaging the Grand Duke’s honor would be a bonus.”

Rino spoke with a serious expression.

Marisselle nodded silently.

‘As expected of Morgan’s right hand. He catches on immediately.’

In place of Morgan, who remained heavily silent, Rino asked.

“Then. Have you perhaps thought of a solution to this problem?”

Marisselle answered the question with a question.

“Do Your Highness and my lord have something in mind?”

“…We also suspect it’s Zelkova’s doing, but he’s so skilled at covering his tracks that we have no evidence in the current situation, and we can’t move rashly, so there’s a high possibility this will be covered up.”

Rino spoke with frustration.

‘Must there absolutely be evidence?’

What Zelkova is targeting is the distrust of the estate’s people toward the Grand Duke that has been steadily building up.

Even without evidence, couldn’t they just cut off the sprout entirely to prevent Zelkova from moving to the next step?

Marisselle opened her mouth.

“I don’t think this is a problem that can only be solved with evidence.”

“…?”

Morgan and Rino simultaneously looked at Marisselle with puzzled eyes.

“What Zelkova wants is the estate people’s distrust toward Your Highness the Grand Duke. Not distrust formed in an instant, but solid distrust that builds up steadily from small things.”

Morgan and Rino were struck with shock as if hit in the head with a hammer by Marisselle’s insight.

Only after hearing Marisselle’s words did the two realize they had been trapped by the fixed notion that problems couldn’t be solved without evidence.

“Ha!”

Morgan let out a hollow laugh.

He had always prided himself on being flexible and capable. But he wasn’t. It had been complacency and arrogance.

“How would you solve this problem without evidence?”

Finally, Morgan’s mouth, which had been heavily closed, opened.

“If it were me, I would first create composite sketches of the criminal and the apprentice knight based on residents’ reports and issue wanted notices throughout the duchy.”

“…And then?”

“And on the apprentice knight’s wanted poster, I would specify the possibility of being an accomplice.”

“The reason?”

“Well, to prevent him from later appearing under the guise of coincidence, claiming to be ‘the knight who did good deeds’ and playing the hero.”

“That’s quite a plausible scenario.”

“That’s right. If that knight receives hero treatment, the family he belongs to would benefit the most. I suspect Zelkova was targeting this point.”

Marisselle’s logic was clearly persuasive.

“So what you’re saying, nanny, is that you would preemptively block any heroic acts by labeling this apprentice knight with the possibility of being an accomplice?”

Marisselle nodded at Rino’s words.

“Cut off the sprout at the very beginning and uproot it entirely so the spark can never come alive.”

When Marisselle spoke with flashing eyes, Rino was startled.

‘She can make such expressions too.’

“People have a very high likelihood of accepting the first information they hear as truth. Then later information gets pushed back and perceived as lies or excuses. So just by specifying the possibility of being an accomplice, any future heroic acts would lose their power, which is why I would take such preemptive measures.”

Rino couldn’t help but admire Marisselle’s additional explanation.

Meanwhile, Morgan muttered to himself while listening to Marisselle’s opinion.

“Hmm…, it’s certainly a clever plan. But this much isn’t enough…”

Then Marisselle immediately offered her opinion as if answering his concern.

“I also think it would be good to send official documents to each family that has a knight order regarding the apprentice knight. Of course, the document content should specify both possibilities simultaneously – accomplice or righteous person. Then they won’t be able to readily appear claiming to be that righteous person. If they appear, they’ll have to be investigated as a suspect too. Since there’s a possibility the mastermind could be revealed, the mastermind’s side won’t be able to move rashly either.”

Marisselle’s expression after finishing her words was truly triumphant. And rightfully so.

Solutions flowed out smoothly without obstruction, and they couldn’t be clearer.

‘Strangely, my mind is working well?’

Even Marisselle herself was amazed by her own unobstructed strategies.

“Wow! This is absolutely brilliant. It’s so refreshing!”

Rino applauded in admiration of Marisselle’s scheme. It felt like ten years of pent-up frustration was being washed away.

All this time, he couldn’t catch evidence to strike back at Zelkova even when he wanted to. Who would have thought such a solution would emerge.

Rino felt like dancing.

“Ah! And if His Highness the Grand Duke personally visits the site to comfort the residents and prepares measures for prevention and recurrence, the estate people will be even more loyal to Your Highness. From the residents’ perspective, they’ll think His Highness the Grand Duke cares about even such minor details, so they’ll develop respect in their hearts. After all, luxury goods are distinguished by the finest details, aren’t they? Ahaha.”

Marisselle concluded her opinion while bringing two fingers close together beside her eyes to gesture something small.

“Wow… how can it be so perfect.”

Rino clapped his hands again in admiration.

Marisselle’s shoulders lifted with pride at Rino’s praise, and she smiled so widely it seemed her mouth would reach her ears as she spoke.

“Hahaha. Thank you, Lord Rino. Strangely, my mind is working brilliantly today. Hohoho.”

‘Haah…’

He had missed his chance.

Morgan had also wanted to tell her he admired her scheme, but Rino had beaten him to it.

Moreover, seeing the two of them facing each other and laughing pleasantly together ignited fierce jealousy in him.

I’ve never laughed so pleasantly with Marisselle like that.

What should I do about this woman who grows wings and soars higher with each passing moment.

Could I really keep her by my side without clipping her wings.

Morgan momentarily lost confidence in his anxiety.

I wanted to be the one to make her smile like that. Instead of making her laugh, here I am pathetically feeling jealous.

Feeling ashamed of himself, he turned his head away sharply.

‘Huh? Does Morgan not like my scheme?’

Seeing Morgan turn his head away abruptly, Marisselle felt a bit disappointed.

‘Rino said it was good though…’

“…Your Highness doesn’t… like it?”

Seeing Morgan’s dark expression, Marisselle felt her triumphant mood gradually sinking to the bottom.

“It’s quite useful. No. It’s a clever plan.”

“…Is that so?”

Her mood, which had been plummeting to the bottom, rose again and a smile formed.

‘Was I really the same person who was disappointed just moments ago?’

The human heart is so fickle. Going between heaven and earth with just one word, one expression.

“Honestly, I was quite surprised today. How you came up with such a clever plan – there were many parts I admired while listening.”

At Morgan’s praise, Marisselle’s smile bloomed brightly.

At Marisselle’s smile directed toward him, Morgan’s gloomy mood from moments before vanished completely, and a spring breeze blew through his heart. Flowers bloomed and his heart fluttered.

Marisselle, who had never smiled so brightly toward him before.

He had his heart stolen once again, though there was nothing left to steal.

“…And thanks to you, a clever plan occurred to me as well, so… thank you…”

Morgan spoke shyly as if making a confession.

“It’s an honor, Your Highness…”

Marisselle smiled softly, saying it was an honor.

Morgan would need to have an audience with the Emperor soon due to the plan that had occurred to him, and anxiety washed over him.

Because of his intuition that no matter how hard he tried to keep Marisselle from getting involved with the Royal Household, she would end up connected anyway.

Morgan even found himself having the absurd thought that he wished Marisselle were a bird that liked cages.

“Rino. We need to hold a vassals’ meeting tomorrow morning.”

“Understood. Then I’ll send urgent messages to each family right now.”

Instead of words, Morgan nodded slightly.

As Rino was leaving, he showed respect to Marisselle. However, after just a few steps, he turned around again and spoke meaningfully.

“Your Highness? You can’t just employ Nanny Marisselle as a nanny anymore, can you? She’s such a capable advisor! It’s hard to find an advisor like this! Think about it carefully!”

He pointed to his head with his finger as a gesture to think about it, then lowered it.

As if he had read minds, Rino set up the stage that Marisselle had wanted and disappeared from the study so leisurely.

‘Long live Rino!’

Marisselle cheered inwardly.

Strike while the iron is hot—Marisselle quickly seized on Rino’s words before they could disappear into thin air.

“Your Highness. Then, how about I become your second aide? That would naturally make Lord Rino the first aide, wouldn’t it?”

Marisselle’s eyes sparkled as she couldn’t hide her excitement.

However, contrary to her expectations, Morgan showed no particular reaction.

Marisselle began to sense the atmosphere.

‘Did I get ahead of myself?’

When Morgan didn’t react when he should have, she felt unnecessarily nervous. So she clasped her hands demurely in front of her and fidgeted with her innocent fingers.

Morgan had various thoughts tangled together and needed time to think.

If he gave her wings, she would fly anywhere.

If something happened to her somewhere beyond his reach, he would die.

A thief like Renegade might snatch her away.

But if he tried to keep her close, her abilities were too outstanding.

He had already seen how she came alive when her abilities were recognized.

If he kept her confined, she would inevitably wither away.

His desire to let Marisselle fly freely clashed with his desire to keep her by his side, but his answer could only be one thing.

At some point, the center of his life had changed to Marisselle.

It was better for him to suffer than for Marisselle to wither away.

“Sigh. Do you really want to work as an aide?”

“Yes. I want to do it, Your Highness.”

“…Why?”

He asked with the desperation of grasping at straws.

“Well. Because I want the people of the Duchy to live well.”

The answer flowed out immediately without hesitation. As if she had been thinking about it for a long time.

He would eventually grant her wish, yet he stalled for no reason.

“I’ll think about this matter a bit more.”

“Your Highness! Then… if it’s alright, I’d like to accompany you when you go on the inspection to Monsan District.”

“What’s your reason for wanting to go?”

‘One mountain after another.’

“Because I want to see it directly, not just through reports. My parents said inspections are dangerous and never gave me permission, so I’ve never been able to go. But I thought Your Highness might allow it.”

Morgan felt conflicted.

“Your parents are right about that. Monsan especially is a dangerous place for a Noble House lady to go. I wouldn’t recommend it either.”

“That’s exactly why I want to go with Your Highness. Because Your Highness is strong! Who would dare touch someone traveling with Your Highness? I promise not to be a burden.”

Hah—

Morgan sighed from the depths of his lungs.

“Your Highness. You know that field experience is essential if you want to cultivate and utilize talent…”

Marisselle was already smiling brightly with a coquettish voice as if she had already become his aide.

‘How am I supposed to handle her? Damn it. At this rate, my heart won’t survive.’

“…Fine, I’ll think about it.”

Though his words seemed to defer the decision, Marisselle instinctively sensed it.

That it was a yes.

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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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