I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 69

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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 69

“Now that we’ve become fellow assistants. It wouldn’t be right to call you nanny. And calling you stiffly ‘2nd Assistant!’ like that is too cold. How about we call each other by our names in a friendly way?”

Marisselle thought for a moment while stroking her chin with her hand.

“That makes sense too. Then from now on, Rino-“

“No!”

Just then, Morgan urgently interrupted and cut him off mid-sentence.

“Why!”

Rino had already anticipated Morgan’s reaction and shouted forcefully.

Startled, Maricel blinked her eyes. Her long eyelashes fluttered up and down rapidly, just like the beating of butterfly wings.

“What’s personal about it? Colleagues at the same workplace calling each other by name is commonplace!”

“Then why not! Give me a reasonable explanation!”

“No!”

“So why not?! Give me a good reason!”

“No matter what, absolutely not! Just try calling each other by name!”

Then Morgan left the two of them behind and walked away without looking back.

Did those words really come out of Morgan’s mouth? Is that really him?

Maricel’s mouth fell open in shock.

‘Just how far does your transformation go? Are you really Morgan?’

I had deliberately acted spiteful because I was curious about my dear friend’s reaction, but his completely unexpected behavior left me speechless.

“Hahaha. It seems we should do that.”

Rino was equally bewildered.

“But… did His Highness always have that side to him?”

Rino was equally bewildered.

“But… has His Majesty always had that side to him?”

“No. I can assure you, this is my first time seeing it today as well.”

Rino had still held onto some hope for Maricel, but he decided that it would be best for him to give up on her from this moment on.

In some ways, I envied Morgan and was curious about her too.

It’s an emotion I’ve never experienced before.

‘He’s totally crazy. A crazy guy in love.’

Is that hereditary too?

‘The previous Grand Duke was like that, and now that bastard is the same.’

Rino shook his head back and forth as if there was no stopping him.

“Seems like it. I thought it was a bit strange too.”

“According to what’s written on this poster, that guy might be an accomplice.”

The square where the wanted posters were put up was bustling with people, and as Marisselle had said, they began to suspect the good Samaritan as an accomplice.

A thorn of suspicion was planted in their consciousness, which had previously accepted everything at face value.

From this day forward, the phrase “You should think before you live” spread among them like a trend.

And Morgan sent official documents to each family in the Empire that commanded knight orders.

He briefly explained the incident that occurred in the Monsan Region and asked for a quick response within one week if they had anyone who could be identified as the good Samaritan or suspect in the case.

If proven to be the good Samaritan, a great reward would be given, but if someone appeared after seven days claiming to be the good Samaritan, they would clearly be considered a suspect.

“…The Grand Duke is truly wise.”

Briefly explain the incident that occurred in the Monsan area, and if there are any suspects or persons of interest identified in the case, please respond quickly within one week.

The content stated that a large reward would be given if proven to be a righteous person, and that if someone appeared after 7 days claiming to be that righteous person, they would clearly be considered a suspect.

“…The Grand Duke is truly wise.”

“We absolutely must not make an enemy of the Grand Duke.”

Each family that received the official document felt a chill run down their spine at the Grand Duke’s sharp warning.

But unlike them, Zelkova raged and thrashed about in fury.

“Hanko! Call Hanko Devrang!”

Zelkova couldn’t contain his anger and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Huh? Yes, yes….”

“This!”

Zelkova threw the official document at Hanko’s face and shouted until his face turned bright red.

“Your Excellency. What matter has brought you here in such haste?”

“This!”

Jelkova threw the official document at Hanko’s face and shouted until his own face turned bright red.

The official document fluttered and danced before Hanko’s eyes before falling to the floor with soft thuds.

‘Ignorant fool.’

Hanko trembled with humiliation, but gritted his teeth and swallowed it down.

He had a dream. A dream of becoming Emperor.

He believed himself to be the one destined to ascend to the throne. The only thing he lacked was bloodline.

So he would install the well-born but foolish Zelkova as a puppet emperor, while he himself would enjoy the real power.

For that dream, he could endure any amount of humiliation like this.

Hanko picked up the official document from the floor with an expressionless face.

“…?”

Hanko became dazed as if struck by a hammer.

That Morgan, who never moved without certainty, had acted on mere possibility. And he had cast his net so tightly that there was no escape.

Knowing his nature, Hanko had deliberately planned a minor disturbance, but this was a completely unexpected reaction.

‘This card has outlived its usefulness.’

He could understand why Zelkova was throwing such a fit.

‘There’s never been a time when my schemes didn’t work….’

Now he had been fundamentally blocked, without even a tail to cut off.

His pride was cracked.

‘Where did it go wrong?’

He frowned and thought.

Analyzing the cause could come later; right now he needed to placate Zelkova.

He pretended to be relaxed and gave Zelkova a sinister smile.

“Marquis. This has no effect whatsoever on executing our next plan. It only slightly reduces the dramatic effect. You don’t need to think so hastily about it.”

He showed an even more confident attitude.

Zelkova’s fiercely contorted expression softened considerably.

And as if he had never been angry, Zelkova pretended to be relaxed as he stroked his beard and said.

“Then I’ll trust only you. You may go. Ahem!”

“Yes, Marquis….”

* * *

“You received the official document too, didn’t you?”

“Oh, of course. I received it. The Duke was thoroughly angry. Sending official documents to each family with knight orders says it all.”

“Who would be so fearless as to provoke the Duke…?”

“The families that see the Duke’s Household as a thorn in their side are obvious, aren’t they? They just can’t make it public due to lack of evidence. Has this kind of thing only happened once or twice?”

“That’s true. But seeing such a hard-line response, it must be something big. Don’t you think?”

“Certainly. I suspect the convening of this emergency noble assembly is also related to that.”

Count Leven, who belonged to the Imperial Faction nobles, expressed his thoughts as he entered the palace to meet Count Ingram, who was from the same Imperial Faction.

Then Ingram cleared his throat and gave Leven a meaningful look.

“Ahem! Count Leven. Let’s go inside quickly.”

“Ahem. Y-yes. We’ll be late at this rate.”

Leven, catching the hint, spotted Morgan in formal attire and quickened his pace, worried he might encounter Morgan.

* * *

“His Highness the Crown Prince enters.”

When Hemit Pochi, the Emperor’s aide, announced loudly, all the noble elders rose from their seats to show respect.

“We greet His Highness the Crown Prince, the small sun of the Empire. May the protection of Goddess Hirias be eternal.”

“Be seated.”

Crown Prince Renegade spoke briefly and extended his arm.

“Today’s noble elder assembly was originally to be presided over by His Majesty the Emperor, but he has entrusted it entirely to His Highness the Crown Prince. Therefore, the elders should keep in mind that His Highness the Crown Prince is here as His Majesty’s representative.”

The hall became momentarily chaotic with the elders’ murmuring.

“Has His Majesty the Emperor’s health worsened further?”

“That might be the case. But seeing how he stayed until the end during that debutante ball, maybe not. Rather, he might be continuously placing the Crown Prince in such positions to give him more power.”

Amid the diverse opinions of the noble elders, Morgan waited with an expressionless face for the hall to quiet down.

And Zelkova, sitting two seats across from Morgan, was glaring at him with snake-like eyes.

“Do you need more time to chat?”

At the Crown Prince’s heavy voice that seemed to overwhelm the audience, silence instantly fell over the assembly hall.

“The reason for convening today’s assembly is to establish a system for the development of the Empire.”

Then Renegade swept his eyes over the nobles one by one.

His gaze lingered a bit longer when it reached Zelkova, and finally settled on Morgan.

“You all must be aware of the unpleasant incident that occurred recently in the Duchy. Regarding that matter, Morgan Ergana and Grand Duke Joachim have requested this meeting be convened, and I wish to hear your opinions before putting the agenda forward. Now then, Grand Duke Joachim, please speak.”

Morgan received the Crown Prince’s gaze and slowly rose, opening the discussion with a cold expression.

“While handling this incident, I discovered serious flaws in the Empire’s reporting system. Despite the clear presence of regional security forces, the suspect or presumed righteous individual ignored the system and handed over the stolen goods directly to the village chief.”

Morgan swept his gaze across the assembly once, then looked at Zelkova as he spoke.

“If this continues to be allowed, it would essentially grant permission to steal the people’s hearts that should rightfully belong to His Imperial Majesty. This will soon lead to grave consequences that shake the Empire’s order and system.”

‘That bastard!’

Zelkova was deeply displeased that Morgan was looking directly at him while speaking.

By looking at him while speaking, Morgan naturally drew everyone’s attention to him, creating an atmosphere as if he were the culprit.

“Wait. Who is intercepting the people’s hearts that should go to the Emperor? Isn’t this tantamount to treason?”

“This trivial matter leads to that? Isn’t this going too far?”

“No, thinking about it carefully, if left unchecked, that could happen. If a single family intercepts what should be credited to the Emperor, the people’s hearts could lean toward that family.”

“Ah, as if there would be a family bold enough to do that…”

The elders exchanged words while stealing glances at Zelkova from the corners of their eyes.

At that moment, Count Wesley Tilbo, the Marquis’s confidant, interjected.

“How does that shake the Empire’s order? Isn’t that too much of a leap? Does the Empire’s order crumble so easily? Grand Duke, your concerns seem excessive. Haha.”

Tilbo let out a mocking laugh, claiming Morgan’s argument was absurd.

Then Morgan slowly turned toward Tilbo like a snake eyeing its prey.

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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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