I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 73

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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 73

“Your Highness. What is the favor Your Highness wants from me?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

We rode our horses like that, leaving the commercial district behind.

Before we knew it, the sun was struggling to cross over the horizon.

A man who was moving unpredictably today, more so than usual.

“Your Highness, this place is…”

Since we were heading in the direction of the Duke’s Household, I thought we’d arrive there and he’d make some request, but that wasn’t it.

This was Cafe ‘Liz’, which was said to be popular among couples these days.

“Let’s go in. Maison! You all wait outside.”

“Ah! No, Your Highness. That won’t do. The knights must be hungry too.”

I urgently stopped Morgan.

My instincts were telling me. It would be dangerous to go in alone together.

“No, Assistant. We don’t eat until we complete our mission. We’re trained that way, so don’t worry. We can go without food for three days easily.”

Maison and the other knights glanced at Morgan and stepped back.

“You heard them? Then let’s go in!”

‘What? They’re not even waving their hands in refusal but stepping back?’

Just what kind of existence was Morgan to these people?

Various thoughts came and went simultaneously.

Having no choice, I followed Morgan into the cafe.

‘I knew this would happen.’

As soon as we opened the door, several eyes turned our way, and along with murmuring sounds, all gazes poured onto us.

It couldn’t be helped. Who would have ever imagined seeing a Grand Duke in a cafe!

Judging by expressions, the most surprised and nervous among them was probably the cafe employee.

Eyes wide open as if about to pop out, mouth gaping open, an expression as if he’d seen a ghost.

When another employee next to him came to his senses first and nudged his side, only then did he snap back to reality.

“W-welcome. Y-Your Highness.”

The employee’s voice trembled.

‘How nervous must he be?’

When a high-ranking person appears at a company, how nervous the subordinates get.

Sigh.

The hardships of office workers came to mind, and I felt sympathy for the employee.

Since things had come to this, I looked around for a window seat that would draw less attention.

As expected, there was no way there would be one…

The cafe, befitting a popular spot, had no remaining seats except for a few in the center of the hall. We took seats in the least conspicuous spot available.

Probably sitting by the window wouldn’t have made much difference anyway.

Thinking that if we’d sat by the window, not only people in the hall but also passersby would have glanced at us, I felt this spot was better after all.

“W-would you like to order?”

He looked at me.

“Marisselle… have you been here before?”

“No. This is my first time.”

This time he looked at the employee.

“Then let’s look at the menu before ordering. Do you have any recommended items today?”

“T-the items many customers are ordering these days are the moist tiramisu cake and custard topped with fruit. For drinks…”

The employee with short silver hair and a fairly handsome face continued with detailed explanations, pointing to each menu item one by one despite his trembling hands.

“…I see.”

I was also looking at the menu carefully when I discovered mango juice among the new items.

‘What? Could this be the mango I know?’

“Excuse me, what is this mango juice here?”

“Ah! It’s a yellow fruit imported from the southern continent. The taste is a bit unique, but it’s very sweet and delicious. However, the response hasn’t been very good in the Empire, perhaps because it’s an unfamiliar taste.”

I wanted to check it out.

“Then, I’ll have this mango juice for my drink, and I’ll leave the rest to Your Highness.”

He looked at me with a gentle smile and spoke to the employee.

“Let’s order. Give us black tea and mango juice for drinks, and choose the rest to go well with the beverages.”

“Yes! I’ll prepare them right away.”

The cafe employee quickly disappeared with a relieved face like someone finally liberated.

A moment of silence fell.

And then glances—both timid looks and blatant, persistent stares—mixed together and flew toward us clearly.

There was nowhere to escape, whether front or back.

“Your Highness. Did you always like places like cafes?”

“No. I came because I heard nobles like them?”

“Pardon? Then you’re saying you came because of me?”

“….”

He affirmed with his silence.

‘Huh? Then I misunderstood again?’

Lately. Why do I keep getting things wrong so often?

I thought he was trying hard to appear like lovers publicly.

But he came because it’s a place nobles like….

I definitely feel like he likes me… but his words say otherwise.

Wait, doesn’t he like me? He’s saying he deliberately brought me because he thought I’d like it.

‘Could it be… am I being strung along again?’

Ah, no. That’s going too far.

What would Morgan lack that he’d need to string someone along.

Given his personality, stringing people along doesn’t suit him. And above all, he’s too busy to have time for such games.

Now I’m too confused. I want to tear my hair out.

“I’ll bring your food.”

We’d barely exchanged a few words, yet the food came out lightning fast. I guess being a grand duke gets you special treatment.

Scones, clotted cream, and butter cookies that go well with black tea were placed in front of Morgan, while a salad that pairs with mango juice was set before me.

The food that came out was pretty and looked delicious just by sight. In modern times, this would be perfect for social media.

I sipped the mango juice and smacked my lips.

It wasn’t the taste I expected.

But it was delicious. It seemed to have a hint of the mango flavor I knew, and was sweet and sour.

“The taste seems good.”

“Pardon?”

“Your expression looks like a puppy taking a nap.”

“Pardon? A puppy napping? What kind of expression was I making?”

“Have you never seen a puppy napping?”

“Well… I have seen it….”

There’s no way I made such a peaceful and happy expression.

The juice was sweet and sour, so I would have frowned a little if anything.

“Your Highness should order one and try it too.”

At Morgan’s words to me, I also became curious about his expression when drinking this juice.

“No. Rather than ordering a new one, it would be enough if you let me taste a bit of what you’re drinking. Would you mind?”

“Pardon? It’s not that I mind, but since I’ve been drinking from it. Given Your Highness the Grand Duke’s status, wouldn’t it be better to order a new one?”

“I don’t like wasting money on unnecessary things. I’ll taste it first and order one if it suits my palate.”

If you put it that way.

I handed him the juice I’d taken a sip from. Making sure the part I hadn’t touched faced him.

“By the way, this side is where I put my lips, so please avoid it.”

“…?”

It’s not even wine, so why?

Morgan examined the juice in the transparent glass like he was evaluating wine, turning it this way and that, setting it down, then picking it up again.

‘Huh?’

“Your Highness, that side is where I put my lips…”

Before I could stop him, he drank the juice from exactly where I had put my lips.

Gasp.

In my haste, I made the sound too loud.

“Oh my, His Highness put his lips where the noble lady drank….”

“Th-this is an indirect kiss…?”

“Could it be…, on purpose…?”

Countless whispers could be heard.

‘I’m screwed.’

But wait. What’s this.

This man’s expression is so nonchalant that he even looks satisfied.

‘Could it be, an intentional action?’

A reasonable suspicion arose.

I thought about asking, but considering the behavior he’d shown, he didn’t seem like he’d honestly tell me the truth.

‘I should have noticed from when he looked at juice like it was wine.’

Sigh. The rumors will spread far and wide before long.

The Grand Duke and his nanny came to the cafe, and the Grand Duke shared a glass that the nanny had drunk from. Something like that – trivial but bothersome rumors.

“The taste is quite unique. Not to my taste though. If you come again next time, will you order this juice again?”

Is he suggesting we come together again next time?

Ah, no. I think I’m getting ahead of myself again.

A cafe is a place you can come to with other people, or even alone.

“Yes, Your Highness. I think I’ll drink it often.”

He smiled, drawing a faint arc with his lips.

“Then. If possible, come with me.”

“Pardon? Why?”

His expression twisted for a moment.

“Why, do you dislike coming with me again?”

“Ah, it’s not that I dislike it, I’m just curious about the reason.”

“…Reason?”

“Yes.”

I answered and nodded my head vigorously.

“Since you like it, I want to try liking it too.”

“Ah… yes…”

‘Ah, yes?’

What kind of response is “ah, yes”?

But other than “ah, yes,” what else could I say?

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with appropriate words for this situation.

I was proud of myself for barely managing to hold back the Pandora’s box-like question of whether he liked me.

It was troublesome how often my mouth felt this itchy to speak.

“Here…”

“…?”

Morgan extended his hand toward me. While holding a scone.

‘What’s this?’

Is he telling me to take it and eat it now?

“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness.”

I reached out my hand to take the scone.

“…?”

But Morgan pulled his hand back so I couldn’t grab the scone. My hand lost its destination and remained suspended in mid-air.

“Not with your hand. With your mouth.”

“Whaaaat?”

I was so shocked my eyes nearly popped out.

“N-no, Your Highness. I’ll take it with my hands.”

Without thinking, I flatly refused.

But… he’s letting out a strange smile.

‘What, what is it, why are you being so unsettling…’

“This is my request for today.”

‘Damn.’

The request is too, too… blatant.

“Um… Your Highness? Could you make it something else? Th-this is too…”

“No. This is what I want. For you to take the food I give you with your mouth! Just like you did to me.”

Gasp! How could this be.

He’s returning the favor like this?

“Ah… I didn’t know Your Highness would dislike it so much. I’ll keep that in mind from now on. So, there are many people here…”

“No. I’m actually doing this because I like it.”

“What? You like it? I thought you were punishing me to never do it again…”

He spoke with emphasis once again while looking straight at me.

“Punishment? Ridiculous. I just wanted to feel how you felt when feeding me. You looked quite happy, you know.”

Gasp.

What should I do? What kind of expression did I have when feeding him?

I only remember feeling proud…

Since he’s saying all this, there’s no way out anymore.

Sigh.

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened my mouth wide to receive the scone he offered.

Even without trying to look, I could feel everyone’s gaze… I felt like I could die of embarrassment.

His satisfied face.

‘I had that kind of expression? Surely not.’

“Good. So this is why you kept feeding me.”

Ahhh

‘No! Don’t say things like that!’

How many eyes and ears are watching and listening.

‘I’m doomed. Completely doomed.’

“I should feed you often from now on too.”

Really, with every single word he uttered, I wanted to cover his mouth.

“Your Highness… I understand, so please, could you stop talking?”

Anxiously, he smiled mischievously, his eyes curving like a playful child.

“Mm. No.”

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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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