I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 74

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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 74

The day of the Knight Order promotion examination under the Duchy.

“Hey, what the hell have you been doing going around that everywhere I go I hear stories about you?”

“What stories?”

Morgan treated Rino like a fool and walked ahead.

“Are you seriously asking because you don’t know right now? You’re the starting point of this trend, you bastard!”

“What trend?”

Morgan stopped walking and glared at Rino.

With murderous eyes that said he wouldn’t let it slide if he said one more foolish thing.

But Rino didn’t even flinch.

“Right now every cafe in the Empire is overflowing with mango juice. Moreover, it’s trendy to share one glass and taste it together. They say it’s all because of you. Are you still going to pretend you don’t know? What the hell did you do at the cafe with Marisselle that has the entire Empire in such an uproar, you bastard!”

“…Really? Are there no other rumors?”

“What? Other rumors? Look how shameless this bastard is? Why, didn’t something go according to plan? Did you want other rumors? Is that it? Huh?”

“Never mind if you don’t know.”

Morgan seemed disappointed and hurried his steps again.

“Hey!”

Rino was dying of curiosity and called out loudly to Morgan, but Morgan didn’t even pretend to listen and just went his own way.

‘Other rumors… If it’s other rumors… could it be!’

“Hey! You bastard. You were working to make it look like you and Marisselle are lovers, right?”

Rino, who had caught up to Morgan at some point, ran over and said.

“If that’s the case, you’ve already succeeded. The romantic antics you pulled are spreading like a trend among lovers. Isn’t this level already a success?”

Morgan’s actions weren’t for the benefit of lovers. What he wanted was exactly what Rino said – rumors that he and Marisselle were lovers.

But something completely different was being talked about and becoming trendy.

He swallowed a bitter smile and changed the subject.

“…Hmm. How are the knights this time? Are there any useful knights?”

“Hey! Don’t change the subject. Tell me straight. Did you decide to date Marisselle by any chance?”

“…”

Morgan seemed annoyed and increased his walking speed instead of answering.

‘That bastard! Not yet, I see. Well, of course. Green wood produces more smoke.’

Rino sent tearful encouragement in his heart to his friend’s one-sided love that was all rumors with no substance.

* * *

“Have you arrived?”

4th Knight Order Captain Herbort respectfully greeted Morgan.

With Rino, whom he was relatively close with, he exchanged a simple nod instead.

“Is there anyone useful in this batch?”

“Unfortunately, there’s no one who particularly stands out this time. The number of knight apprentices has also drastically decreased this time. It makes finding talent even more difficult.”

Herbort Rommel showed an apologetic attitude as if it were his own fault.

The aftermath of the war from several years ago was still having a major impact. Due to the war’s aftermath, many noble families in regions with weak financial independence had fallen.

It was common for daughters to be sold as concubines or second wives to wealthy old nobles, and sons to risk their lives on trading ships.

Since it took a long time to become a formal knight, and it was difficult to maintain a living on an apprentice knight’s salary, men often took to dangerous trading ships.

“How about Zelkova’s side?”

“I was actually going to report this to you today. Zelkova’s movements don’t look good.”

“…”

Morgan’s expression didn’t change as if he had already anticipated this.

“They’re building several villas below the mountain range, and the hired workers are suspicious.”

“Why, are they mercenaries?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. It seems they’re using tricks since it’s become difficult to recruit knights.”

“It’s likely not just a simple knight recruitment problem. Keep watching and from now on, report even the smallest thing around that area without missing anything.”

“Yes!”

Rino, standing beside them, clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘How does someone who’s so terrifyingly meticulous and coldly calculating when it comes to work act like he’s missing a screw when it comes to Marisselle?’

Rino looked at Morgan with curiosity.

Morgan climbed up to the high platform and swept the training ground and knights intensely practicing their final sparring with eagle eyes.

As Herbot had said, no useful talent was visible.

“Proceed.”

“Yes!”

The examination hall filled with tension.

“Everyone, attention!”

Herbot shouted loudly enough to make the training ground ring.

At that, the knights all stopped their movements in unison and took attention stance while looking toward the platform.

“We will now begin the promotion examination.”

Herbot signaled to each knight order captain observing the examination. Immediately, they divided into four groups and the matches began.

Morgan watched a few teams compete for a while with a thoughtful expression, then quietly stood up.

“Good work.”

Morgan patted Herbot’s shoulder and left words of encouragement before turning to leave.

“Yes? Yes!”

Herbot was momentarily flustered. It was the first encouragement he had ever received. He saluted respectfully and maintained proper posture until Morgan disappeared from sight.

‘The lord gave verbal encouragement?’

He never dreamed he would hear words of appreciation from Morgan in his lifetime.

Rino, who had left the training ground together with Morgan, spoke.

“It seems like Zelkova is about to make their move in earnest, right?”

Morgan silently agreed.

In the Empire, the one with the most capable and numerous knight orders is Morgan.

They rival the Royal Guard, and their skills are certainly not inferior.

Though they’ve never actually clashed, the public considers Morgan’s knight orders to be superior.

The next most powerful knight orders belong to Count Zelkova. And they’re absolutely not lacking in knight orders either.

Under Imperial law, unless you’re the head of an institution responsible for public order, you must receive Royal permission when seeking to increase knights.

But Zelkova had already filled their knight quota long ago.

In other words, if they wanted reinforcements, there had to be a justifiable reason.

But gathering mercenaries under the pretext of villa expansion without obtaining permission could only mean rebellion.

Zelkova was deceiving the Royal Household’s eyes to gather troops for plotting rebellion. Using villa construction as a pretext, no less.

This meant they intended to execute their plan in the near future.

Morgan, who had been walking expressionlessly, spoke to Rino.

“Rino. You send urgent word to the knight orders guarding the borders. It seems that bastard Zelkova is plotting something quite interesting.”

“…Surely, it’s not war, is it?”

Rino asked worriedly.

“Moving without rallying other nobles means they have external forces. It won’t hurt to prepare.”

“Hah. That crazy bastard Zelkova! How long has it been since the war ended.”

Rino cursed profusely.

“Don’t tell me… does he think he can become Emperor or something?”

“Those who don’t know their place are the ones who recklessly charge in. Without thinking about their own death.”

“That’s true. Ignorance makes you brave.”

Rino spoke jokingly to lighten the mood. But Morgan didn’t relax his expression.

“There’s someone attached to that bastard Zelkova as a strategist.”

“Who?”

Morgan looked at Rino sideways.

“I don’t know either. We need to find out.”

Huh. He thought Morgan knew and was telling him, but that wasn’t the case.

Rino felt like he’d been hit in the back of the head.

“Then, should we assign more people…”

“No. That guy is very suspicious, so we need to find out through inside people. First, find internal dissidents. Make contact with dismissed people too.”

“Understood. I’ll proceed discreetly.”

* * *

“Hm?”

Porel was startled while sorting correspondence. Letters with the Royal seal came regularly, so there was nothing special about that.

But this time was unusual. The recipient wasn’t his master Morgan, but Marisselle.

“…What’s this?”

Porel fell into thought for a moment.

He took the Royal correspondence addressed to Marisselle along with the others and headed to Morgan’s office.

“Your Grace. Here is today’s correspondence.”

Morgan first checked the correspondence with the Royal seal.

“…?”

The recipient was Marisselle. Deep furrows immediately formed on his forehead.

“What is this?”

“That’s why I brought it to Your Highness. Since the recipient is Miss Marisselle….”

He had a bad feeling about this.

“If there’s nothing more to report, you may go.”

“Yes.”

After Porel left, Morgan quickly checked through the letters that had arrived for him, then took Marisselle’s letter and headed to her room.

Since Marisselle was currently serving dual roles as nanny and assistant, she naturally transitioned to her nanny duties when Fleur’s lessons ended.

Though it was evening, it wasn’t too late, so Morgan decided to deliver the letter.

And he needed to confirm what the contents were about.

The reason?

The reason was the Duke’s Household’s safety.

Knock! Knock!

Just as Morgan was about to announce himself, a voice came from beyond the door.

“Come in!”

‘…Did she know I was coming?’

Morgan thought Porel had given her advance notice.

He opened the door without hesitation.

“…!”

Morgan froze as if he had turned to stone.

Even though the door had opened, Marisselle didn’t turn around and was only looking at her reflection in the mirror while adjusting her dress.

A dizzying dress that revealed her entire back.

‘Where is she planning to go wearing that? Don’t tell me… the Crown Prince…?’

Marisselle in the dress that revealed her neckline and back was a completely different person.

Her pure image was nowhere to be found, and she had become an enchanting woman. Yet there was no vulgar feeling, and elegance flowed from her.

His heart began to beat violently.

“Betty. You came quickly? You said you’d be a bit late…. Here, the chest area needs to be taken in a bit… Ah!”

Marisselle, who had just turned around, was so startled that she collapsed to the floor.

“Marisselle!”

Morgan rushed over and helped Marisselle up.

“Are you alright?”

“Haa haa-“

Marisselle placed her hand on her chest and steadied her breathing.

“Yes… I’m, I’m fine. I was just startled.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you…. I came right in because you said to. I thought Porel had told you.”

Morgan spoke with a dark expression and a voice that was growing quieter.

“Huh? Porel? I was just waiting for Betty to alter my dress. But what brings Your Highness here….”

“….”

Instead of answering, Morgan asked with a sullen expression.

“Where are you planning to go in such a dress….”

“Ah, it’s Jenti’s birthday soon. I need some alterations for the birthday party…. But really, didn’t you come here for some business?”

“I did, but… are you going to listen in that outfit?”

“Ah, that’s true.”

As Marisselle scratched her face and tried to get up, Morgan stood first and extended his hand to her.

“Thank you, Your Highness. It would take time to change clothes, so I’ll just put on a shawl. Just a moment.”

Marisselle lifted the hem of her dress and moved to get her shawl.

Her exposed ankles and dizzying silhouette caught his eye again.

‘Haa. That dress. I’ll have to do something about it by any means necessary.’

If she went wearing that dress, wolf-like men would surely pounce on her like a pack.

‘That cannot happen.’

“Ah! Here it is.”

Marisselle casually draped the shawl over her shoulders and appeared before Morgan.

“Your Highness. Please sit here. But what matter really brought you to visit personally….”

“Here.”

Morgan sat down and held out a square envelope.

“…Huh?”

It was a letter from the Royal Household.

The brilliant golden gleam made it look incredibly luxurious.

‘It looks like the Crown Prince is going to keep his promise.’

When she opened the letter, it was just as expected.

“What does it say?”

Morgan felt anxiety creeping in when he saw Marisselle smiling.

“Ah! Well, that is…”

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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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