I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 76

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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 76

Because Hereise doesn’t see her as a woman?

Then… does that mean Marisselle sees Hereise as a man?

Morgan’s heart began to race.

Should he confirm it or not?

Seeing how indifferently she spoke, it didn’t seem like now was the right time.

“…What you just said sounds like you see your childhood friend Hereise as a man…”

Marisselle had an “oh no” moment.

She hadn’t expected the truth inside her to slip out so carelessly.

“Um… well… I did at one point. Hereise is handsome, kind and caring, and I feel comfortable and happy when I’m with him. But Hereise doesn’t see me as a woman at all. Just as a friend, nothing more. So I gave up.”

“…”

“…?”

His expression looked as if the sky had fallen.

“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell? Should I call a physician?”

Marisselle asked worriedly, concerned about Morgan’s suddenly deteriorated complexion.

“No. No need to call one. Are you certain you don’t feel that way now?”

“Pardon? Don’t feel that way now?”

“Are you certain you don’t see Hereise as a man now?”

“Ah… I was rejected before I even confessed, so I completely gave up on those feelings. Hereise doesn’t even know that I liked him. If I just return to my original position, there’s no problem at all.”

While he felt somewhat relieved to hear that she had given up on those feelings now, anxiety also crept in on the other hand.

Since he’s always been by her side, he might not have recognized her as a woman. But someday, the day might come when he does recognize her as one.

Just like what happened to him.

“What would you do if Hereise confessed that he likes you?”

‘Hereise to me?’

Come to think of it, that possibility couldn’t be completely ruled out either.

‘Then wouldn’t that be great?’

“Hmm… In the current situation, I think I would accept.”

Thud-!

Morgan’s heart dropped to the ground.

The Crown Prince wasn’t the problem. The enemy wasn’t in a high place. He was right beside Marisselle. And far too close at that.

“…Why? Do you still like him now?”

“Rather than liking him, he’s suitable for marriage and living together. I’ve known him for a long time, he’s kind and caring, and he’s someone I can trust. Marriage is about daily life, so it’s a bit overwhelming to carry on for the rest of your life with just emotions. In that regard, Hereise is a good person.”

Morgan’s heart pounded violently as he began analyzing the conditions Marisselle was mentioning.

“Then, it’s ultimately about conditions, isn’t it?”

Marisselle briefly rolled her eyes to the side, thinking before answering.

“I suppose you could see it that way?”

He gathered his thoughts for a moment and asked again carefully.

“Then, does that mean you could accept if a man with the same conditions confessed or proposed to you?”

He was desperate.

“Those would be the basic conditions, yes. But I think there should be some feelings of affection too, shouldn’t there? And we’d need to be compatible as well.”

‘So she’s saying she still has Hereise in her heart.’

He felt bitter.

“Then… how did you come to like Hereise?”

‘No. Why is he asking so persistently? I don’t really want to talk about this.’

“Your Highness. I’d like to stop talking about this.”

As soon as she finished speaking, he made a pitiful expression like a campfire whose flames had died out.

So much so that you’d wonder if there could be another person in the world this pathetic.

Sigh-

“Your Highness… I’ll answer just this one more thing and then we’re done with this topic.”

Life returned to his eyes that had lost their light and been floundering in despair. He even wore a faint smile as he nodded.

“I don’t remember the exact timing, but as we met frequently, my feelings naturally developed. A word he said for me, an action he took – I think it built up from things like that. That’s the end.”

‘So it seeped in through frequent meetings?’

He had a chance too. The current Marisselle was spending a lot of time with him as well.

“But what do you mean by being compatible?”

He wanted to confirm if Marisselle’s grain was the same as his own.

Would Marisselle really give him an answer? He was anxious, but surprisingly, Marisselle answered this question without hesitation.

“Hmm… I suppose you could call it values? For example, someone who pursues personal gain and someone who pursues justice couldn’t possibly have the same grain, right?”

“I see. Then are you someone who pursues justice?”

“Pardon?”

‘Justice, what justice. That was just an example.’

“That was just an example. I’m not some great person who pursues justice on such a grand scale. I simply want to live happily while protecting what’s precious to me in my modest way. Though I wouldn’t just stand by if someone tried to take away or destroy what’s precious to me.”

Hope arose. He thought that Marisselle’s grain wasn’t different from his own.

“Hmm… What about Your Highness?”

What about Morgan? Marisselle suddenly became curious.

“I don’t think I’m much different from you. My life is about protecting what belongs to me.”

Marisselle agreed. As he said, he was living a life of struggling to protect what belonged to him. That life was herself.

‘Didn’t he have any personal desires?’

Things like dreams.

From the beginning, only the path of being a Grand Duke was laid out for him, so he probably never thought about anything else…

But looking at it, Morgan suits being a Grand Duke well. He has the ability, and his aptitude seems to match well too.

Unnecessary worry.

‘Hehe. Even so, just because we have the same grain doesn’t mean we’re the same. His life and mine are on completely different scales…’

If a sparrow tries to follow a stork, it’ll tear its legs.

‘Even if he and I have the same grain, our status is different, so it won’t work.’

“I see. But Your Highness operates on an incomparably larger scale than me. Even if we have the same grain, our status is different.”

‘Is she putting up a wall?’

Morgan felt bitter. Just when he thought he’d found common ground…

“You’re talking nonsense. You’re already protecting the same magnitude as me, but you’re slow to realize it.”

“…?”

Marisselle’s expression asked what he meant.

“You’re already responsible for the estate’s affairs as my aide.”

“Ah…!”

She had put up a wall after finding common ground. But he broke through it again.

“Does it work that way, Your Highness? Haha.”

Marisselle, caught in her scheme, laughed awkwardly.

“Good that you acknowledge it quickly.”

“Aha, haha. Thank you, Your Highness.”

‘I think it’s about time for Betty to return…’

He showed no signs of leaving.

“Ah! Your Highness. If you have more to say, I’ll change clothes and come to the study. Betty will probably come up soon for dress alterations. Do you have more to say?”

“Oh my… I must have been inconsiderate and taken up too much of your time.”

But contrary to his words, Morgan seemed to have no intention of getting up, as if his bottom was too heavy.

“…Ahem. So, will you go to the Imperial Palace after the birthday banquet?”

“No… I’m planning to go before that. It happens that the week before Jenti’s birthday is written in this letter as a good time.”

With that, Marisselle shifted her gaze toward the door. It was a silent order to leave quickly.

‘She’s telling me to get out quickly.’

Morgan said with a bitter smile.

“Right. Then I’ll have a carriage on standby at that time. And I hope you find the materials you want.”

Marisselle smiled prettily, her eyes crinkling.

“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness.”

‘She smiles so prettily while kicking me out.’

He couldn’t stop the birthday banquet and library visit, but he could at least change the dress.

‘To something suitable for a birthday banquet.’

* * *

The second visit to the Imperial Palace. She came very comfortably in the carriage Morgan had prepared.

She had expected it to be quite cold and dressed warmly, but the carriage had heating magic stones installed, so it wasn’t cold at all.

“Indeed, having lots of money is the best.”

The royal palace was also lined with magic stones, making the air so mild that the thick layers I had worn seemed unnecessary.

The lower classes, far from having magic stones, lack even firewood, and some live in the same space as livestock to endure the cold. It didn’t sit well with me.

If only there was something that could help them even a little…

‘If my planned work succeeds, they should be able to receive at least some benefit.’

“Please wait here for a moment.”

The attendant who had been guiding me said.

“…This place is impressive no matter how many times I see it.”

During my debutante, there were so many decorations that I hadn’t noticed, but looking at the empty Central Hall of Taran Palace now, it felt even larger and more magnificent than before.

And I noticed paintings and sculptures that I hadn’t seen back then.

Most admirable of all was the mural painted on the high ceiling.

It was painted so vividly that it gave the sacred feeling as if Goddess Hirias was looking down at her people from the heavens.

‘How could I have missed seeing that?’

And sculptures of a black panther and white panther facing each other from a distance, and a large eagle about to take flight particularly caught my eye.

I’m realizing anew that the Helman Empire seems to have many outstanding artists.

I reached out to touch the sculpture, amazed by its lifelike vividness.

“Wow! It looks just like it’s alive!”

The texture I felt at my fingertips was so amazing, like touching a real living animal.

“Does it?”

A soft, low voice filled the spacious hall.

“Huh?”

I turned toward where the voice came from.

Crown Prince Renegade was walking toward me from one side of the hall.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

I bent my knees politely according to court etiquette.

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to come out personally.”

“Since I invited you, naturally I should greet you myself.”

“…Your words make me feel like I’m receiving very precious treatment, Your Highness.”

Renegade’s lips curved up slightly.

“Perhaps because I was so nervous during my debutante, I’m only now seeing the displayed artworks.”

“What do you think of them?”

“They’re beautiful beyond words. Especially these panthers look so lifelike.”

“You do have a good eye. These panther sculptures are very old sculptures that have been here since the founding of the nation. According to legend, they’re not sculptures but two divine beasts that Goddess Hirias left in this world to protect her people. Whether that’s true or not is unknown, but the royal family believes it.”

“Ah… There was such a story.”

It must be a story passed down only within the royal family.

Hearing this, somehow the royal family felt like a treasure trove full of countless stories.

“Well then, shall we go to the library now?”

“Yes, Your Highness. …I’m so excited.”

Even I could hear my own excited voice that couldn’t hide my enthusiasm.

“What if it doesn’t meet your expectations? I’m getting a bit nervous.”

He winked slightly and put on an exaggerated act.

‘He makes such playful expressions too? The Crown Prince?’

The Crown Prince could have acted solemnly, but throughout our walk to the library, no, throughout the entire time he was with me, he created a comfortable atmosphere.

Thanks to that, I was able to converse with a relaxed mind.

“Here! This is the Royal Library ‘Hesia’.”

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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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