I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 9

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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 9

“No. There’s no one in this Duke’s Household who can handle that guy’s personality, so I have no choice but to be here.”

No matter how close they were as friends, he was still a workplace superior and a duke no less, yet he called him “that guy.” Marisselle’s eyes widened.

But seeing Rino wink with one eye made her laugh.

“Pfft.”

Marisselle quickly covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the laughter that escaped without her knowing.

She looked around worriedly in case Morgan might see, but fortunately Rino’s sturdy body was perfectly shielding Marisselle from view.

“I see you two are as close as I’ve heard.”

“We’re so close that he just dumps work on me carelessly. I’m getting scared I might never get married at this rate.”

Marisselle watched Rino speaking so naturally with a bright smile and thought to herself.

‘He’s quite handsome too, so he must make many women cry. That eye smile of his. He’s got serious Casanova tendencies.’

“Why don’t you go in? Maybe we can have tea together next time if there’s a chance?”

“Let’s do that. Thank you.”

With that simple farewell, Marisselle moved inside the door while Rino headed outside.

Watching Marisselle enter, Rino hummed a tune.

‘Have a good time, Morgan.’

“Your Grace. Excuse me for a moment.”

“Sit over there and wait a bit. I’ll just roughly organize this and then go.”

“Yes. Um, how long should I wait?”

A cold answer flew quickly from Morgan’s mouth without him even lifting his face from the documents.

“Why? Are you planning to leave if it takes longer than you expected?”

“Oh, no. I just thought it would be less boring to wait if I knew the approximate time.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a chilly atmosphere quickly swept through the room.

‘Oh no!’

“You certainly seem comfortable in the Duke’s Household. I can tell by how fearlessly you say you’re bored in front of me.”

“Oh, absolutely not. I misspoke. Please forgive me.”

“10 minutes.”

“Ah, yes. 10 minutes—”

Marisselle trailed off.

A little later, Morgan approached the table where Marisselle was sitting, exactly 10 minutes later as promised.

“What’s the matter?”

‘Hah. Really. This man goes straight to the point without any preamble.’

“I came to ask for permission.”

“Permission for what?”

“For Young Master Fleur to play at making cookies in the Kitchen.”

“Making cookies in the Kitchen? The heir to the Duke’s Household?”

“Yes. That’s why I came to get Your Grace’s permission.”

Morgan was so dumbfounded he wondered if he had heard wrong.

“What if I say no?”

“You won’t be able to say no.”

Morgan was astounded by Marisselle’s bold attitude.

“Ha. Really? Then let’s hear it.”

“I have one question to ask.”

Morgan slightly lifted his chin as a sign of permission.

As he sat diagonally on the sofa and crossed his legs, his previously loose-fitting pants became taut, revealing the contours of his thigh muscles.

‘Whoa. What’s with those solid muscles.’

Marisselle followed his leg movement and was startled by Morgan’s thigh muscles showing through his clothes, quickly averting her eyes as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

Leaning diagonally against the sofa, he exuded a decadent atmosphere where languidness and arrogance coexisted.

Any woman would want this man. He had wealth, honor, power, and looks—everything. His prickly personality didn’t even count as a problem.

Perhaps Marisselle too, if it weren’t for these special circumstances, if she had originally been a young lady of this world, would certainly not have refused him.

Someone whose life hung by a thread couldn’t afford to be distracted by such luxurious thoughts, nor should she be. Moreover, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to covet someone who already belonged to another.

‘Well, he’s definitely the male lead alright. He has everything, absolutely everything.’

Marisselle cleared her throat to gather her wandering thoughts and opened her mouth.

“If Young Master Fleur could speak, would you be willing to do anything?”

Morgan frowned. His voice carried unmistakable irritation.

“That would depend on what that ‘anything’ is. So you’re trying to say that Fleur needs to play at making cookies in order to speak?”

“Yes. That’s right. The young master spoke unconsciously during our Garden walk last time.”

“He… spoke?”

“Yes.”

Morgan’s irritated gaze became serious.

Just then, a knock was heard.

“Who is it?”

“Your Grace. I’ve brought refreshments.”

‘Huh? What tea?’

“Sir Rino instructed us to prepare and bring tea.”

“Come in.”

Two maids entered. One set down and arranged the tea while the other waited beside her.

“I’ll call if I need anything, so you may go.”

At Morgan’s command, they quickly disappeared as if delighted.

“Drink.”

“Yes.”

Marisselle picked up the teacup and saucer and elegantly took a sip.

Like spreading mist, the fragrant rose scent filled her mouth completely.

The aroma flowing from her mouth to the tip of her nose was so fragrant it seemed too precious to swallow.

“Mmm- the tea fragrance is really wonderful.”

An exclamation escaped from Marisselle unconsciously.

Pfft. One corner of Morgan’s mouth lifted.

He found it amusing how she closed her eyes in admiration as if forgetting he was in front of her.

‘Really a woman who changes every moment.’

“So what did Fleur say?”

Marisselle continued speaking with an “Ah!” like someone just awakening from hypnosis.

“He said it was pretty.”

“Pretty? Who? Don’t tell me- you?”

Marisselle felt quite indignant at Morgan’s reaction.

‘What! I’m pretty enough!’

Morgan chuckled at the sulky expression that appeared on Marisselle’s face.

But unlike him, Marisselle spoke curtly with wounded pride, deliberately taking her time.

“The flower. The dandelion flower.”

“Dandelion flower? What does that mean?”

Morgan couldn’t understand the meaning clearly and asked Marisselle again.

Then Marisselle, with her sulky heart, spoke in roundabout ways. It was her own petty revenge of sorts.

“The young master didn’t say I was pretty! He was staring blankly at dandelion seeds floating away for a long time and said out loud that it was pretty. So if he’s naturally placed in a situation where words would come out again, there’s a high possibility he’ll speak.”

“….”

Morgan noticed that Marisselle was sulking and deliberately speaking in a sarcastic, roundabout way. But he didn’t make an issue of this.

He simply gazed at Marisselle silently, seemingly lost in thought as he listened to her continued words.

“And through the process of handling dough and making cookies with various people, sociability and the five senses can also develop naturally. Though it’s not a dangerous activity, we’ll ensure complete safety with help from the kitchen staff.”

After listening to Marisselle’s argument, Morgan casually threw out a question different from the main point.

“Both during the last interview and now, I’ve never seen or heard of such child-rearing methods in the Empire, nor have I heard of any related books existing. Where did you learn these child-rearing techniques?”

Morgan was genuinely curious along with his suspicion. He was seeing results from child-rearing methods he’d never heard of or seen before.

Marisselle was flustered by the unexpected question and suspicious gaze.

‘What should I do?’

She couldn’t quickly think of what to say. It was troubling.

The longer time passed, the deeper the suspicious looks became. Her heart grew anxious. Cold sweat was about to break out on her back.

She couldn’t say it was knowledge from her past life. And she couldn’t tell clumsy lies in front of someone well-versed in the Empire’s affairs.

Oh, whatever. Marisselle squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.

“It’s a trade secret.”

“What?”

Morgan was dumbfounded by the completely unexpected words and reflexively questioned back.

“A, a trade secret. Who on earth would readily reveal the secrets of their livelihood?”

“Ha, hahaha.”

Morgan laughed loudly. Bewilderingly so.

He thought he had laughed quite a bit, but he was still laughing.

Marisselle was confused whether to consider this fortunate or see it as a precursor to a storm.

Having heard so many shocking statements, it was difficult to get her bearings.

Having laughed enough, his laughter began to subside.

“That’s right. Trade secrets can’t be carelessly disclosed. Heh heh.”

Sensing the atmosphere had somehow improved, Marisselle read the mood before diving back into the main topic.

“Are you… giving me permission?”

Morgan returned to his usual demeanor so quickly it was as if he had never laughed at all.

“Do as you wish. I’ll be waiting for good news.”

“Thank you.”

Marisselle’s smile bloomed across her face like sunshine.

Her violet eyes sparkled beautifully.

Morgan was momentarily flustered by Marisselle’s unexpectedly radiant smile.

‘Is this really such a joyful matter?’

Morgan found her curious and puzzling. She was someone beyond his expectations.

Seeing her radiant smile, he couldn’t look away. She seemed to shine as if she had become sunshine itself.

As Morgan continued to stare at her, Marisselle tilted her head.

“Your Grace, why are you looking at me like that? Do you have something more to say…?”

“Ah, no. Go ahead and leave. Or, you can take more with you if you want. I have work left to do, so I’ll get up now.”

Morgan finally realized he had been staring at her intently and hurriedly rose from his seat.

“Then I’ll take my leave as well. Thank you once again for granting me permission.”

After Marisselle left, Morgan’s heart was beating a little faster than usual.

No. From the moment he saw her bright smile, his heart had already been beating rapidly. But Morgan didn’t realize it.

He picked up his documents to finish his remaining work, but couldn’t concentrate as well as before.

He blamed the cause on his work flow being interrupted.

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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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