How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

Bright sunlight penetrates the white fabric surrounding the bed in layers.

 

The white light that signaled the morning was permeated with the song of birds. 

 

I slowly blinked my eyes to push the sleep that hung on my eyelashes away.

 

Then I got up from the bed and stretched my arms.

 

“Ugh…” 

 

Ah, this relaxing morning.

 

Knock knock

 

“Come in.”

 

After I yawned for a long time, I got up from the bed and brushed my wavy light pink hair with my hand.

 

Normally, I braid it loosely when I sleep, but yesterday I just slept and the hair that came down to my waist was tangled and it was a mess.

 

I finally gave up because I thought it was not a way that could be recovered with a hand comb, but Amy, a lady’s maid who was often busy outside, pulled up the canopy.

 

“Did you sleep well, madam? I brought water for washing…”

 

“Yeah, thank you Amy.”

 

“The chef told me that he prepared pancakes with bacon, mashed potatoes and tomato salad for breakfast, and custard pudding for dessert.
Is there anything else you need?”

 

“It’s okay, that’s enough.”

 

What a life, sleeping on such a big bed and waking up to eat breakfast prepared by others!

 

Compared to the morning in my previous life, I woke up in a hurry when my alarm rang, washed and put on makeup, and rushed to work. 

 

There was no heaven.

 

No, maybe it’s really heaven.‘Cause I’ve already died once.’

 

“Oh, what about Noah?”

 

“He is washing up.”

 

“Already? Then I should prepare quickly.”

 

I can’t be lazier than my five-year-old son!

 

I hurriedly washed my face with the water Amy had brought and sat down in front of the dressing table.

 

Amy came behind me and started brushing my hair.

 

Amy skilfully combed the hair that I had given up and began to braid it loosely.

 

The touch was so gentle that I wondered if this is the feeling of a pet falling asleep outright under the affectionate touch of its owner.

 

If that were the case, even if I was reincarnated as a dog raised by Marquis instead of a human, I would have a good life.

 

Of course, there are no pets in this house.

 

But There are hunting dogs instead.

 

A house that raises hunting dogs instead of pet dogs.

 

‘Can you guess?’

 

‘At first, I thought I’d never get used to it…’

 

The Marquis of Ajas, who protects the northern border of the Estroa Empire from barbarians and monsters threatening the border.

 

He left the castle for the gateway to the north three hours after bringing me as his wife here.

 

What a pity! 

 

I came to a place where there was no family and friends, only trusting my husband, but in three hours, he left me.

 

The problem was, that wife is me.

  

It’s only been a month since I got married but as soon as I came to this castle I was left alone. 

 

‘That’s why Raenel died in the book.’

 

But that’s as far as I understand.
His behavior since then has been unacceptable.

 

Knock knock–

 

“Noah, are you awake?”

 

“Yes, mother.
I woke up.”

 

When I carefully opened the door to Noah’s bedroom on the 3rd floor, I saw a boy standing in front of the mirror with impressive black hair like the night sky.

 

The child, who had been adjusting his clothes with the help of the maid, only slightly turned his head and smiled at me.

 

“Did you sleep well, mother?”

 

“Sure, I slept well.”

 

Is it because he is still young? Or is he born with it?

 

The child’s clear amber eyes were clean as if they hadn’t been mixed with any blemishes or impurities. 

 

To the extent that my face is reflected like a mirror when we face each other up close.

 

Children are mirrors of their parents.
Why does that word come to mind at this moment?

 

In the typeface I read, that ‘my’ face reflected in these eyes was just distorted, but it was very fortunate that the reality was not.

 

I thought I was very fortunate to be born as ‘Raenel’. 

 

I gently patted Noah’s head after he had finished dressing.

 

“Noah, did you sleep well?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I watched Noah nod and I wiped the droplets of water still hanging from his chin with my fingertips.

 

Then Noah, who dyed his cheeks red, said,  ‘I can wipe it all off…’ 

 

He muttered, rubbing his face with his hand-like maple.

 

I just giggled because it was so cute.

 

“Then shall we go to breakfast now? Are you hungry?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Noah nodded, bowed to me, and reached out his hand.

 

The appearance of a gentleman with his arms outstretched was definitely perfect in terms of etiquette, But he was still short and his arms were short, so it was a bit difficult to escort me.

 

But instead of making it obvious, I bowed on my knees and took Noah’s hand. 

 

In the meantime, I struggled to hold back the laughter behind Noah, who straightened his back and led me.

 

Would it be rude to Noah if he just added a serious but I said it was cute?

 

‘Aww, it’s cute.’

 

Really, no matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it. 

 

No matter how much her husband doesn’t love her.

 

How did Raenel come up with the idea of abusing such a cute little child?

 

* * *

 

I realized that I had been reincarnated as one of the characters in the book world half a year ago, it was exactly in winter at the age of 19.

 

That is, when I kept putting off my debutante because being a socialite was annoying, but I couldn’t put it off anymore, so I participated in a banquet at Duke Khalid’s mansion.

 

I thought I was reincarnated in a fantasy world.

 

If I had been in a bad situation, I would have brainwashed desperately to survive, but I was so satisfied with my new life that I didn’t even think about anything else.

 

My older brother, who inherited the county three years ago, cared for me like my parents.

 

My younger brother, who had joined the knights two years ago, gave me a handkerchief, saying that he didn’t know what to do when I cried, even though he spoke a little hatefully.

 

And my older sister, Lily.

 

She really liked to dress me up beautifully. 

 

To the point where I grew up listening to ‘Pretty, Cute’ all my life, half of the words came from Lily.

 

It was also Lily who chose a dress for me to wear on the debutante and braided the beautiful white rose that she had enchanted that morning between my hair. 

 

“How can you be so pretty! Among the young ladies debuting today, my sister will be the prettiest.”

 

“Well, the flowers are pretty.”

 

“Hey, we have to go quickly or you will be late.”

 

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

 

I stepped with low heels, I climbed into the carriage and headed for the Duke’s mansion where the banquet was to be held.

 

Escorted by my older brother, I entered