How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love

3. If you love her, wish her happiness

After proposing marriage in front of countless people, and getting the marriage proposal accepted. The Marquis of Ajas officially sent an envoy to the Howard family to discuss marriage.

Since they had already accepted the marriage talk verbally, there was nothing more to do. 

The Howard family sent a messenger to the Marquis of Ajas to accept the marriage ceremony, and the Marquis of Ajas immediately went to the emperor with the marriage documents and received approval.

Just like roasting beans in a flash of lightning, the two families were instantly connected.

On paper, they were already married, so there was nothing to hesitate about.

The two families, no, more precisely, the Marquis of Ajas, skipped the engagement ceremony and hurriedly prepared for the wedding.

The only disagreement in the otherwise smooth planning was over the location of the wedding.

Marrying in the capital would prevent Leonhard from calling his vassals and servants.

On the other hand, it is difficult for Raenel’s family to attend if they get married in Ajas’ teriority.

Should the wedding be held in the capital or Ajas’ teriority? 

Leonhard solved the problem neatly.

That is, he decided to hold the wedding in both the capital and the Ajas teriority.

The Howard family happily accepted Leonhard’s decision, and preparations for the wedding, which had been suspended for a while, resumed.

And in the meantime, rumors spread throughout the social world that Marquis of Ajas had received the approval of the marriage documents from the emperor, skipped the engagement ceremony, held the wedding ceremony, and took Lady Howard straight to Ajas.

Like a large stone thrown into a lake, the rumor sent ripples through the social circles that had been quiet since the Marquis of Calvin and the second princess’ public appearance.

“Marquis Ajas really seems to be blinded by Howard’s youngest daughter. He’s not even married yet, but he’s getting his marriage papers approved. Howard youngest can’t break her marriage even if she wants to, right?”

“At this point, it’s even a little scary. To be honest, that marriage proposal was too much.”

“Why do we know that rumor that spread before? Wasn’t the Marquis Ajas spread it on purpose? To stop that lady from getting married.”

“Oh my god! That’s what a swindler would do! No matter how much it is, is it that someone equal like the Marquis of Aias did that?”

“Since when did status become a measure of nobility? On the contrary, the higher up you are, the less you need to notice others. Just look at the Second Prince right now…”

“Oh, I still can’t believe the news. The person who took the lead in helping the poor more than anyone else was collecting monsters behind the scenes.”

“Even though it’s a back alley, it’s really surprising that there is such a place in the capital.”

“As expected, people can’t tell just by looking at the outside, right?” 

When people gathered, they kept talking about the stories of the first and second princes, and Also marquis of Ajas.

Either way, it’s a scandal that’s good to chew on, chew on, and taste, but people are wary of mentioning the names of the royal family, so the name of Marquis Ajas and Howard’s youngest daughter was often on the cutting board.

“So what is the star of the rumor doing now?”

“I don’t know, since there’s no way to hear about it.”

“Why don’t we send out an invitation? I’m sure we’ll hear a lot of stories if she accepts the invitation.”

“I’ll send out an invite because that’s the way it should be.”

However, perhaps because of the previous burn, the Howard family refused all the invitations sent by anyone. 

Not only Raenel but even her older sister Brilianna.

People were very sad about the repeated refusal of invitations. But there is one thing they can learn from the rejection: she is too busy preparing for the wedding.

It wasn’t an excuse, it was real.

* * * 

After exchanging rings and concluding the wedding talk. 

Leonhard sent me a person the very next day. with a formal invitation to Paul Herbina’s mansion.

We didn’t have a separate engagement ceremony, but since the wedding was confirmed, it was safe to say that it was an engagement relationship.

This allowed him to send someone to me directly without asking my guardian’s permission. 

I wrote back that I would gladly accept his invitation and the next day.

Leonhard wrote again, saying that he would send a carriage to my house a few days later.

And a few days after that.

It was Leonhard himself who came to escort me in a large blue-black carriage decorated with Ajas patterns.

“It’s been a while, Nell. How were you?”

“It’s only been a few days since I saw you. More than that, Leon came himself.”

Usually, he cared a lot just by sending a family carriage. Besides, the invitation place isn’t that far away.

“Isn’t this the first time I invited my fiance? Of course, I’ll escort you.”

After speaking, Leonhard held out his hand to me. When I lightly laid my hand on it, he lightly kissed my fingertips and introduced me to the knights standing in the back.

“These are the knights of Heilang. You have met them once before.” 

According to Leonhard, the people he introduced were Leona and Ethan.

“The Heilang knight greets the lady formally.”

As if two people wearing black with swords around their waists were matching, they got down on one knee at the same time, bent their arms at a right angle, and bowed their heads at me. 

‘Why isn’t Catherine there?’ 

However, how would you look for someone who is not there when you are being introduced to the knights? 

swallowed the question, I spread the hem of my skirt out to the sides and bent to return the greeting.

“I am Raenel Howard. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

“These two will be escorting Nell from now on. When you arrive at the mansion, I will also introduce you to the wizard who will escort you.”

“Even the wizard? Are you sure I can have that many as my escort?”

“It is rather an honor. I am entrusted with the duty of serving the lady.”

It was Leona who smiled and said it with a joke. Looking at her face, which was closer to ‘handsome’ than ‘pretty’, I suddenly had a certain impression.

‘She’s going to be very popular among the girls at junior high school!’ 

When I thought of that, I felt a crush on her that was close and friendly. I responded to her with a smile around my mouth.

“I’ll do my best to make sure your glory is an honor, and we’ll get along in the future.”

“Is it possible?”

Unlike Leona, who lowered her head smoothly, Ethan seemed awkward when he lowered his head to me.

I could only guess, but it felt more like he was uncomfortable with my status than with me.

‘Are you a commoner?’ 

Curiosity was held back in my mind. Whatever the intentions, asking a nobleman if you’re a commoner would sound like an argument.

“Speak less than that. Aren’t you our hostess now, Lady?”

“Ah, but sir are knights…”

“Please do. Lady spoke to her men. It doesn’t matter.”

“Mmm…okay I get it.”

Can I say it like this? It was awkward, so I looked around, but no one looked at me strangely.

I cleared my throat as I thought about it. 

“Come to think of it, I never introduced her to Leon, did I? This is Helen. She has been with me since I was very young, so she is like a childhood friend to me.”

“A childhood friend! Even the young lady said that I wouldn’t dare…I’m just a maid, don’t mind.”

Helen, blushing, vigorously shook her head as well as her hands. 

Perhaps knowing that I was a little upset by that appearance, Leona smiled and smirked.

“How can we not care of you as an entourage maid close to my Captain’s wife? Please take good care of me in the future, Lady.”

“La, Lady? No, There’s no such thing as an entourage maid, I’m just serving the young lady by myself.…”

“Helen, you don’t have to say that. Whether you’re alone or with ten people, if you serve me by my side, you’re right to be my entourage’s maid.”

“Ah yes. Yes, lady.”

Although she was flustered as if she was very embarrassed, Helen’s face was full of excitement, as if she didn’t mind being called a lady.

Seeing that, Leonhard reached out his hand to me who secretly giggled. 

“Let’s get into the carriage now. Nell, your hand.”

“Ah yes.”

I took Leonhard’s hand and climbed into the carriage.

Helen was escorted by Leona to a separate carriage in the back. Ethan is also the same.

In other words, there was only me and Leonhard in this carriage. 

“I will start the carriage.”

Leonhard, who sat across from me, tapped the coachman’s side wall. 

After a while, with the sound of horses galloping, the carriage started at a slow pace. Whether it was because the carriage was large and strong, or because it was slow, the shaking was barely felt.

“Actually, this is my first time riding a carriage this big.”

“Is that so? If you go to Ajas Castle, there is a carriage exclusively for the Marquis, but that carriage is much bigger than this.”

“What? really?”

“The first time you go to the north, you’ll have to ride this carriage. Are there any places where you feel uncomfortable?”

“yes, I’m okay.”

Can 8 adults sit facing each other if it was a narrow ride?

The luggage compartment behind the chair was empty, and it felt wide of course because only me and Leonhard were riding in such a large carriage. The cushion under the hips was also very fluffy, so I didn’t think it would hurt even if I sat down for a long time.

“By the way, that chair over there can be used as a bed if you put it back.

“Really? Is that possible?”

“Yes, but it won’t be as comfortable as a real bed, but I hope you’ll forgive me, because sometimes when we’re traveling long distances, we have no choice but to sleep on the road.” 

“I even slept in a tent when I came up to the capital with my brother Liv. That’s good enough!”

At my words, Leonhard briefly burst into laughter. That face somehow resembles that of my older brother who loves me.

“Come to think of it, you said you had been living in Howard all along. Do you have any other travel experiences other than this one?”

“I’ve been to Crystal Beach, that is, to the southern sea.” 

“Crystal Beach….It’s the Duke of Khalid’s territory.”

“yes. I was really excited because the sand on the beach shimmered like crystals, but it wasn’t as crystal-like as I thought. Have you ever seen the sea, Leon?”

“That’s just the frozen sea, but yes.”

The frozen sea was the sea north of the coastline facing the Hyela Mountains stretching eastward. A place where boats cannot float due to floating ice.

“Ah, did you say that the frozen sea also belongs to the Ajas teriority?”

“In fact, that is a place where people cannot live, so it is close to being neglected. It is just a place to climb the tower of Glesia.”

“Glesia Tower?”

“There is a small stone island near the frozen sea, a tower built on it. Built-in the past to monitor dungeons created in the sea, you can monitor the entire sea if you climb to the top of the tower. That dungeon has been closed for a long time now, so there’s no need to look carefully.”

“Wow, I see… Is it dangerous there??”

“It’s not dangerous. As long as there is a wizard to protect the ship while we go to the island.”

“Then, can I go there later?” 

“There?”

“I’m really curious what the view of the sea from the top of the tower will be like.” 

Did my face reveal my overflowing expectations? Leonhard, who was looking at me as if a little surprised, soon smiled and nodded.

“If Nell says she wants to go, I have to take her anywhere.”

“You promised!”

“Yes. Some day, surely.”

While we were making that promise, the carriage arrived at Paul Herbina’s mansion.

When I stepped out of the carriage with Leonhard’s help, I was greeted by a crowd of people standing in five rows.