Selected as the New Stepmother (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
I stopped by the butcher shop to buy ground meat, and also bought bread, fruit, and milk. The more shops I visited, the heavier the Duke’s load became.
“Alright, shopping is finished now.”
“Already? That’s a shame.”
The Kid glanced sideways at the Duke, who was holding bags in both hands, his cheeks twitching with amusement.
“It took longer than I expected. Once we get back to the manor, we’ll need to start cooking right away.”
“I want to help too!”
At the Kid’s exclamation, I looked at the Duke, wondering if I should ask for permission—since cooking involves fire and knives.
“Do it.”
The Duke noticed my thoughts and lowered his gaze to respond, but the Kid had already run off toward the carriage.
I smiled awkwardly and said,
“Thank you for helping.”
If I had gone out with just the Kid, we never could have shopped so comfortably.
It was thanks to the Duke standing firmly behind me—even carrying the bags.
“If Rublion’s actions require a guardian’s approval, proceed as you see fit. You don’t need to seek my permission for every detail.”
“Oh, yes.”
He glanced at me once, then walked toward the carriage. I thought to myself how inscrutable he was.
“He seems kind, yet also quite blunt…”
Why, despite his wealth, ability, and striking appearance, was a man of the Duke’s standing still alone?
“Oh, right—he must have unusual tastes.”
I lowered my head and glanced downward for a moment. I wasn’t exactly small either. If he wanted someone taller than this, then yes, his tastes were certainly unusual.
“…This is tough. The Kid’s request.”
It was a thought that struck me anew.
[This is the timeline separator]After sending off the Viscountess and Rublion, the Secretary arrived at the market upon receiving word and exclaimed in surprise,
“Why are you here?”
“By chance.”
Ascal stepped onto the carriage the Secretary had brought, loosened his cravat, and picked up the documents—the Secretary had recorded how he had handled the tasks Ascal was meant to complete today.
“Your Excellency, your gloves are soiled.”
“I see.”
The Secretary extended a fresh pair of white gloves. Ascal slowly changed them and asked,
“How much time remains until dinner?”
“Three hours.”
“Then let’s go to the warehouse. I need to verify what has arrived.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The Secretary instructed the driver of the destination, then sat across from Ascal. He read through the guest list for the dinner and reiterated key points to remember.
“Limon, I have a question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Limon Tyrrel, the Secretary and his loyal confidant, paused his explanation and straightened his posture. Ascal hesitated briefly before speaking.
“I’ve watched Rublion all day because he’s so taken with her—I just can’t understand why.”
“You mean the Viscountess Dely?”
Ascal gave a barely perceptible nod.
“I can’t fathom what about her captivates him. She doesn’t treat him with extra care compared to others, nor does she possess any particular charm appealing to children.”
“Are not the perspectives of adults and children different?”
The Secretary glanced subtly at the Duke, whose expression remained unchanged.
“How did you perceive the Viscountess, Your Excellency?”
“I didn’t observe her closely.”
“Not closely?”
“She smiled, and her face brightened. She seemed honest—her emotions are plainly visible on her face.”
The Secretary, expecting criticism, tilted his head in confusion.
“I don’t know anything else. I can’t understand why Rublion is so drawn to her.”
The Secretary muttered, uneasy at the contrast between his expression and tone.
“But you seemed to be observing her closely.”
[This is the timeline separator]After verifying trade goods such as spices at the warehouse, Ascal set out immediately to arrive in time for dinner.
Arriving at the entertainment district of Lubga, which grew livelier at night, he took his seat at the head table as he received greetings from the arms dealer and small investors.
“We’ve rented out the entire lounge for your arrival.”
The arms dealer beamed, rubbing his palms together. Ascal regarded him sharply and said,
“I invited someone who should be here—would that be acceptable?”
“Certainly.”
At the arms dealer’s gesture, a clerk nearby moved chairs around to create a seat immediately beside Ascal.
No sooner had cups and tableware been placed on the table than someone entered the lounge.
“Excuse me. It seems I’m late.”
A man with pink hair and a slender frame appeared, his age evident by the faint lines beside his mouth.
“Isn’t that Viscount Dely? It’s been a while.”
One of the small investors pretended to recognize him and stood up. The Viscount replied with a stiff smile.
“Yes, indeed. It has been a long time.”
Guided by the clerk, the Viscount took his seat. Confirming everyone had arrived, the arms dealer placed blueprints and samples before each guest and said,
“Here is the Berseian musket.”
He explained the process of acquiring the blueprint and the manufacturing costs, emphasizing the potential profits and doing everything possible to hold the guests’ attention.
Ascal asked the Viscount Dely seated beside him for advice on the firearm. The Viscount offered his honest opinions within his knowledge.
When the arms dealer finished his presentation, Ascal felt slightly disappointed.
‘I had hoped they would modify it, rather than simply use the kingdom’s design.’
His willingness to invest was fading. At that moment, Viscount Dely interjected,
“Your Excellency, the Berseian musket has a long reloading time and is heavily affected by weather. It’s impractical for use in the north.”
He stroked his chin—a habitual gesture when deep in thought.
Just then, a group of women burst into the lounge.
Ascal’s expression instantly hardened.
“Thank you for taking the time to join us. I personally arranged this.”
The arms dealer gestured grandly toward the elaborately dressed women.
“Please enjoy yourselves.”
Ascal gritted his teeth as he watched the arms dealer grin broadly. Lavishly adorned women approached and sat beside him and Viscount Dely, filling their empty glasses and offering them.
Viscount Dely stared at the woman smiling coquettishly beside him, then cried out in alarm,
“What on earth is this?!”
The arms dealer replied calmly as he looked at the shouting Viscount,
“A banquet without women would be incomplete.”
Hearing this, Viscount Dely abruptly rose from his seat and turned to Ascal.
“Your Excellency, I apologize, but I cannot remain at such a gathering.”
Ascal silently listened as one of the small investors muttered, “How old are you, acting like this?” Then, he pushed away the prostitute’s outstretched hand holding the glass and stood up.
“Let’s discuss investment another time.”
“Your Excellency, why? If you desire anything, please say so!”
The startled arms dealer rushed over. Ascal looked down coldly at him and replied,
“If you intended to host properly, you should have known what I dislike.”
The faces of those who had been looking forward to a lively night turned icy. The atmosphere in the lounge chilled like ice water poured over it.
“Let’s go, Viscount.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The two walked out together, leaving the frozen guests behind. The arms dealer hurried after them, but Ascal’s glare drove him back.
Emerging onto Lubga’s main street, Ascal looked at the still-fuming Viscount and said,
“Viscount.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Ascal recalled the musket he had just seen and asked,
“If I obtain a Berseian musket for you, could you modify it based on it?”
“Modify… you mean?”
“To suit the north. I’ll cover any research costs.”
He hesitated briefly, then replied,
“I’ll try, Your Excellency.”
“Let’s discuss the details tomorrow at the office.”
Ascal gave the Viscount a light pat on the shoulder—a gesture of trust.
At that moment, a rickshaw halted. The Viscount bid farewell, promising to meet tomorrow, and departed.
“Damn.”
The bustling night street was noisy. The glances exchanged between passersby were thick with an intensity too coarse to put into words.
“Your Excellency!”
Limon, having heard the news, rushed over. Meanwhile, the Duke’s carriage was approaching from afar.
“Have you been waiting?”
Ascal shook his head in response to the Secretary’s question.
“It’s fine.”
Limon’s gaze fell upon Ascal’s hands.
“Did something happen?”
“…”
Ascal avoided answering. The Secretary, watching him with serious concern, immediately extended fresh gloves as they boarded the carriage.
“You’re trembling severely.”
Limon, now speaking not as a Secretary but as a friend, asked as Ascal’s hands shook while putting on the new gloves,
“Was the arms dealer responsible? Did he really bring women to the meeting?”
Ascal clenched his eyes shut. Images of women simpering in his father’s embrace from childhood surfaced.
His father, obsessed with filling his lust with women adorned in heavy perfume and crimson lips. No, he could no longer even bring himself to call the man his father.
His mother, lying in a dark, sickly room, knowing her husband rolled with prostitutes, yet unable to cry out before she died.
Ascal had vowed, watching his father absent from his mother’s funeral,
He would love only one woman for his entire life. Even if that love faded, he would never love another and cause pain.
“Ascal, calm down. Breathe.”
Amidst Limon’s urgent words, the sounds of women’s pleasure seemed to echo—memories from his childhood, when he had accidentally heard them in his father’s bedroom, now a trauma that still pained him.
“Do you need medicine?”
Limon had shifted from Secretary to friend.
“Damn it…”
Limon quickly pulled a sedative from his bag, uncapped it, and held it out. Ascal drank it down without hesitation.
The medicine took effect swiftly. His wildly pounding heart began to calm, and the trembling in his hands ceased.
Only after confirming Ascal’s breathing had stabilized did Limon speak,
“Shall I take you home, Your Excellency?”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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