I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I’d gone and rushed into marriage with the male lead.
Chapter 12

Just as my head, drooping in the warm sunlight, began to tip sideways completely.
Tap.
Someone caught it, cradling the back of my head.
At that, Emilia’s eyes snapped open with a blink.
‘What?’
Along with the tilted landscape, the fine fabric of a sleeve came into view.
From nearby, I could hear the gentle splash of water from the fountain.
‘I almost fell into the water.’
Emilia’s drowsiness vanished in an instant.
When she confirmed who had saved her from such an embarrassing fate, her eyes widened.
“What? You’re the male le—wait.”
Emilia quickly clamped her mouth shut before the strange words could escape.
‘I’m losing it. What am I even saying to someone who knows nothing?’
There was no telling what treatment she’d receive if she mentioned that he was the male lead.
Meanwhile, Kaiden regarded her with a puzzled look.
“…That’s right. I’m not female. Is that really so surprising?”
Yet even as he spoke, he carefully straightened her head.
“Ha, no. It’s not that.”
Emilia gave an awkward laugh.
She’d felt his solid form through unavoidable circumstance, and there was no way she could think such a thing.
“Do you know me?”
Emilia tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
She couldn’t tell if he’d recognized her, or if he’d simply happened upon a woman about to fall into the water.
And it was natural for her to wonder such a thing.
‘I only saw him briefly in the darkness.’
And I hadn’t even been in my right mind then.
At that, Kaiden replied with a somewhat incredulous tone.
“…Of course I remember. I’m neither so ungrateful nor so foolish as to forget my lifesaver’s face.”
“Ah, I see.”
Emilia nodded, satisfied with his answer.
“In any case, what brings you to a place like this?”
“Me? What about me?”
At his sudden question, Emilia’s eyes darted about.
Her reasons for sitting here were quite complex.
“Well, I was just… enjoying the warm Capital sun for a bit, you could say?”
She offered an awkward smile as she said it.
There was no need to air her circumstances to a stranger.
“But what about you, Duke? Why are you here?”
From what she understood, Kaiden didn’t care for noisy places like the Capital’s Plaza.
Even if he had business nearby, he’d do it and leave—he wasn’t the type to wander around in a place like this.
So she’d asked lightly, touched by mild curiosity, but Kaiden’s expression shifted subtly.
“So you knew I was a duke.”
“Yes? Ah, because my aide mentioned it to me.”
After a brief silence, Kaiden spoke again.
“I was simply passing through.”
“I see…?”
His answer seemed rather hollow, but Emilia simply shrugged.
Then a large man’s hand suddenly appeared before her eyes.
“Now that I think of it, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I’m Kaiden Valen.”
“Oh, I’m Emilia.”
She carefully extended her arm toward his outstretched hand. His grip closed firmly around hers.
A flinch.
An unfamiliar sensation traveled through their clasped hands along with his warmth.
For some reason the contact felt awkward, so Emilia quickly withdrew her hand.
“I was too flustered to offer proper thanks at the time, but I owe my life to you. Thank you.”
She offered a formal bow, but Emilia waved her hand dismissively.
“No, really. I already heard thanks from Ivan. More importantly, are you sure you’re not injured?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’m truly relieved.”
Emilia smiled softly.
Kaiden, who had been watching her silently from above, gestured to the space beside him with his chin.
“Would you mind if I sat down?”
“Yes, of course.”
Soon Kaiden seated himself beside her, leaving just enough space for a palm’s width between them.
A low voice fell from above her head.
“My aide also told me that you refused a reward.”
“Yes? Ah, well. Yes, I did.”
At his words, Emilia recalled her conversation with Herald.
Now that things had come to this…
She felt a flicker of regret.
Should I have asked for money then?
But then she shook her head.
It wasn’t as though I’d done it expecting something in return.
I hadn’t wanted a monetary reward for saving Ivan.
Emilia stretched her stiff legs and shook off the pointless thoughts.
But whether Kaiden read her mind or not, he added to his words.
“Is there perhaps something else you need?”
“Something I need…?”
Emilia’s eyes widened as she glanced up at him, and he confirmed calmly.
“That’s right. Even if it’s not money, I’ll do whatever I can for you.”
Emilia lowered her gaze.
‘Hmm.’
At his words, something immediately came to mind.
“Actually, if you could help me, Duke, it would be quite fortunate.”
“Is that so.”
Kaiden raised his straight brows.
He had resolved to accept whatever request she might make, however unreasonable.
“Would you be able to write me a Servant Recommendation Letter?”
“…A Servant Recommendation Letter?”
For a moment Kaiden thought he’d misheard, and he narrowed his eyes as he asked again.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Emilia nodded quickly without seeing his expression.
‘That’s exactly what I need right now.’
Households seeking servants typically provided room and board.
So if he were to write her a Servant Recommendation Letter, she could solve both of her current problems at once.
But strangely, no affirmative answer came back.
‘What’s wrong?’
Emilia looked at Kaiden in bewilderment.
His brows twitched as though displeased, and he finally offered his answer.
“I’m afraid that’s difficult.”
“What? Why not?”
At the unexpected refusal, Emilia’s voice rose involuntarily.
It wasn’t a difficult request by any measure.
From what she’d heard, a Servant Recommendation Letter could be written with mere acquaintance.
But instead of speaking, Kaiden tapped his fingers against his knee.
‘…Work as a servant?’
In truth, it was no concern of his what she did or where she did it.
Writing her a recommendation letter was simple enough that he could have done it on the spot.
Yet the words wouldn’t come easily.
Kaiden furrowed his brow and fell into thought for a moment.
‘Now that I think of it…’
For one who had saved his life to ask as her reward was nothing but a scrap of paper to work for another house.
It truly made no sense by any rational measure.
So it seemed that’s why this displeasing feeling had taken root.
Kaiden’s gaze turned toward the woman who was looking up at him with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry, but let’s forget what you just asked.”
Kaiden answered with finality, leaving no room for reconsideration.
“What?”
Emilia couldn’t hide her bewilderment. But wasn’t it he who had told her to ask for anything?
She began to suspect she might be hearing things.
Yet Kaiden seemed oblivious—or perhaps unconcerned—with her confusion and remained unmoved.
“Tell me something else you want instead.”
“No. I only need a Servant Recommendation Letter.”
Emilia’s eyes hardened as she voiced her displeasure.
Then Kaiden, too, asked with evident dissatisfaction.
“Why insist on a Servant Recommendation Letter?”
“…I’m looking for work, and I need a position that provides room and board.”
“Then couldn’t you take something other than a servant’s position?”
That was true enough, so Emilia nodded slightly.
“I heard you speak the Hiprian Language.”
“Not well, though.”
“Most people can’t speak it at all.”
“…Is that so?”
Emilia replied with some embarrassment, when suddenly his voice came again from beside her.
“What about working as a tutor?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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