I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 26

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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 ended up in a flash marriage with the male lead.
Episode 26

* * *

Fortunately, there was no time to dwell on the awkward tension inside the carriage after that.
“Ah, in that case, wouldn’t it be worth adjusting the regulatory approach a bit?”
“How do you mean?”
Before long, their conversation had shifted to the contents of the documents Kaiden had brought.
“What I’m saying is, you specify only what must be prohibited, and allow everything else freely.”
Emilia found herself growing animated as she spoke with him.
Kaiden was a far better conversationalist than she’d expected.
Cedric would grow irritable whenever she said anything he didn’t understand.
But Kaiden grasped her intent with precision.
Looking back on it now, Cedric had never truly interested himself in what she had to say—unless it pertained to her studies.
“Granting permission case by case defeats efficiency and risks missing the right moment. What exactly are the business sectors meant to enter the estate?”
“One moment.”
As he spoke, he reached for the documents to show her the relevant passage—
Thump.
Emilia shifted her position closer to him.
And in that same instant, as her unexpected fragrance drifted over, his hand—which had been turning the pages—froze.
Emilia tilted her head toward the documents to examine the contents.
But in doing so, her cascading hair obscured the text.
“Oh.”
She frowned and gathered the bothersome strands, pushing them to the other side.
The motion exposed the delicate white curve of her nape fully.
…….
“Is it this section?”
Emilia asked, reading over the documents.
At that moment, his voice came from above, strained with effort.
“Would you mind moving back a little?”
“Pardon?”
Emilia blinked up at him in bewilderment—and felt the carriage come to a halt.
“We’ve arrived.”
Kaiden quickly rose from his seat.
Before even the Coachman could approach, he wrenched the carriage door open.
“Out you go.”
Emilia could only blink, utterly mystified.

Shortly after.
Dropped in front of the Post Office, Emilia stared blankly at the carriage as it departed coldly.
‘What was that?’
She replayed the moment in her mind.
It seemed almost as if he were hurrying to be rid of her.
Had she annoyed him by meddling in his affairs?
But they’d been conversing so smoothly just moments before.
Emilia narrowed her brow in thought, then lifted a strand of her hair to her nose.
‘Do I… smell bad?’
Yet her hair carried only a sweet fragrance.
‘I have no idea.’
Emilia shook her head.
A small pout crossed her lips—she’d been the only one thinking what a wonderful conversation partner he was, apparently.
‘No, wait. I definitely wanted to go separately.’
She’d only shared his carriage because he’d practically pushed her into it.
As she walked, Emilia decided that next time, she wouldn’t ride in his carriage again.

* * *

Emilia stopped by the Post Office and successfully sent her letter.
Walking with a lighter step toward her next destination, she encountered an unexpected obstacle.
She stood frozen in the middle of the street, staring hard at the slip of paper she’d brought, folded carefully.
‘I can’t make sense of this at all.’
She recalled the conversation she’d had with Lora before leaving the Mansion.

“My! The Dessert Shop? Of course I can help! The Dessert Shop is my specialty!”

But Lora had forgotten the exact name—it was too long—so she’d drawn a map instead.
‘I should have asked her to at least tell me the shop’s name, even roughly.’
She was certain she’d reached the right area, yet the shop refused to appear.
After circling the neighborhood several times, Emilia was about to give up—
When the paper in her hand suddenly vanished.
“Huh?”
She looked up to see striking red hair luminous in the sunlight, and sharp, bold features.
“Lucas?”
Emilia blinked, her voice uncertain.
“Hey there.”
He tilted his head with a smile.
“Glad we exchanged names, right? Here we are again.”
When Emilia’s expression turned lukewarm, Lucas spoke with a note of disappointment.
“That’s harsh. I’m thrilled to see you.”
But rather than respond, Emilia reached for the slip of paper he’d taken.
“Give it back, please.”
Yet he held the paper higher, studying it.
“You looked so serious, but you’re just trying to find your way?”
After wandering aimlessly for so long, Emilia bristled at that remark.
“Yes, finding my way is serious business to me, so I don’t have time for you. Now give it back.”
Lucas caught sight of her deepening frown and smiled mischievously.
“I think I know where this is.”
Emilia paused.
“…Really?”
“Really. I know the Capital’s back alleys inside and out.”
Lucas leaned toward her with a suggestive whisper.
“Want me to take you? Ten minutes and we’ll find it.”
Emilia studied him with skeptical eyes.
Lucas responded with a grin, as if asking her to believe him.
She’d already wandered for an hour; the offer was tempting.
‘Hmm.’
Ten minutes was worth risking, even as a long shot.
Emilia asked again to be sure.
“You’re not taking me somewhere strange, are you?”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“I know what kind of person you are, and I’m trusting you.”
Honestly, judging by how he’d behaved that first day, it was almost strange that she was trusting him at all.
“Then use this chance to get to know me better.”
He spoke with shameless confidence, then beckoned her to follow as he walked.

* * *

Fortunately—or rather, it was genuinely worth the ten-minute investment.
As she followed Lucas haphazardly through the various back alleys, the Dessert Shop she’d been searching for finally appeared.
“There it is.”
Lucas nodded toward it.
But her joy was short-lived. Emilia let out a dazed murmur at the sight of the long line stretching out.
“Lora said it was a hidden gem…”
She deliberated for a moment, then decided to wait.
Her other errands were done, and after going to such lengths to find this place, it seemed a waste to leave.
Emilia hurried forward to stand at the back of the line.
But a man positioned himself right behind her, casting a shadow.
She glanced back at him.
“I’m grateful you led me here, but why are you standing with me?”
“It feels lonely standing apart?”
At his frivolous reply, Emilia’s expression darkened, and Lucas laughed.
“What? You didn’t rent this place. I can stand in line if I want.”
Well, that was true enough…
Just as Emilia was about to say something—
He spotted space opening ahead and pushed her forward by the shoulders.
“Come on, don’t mind me.”
Emilia sighed softly and took a step forward.
Fortunately, instead of chattering endlessly, he simply stood behind her, serving as nothing more than a shield against the sun.

After waiting a while longer, finally, their turn was nearly at hand.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Emilia’s body spun around.
Lucas, gripping her shoulders lightly, had swapped their positions entirely and now looked down at her.
Emilia asked in exasperation.
“What are you doing now?”
“You looked like you’d quietly make a run for it otherwise.”
He smiled wickedly and shrugged.
Emilia glanced behind him. The line had grown longer than before.
He’d realized she couldn’t escape the queue anymore.
Emilia turned forward again and shot him a look of disdain.
“You’re quite petty in your calculations, aren’t you.”
But Lucas seemed untroubled by the remark. He said nothing, simply extending his arm to brace himself against the shop wall.
Looking down at her, he spoke.
“That Empty Lot is your place, right?”
“Yes?”
“I went back there, but you weren’t around.”

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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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