I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 32

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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 had rushed into marriage with the male lead.
Chapter 32

* * *

A week passed.
Emilia visited Caiden’s office at Herald’s request.
“Really? Count Ardel’s business proposal went through final approval?”
She asked with widened eyes.
“Yes. After passing the first round of documents, it was approved in final review and selected as a Supported Business Family.”
“That’s wonderful news!”
Emilia covered her mouth with the book she was holding and smiled brightly.
“Ahem. Well, there’s something I’d like to propose, Miss Emilia.”
Herald cleared his throat and continued.
“I called you here because I wanted to ask if you’d consider it.”
“Consider what?”
“Would you be interested in serving as a Business Support Officer?”
“A Business Support Officer?”
As an unfamiliar term left Herald’s mouth, Emilia tilted her head and blinked.
“Yes. When a family is selected as a Supported Business Family, they receive not only financial assistance but also dedicated support personnel.”
He then explained what a Business Support Officer was.
He described it as a system where people who had recently graduated from the Academy and needed practical experience were hired, providing them with employment as well.
“But would I be suited for such work?”
Most Academy graduates were likely children of noble houses.
“Well, that’s mostly the case, but Academy graduation isn’t strictly required.”
“Still…”
Herald then explained the reason he was making this proposal to her.
“Actually, Count Ardel’s household requested that, if possible, you be the one to take on this role.”
Herald himself thought Emilia was the perfect fit for the position.
“What do you think? The main duty is assisting with documents, so it shouldn’t be particularly difficult for you.”
As he said this, Herald’s eyes filled with confidence.
But then, a low voice suddenly cut in.
“You don’t have to accept.”
Emilia’s gaze shifted toward the source of the voice.
It was Caiden, sitting at his desk and attending to his work.
She thought he hadn’t been paying attention to her conversation with Herald, but it seemed he’d heard every word.
Caiden continued speaking with a displeased frown.
“You’re already busy with tutoring Ivane. There’s no need to add more.”
“Ha ha, you certainly are something, sir.”
Herald’s eyes twitched slightly as he turned to look at Caiden.
‘Seriously, what is wrong with this man now?’
Just when he’d convinced her of everything, Caiden suddenly butted in to undermine his efforts.
Herald, his eyes wide, quickly looked back at Emilia and spoke.
“O-of course, tutoring Ivane is important too! But the class hours aren’t that long, and it’s quite flexible, isn’t it? Besides, this work isn’t time-dependent, so you could do it during your spare hours.”
He worked hard to persuade Emilia.
“And there’s a separate, quite substantial salary attached!”
Herald delivered what he thought was his finishing blow, but Caiden’s words immediately shut him down.
“That paltry salary—I’ll simply raise it. Now that I think about it, it’s been far too low all this time.”
‘Just how much?’
Herald recalled Emilia’s current salary and fell briefly speechless.
He’d never heard of any tutor receiving such an amount anywhere.
Herald quickly collected himself and spoke with renewed determination.
“W-well then… this could be an opportunity to build connections with Count Ardel’s household?!”
“Networks built through hardship—I can create those for you right now. And with even better families at that—”
“No!”
Herald felt exasperated as Caiden kept throwing his authority around like an unfair advantage.
And Emilia watched the two of them spar with a bewildered expression.
It felt like she was witnessing an angel and a demon whispering in either ear.
Yet the problem was that the demon’s words—Caiden’s casual remarks—were far more tempting than anything the so-called angel Herald said.
‘I suppose that’s why the devil always makes the sweetest offers.’
Emilia, momentarily lost in idle thoughts, reconsidered Herald’s proposal.
She did want Count Ardel’s household to succeed in their business.
As Herald said, she could earn extra compensation by using her spare time, which was appealing.
And to be honest, she’d felt a bit of pride when correcting official documents with Herald.
‘But first…’
Emilia looked at Caiden, whose brow was furrowed, and asked.
“Is there something wrong with me becoming a Business Support Officer?”
Caiden fell silent for a moment before answering reluctantly.
“…That’s not it.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
“You’ve made a splendid decision, Miss Emilia!”
Herald was overjoyed at her acceptance.
Of course, his elation seemed less about her accepting the position than about winning the argument he’d been losing.
“I must inform Count Ardel’s household right away. They’ll be absolutely delighted!”
Herald added quietly, “Unlike some people.”
Then Emilia checked the time and spoke to Herald.
“Oh, I should go conduct Ivane’s lesson now.”
“Of course, of course. Do hurry along, Miss Emilia. We’ll discuss the details later.”
Emilia bowed politely and left the office at a brisk pace.

* * *

The sound of Emilia’s footsteps faded completely away.
Herald, who had been smiling all the way to see her off, turned around.
He walked right up to Caiden’s desk and confronted him.
“What on earth was that about? You nearly made Miss Emilia turn down the offer!”
Herald couldn’t fathom Caiden’s attitude.
“Did you think Miss Emilia isn’t suitable for such work because she’s a commoner?”
“That’s not it.”
At Herald’s pointed words, Caiden let out a hollow laugh.
He’d never harbored such a thought, not for a moment.
It was simply…
Her behavior, which always seemed cold only toward him, had irritated him.
When she was told she had to be a tutor at his estate, she’d made such a troubled expression.
This kind of unfair treatment was unprecedented for him.
He was always the one receiving preferential treatment whenever he encountered any discrimination.
But there was more than that…
Caiden looked at Herald, then recalled Ivane and the butler who had greeted her so warmly.
Whenever he spent time with her, everyone around him gradually became captivated by her.
Surely Count Ardel’s household, which had specifically requested Emilia as the Business Support Officer, was falling into the same trap.
In that instant, an absurd thought took hold of him—to keep her visible only to his eyes.
Thud!
“W-what are you doing?”
Herald flinched as Caiden suddenly rose from his seat.
But as Caiden moved silently across the room, Herald, still confused, asked again.
“Where are you going all of a sudden?”
Caiden answered with a frown.
“It’s none of your business.”
He spoke as if such questions were what useless people asked—never those he wanted to hear them from.

* * *

The Empress Palace Garden.
Amid flowers blooming with intense colors and seductive fragrance, an ornate tea table was set in the center.
Yet in contrast, the flowers around the table’s legs were trampled haphazardly, wilting away.
“Hmm. What should I do about this?”
A middle-aged woman sat alone at the tea table, dressed with excessive adornment.
Seraphina, the Empress, traced her finger over the rim of a teacup, lost in thought.
Not long ago, she had received a report from those under her command.
Or rather, she had learned the whereabouts of those whose communications had gone silent—not a complete report, but news nonetheless.
Grind.
Seraphina gnashed her teeth in frustration.
“That impudent duke…”

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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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