I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 47

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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 eloping with the male lead.
Chapter 47

“Could we speak alone for a moment?”
“……What? With me, all of a sudden?”
Kaliana looked bewildered, pointing at herself.
The man nodded in response.
Kaliana glanced at the woman standing behind the man, but she too seemed at a loss, blinking without understanding.

* * *

Kaliana followed the man to a dimly lit spot nearby.
‘What on earth…….’
She couldn’t fathom his intentions at all.
Surely he wasn’t going to make advances when his companion was standing right there.
“Excuse me, but who exactly are you?”
At her question, the man raised an eyebrow and spoke calmly.
“Kaiden Valen.”
“What? The Duke Valen?!”
Kaliana’s eyes widened in shock.
Then she recalled how the Trading Company employee had informed that Morris fellow of the Duke’s visit.
So this man really was Duke Valen…….
“……What business could you possibly have with me.”
Kaliana’s voice grew cautious.
“I hear you have considerable grievances with the head of the Parijinan Trading Company.”
At those words, Kaliana’s eyes sharpened instinctively.
She knew all too well Morris’s unscrupulous methods, but he always acted with careful consideration of his counterpart.
Given how eagerly Morris had received the Duke’s visit, this Duke Valen was certainly disposed favorably toward him.
‘Is he trying to warn me about something?’
But then the Duke said something entirely unexpected.
“I’ve developed grievances toward him myself.”
“……I beg your pardon?”
While Kaliana processed her confusion, he spoke again.
“I hear your estate has been facing difficulties because of the Parijinan family.”
“Well, yes, that’s true.”
At her response, the man drew something from his jacket and held it out to her.
It was a Promissory Note from House of Valen.
“What is this……?”
“If this money resolves your estate’s troubles, would you be willing to uncover the Parijinan Trading Company head’s misconduct and share it with me?”
“……Yes?”
Hearing the Duke’s proposal, Kaliana realized that this Morris fellow—whoever he was—must have done something absolutely tremendous to offend the Duke.

* * *

“What did you discuss with Kaliana?”
Emilia asked as she and Kaiden made their way to the carriage.
The two who had disappeared briefly returned quickly.
And Kaliana wore an expression simultaneously bewildered and radiant with delight.
She even bowed to them from the waist at a ninety-degree angle as they departed.
“Just a far more constructive conversation than the one with the Parijinan Trading Company head earlier.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And we agreed to trade textiles if their goods looked acceptable.”
At that, Emilia’s eyes widened.
“Truly?”
Kaiden nodded calmly.
“It seems we won’t be able to conduct further business with the Parijinan side.”
So that was why Kaliana’s expression had been so pleased.
According to her, the Parijinan Trading Company had stolen her clients and utterly destroyed any prospect of business.
But if a major player like Kaiden opened doors for her, it would be an enormous help.
Other families would then trade with her freely without hesitation.
‘Is this mutually beneficial?’
Of course, the quality of the textiles Kaliana supplied would need to be decent.
Just as the two were about to board the carriage, it happened.
“Your Grace!”
A knight of House of Valen came riding urgently on horseback.
The knight dismounted and swiftly prostrated himself before Kaiden.
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived that requires your immediate attention! The butler sent me to fetch you at once!”
“A letter?”
Kaiden raised an eyebrow and took the letter from the knight.
On the rough paper was imprinted the Imperial Seal.
It was neither the Emperor’s nor the Empress’s.
“The Princess?”

* * *

Emilia rushed into the Estate and hurried to find Iban.
She threw open the door to his room.
“Iban!”
Iban, who had been sitting on the bed with his head bowed, slowly lifted his face.
“Emilia…….”
Whether Robert had informed him or not, the child gazed up at her with frightened eyes.
“Iban!”
He was holding back tears, but his eyes glistened.
Emilia embraced Iban tightly at once.
“E-Emilia, hiccup.”
She pressed her lips together, recalling what Kaiden had told her on the return carriage.

“The Empress intends to declare Iban a prince at the Grand Council.”
“What? Why?”

Emilia was bewildered by the sudden news.

“It’s the only way to remove Iban from my custody immediately.”

Emilia grasped the Empress’s intentions at once.

“When is the Grand Council?”

At her anxious question, Kaiden fell silent for a moment before answering.

“……Tomorrow.”

Emilia held the small child in her arms even tighter.
The mere thought of this child falling into the Empress’s hands was unbearable.
Of course, Kaiden had said he would spirit Iban away to safety tonight.
Yet still, her heart wouldn’t stop trembling with anxiety.
Trusting Kaiden was one thing—
‘Is this really the best way?’
Just then, Iban pushed away from Emilia’s embrace and withdrew.
He held out something he’d been clutching to her.
“Hiccup, Emilia. Th-thank you for teaching me writing this whole time, hiccup.”
It was a letter written in the Imperial tongue.
The letter was damp with tears, soaked through.
“Why…… are you giving me something like this…….”
Emilia’s voice broke; she could barely speak.
“I-I just thought, sniff, that we might not see each other again, and I d-didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”
At those words, she couldn’t speak at all.
‘I don’t want that either.’
The parting she had imagined with Iban was never meant to be like this.
She had thought they would part with kind words and smiles.
But now…….
‘What can I possibly say to him.’
Could she tell him nothing would happen, that he’d be safe?
Even if they fled now, if the Empress somehow found where Iban was hidden…….
Then even Kaiden wouldn’t be able to stop her from dragging him away by force.
She had heard from Kaiden about the Empress’s cruel nature.
In the hands of such a woman, Iban surely wouldn’t escape with his life.
Reina’s future of a contractual betrothal with Kaiden had changed, so why did only Iban’s death have to follow the original story?
Emilia bit her lip until it bled.
‘Is there any other way?’
Even as she turned these thoughts over desperately in her mind…….
‘……Wait.’
Suddenly, Emilia’s head turned.

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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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