I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 61

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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 gotten into a shotgun marriage with the male lead.
Chapter 61

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Soft rustling.
Emilia winced at the ticklish sensation of the brush grazing her skin.
“Miss Emilia, you must hold still.”
Laura, catching even that slight movement, offered a gentle reproach.
“Is something uncomfortable?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just a bit ticklish.”
Emilia laughed awkwardly and continued.
“To be honest, it’s been ages since I’ve gotten ready like this.”
At that, Laura set down her brush and stilled her busy hands.
“You call this elaborate?”
She put on a stern expression as if to say Emilia was being fussy.
“This is your first social gathering, and I’m only doing the absolute basics here.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Emilia nodded in agreement with Laura’s words.
By Laura’s account, today was the day Emilia would make her first public appearance as the Duchess of House Valen.
Originally, Emilia had had no intention of engaging in high society.
After all, she was scheduled to divorce within half a year anyway.
‘Or more precisely, to have the marriage annulled.’
In any case, there was no real need to show her face in society.
It wouldn’t reflect well on whoever would become the real duchess later.
So Emilia had declined every invitation that came flooding into the ducal mansion.
But the reason she was getting dressed up now was because an invitation had arrived that she couldn’t refuse.
Emilia’s gaze fell on the elegant envelope resting on her vanity.
An invitation bearing the Imperial seal.
The sender was Crown Princess Selena.
The same person who had delivered a letter to Kaiden the day before the tournament.
Just then, Laura’s voice came from beside her.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s just a casual tea party. They’re definitely watching for a chance to tear you apart!”
Laura spoke as if she could imagine Emilia being attacked by noble ladies, her competitive spirit ablaze.
She then began working even more diligently on Emilia’s face.
“Close your eyes again, please!”
“Okay.”
Emilia complied readily with Laura’s request.
As she did, her thoughts continued from before.
‘Crown Princess Selena, huh…’
According to what Kaiden had told her, the Crown Princess rarely appeared in high society.
In the original work, there had been no scene where Crown Princess Selena appeared directly.
‘But…’
There was something that bothered her, and she had been wanting to meet Selena anyway.
‘So this tea party is the perfect opportunity.’
Shortly after, not long had passed before Laura let out a small cheer.
“All done!”
Emilia then slowly opened her eyes and checked her reflection in the mirror.
“You look absolutely beautiful!”
Laura said, pleased with her own work.
Emilia blinked.
Her skin looked noticeably clearer than usual, and her features were far more defined than before.
“I especially paid attention to your hair!”
Indeed, while Emilia had been lost in thought, Laura had worked quickly—her hairstyle was completely transformed.
Thin braids framed each side of her face and were gathered into a half-up style, while the rest fell in loose waves.
The effect was lush yet refined.
At that moment, Laura murmured as if struck by something odd.
“But no matter what I do, those gentle eyes of yours don’t change. Though of course, that’s your charm, Miss Emilia.”
She nodded slightly to herself.
“Still, I lifted the outer corners just slightly so you don’t look timid at the tea party.”
At that, Emilia burst out laughing.
“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”
She had made her own preparations for the tea party anyway.

Rising from her seat, Emilia made her way to the dressing room and momentarily lost her words.
“There are so many choices—it’s hard to decide.”
“I know, right?”
Between them, they selected a dress that hugged the waist nicely while allowing the skirt to flow softly outward.
With Laura’s help, Emilia changed into the dress and checked her reflection once more.
“How do I look? Is it all right?”
“Of course it’s all right!”
Then Laura murmured regretfully.
“I wish the Duke could see you like this. It’s such a shame he’s away.”
“Mm, well…”
Emilia only managed an ambiguous smile.
Just then, there came a knock at the door.
“Yes, come in.”
The moment Ivan opened the door and stepped in, his eyes went wide.
“W-Wha—Emilia?”
He stared up at her with his mouth agape.
“Hm?”
When Emilia tilted her head, Ivan suddenly bolted from the room.
He then peered around the corner of the door, watching her with just his eyes visible.
“What’s wrong, Ivan?”
At her puzzled question, Ivan’s eyes began to dart about before he bashfully opened his mouth.
“Y-You look just like a princess from a fairy tale.”
At those words, Emilia laughed.
“Really? Thank you.”
Ivan’s cheeks flushed even deeper.

* * *

Emilia rode in a carriage toward the Imperial Palace with Herald.
Herald had been tasked with escorting her to the palace.
“You look every bit the noble lady, madam.”
“Everyone’s been so kind with their compliments, I hardly know what to do with myself,” Emilia replied with an awkward smile.
She recalled the reactions of the servants she had encountered before leaving the mansion.
She half-suspected that the servants had been trained in “the appropriate reaction to a duchess in full dress.”

Kaiden was currently absent from the mansion—or more precisely, from the Capital itself.
He had been staying in the Capital all this time due to concerns about Ivan’s safety.
As a result, work had piled up in his territory, and he had taken time out to make a trip down to his lands.
Emilia reached up to touch the ends of her hair, lost in thought.
‘But even if he were here…’
In the original work, Kaiden had remained unmoved even when seeing ladies far more beautiful than herself.
She doubted he would so much as blink just because she had dressed up a little.
‘Or he might not even notice the effort at all…’
With an embarrassed laugh, Emilia dropped her hand from her hair and turned to Herald.
“When do you think the Duke will return?”
“I should think at least three or four days, at minimum. There’s so much work waiting in the territory.”
Herald shook his head ruefully.
At this, she recalled a conversation with Kaiden.

She would have worried too if the situations were reversed—if she had to leave someone who used to be a governess in charge of a ducal household while she was away.

Not long after Kaiden left, the invitation from Crown Princess Selena had arrived.
“By now, a letter should have reached him.”
At Herald’s words from up ahead, Emilia gave a small nod.
There hadn’t been time to wait for Kaiden’s confirmation anyway, and this was a gathering she couldn’t decline.
Besides, she had boasted with her own mouth that she would play the role of duchess well—
‘I should at least earn my keep, shouldn’t I?’
Emilia braced herself, remembering the enormous rewards she had received.
Shortly after, the carriage came to a halt.

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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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