I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 62

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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 ended up in a flash marriage with the male lead.
Episode 62

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‘I’ve never seen the Princess’s Palace this crowded before.’
Lucas stood at an awkward angle, squinting up at the sky.
The afternoon sun blazed harshly overhead.
The Imperial Knight’s Uniform, worn for the first time in ages, felt suffocatingly stiff.
For the past few days, the Empress’s attendants had been trooping in and out of the Princess’s Palace, preparing for the Tea Party.
That was why, no matter how negligent a knight he might be, he had to dress properly.
And beyond that, he had duties assigned to him for today—the day of the Tea Party itself.
“I’m Veronica of House Lavienne.”
A noblewoman had drawn close and extended her invitation.
Lucas lowered his gaze and accepted it, checking the name written inside.
“Of course, Miss Veronica. It’s an honor to have you attend the Tea Party.”
Lucas offered a mechanical greeting and returned the invitation.
But the noblewoman didn’t take it back—instead, she snapped open her fan with a flourish.
“I’ve heard that Lord Lucas has become the Princess’s knight, but this is the first time I’ve seen you in person.”
She smiled with her eyes, looking him up and down.
“Would it be too much trouble to have you escort me to the Tea Party venue? I’ve gotten rather lost, you see.”
Lucas felt an inward smirk rising.
A rather obvious display of interest.
If she simply walked straight in, the prepared tables would be perfectly visible.
How many women had approached him this way by now?
But this one had even leaned her body subtly against him.
“Or if you’d prefer, I could free up time after the Tea Party ends.”
Lucas forced his expression into shape and curved his lips upward.
“Miss Veronica, I’m quite flattered by your attention, but I think today I should ask you to direct that interest toward my mistress instead.”
As Lucas smiled and met her eyes, her face flushed.
“I’m worried the Tea Party may have already begun—shall we head inside?”
“Y-yes, of course.”
At his gentle suggestion, the noblewoman nodded as if entranced.
As she turned and walked inward, the sharp perfume dissipated with her.
Lucas finally undid a few buttons of his restrictive uniform.
Considering the number of attendees, he’d have to repeat this performance several more times.
Well, it wasn’t difficult to wear the smile all the women adored.
Lucas knew how to make excellent use of his face.
Ninety-nine out of a hundred would fall for that smile. Actually, ninety-nine out of a hundred.
‘The problem is that one person who doesn’t.’
That woman who’d looked up at him with guarded eyes even when he’d approached with his usual smile.
Truth be told, Lucas hadn’t intended to press her so hard when he first met Emilia.
But watching her wary, cat-like demeanor, he’d found himself wanting to see her flustered.
In subsequent meetings over the following weeks, he’d had plenty of opportunities to see exactly that.
And each time those round green eyes grew wider, or that mouth fell slightly open, it only made him want to provoke her further.
A laugh escaped Lucas, breath slipping past his lips.
‘I wish this Tea Party would end soon.’
Then his mistress would be free from these tedious people, and he might have the chance to run into her by accident as he moved through the Capital.
It was then.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit.”
A mocking voice came from beside him.
Lucas turned his head and saw a man in the Imperial Knight’s uniform.
Of course, he’d been sent by the Empress’s faction.
“For a royal escort knight, you certainly seem to be occupied with trivial tasks.”
The knight, who’d been watching him with disdain, spoke with mockery.
It seemed to bother him that the noble ladies showed subtle interest in Lucas.
In truth, checking invitations wasn’t work befitting a royal escort.
Normally, the head attendant or steward who managed the palace would handle such duties.
But Lucas only shrugged, a smile tugging at his mouth.
“Yeah, I’m actually having a great time.”
The knight let out a hollow laugh at that seemingly unaffected answer.
“Ha! For all your posturing, the Princess is completely without backing. Without any strings at all, really.”
The knight continued, sneering at Lucas.
“Why not consider moving to the Empress’s Palace? Of course, you won’t get in as easily as you did here, but—”
Lucas shook his head slowly, watching the knight stew in his own heat.
Palace intrigue of this sort had never been his taste—dull and tedious as anything.
He’d only become Selena’s escort by chance.
But he had no intention of letting this loose-mouthed fool ramble on unchecked.
“If the Princess is without backing, as you say, then whoever was sent to run errands at her Tea Party isn’t in such an exalted position either, is it?”
Lucas delivered the words with a twisted smile.
“What—what did you say?”
It was just as the knight bristled that—
The sound of measured footsteps approached from behind.
“Well then, I need to get back to checking invitations.”
Lucas turned his gaze from the knight and rotated his body.
But the moment he caught sight of the woman drawing near, he went rigid.

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Emilia stepped out of the carriage and entered the Princess’s Palace alone.
She’d ridden with Herald, but this was a Tea Party to which only noblewomen had been invited.
‘For a royal palace, it’s tucked away in quite a remote corner.’
It was set apart from all the other palace compounds.
‘And the maintenance doesn’t seem very good either.’
Though the flowers in the garden looked freshly planted and vibrant, the scattered cracks in the pathways made the neglect obvious.
As she walked, Emilia spotted knights stationed ahead like gatekeepers.
And the voice of the man speaking with his back to her was…
Somehow deeply familiar.
The red-haired silhouette was equally unmistakable.
‘It couldn’t be…’
Emilia’s eyes widened, and she stopped in her tracks.
At that moment, the red-haired man turned. And their gazes met.
It really was Lucas.
‘What on earth is happening right now?’
Emilia blinked, utterly bewildered.
Lucas, facing her, appeared to be in a similar state of mind.
His expression suggested he couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.
Emilia recalled the conversation between the two men she’d just overheard.
‘So Lucas is the Princess’s escort knight…’
She glanced at the man who stood alone, simmering with anger.
‘And if that man belongs to the Empress’s faction…’
She couldn’t let it show that she and Lucas knew each other.
It would look suspicious if the royal escort and House Valen’s lady were acquainted.
There was no need to give them reason for suspicion.
Tap.
Emilia quickly approached Lucas.
And she extended her invitation to him, still frozen in place.
Deliberately maintaining an indifferent tone, she showed no interest whatsoever in the knight acting as gatekeeper.
“I’m the lady of House Valen. I’ve come to attend the Tea Party as Her Highness the Princess has invited me.”
“…The lady of House Valen?”

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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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