I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 64

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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 gone and married the male lead in a chance encounter.
Chapter 64

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After that, Emilia followed Selena to the designated seating.
With Selena at the head of the table, Emilia and Estelle were seated on either side of her.
Estelle was casting fierce looks from across the way, but Emilia had no attention to spare for her.
The daughters of noble houses were simply pouring out questions as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
“So, how did you first meet the Duke?”
“Where did he propose? In a rented-out restaurant? Or somewhere scenic by a lake?”
Emilia found herself genuinely flustered.
‘I never expected questions like these.’
After receiving the Tea Party invitation, she had conducted preliminary research through Herald.
She’d prepared for the sort of rather aggressive questions one might ask a woman of suddenly elevated station.
Herald had explained how such ladies typically brought up conversation topics that commoners or lower nobility wouldn’t know, and sometimes deliberately wove in false information, then all laughed together if the target took the bait.
Armed with that knowledge, Emilia had spent the night drawing up a list of anticipated questions.
That was the extent of her preparation for the Tea Party.
‘But then…….’
Now they were asking only questions she’d never prepared for.
Emilia did her best not to let her wavering composure show.
She felt like a student who’d studied hard for an exam, only to realize on the day itself that she’d been studying the wrong material.
Unfortunately, she didn’t understand the true intentions behind Estelle and the other ladies—their desire to spare themselves embarrassment.
Nor did she grasp that they meant to seize this opportunity to satisfy their curiosity while they had the chance.
“The pr-proposal was simply in his study…….”
“My! So the Duke has quite the unromantic side, does he?”
“Then what of the proposal gift? Surely it must have been something extraordinary?”
……Of course she’d received something extraordinary, but it had amounted to little more than compensation.
Concocting such an absurd story made her face burn with embarrassment.
Just then, a voice cut across from the opposite side of the table.
“Why bother asking such things? The Duchess was originally a commoner, after all. Surely nothing would strike her as particularly impressive?”
Estelle spoke with a contemptuous smile playing at her lips.
She was certain that alluding to Emilia’s humble origins would shame her.
And yet…….
‘What, what is this?’
Contrary to her expectations, Estelle found herself taken aback by the look in Emilia’s eyes—as if she were gazing upon a savior.
“That’s right. It was all far beyond what I deserved.”
Emilia readily agreed, grateful that Estelle had given her a way out of her predicament.
Seeing that her barb had caused no wound whatsoever, Estelle’s jaw tightened and she pressed on.
“Come to think of it, they say you took in an heir at the time of your marriage. Could it be that he’s illegitimate, and you’re simply making excuses out of shame?”
At that moment, a steady voice came from beside Emilia.
“Miss Estelle Grilmore, please maintain some decorum in your conversation.”
“Wh-what did you say?”
“The purpose of a Tea Party is fellowship and social exchange. Not the satisfaction of base curiosity.”
“Are you saying I’m being indecorous?”
“Yes. In my view, those questions were decidedly lacking in propriety.”
At Selena’s firm words, Estelle’s face flushed crimson.
“H-how dare a princess judge such things?!”
“As you know, it was I who opened this Tea Party, not a lady of the nobility. So I would appreciate it if you would respect the standards I’ve set.”
Selena spoke calmly, holding Estelle’s gaze.
……
There was no arguing with such a straightforward and justified response, and Estelle found herself without recourse.
Even the other ladies attending the Tea Party were regarding Selena with unexpected appreciation.
Faced with this, Estelle gritted her teeth and apologized.
“……Yes, I was out of line. I apologize, Duchess.”
But resentment churned within her.
‘As if opening one Tea Party makes her someone of consequence.’
In Estelle’s estimation, Princess Selena was far beneath her.
If this concluded without incident and the Tea Party ended, the assembled company would remember her as having been cowed by the princess’s authority.
What’s more, she would fail to obtain the information about the Duchess that Her Majesty desired.
‘I need to remove the princess from this room.’
After all, the princess had already served her purpose by opening the Tea Party and drawing out the Duchess.
Having settled on her course, Estelle quietly beckoned a palace attendant nearby.
“It’s grown rather chilly. Bring some hot tea, would you?”
“Yes, of course.”
As she engaged in casual conversation and had the cup placed in front of Selena ahead of time, the attendant returned with a teapot.
Just as the teapot began to tip……
Estelle shoved the attendant toward Selena.
“Aaah!”
Steaming tea spilled forth in a gush.
But it was not Selena who bore the brunt of the scalding water.
“D-Duchess! Are you all right?!”
The attendant holding the teapot cried out in alarm.
Emilia, who had somehow risen from her seat, now shielded Selena in her arms—her sleeves thoroughly soaked.
Hot tea dripped steadily from Emilia’s arm.
Selena hurriedly examined Emilia’s arm.
“H-how…….”
The other ladies gasped at the sight of Emilia’s reddened, swelling skin.
“I’m fine.”
Emilia dabbed at the wetness with napkins from the table.
Fortunately, the tea hadn’t been scalding hot, though her skin burned nonetheless.
Emilia looked at the frozen Estelle and spoke.
“Miss Estelle Grilmore, I clearly saw you push that attendant just now.”
“Th-that is to say…….”
But rather than listen to Estelle’s excuses, Emilia turned to Selena.
“The swelling needs to be reduced. Would you be kind enough to show me to somewhere inside the palace?”

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“……Are you truly all right?”
Selena asked with concern as she led Emilia into a receiving room.
“Yes. Thankfully, the tea wasn’t terribly hot.”
With that answer, Emilia glanced briefly toward the door.
“Have all the attendants left?”
Selena nodded.
“Yes. Though they’ll return shortly.”
She had instructed them to fetch ice and clean cloth.
She’d originally suggested rinsing it under running water at once, but the Duchess had declined.
After hearing Selena’s response, Emilia opened her mouth with a somewhat troubled expression.
“Mm, I’d prefer if they took their time returning.”
“Pardon?”
“To be honest, I let myself be scalded on purpose.”
At this unexpected confession, Selena’s eyes widened.
Seeing this, Emilia smiled softly.
“I wanted to thank Your Highness.”
“Th-thank me? Rather, Your Grace took the blow meant for me…….”
“Not for what just happened—”
Emilia shook her head and met Selena’s eyes.
“For creating the opportunity for me to protect a child.”

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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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