I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 85

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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 shotgun marriage with the male lead.
Chapter 85

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Rumors about the Duchess of House Valen had already spread throughout High Society.
Tales of the Duke’s eccentric behavior and gossip about the Duchess who attended the tea party circulated freely among people.
Today was the day the Duke and Duchess of House Valen appeared together in public for the first time.
The moment the two descended from the carriage, all eyes naturally turned toward them.
“My, is that the Duchess of House Valen I’ve heard so much about?”
“She looks rather adorable, actually…”
Emilia let the murmuring pass without comment and headed toward the House Valen’s pavilion.
Then she suddenly stopped mid-step and stared blankly at something.
“What’s wrong?”
“Pardon? Oh, it’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
Emilia quickly shook her head and pulled at Kaiden’s arm.
“…Let’s get to the pavilion.”
Just as Kaiden followed her without resistance toward the pavilion.
Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd.
Two grand imperial carriages arrived with considerable fanfare.
A pale-skinned youth descended from the ornate carriage.
Though his pallor might have suggested fragility, his cold gaze gave the opposite impression.
And though he shared blood with Ivan, he felt entirely different.
Then the door of the second carriage opened.
“Who is it? The Empress surely wouldn’t attend outdoor events…”
“My goodness, isn’t that the Princess?”
Everyone gasped at the sight of a silver-haired girl descending from the carriage.
It was natural—the Princess, who rarely showed her face at official gatherings, had suddenly appeared at the Hunting Competition.
‘She doesn’t look well.’
The moment Emilia caught sight of Selena’s expression, her hand instinctively clenched.
The girl who had smiled softly, relieved that Ivan lived, now gazed with hollow, resigned eyes.
She must have learned that she was the Grand Prize of the Hunting Competition.
‘Then where is Lucas…’
Emilia was about to shift her gaze to find Lucas, who should have been beside the Princess.
When suddenly a large hand obscured her vision.
“…Your Grace?”
Emilia’s voice came out uncertain.
She reached up and grasped the hand covering her eyes.
The hand lowered slowly.
Startled by Kaiden’s sudden gesture, Emilia looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
Kaiden simply shrugged lightly and spoke.
“The sun seems too strong.”
“Pardon? What do you—”
True, strong sunlight was indeed beating down on this place.
But did that mean blocking someone’s eyes completely so they couldn’t see anything?
Kaiden seemed a bit embarrassed by his own action, his gaze averted as he spoke.
“You’ve seemed worried since earlier.”
“What?”
“Your hand was tensing.”
“Ah…”
Emilia glanced down at her clenched fist.
Then she asked him.
“Were you trying to make me relax by playing a prank?”
“…”
After a brief silence, Kaiden opened his mouth.
“Let’s call it that.”
“That’s not an answer.”
As Emilia replied incredulously, Kaiden spoke matter-of-factly.
“I won’t let you have anything to worry about, madam.”
At those words, Emilia’s eyes widened, and then she let out a small laugh, tilting her head.
“Quite the dependable husband, aren’t you?”
The reason she and Kaiden had come here was to rescue Princess Selena.
But as for Emilia, she had already done everything within her power; now she had to leave the rest to Kaiden.
Hearing him speak with such conviction made her heart feel surprisingly lighter.

* * *

“Ah, really.”
Lucas let out an exasperated laugh.
The moment he set foot on the Hunting Ground, he’d naturally looked for Emilia.
He’d been watching her the whole time, waiting for their eyes to meet.
Just as Emilia’s gaze shifted from the Prince to the Princess, and was about to turn toward him—
The Duke of House Valen suddenly covered Emilia’s eyes, refusing to grant her gaze to anyone else.
It was utterly childish.
Though he shook his head briefly, Lucas’s eyes soon fell on Princess Selena.
She wore a dress that seemed excessive for her small frame, adorned from head to toe.
Lucas furrowed his brow.
‘What is this sense of wrongness?’
For some time now, his mistress’s condition had been peculiar.
She who had always buried herself in documents suddenly spent more time staring blankly into space.
When Lucas pressed her about it, Selena only offered weak excuses about the weather being nice.
She hadn’t even informed him about today’s Hunting Competition schedule.
Lucas asked her in a deliberately sharp tone:

“Why am I only learning of Your Highness’s participation in the Hunting Competition now?”

And at a Hunting Competition hosted by Prince Aaron, whom she despised.

“When exactly was this decided?”

To his terse question, Selena answered calmly.

“Around when I gave you time off?”
“Did that Prince fellow come to the palace and pressure you into participating?”
“…No, just an attendant delivered the message and left.”

With that, Selena added that she would simply participate quietly, so he needn’t worry.
Just then, the voice of the boy standing on the platform rang out.
“I’m delighted by the number of participants in the Hunting Competition I’ve organized.”
Lucas shifted his gaze and grimaced.
Despite his youth, his voice and manner were insufferably arrogant.
“This year, I’ve prepared a truly unexpected Grand Prize, so do look forward to it.”
Lucas scoffed. He doubted the Prince had anything all that remarkable to offer.
But unlike his cynicism, the crowd’s reaction was different.
“An unexpected prize?”
“Still, if His Highness speaks with such confidence, it can’t be something ordinary.”
“A mansion or a domain, perhaps?”
At the Prince’s assured declaration, the participants murmured with anticipation.
Lucas scratched the back of his head and turned his gaze to Selena, who stood beside him on the platform.
Her pallid complexion troubled him.
‘Perhaps I should fetch her some cool water.’
She was always holed up in her office; standing in this blazing sun for even a short while must have exhausted her.

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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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