Limited Extra Time - Chapter 194

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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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Side Story 3. Modern

“Now, bride. Please look straight ahead. You mustn’t keep moving.”

“Ah, yes….”

The woman answered softly, her gaze drifting downward.

A political marriage to a man whose face she had never seen—she was at a complete loss for words.

She couldn’t even believe that such a thing was happening

in the twenty-first century, in modern society.

‘Well, I heard he was an indifferent sort of person, after all.’

Rumor had it that he rarely came home and had no interest in women whatsoever.

Since she’d also heard that he didn’t care about anything, Kang Rina frowned as she recalled her Mother’s words to go there quietly and bring no shame upon that household.

There was also talk that he had severe obsessive-compulsive tendencies,

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so there was a high probability they would sleep in separate rooms.

She sat in the Bridal Waiting Room, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.

The sight of herself in a pristine white dress, made up for the occasion, felt utterly foreign. As though it didn’t suit her at all.

Her brown hair and blue eyes stood out starkly. Apparently, there was a foreigner somewhere in her distant bloodline, and now that dormant DNA had surfaced clearly in her—of all times, in this era. What fortune.

It was said that a genetic test had even been conducted when she was born.

She’d heard that her husband-to-be was a Korean who ran a Foreign Enterprise.

‘His name was Baek Sahoo, if I recall correctly.’

I had always found it rather peculiar that the character for “lion” was embedded in his name.

Kang Rina was far from pleased with her circumstances, and she exhaled a continuous stream of sighs.

Because he was so occupied, she hadn’t even laid eyes on him once before having to pledge eternity at the altar—it was absolutely dreadful.

Having to pledge eternity at the wedding venue without seeing each other beforehand was truly the worst.

I’ve been so worried that I couldn’t focus properly on my work. I had several orders coming in, but I had to ask for understanding on all of them.

I was planning to open the Atelier too, but because the wedding was decided so suddenly, I had to push back all my schedules.

I was annoyed by their rudeness.

“Still, with this, no more noise”

As long as he wasn’t some deranged pervert, she was prepared to tolerate most things.

After all, it was inevitable that she would eventually enter into a political marriage with someone.

“Very well, you may enter now.”

The wedding proceeded swiftly, given how hastily everything had been arranged.

With only the minimum number of guests in attendance, the intimate ceremony seemed mercifully brief, which she found rather preferable.

Because it was a small wedding with only the minimum number of guests, it actually didn’t take long, which seemed even better.

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Yes.

If you ask whether I have any regrets about a marriage that happens only once in a lifetime, that’s not quite it, but since I didn’t have any particular romantic notions about it in the first place, it was neither bad nor good.

As Lina stepped inside, the man was already up on the stage. He was quite a tall guy.

Just from a glance, his body proportions were excellent, and he appeared to have well-defined muscles. The form-fitting black formal wear suited him quite well.

The man with jet-black hair and dark eyes had a neat and refined appearance, though his gaze was slightly sharp.

His head was a full head taller than mine, and with the muscle mass he carried, his frame was so substantial that I felt I would disappear if I stood before him.

“Hello.”

He offered the greeting.

His voice, delivered with a hint of light laughter, was deep and resonant—the kind that lodged itself firmly in one’s ears.

My eyes widened.

Honestly, since I hadn’t even received a photograph beforehand, I’d resigned myself to some uncertainty about his appearance, but he was far more striking than any man I’d ever seen.

‘…Wasn’t he said to be twenty-seven?’

He looked far younger than that age would suggest. Yet he emanated an aura that was not easily approachable.

“…Yes.”

I nodded carefully, tense and guarded, my gaze dropping downward.

I couldn’t hide the feeling of standing face-to-face with a predator.

Fortunately, he said nothing more. Throughout the ceremony—following the officiant’s directions, nodding, exchanging greetings, and making my exit—my mind was only half present.

‘I just want this to end and rest.’

My feet ached from the unfamiliar shoes, and the corset cinched so tightly that my nose felt constricted

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and cumbersome. And the man beside me was somewhat frightening and burdensome as well.

The wedding, held at an elegant Five-Star Hotel, concluded swiftly.

From the start, there were scarcely any guests beyond close relatives on both sides.

There was no honeymoon. I’d heard he had continued commitments afterward.

At first, I felt a twinge of disappointment, but now it seemed rather fortunate

She heard him out to the end.

‘A honeymoon with this man? Absolutely not.’

She would surely fall ill from the discomfort of eating anything in his presence.

Just as she was about to offer a perfunctory greeting and excuse herself to Leopold Manor, his voice reached her first, and she flinched, her shoulders tensing.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“What? No… of course not.”

“I see. I thought you were a squid, the way people pull you along and you

flail about this way and that.”

Rina’s eyes blinked several times at his crude remark. His words were difficult to comprehend.

“…Pardon?”

“I apologize for saying this right after the wedding, but I have matters to attend to until today. I tried to wrap everything up, but those incompetent fools failed to organize things properly, so problems have surfaced.”

A crease formed between his straight brows,

and one corner of his mouth twisted upward asymmetrically.

His manner of speech and choice of words were remarkably crude, utterly at odds with his refined and handsome appearance.

“I will certainly return by evening. After that, I’ve cleared my schedule for about ten days…”

“Oh, no… it’s fine. You can finish your work and come back whenever, or not come back at all. It doesn’t matter.”

Rina spoke honestly.

At her words, the man’s body went rigid.

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From the start, their agreement had been that neither would interfere with the other’s affairs, and since this was a marriage of convenience, she harbored no expectations of him. As husband and wife, she thought their duty extended only to producing an heir.

…If it’s inconvenient for you to return right now, allow me to escort you home first.”

No, really, there’s no need.”

She waved her hands and shook her head repeatedly in refusal. He had been reaching for his phone, but her insistence brought him to an abrupt halt.

There’s no need to rush your work, and you needn’t concern yourself with any marital obligations. After all, this is merely a political arrangement, and I can live quietly as a mouse if I simply have my own room and a small studio. That’s all I need.”

Quietly as a mouse?”

He repeated her words back to her, punctuating each phrase with deliberate pauses.

Kang Rina nodded.

Yes, that doesn’t mean I won’t fulfill my duties as the lady of the house. I simply mean I have no intention of interfering with your work. And if there’s no urgency, I’d prefer to schedule the matter of children after the exhibition this year concludes.”

….

He looked down at her with a gaze that seemed almost fierce.

Kang Rina shrank back, wondering what she had said wrong, and

swallowed hard.

One thing was certain—his displeasure was evident.

It seemed I’ve misspoken somehow.”

His voice was clipped and sharp.

First, I intend to fully savor our honeymoon with you.”

He reached out and lightly brushed her arm as he spoke.

The tip of his thumb pressed deliberately against the area near her wrist.

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At this unmistakably intentional gesture, her face flushed crimson.

“Second, there is no room for you in my home. There is only our room. I’ve had a studio prepared separately, so use that instead. And needless to say, you don’t need to live as though you’re treading on eggshells.”

His voice, edged with a chill, continued as he pressed down his anger with deliberate restraint.

“And finally, regarding the child—do as you wish. I’ll leave all the dates and schedules entirely to you, so there’s no need to force yourself out of obligation.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

She pressed her lips firmly together.

The man gazed down at her with lowered eyes, then exhaled a short breath before pressing his thumb gently against the space between her brows and spoke.

“Kang Rina.”

He called her name with careful tenderness.

“Yes?”

“I heard you have a foreign name as well. Is that true?”

“…Yes.”

“What is it?”

“…It’s Carina Leopold.”

At that soft utterance, his lips curved into a slow smile.

The entire atmosphere shifted with that smile.

“Carina Leopold, at last we meet.”

The man bent slightly at the waist and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Though it was a common greeting abroad, her cheek burned with an unexpected warmth, and her eyes widened.

“I wasn’t angry with you. My manner may have been somewhat domineering, but… I wasn’t trying to threaten you. I apologize.”

“Oh.”

Someone drew a sharp breath behind the man.

The one who appeared to be the man’s Driver

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had clapped a hand over his mouth in alarm.

The man’s eyes flashed with the predatory gleam of a beast.

“We’ll talk later.”

The Driver’s face drained of all color.

“…Would it be alright if we discussed the details this evening?”

“…Yes, of course. I’ll see you this evening then.”

At his noticeably gentler demeanor,

Kang Rina nodded.

The man nodded and carefully helped her into the car.

“See that she wants for nothing.”

“Yes, sir.”

He then gave a light nod of acknowledgment before promptly boarding another vehicle and driving away.

Only once seated in the car did she allow her tense body to relax, sinking deeply into the seat.

‘I’m exhausted.’

The fatigue crashed over her—the result of waking early and maintaining constant vigilance throughout the day.

Her vision blurred. As her head began to nod drowsily, the rising warmth inside the car lulled her into sleep.

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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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