Home/I ended up having a surprise marriage with the male lead/ch 13

Chapter 13

"How about a private tutor?"

"A private tutor?"

At the unexpected suggestion, Emilia's eyes widened slightly.

"The child you saved back then wants to learn Imperial, and I thought you'd be the perfect fit. Of course, you'd be provided with the room and board you mentioned wanting."

At that, Emilia rolled her eyes in thought.

Should I call it a coincidence?

In fact, the moment she received her meager weekly wage, she had bought a Hyprian language book.

Even in the capital, such books were scarce, so she'd had to go from one bookstore to another.

Of course, studying Hyprian wouldn't help her current situation in the slightest.

Still, she thought of Ivan, who had hugged her with such gratitude that day, and she'd been opening the book from time to time, even when tired after work.

Emilia glanced at Kayden.

He must have made the offer without knowing any of that—

But I am fairly confident in my teaching abilities.

Hadn't that been what she'd been doing for the past several years?

Besides, having her room and board covered was a tremendous relief.

"Alright, I'll do it."

After a moment's thought, Emilia nodded.

"Good. Then starting tomorrow, at my residence—"

"Wait a moment! So Ivan is at Your Grace's residence?"

Emilia lifted her head sharply.

Kayden looked puzzled at her sudden reaction and replied,

"Is there some reason the child shouldn't be at my residence?"

"...No, not really."

Emilia trailed off.

Working as a private tutor at his residence.

That would mean getting entangled with the male lead.

For a moment, she considered refusing.

After all, she had no desire to become deeply involved with Kayden or any of the novel's main characters.

But Kayden, whether he knew her thoughts or not, pressed on.

"If there's no particular issue, let's draw up the contract right away."

He intended to bring her into his household, employ her, and compensate her in the form of severance pay.

That was far better than merely writing a servant's recommendation and sending her off.

"Come to the residence immediately. I'll send a carriage to your home."

Otherwise, how could he know she wouldn't disappear again?

"Ah, no. Well..."

But the woman's expression turned odd again.

"I think I could just come to you directly..."

"Now what this time."

Kayden asked in a somewhat stiff voice.

He was beginning to suspect she was thinking of disappearing again.

Emilia glanced up at him.

This is going to cause a commotion.

If a noble's carriage appeared at her current lodgings, it would surely stir up a fuss.

A little embarrassed, Emilia decided she had no choice but to explain the root cause.

"Actually, I don't have a house."

"Wait. Elaborate on that."

"Hmm, well..."

Emilia ended up telling him the whole story.

Kayden swallowed a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

"So you're telling me you've been sleeping on the streets all this time?"

He summarized her situation with brutal brevity.

"...You didn't have to put it so bluntly."

Emilia protested weakly.

She'd deliberately phrased it indirectly, and he'd gone and poked at the wound so directly.

"Could you please show a little consideration for the victim's feelings? I'm not exactly sleeping on the bare street, you know."

She thought of the tent where she'd been temporarily staying.

"A home is just a roof to keep out the rain and a place to lie down, isn't it?"

Of course, the conditions were quite poor, but for now, she was grateful even for that.

Kayden clicked his tongue inwardly at her absurd reasoning.

What reckless thinking.

Then again, she was a reckless woman—the kind who'd throw herself into danger to save a complete stranger.

"If that was the case, you should have—"

Come to him immediately.

But Kayden stopped himself mid-sentence.

Because it was clear she wouldn't have had even the slightest thought of seeking him out.

"...Never mind."

He shook his head, his expression uncomfortable.

Seeing him stop mid-sentence, Emilia tilted her head.

But his expression seemed complicated, so she didn't press further.

"Any injuries?"

"Huh?"

"Any injuries?"

Emilia answered with a slightly sheepish look.

"No. Fortunately, it happened while I was out."

Kayden studied her complexion. The fatigue on her face was unmistakable.

Saying "fortunately" with a face like that.

"The capital isn't as safe as you might think. Kidnappings happen frequently."

"Kidnappings?"

Emilia's eyes went wide.

"Yes. Every year, several hundred people go missing in the capital alone."

"Ah..."

Her expression darkened, as if she hadn't known.

"I'd rather not start my search for a tutor by reporting a disappearance, so let's head to the residence now."

Seizing the moment, Kayden drove the point home and rose.

"Come along."

"Wait!"

Snapping out of her daze, Emilia quickly followed after him.

---

The place they arrived at was a street not far from the square.

A carriage stood there, waiting alone.

Just then, the carriage door burst open.

"Your Grace! Where on earth did you dash off to so—huh?"

The one inside was Herald, the aide, who had been left behind without any explanation.

He'd been about to vent his frustration at his superior for suddenly jumping out of a moving carriage and vanishing—but his eyes went wide.

Because he spotted the woman peeking out from behind Kayden.

"Wait, that's—!"

"Hello. We meet again."

Emilia smiled awkwardly and greeted him.

"Move."

Kayden gave a short command and bent back Herald's pointed finger.

"Ouch! That hurts!"

Herald clutched his finger and shot him a resentful look.

Ignoring him, Kayden pushed Herald aside and claimed the seat next to him.

"Get in."

At Kayden's gesture, Emilia started to step into the carriage—then paused.

She saw two men squeezed onto one seat.

Herald was on the lean side, but—

Wouldn't it make more sense for me to sit with Herald than to have two grown men crammed together like that?

But Emilia soon shrugged.

Well, if they don't mind the discomfort.

As soon as Kayden closed the door himself, the carriage set off.

Hmm.

Still, the sight of two men pressed shoulder to shoulder was a bit overwhelming.

"When we spoke before, you mentioned you were heading to the capital, but I never thought we'd meet again like this."

"Indeed."

Emilia laughed and replied to Herald, who seemed amazed by the coincidence.

As they chatted about this and that, a low voice suddenly cut in.

"So, where is it?"

"Huh?"

Emilia turned her head and looked up at Kayden.

"Where you're sleeping—no, where you're staying."

"Oh! Well, there's an open lot behind the square..."

It sounded like he'd softened his wording just now, but she decided to let it slide.

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