Home/I ended up having a surprise marriage with the male lead/ch 21

Chapter 21

"Please wait a moment. I'll prepare some water for you to wash."

"Ah, thank you."

And so, while the maid went to prepare the bathwater—

Emilia quickly slipped out of bed and stood before the vanity.

What a sight...

She stared at her reflection in shock.

Her disheveled appearance naturally brought back Kayden's words from yesterday.

So that's why he'd treated her like a fish—maybe he wasn't talking about her actions, but her face.

As she was verifying the validity of Kayden's words, the maid returned to the room.

"The bath is ready!"

"Thank you."

Emilia quickly headed to the bathroom.

But the maid naturally followed behind her.

"Ah."

Realizing why she'd followed, Emilia rolled her eyes slightly.

"If that's about helping me bathe... I'm fine."

She felt too embarrassed to say it clearly, so the words came out awkwardly.

But considering how dirty she was right now, there was no way she could show herself to anyone.

"Understood. Then I'll just prepare your clothes. Please wash at your leisure and call me when you're done."

The maid smiled brightly and stepped away.

---

A little while later.

Emilia finished bathing and came out of the bathroom.

The water had been scattered with flower petals, giving off a subtle floral scent, and the temperature was so perfect she hadn't wanted to get out.

She changed into the clothes that had been laid out for her and thought.

When I have some spare money, I should buy more clothes.

Since just finding a room had been tight, she'd only bought a few outfits in the capital.

Oh.

The bedding had been changed to fresh ones, too.

Recalling how spotless yesterday's bedding had been, she cleared her throat awkwardly.

Just then, a knock came and the maid re-entered with a towel.

"May I dry your hair for you?"

"Of course. Thank you."

Emilia nodded gladly.

The maid skillfully dried her long hair and spoke.

"I'm Laura, a maid here. If you need anything at all, please let me know anytime!"

"Oh, I'm Emilia. Nice to meet you, Laura."

Emilia answered with a soft smile, and Laura's eyes sparkled.

"Yes!"

After combing her now-dry hair, Laura glanced at Emilia.

"Do you have something you want to say?"

At her question, Laura's eyes went wide.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you!"

Something she wanted to ask?

Emilia tilted her head curiously.

Ah, maybe she saw me coming in last night?

But she soon realized that couldn't be.

She didn't remember how she'd returned to the residence, but Kayden had said he'd left a carriage nearby, so the coachman or a servant must have carried her in.

Just then, Laura spoke.

"How do you get close to Master Ivan!"

"Huh?"

Emilia blinked.

"Ah, well, Master Ivan has been staying at the residence for quite a while now, but he's always been listless and quiet. But yesterday, he was so happy to see you!"

"Ah..."

Emilia let out a small sigh.

It warmed a corner of her heart to think that Ivan remembered her and liked her even from that brief encounter.

I'm glad I agreed to be his tutor.

Meanwhile, Laura's lively voice continued.

"So I wanted to ask you, Emilia! How to get close to Master Ivan. Unlike my troublesome little brothers, he's just so adorable."

At that, Emilia chuckled, and Laura clenched her fist enthusiastically.

"I really want to bake my special homemade cookies for him!"

"Special homemade cookies?"

"Ah, yes! It's a recipe my brothers fight over—"

As they chatted happily, with Laura sharing her secret recipe—

"Oh, right!"

She clapped her hands as if something had just occurred to her.

"This is no time for idle chatter! His Grace said to have a meal together when you woke up!"

Emilia's cheerful expression froze instantly.

---

Emilia stopped in front of the dining room Laura had directed her to.

No one's here yet?

She peeked inside and saw only a large, antique table in the center.

"Are you looking for someone?"

A low voice came from behind her.

Emilia flinched and turned around.

Ah.

Her eyes caught a glimpse of his slightly unbuttoned shirt, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"No."

Emilia shook her head and quickly stepped back.

Then she saw a different side of Kayden than yesterday.

Dressed more casually, with hair still slightly damp and not quite neat.

Though he didn't need to be fully dressed for breakfast, seeing him like this made her realize afresh—

I'm really in Kayden's residence.

It felt especially strange because she'd only ever seen this place described in the novel.

Just then, she felt a distinct gaze upon her.

Puzzled, she looked up and found Kayden looking at her.

Feeling caught, Emilia asked.

"Wh-what is it?"

"Nothing. Never mind."

He said in a casual tone and walked past her.

"Sit down."

And so, with just the two of them seated in the dining room, Emilia looked around.

"But why is it just us?"

When he'd said they'd eat together, she'd naturally assumed Ivan or Herald would be there too.

"Well, at this hour, most people have already finished breakfast."

Kayden shrugged, as if stating the obvious.

"...Right."

Emilia nodded awkwardly.

As he said, it was well past lunchtime.

Which raised a question.

Why was Kayden only having breakfast now?

Her gaze fell to the slightly damp ends of his hair.

It didn't look like he'd simply slept in...

He seemed to have already finished his morning training too.

But that question soon faded.

Because an irresistible, enticing aroma soon filled the dining room.

"Pardon us."

Led by the chef, maids filed in carrying dishes.

"Wow."

Emilia's eyes went wide.

---

"So delicious..."

She took a big bite and murmured without thinking.

Every dish filling the table was exquisite.

It was a dining experience like none she'd ever had before.

What moved her most of all was—

It's been so long since I've eaten a meal someone else prepared.

When was the last time she'd eaten without feeling sick from the smell of food beforehand?

After all, preparing dinner for Cedric and Mrs. Romains had always been her responsibility.

Meanwhile, Kayden had stopped his idle knife work and was looking across the table.

It was just a meal...

But he saw her small mouth moving busily with the happiest expression in the world.

So absorbed in the food, she didn't even notice she was being watched.

Yesterday, she'd kept looking away just because he'd glanced at her for a moment.

The woman who had nodded eagerly when the chef explained the dishes was now nodding slightly with every bite.

That made him feel a little displeased.

She's so good at showing approval.

...Then why did she argue with everything he said?

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