Home/I ended up having a surprise marriage with the male lead/ch 28

Chapter 28

He brushed off his clothes roughly and yawned as he went to sit on the sofa.

For a knight serving a princess, his behavior was rather rude, but Selena merely gave him a look of resignation.

Just as she lowered her gaze and was about to move her fountain pen—

An unfamiliar scent wafted from somewhere, and she tilted her head.

"Where did you go today? You smell strange."

"Are you scolding me for not washing?"

"As if."

Selena laughed and shook her head.

He was her only knight, the one who brought her news from outside, since her range of activity was limited to this rundown palace.

As if he had a rebellious streak, he'd abandoned his good family background to serve as a knight to this worthless princess.

Without even a proper title, thanks to her neglected status.

On the other hand, she owed much of her information to Lucas.

She could hear about the big and small events happening in the capital, and check whether the policies she'd had a hand in, even in small ways, were running well.

"That's not it—you smell like dessert."

At Selena's casual remark, Lucas paused for a moment.

His unfamiliar reaction piqued Selena's interest.

She set down her fountain pen, propped her chin on her hand, and spoke.

"With a woman, perhaps?"

"...Pardon?"

Lucas's eyes went wide, then he scratched his cheek awkwardly.

At the sight of her knight's rare expression, Selena burst out laughing.

"Hahaha."

"Keep your nose out of it, kid."

"I'm old enough to know things, you know?"

She said with a hint of amusement.

"I'm just curious who it is. In case I ever meet her, I'd like to say nice things about you, Sir Lucas."

Of course, she'd never meet anyone, stuck in this palace.

A bitter expression flickered across Selena's face for a moment, then she picked up her fountain pen and moved her hand again.

"So if you ever find someone you like, let me know in advance, alright?"

"It's nothing like that."

"Sure, sure. I won't ask anymore, so you do your work, Sir Lucas."

With that, she fixed her gaze on the documents.

And Lucas, with the familiar scratch of the fountain pen as background noise, thought of that woman.

"Hmm."

At first, it had just been a slight curiosity.

From her clothes and the way she balked at a single dessert, she was clearly a commoner—but when he spoke with her, she didn't feel like one at all.

She reminded him somewhat of his young mistress, so when he happened to spot a woman on the street wearing a terribly serious expression—

He'd found himself approaching her without thinking.

A woman who suited the sweet scent wafting from the dessert shop perfectly.

---

After finishing Ivan's lesson.

Emilia was heading downstairs when a loud shout came from somewhere.

What was that?

In all her time at this residence, she'd never heard such a loud voice.

Curious, Emilia walked toward the sound.

She found Laura standing by the reception room door, looking troubled.

"Laura, what's—"

Just then, a voice came from inside the room.

"Is it really that difficult to review it once more? There must have been some mistake!"

It was an elderly man's voice, sounding rather obstinate.

Laura frowned and came over to whisper to her.

"He's from one of the vassal houses of the House of Valen. From what I heard, it seems he didn't get selected for some business support program."

At that, Emilia recalled helping Herald organize documents in the library not long ago.

"Viscount Ardel, that's enough."

Herald's voice followed—cooler than usual.

Ardel?

Emilia tilted her head at the familiar name.

Ah—Flora Ardel, the Viscount's daughter!

She was a character from the original story who met Reina at a tea party.

She'd been feeling dejected because she couldn't get along with the other young ladies, and Reina had approached her to keep her company.

Her family was struggling, so she'd entered the marriage market to be of some help, if she remembered correctly.

Anyway, after that tea party, Flora had given Reina some tea leaves she'd grown herself, and Reina had been delighted with them.

Though in the original story, Flora was the Viscount's younger sister, not his granddaughter.

That means...

Emilia's gaze fell on the heavy door of the reception room.

It seemed the Viscount Ardel in there now would soon pass his title to his grandson.

"By the butler's orders, I've brought tea, but the atmosphere isn't right to go in right now."

Laura sighed, nodding toward the trolley beside her.

"Hmm, you're right."

Emilia nodded in agreement—

Just then.

"Sigh....Alright. Then wait. I'll make sure it's properly reviewed."

With those words, the reception room door swung open, and Herald emerged with a tired face.

He strode down the hallway without noticing Emilia and Laura standing there.

"Ah, I should go in now."

Laura said, gripping the trolley handle with a slightly tense face.

"Wait a moment."

Emilia lightly touched her arm.

"Huh?"

Laura turned back, looking puzzled.

"By any chance, does the residence have a variety of tea leaves? Something a little unusual too."

"Of course. Even if His Grace doesn't drink it, we keep some stocked for guests."

Laura answered, a bit flustered by the sudden question.

"Then, if there are apricot flower petals, could you brew a new pot with those?"

"Huh?"

"I'll take it in myself."

Emilia said with a smile.

---

A short while later.

Emilia pushed the trolley and entered the reception room.

"Excuse me."

Seated on one side of the sofa was an elderly man—presumably Viscount Ardel—looking quite displeased.

After glancing at him, Emilia slowly pushed the trolley further inside—

And noticed another person standing somewhat farther away.

Oh? The butler?

Robert was standing against the opposite wall.

Emilia's eyes widened slightly—she'd assumed the Viscount was alone in the reception room.

Robert also blinked in surprise at seeing Emilia enter instead of a maid.

He opened his mouth to call her, but Emilia quickly shook her head.

A signal not to acknowledge her.

Robert frowned at her gesture but said nothing.

Relieved, Emilia moved to the Viscount's side.

Clink.

She carefully set down a teacup on the table.

Warm steam was rising from the tea.

"Hm?"

As expected, the Viscount reacted.

He looked down at the teacup, drawn by the familiar scent wafting into his nose.

"This is..."

His eyes widened slightly.

Emilia, pretending not to notice, smiled and introduced the tea leaves.

"It may be unfamiliar to you, but it's a flower tea that's good for calming the mind and restoring energy."

Viscount Ardel cleared his throat.

"I know this tea well. Apricot trees grow abundantly in my territory."

"Oh my, is that so."

Emilia clapped her hands together in surprise.

"The first time my granddaughter, at an age where she could barely speak, plucked the petals with those tiny, delicate hands to brew this tea for her grandfather."

"Your granddaughter must have been both filial and bright."

At her praise-filled response, the Viscount's stern expression softened.

Back   Next