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Chapter 49

"M-me?"

Emilia asked back, momentarily wondering if she'd misheard.

"Yes."

But Kayden calmly affirmed.

Not only that—he placed his hand on the legal code she had opened.

Right near the spot she'd been pointing to.

"Doesn't 'someone not officially registered into a noble house' here also include commoners?"

Emilia looked down at the text in the legal code.

He was right.

Not only illegitimate children, but commoners were also naturally not registered nobles.

"Th-that's true, but even so..."

Emilia felt her mind go blank in an instant.

Just then, Kayden took a step closer to her.

She flinched and stepped back.

"I understood your words perfectly well."

A low voice fell from above her.

"But we can't exactly find an illegitimate noble lady to marry today on the spot."

"O-of course... that's true."

Emilia stammered, flustered.

Still—to suggest her of all people.

"Th-there are also trustworthy maids who've worked at the ducal residence for a long time, if they'd be willing..."

"With time pressing, how can we select, explain to, and propose to someone right now?"

Kayden's words were reasonable. There was no guarantee the other party would even accept.

Just then, Kayden lowered his head, his face drawing closer.

His eyes, somehow darker than before, met hers.

"You're the one who understands Ivan's situation best."

At that, Emilia's eyes darted nervously.

She had no counterargument.

B-but still.

Emilia bit her lip.

Having become the one on the receiving end of such a proposal, she now fully realized how absurd her own suggestion had been.

Her gaze naturally turned to the one person who might help her—the butler watching from beside them.

"B-Butler Robert!"

Startled by the sudden call, Robert's eyes went wide.

He had, after all, opposed Kayden's contract engagement with the illegitimate Reina until the very end.

So he should be the last bastion against this...

"This is an excellent idea."

But he nodded with a very benevolent smile.

"...Pardon?"

Emilia's mouth fell open, betrayed by the one she'd trusted.

---

Alvin, a Grade 8 administrator working at the capital's civil office, yawned widely.

He looked at the clock with a bored expression.

There was less than thirty minutes left until closing time.

His main responsibility was handling marriage registrations.

Unlike other departments, no one came rushing in to file a marriage registration at the very end of the day.

Which meant he could take it easy until quitting time.

Alvin clasped his hands behind his head and said to his colleague beside him.

"There sure are fewer people today than usual."

His colleague scolded him, saying not to jinx it.

"Hey! Don't you know that saying that makes things happen?"

With that, his colleague headed to the archives to organize documents.

"Such a fuss."

Alvin shook his head.

Five more minutes passed as he rocked his chair.

He hummed as he tidied his desk and put on his coat early, planning to leave right on the dot.

But just then—

What, what?

Two people suddenly appeared from the far corner.

Before he could react, they were right in front of him.

"Uh... wh-what brings you here?"

"W-well."

The woman caught her breath and said to him.

"We're here to get married!"

"...Pardon?"

Alvin blinked and asked, bewildered.

"So you're here to get married?"

"Yes, that's right."

The woman nodded quickly.

Alvin swallowed a sigh.

At this hour?!

But he forced himself to hold back the words, because of the man behind her, who looked very much like a noble.

"Um, but my department doesn't handle marriages for nobles. I'm terribly sorry, haha."

Alvin scratched his head apologetically. A desperate attempt to weasel out of it.

But the woman gave a kindly smile, as if that wasn't going to work.

"I'm sorry, but I'm a commoner. So that shouldn't be a problem, should it?"

"W-well... yes."

Alvin answered reluctantly.

"Could you give us the marriage registration form?"

"Y-yes, of course."

In the end, Alvin rose and began rummaging through the documents.

Come to think of it, I've heard it happens sometimes.

Young nobles coming in to marry commoners.

It seemed these two were also eloping against their family's wishes.

Tsk, tsk.

He clicked his tongue inwardly.

According to his seniors, nine out of ten such cases ended in disaster.

Alvin casually predicted their future as he brought the documents and handed them to the two.

Then he looked at the commoner woman and spoke.

"Here it is. Can you read? Oh, yes, you can."

He'd asked because illiteracy was common among commoners, but he closed his mouth.

The two began filling out the forms with focused intensity.

In fact, the woman was faster.

Alvin found himself staring blankly at the sight.

And within minutes, he received the perfectly completed marriage documents with a bewildered expression.

"Time is of the essence, so please process this quickly."

It was phrased as a request, but the tone was closer to a command.

And the man seemed accustomed to giving such commands.

At this point, he couldn't help but wonder who this young man was.

Which family is he from?

Unable to contain his curiosity, Alvin discreetly glanced at the name field.

Soon, his eyes went wide as he read the document.

"V-Va-Va-Valen?!"

But even after rubbing his eyes, the name on the document remained unchanged.

Th-this really is the Duke of Valen?!

Alvin froze like a statue, holding the documents—

"Hurry."

A voice urged him, displeased with his sluggishness.

"Huh? Yes! P-please wait a moment!"

He snapped to attention and rose from his seat.

He knew well what happened if you displeased a noble.

If he wasn't careful, he might be permanently "off duty" from life itself.

Even if this was payback for his earlier loose tongue, it was too cruel.

But is it really okay for me to approve this?

Unfortunately, there was no colleague around to consult.

And the documents were so flawlessly completed that there was no room to refuse.

With trembling hands, he stamped the approval seal.

And a moment later.

"H-ha, haha."

He let out an empty laugh, having unexpectedly officiated the Duke's marriage.

"I-is there anything else you need?"

He quickly handed them a copy of the marriage certificate and asked.

Of course, he was half out of his mind.

For a commoner like him, being in the presence of such a prominent figure made his heart shrink.

So please, just go away.

Just then, the woman—now the Duchess of Valen—looked slightly apologetic.

"You can continue processing work for someone already in the middle of it even after closing time, right?"

"Th-that's true, but?"

"Sorry for the trouble, but there's one more thing I'd like to take care of."

In fact, this was the main point for them.

Again?!

And so, Alvin had to find another document, crying inside as he complied.

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