I Ended Up in a Shotgun Marriage with the Male Lead

Chapter 2

Brilliant golden hair and lake-blue eyes.

The young woman had porcelain-white skin, a slender figure, and features so delicate they looked as though they had been sculpted by hand.

I’ve never seen her before…

Emilia blinked as their eyes met, then guessed who she might be.

Is she one of Mrs. Romans’ guests?

Judging by her luxurious clothes, it seemed likely.

Ever since Cedric had passed his exam, Mrs. Romans had occasionally invited guests over for tea.

Looking at Cedric, Emilia silently asked for an explanation.

“Who is she?”

“W-Well, you see…”

Cedric stammered in response to her question, taking a step forward as if to block the woman from Emilia’s view.

Just then—

“Sed, may I introduce myself?”

Stepping forward again, the young woman gently placed a hand on Cedric’s arm.

Emilia’s gaze naturally fell to the slender white hand.

‘Sed’?

It was a nickname even Emilia had never used.

An inexplicable sense of discomfort tightened her brow as the woman continued.

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Raina Illake.”

“Ah, I’m Emilia…”

Emilia stopped mid-introduction.

The woman’s name sounded strangely familiar.

Her eyes widened.

Raina Illake?

That was unmistakably the name of the heroine of this novel.

The illegitimate daughter of a count’s family, who entered into a contract engagement with the male lead in order to escape her household.

No way…

Emilia looked the woman over once more.

Now that she thought about it, Raina’s appearance perfectly matched the description from the novel.

What is she doing here?

And why is she at my fiancé’s house?

Just like Emilia herself, Cedric had never even appeared on the fringes of the original story.

Besides, until Raina met the male lead, Kaiden, she had remained inside the count’s estate the entire time…

As if sensing Emilia’s confusion, Raina explained.

“Cedric and I were childhood friends. We happened to run into each other in the capital. Isn’t that right, Sed?”

“Y-Yeah… We bumped into each other while I was heading back to the inn. Haha.”

“It was such a stroke of luck to see you again in that lonely capital.”

Raina smiled shyly, as though reminiscing about that happy reunion.

They were childhood friends?

Emilia had never known that.

She quickly searched through her memories of the novel.

Come to think of it…

Before it was revealed that Raina was the count’s illegitimate daughter, it was mentioned that she had lived in the countryside.

So that’s when they met.

Even so, that didn’t answer all of Emilia’s questions.

Even if you’re happy to reunite with an old friend… would you really follow him all the way out here?

Just then, Mrs. Romans approached the front entrance wearing a puzzled expression.

“Why are you all standing out here…? Emilia? What brings you here at this hour?”

Raina smiled brightly and gestured invitingly.

“Instead of standing here, why don’t you come inside first?”

She spoke as though she were the mistress of the house.

Emilia glanced from Cedric to Mrs. Romans.

Judging by their expressions, neither of them found Raina’s behavior strange in the slightest.

Am I… the only one who thinks this is odd?

A strange feeling welled up inside her.

Unaware—or perhaps uncaring—of Emilia’s thoughts, Raina urged her again.

“Well? Please, come in.”

“…All right.”

Emilia slowly nodded.

Whatever was happening…

She couldn’t simply turn around and go home without confronting it.

* * *

Dinner was surprisingly cheerful.

Mrs. Romans asked Raina about the life she had lived until now.

Cedric happily reminisced about the memories they had shared as children.

Clink. Clink.

Only Emilia remained silent.

Even though she sat at the same table, she felt as though she were stranded alone on a deserted island.

But more than that sense of isolation…

Cedric’s behavior bothered her.

It was as though the only person he could see was his childhood friend, Raina.

I know… It’s natural to be happy to see an old friend after so long.

Even so…

She had come all the way here because she’d been worried about him.

Yet he treated her as though she were invisible.

“Sed—”

She started to call his name but stopped herself.

No matter what, this wasn’t something to discuss in front of an unrelated guest.

Instead—

Clack.

She deliberately set her spoon down loudly on the table.

Only then did everyone’s attention turn toward her.

“I’m not feeling well, so I’m going to excuse myself. I’ll wait in the guest room for a while.”

“What?”

Scrape.

Without waiting for Cedric’s response, Emilia stood up and walked away.

Honestly…

She wanted nothing more than to go straight home.

The only reason she stayed…

…was because she wanted to talk to Cedric.

Why hadn’t he contacted me even once?

And…

What on earth had he been doing that kept him away for so long?

* * *

Inside the guest room, Emilia frowned, feeling uncomfortable.

Did I actually upset my stomach?

She had only used it as an excuse to leave the table.

Yet the food she’d eaten really did seem to be sitting heavily in her stomach.

As she lightly pounded her chest with her fist—

Knock. Knock.

A gentle voice came from outside the door.

“May I speak with you for a moment?”

“Come in.”

With Emilia’s permission, the door slowly opened, and Raina stepped inside.

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Raina hesitated instead of answering.

“Let’s sit down first.”

“Thank you.”

At Emilia’s gesture, Raina took the chair opposite her.

Even then, she remained silent for quite some time.

Emilia patiently waited.

What could she possibly want to say that’s making her hesitate like this?

Perhaps she was worried about what had happened during dinner.

As Emilia considered the possibilities…

“I actually came to ask you for a favor.”

“A favor?”

The unexpected request left Emilia puzzled.

Not Cedric… but me? Someone she’s only just met?

“What kind of favor?”

At last, Raina lifted her head.

Her beautiful blue eyes met Emilia’s.

There was unmistakable determination in her gaze.

“Please break up with Cedric.”

“…What?”

The words were so absurd that Emilia instinctively questioned them.

“Did you just ask me… to break up with Cedric?”

Raina nodded.

“I know this is sudden. But if you truly care about Cedric… then please be the one to end your relationship with him.”

She tightly clasped Emilia’s hand across the table.

“Cedric’s future is only going upward from here. But if you stay by his side… it’ll only make things harder for him.”

For a moment, Emilia was speechless.

Is she saying… I’m holding Cedric back?

Objectively speaking…

Raina wasn’t entirely wrong.

To climb higher in society, it helped to build connections with powerful noble families.

And the easiest way to do that is by marrying a noble lady.

On the other hand…

Emilia, who had no influential connections whatsoever, could never help Cedric in that way.

But still…

This had crossed the line.

It was an outrageously rude thing to say to the fiancée of a childhood friend she had only just reunited with.

“Whether or not I’ll become an obstacle to Cedric’s future is something only time can tell.”

Emilia replied firmly.

“B-But—”

“And more importantly…”

“There is no reason for me to hear something like that from a third party.”

At those words, Raina bit her lower lip.

But only for a moment.

She hurriedly continued.

“If it were me… I could help Cedric. I could introduce him to the sons of influential noble families, and…”

“That’s enough, Raina.”

Emilia cut her off.

“Are you saying you want to become Cedric’s fiancée instead of me?”

“…”

Raina lowered her head without saying a word.

That silence…

…was answer enough.

So that’s really why she’s doing this?