This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

Bloden answered in a playful tone, but Raven gasped in surprise.

‘The name sounds feminine, but what’s her status? When and where did you meet her? What happened between you two? Does she know that Your Majesty is the Emperor? Could she possibly be a fraud? Your Majesty, are you in your right mind?’ and so on.

Many questions flashed through his mind, but Raven carefully selected his words.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, but maintaining an army including Durahan requires enormous mana consumption, doesn’t it?”

Ignis Fatuus, the being Bloden often called ‘Ignis’ for short, was a high-ranking spirit.

Due to Bloden’s innate curse characteristics, unlike his predecessors, there would be no threat to his life, but…

“If you keep Ignis Fatuus summoned here as well, returning to your original form will be tremendously slow.”

It was natural for Raven to say this. From this one answer, he could instantly gauge how important this woman named Hailey was to his emperor.

Bloden said casually.

“That’s the plan.”

‘Oh, this is bad.’

It meant that the woman named Hailey already held extraordinary significance to him.

Raven, who sighed inwardly, spoke respectfully.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to bring her comfortably to the Imperial Palace?”

“No. She thinks I’m an orphan and is raising me right now.”

“What? An orphan? She’s raising Your Majesty?”

“So make up some excuse to the Imperial Palace that I’m in the Northern Region. You move to this area and assist me while pretending to be a neighbor. Oh, Hailey knows my name as Baron, so don’t make any mistakes.”

Raven doubted his ears. Unable to understand Bloden’s intention, he had no choice but to question him.

“You’ll be twenty in two years, won’t you? From then on, Your Majesty must step forward and rule the country, but if you stay here…”

“I’ll have swept all the Gates clean by then, so I’m thinking of enjoying a vacation here until that time.”

“…”

Raven was speechless.

The Empire knew Raven, the Emperor’s aide, as human, but his true identity was a Death Knight who had contracted with the previous Emperor Lienda. Since his contract with her had passed to her son Bloden, he was simply serving loyally through generations.

Skilled in close combat and advanced magic, he used his own network to eavesdrop on nobles’ private conversations in the Imperial Palace and gathered information while acting as the Emperor’s aide.

Among these, the most frequently collected information was the nobles’ misconceptions about Bloden.

The nobles saw Bloden’s appearance as varying between ten to fifteen years old.

Thus, the nobles mistakenly believed that the more Bloden used his power, the more his mental and physical abilities regressed due to the curse.

They rarely had occasions to meet Bloden face-to-face, and Duchess Beldenburo, the regent, subtly spread false information, so it wasn’t unreasonable.

Bloden was well aware that this was the opinion among the nobility. He was just letting it be for now since the regent was taking fairly good care of the Empire without ruining it.

“To comfortably seize imperial power, it would be better to stay at the Imperial Palace when there’s leeway with the Gates and frequently show the dignity of a robust adult. If you keep appearing as a child, everyone will likely look down on you.”

To Raven’s loyal advice, Bloden replied.

“I know. But if I stay like this a little longer, someone will show signs of rebellion. I’ll use that as an excuse to make examples of a few by cutting their throats. Isn’t that the perfect justification for clearing out the rotten water?”

“…That’s also wise words.”

Raven nodded.

If such military force was guaranteed, it would certainly be convenient for sweeping them away all at once. And since Bloden could command more subordinates than any previous emperor, there was no need for Raven to worry.

“Right. So how’s the situation at the Imperial Palace now?”

“Everyone’s busy calculating ahead of Your Majesty’s direct rule. Duchess Beldenburo says she’ll find good empress material for Your Majesty’s reign.”

“My empress, Anna Beldenburo will?”

Bloden chuckled.

“That bitch who didn’t even teach me imperial studies to make me a puppet emperor must be busy racking her empty brain.”

Reading Bloden’s displeasure, Raven kept his mouth shut tight.

“Just leave that side alone. She’s managing what’s mine thinking it’s hers, so I’ll let her work as a substitute and then dispose of her appropriately. Ah, she’s coming back.”

Bloden looked at the bright light approaching from the distance and gave Raven his final instructions.

“Make up some excuse to the Imperial Palace and move here quickly. I’ll be comfortable once you come.”

“I shall obey your command.”

Raven, who answered while bowing his head, left his position.

* * *

As Bloden said, regent Anna Beldenburo was busy with various schemes.

It was because less than two years remained until the Emperor became a twenty-year-old adult who could directly rule the country.

Of course, until recently, Anna hadn’t given this much thought either.

If magical beasts kept pouring out from the Gate in the Northern Mountains, Bloden would inevitably be tied down to the Northern Mountains.

Then, whether he became an adult or not, Anna would naturally become the real power in the Imperial Palace. Anna could continue ruling the country under the justification of helping the Emperor.

But a variable arose. Bloden sent an unprecedented victory report that he had attacked and swept clean the inside of the Gate, the source of the magical beasts.

It was completely different behavior from previous emperors who only dealt with magical beasts that came out of the Gate.

Moreover, there would be no problems for about three years.

This was a message that Bloden would end the era of regency and stand tall as emperor to directly rule the Empire, and for Anna, it was devastating news.

‘That can’t happen, how can I give up the power I’ve seized?’

Anna had experienced how sweet power was during her 10 years as regent.

She was originally the daughter of Duke Roan.

She had both beautiful looks and noble status, but couldn’t live her life as she pleased. Anna was merely a tool for political marriage for the family’s prosperity.

Anna herself knew this fact well and had long given up on any happy future.

Still, she thought she would marry an unmarried man of similar status, but never imagined she would become Duke Beldenburo’s second wife.

Moreover, Duke Beldenburo even had a child with the previous emperor. Even though Anna disliked children.

To Anna, who was too dumbfounded to even respond, Duke Roan commanded.

‘That child is our emperor. Since His Majesty is young, coaxing him will be easy. Make him act spoiled toward you and depend on you. If you succeed, the Roan Family will prosper even more.’

Anna did her best to manipulate the child as her father commanded. But Bloden didn’t go according to their wishes.

Bloden was an unreadable child. Most of the time he had an indifferent face, and no matter how much Anna coaxed him sweetly, he only responded in a flat tone without any sign of his heart being moved.

Anna, who already disliked children, wasn’t growing fond of Bloden at all when an unexpected situation occurred.

Duke Beldenburo died suddenly, and by imperial law, Anna became the regent.

To Anna, who was stunned by the suddenly given position, Duke Roan began giving instructions.

‘From now on, do as I tell you.’

Duke Roan acted as if he had become the emperor himself. If Anna didn’t do as he instructed, he would even hit her.

At first, Anna trembled and followed her father’s will. But soon she began to have doubts.

‘Everyone bows their heads to me. The Empire’s fate changes with one word from me. I’m amazing. But why should someone as amazing as me listen to father while getting beaten by him?’

Everyone in the Empire except Bloden bowed their heads to Anna. When there were watching eyes, even Duke Roan, her father, had to show courtesy to Anna.

‘Shouldn’t it be father who should listen, not me? But why does father slap my cheek? How dare he?’

The more she thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed. But Duke Roan, unaware of her feelings, continued commanding Anna. After long consideration, Anna assassinated Duke Roan, and naturally her younger brother inherited the ducal title.

Afterward, she began making massive donations to the Temple using the Imperial Budget. So that the priests, having tasted money, would side with Anna.

The priests, who already disliked the emperor who used demons and ghosts as his limbs, quickly supported Anna, and the political situation flowed according to Anna’s will thereafter.

Of course, many powerless commoners died from the nobles’ tyranny, but that wasn’t Anna’s concern.

The lives of the powerless, especially those without even identity guarantees, were worth less than livestock.

Soon Anna developed bigger dreams.

No matter how she thought about it, she had ruled the Empire well. Considering she had never properly learned about state administration, it was no different from being born with the talent of a ruler.

‘If you have abilities, you just need to eliminate magical beasts. There’s no need to sit on the imperial throne for generations, is there?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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