This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 109

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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 109

Bloden’s red eyes flashed for a moment before dimming.

“Huuu.”

As Bloden let out a long sigh as if trying to control his anger, Raven and Kimarise quickly knelt on both knees and bowed their heads.

Bloden slowly waved Hailey’s letter in his hand.

“Who’s going to take responsibility for this? You said Nuna would definitely like this.”

At Bloden’s reproach, Raven recalled the meeting the three of them had here the day before Hailey left the hotel.

* * *

The meeting topic was ‘Winning Hailey’s favor as Bloden, not Baron.’

Every time he expressed his feelings as Baron, Hailey would just laugh it off as childish behavior. Nevertheless, Bloden’s feelings continued to grow.

‘I want to be with Nuna for a long, long time.’

He wanted to have a more special relationship with Hailey. In other words, his words about marrying Nuna were becoming increasingly sincere.

Moreover, now that he knew he could return to his original form anytime as long as he had Hailey’s food, he couldn’t remain only as Hailey’s Baron forever.

Eventually, he would have to reveal his true identity and face Hailey as Bloden. So it would be good to win Hailey’s heart as Bloden in advance.

Raven was the first to offer his opinion.

“Nothing beats gifts when it comes to opening someone’s heart, Your Majesty.”

“Would Nuna accept gifts given her personality?”

“She wouldn’t. But if it’s a gift from the Emperor, that’s a different story. She won’t be able to refuse.”

“True, I have been giving her dresses and accessories like that until now. It seems possible to give them.”

As Bloden showed interest, Raven spoke with even more confidence.

“Tomorrow, while welcoming Hailey’s return home, we’ll give her flowers in Your Majesty’s name. How about mixing in gold and jewels to show off Your Majesty’s wealth?”

“True, many people like flowers.”

Bloden nodded.

“I heard that among the nobles, some build greenhouse conservatories for their wives. But you want me to show off my wealth?”

“A man’s wealth is an essential evaluation factor for women. Separate from love, a woman’s practical and eternal friends are gold and diamonds.”

Kimarise also very confidently agreed with Raven’s words.

“I also saw such content in a book called ‘Advanced Course in Romance Studies.’ A flower welcome event would be natural.”

In Bloden’s judgment, since welcoming with flowers was mentioned in books, it must be a proven method.

“Good, then I’ll give Nuna flowers as a gift.”

Soon an in-depth discussion proceeded, and they decided to hold an event welcoming Hailey by setting up a flower arch.

The flower arch was not small, and besides flowers and Bloden’s imperial coronation commemorative gold coins, various jewels would be included, making it perfect for their purpose.

However, the more Bloden looked at the beautifully completed arch flower, the more worried he became inwardly.

“Even if it’s a gift from the Emperor, won’t it be obvious that it’s full of personal motives?”

Raven laughed nonchalantly.

“I plan to call it Your Majesty’s reward. Since there’s justification, she’ll accept it.”

“But the procedure is different from a real reward.”

In fact, rewards weren’t processed this simply.

From application to examination, review of basic identity and political risks, types of rewards, levels of protocol, imperial approval and edict promulgation, ceremony execution and land and pension payments.

Everything was conducted as official business.

Of course, Hailey was fully qualified to receive an official reward. How many children had she saved alone?

However, there was a problem with proceeding as is. The bigger the reward Bloden gave, the more obvious it would be for Anna to notice Hailey’s existence.

“That’s true, but how would a mere commoner know about the imperial palace’s reward procedures?”

“I suppose so?”

“Of course. And no one dislikes money. Hailey also tries hard to earn money every day, doesn’t she? She might feel it’s a bit excessive at first, but she’ll adapt quickly.”

Raven said this while setting up the completed flower arch right against the front door of Hailey’s house. Then, as if he had a better idea, he tapped the upper part of the door with his finger.

“If we put a wreath that Baron made himself here, Hailey will be even happier.”

“Oh, that definitely seems likely.”

So Bloden worked hard to make a wreath.

It was as Raven had predicted.

Hailey was extremely delighted with the wreath that Baron had made himself. At least for that moment, it seemed like the result of their three-way meeting had worked.

So when he received Hailey’s letter through Raven today, he didn’t suspect anything and opened it joyfully, thinking it would be a thank-you letter.

But his expectations were completely wrong.

[I am grateful for Your Majesty’s consideration and goodwill, and the gifts in the nature of rewards.

However, I felt that the flower arch and various dresses contained personal meaning rather than official rewards.]

Hailey then went on to point out item by item the ‘procedures that must be followed for rewards.’

[I wish to maintain the boundary between public and private matters, so I will respectfully decline these.

I have put all the items to be returned in boxes. Please accept my choice not as rudeness but as a desire to uphold principles, and please take them back.]

“Nuna seems to know the reward procedures too well?”

“What? That can’t be.”

Bloden showed the letter to Raven.

“Look. Here, she wrote down the procedures exactly.”

After rubbing his eyes several times and checking the letter, Raven soon began sweating profusely.

“Th-that. That can’t be. This is really strange.”

* * *

This was what had happened just moments ago.

Bloden looked down at the kneeling Raven and Kimarise, read the letter again, and swallowed a quiet sigh.

He wanted to deny it until the end, but now he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

Bloden had been caught by Hailey immediately and rejected.

The moment he realized this fact, Bloden felt as if he was being thrown into an abyss.

Even when he faced tens of thousands of strong monsters at the Northern Main Gate, he had never felt like this.

“Raven.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do we do now?”

Though he was asking, Bloden actually knew the answer. Hailey’s demands and justification were accurate, and there wasn’t even a corner to poke at.

The question was just a lament to soothe his bitter feelings.

“No one has ever refused the Emperor’s gift until now. So if you send a reply saying this is an imperial command, Hailey will have no choice but to accept…”

It’s my fault for asking.

“Bang your head.”

“Yes. I think it would be good to do everything according to Hailey’s wishes.”

* * *

Bloden sent someone to obediently retrieve the flower arch. The justification I had put forward worked.

‘I was worried he might even become obsessive. But he’s very reasonable?’

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he had reached the stage of obsession yet.

‘Now I can live peacefully.’

I found myself humming.

And around lunchtime, the Administrative Official came to visit personally.

“I asked His Majesty and received approval. The day before departure, we’ll prepare a farewell party venue with the children in front of the port.”

“You’ll even prepare the venue?”

“Yes. He said it wouldn’t be easy for you to find a place to feed that many people. And he said to make it so that passersby can also enjoy it while we’re at it.”

The suggestion to set up tables in front of the hotel so that passersby could also enjoy it was a bit burdensome.

“I don’t think I can handle that scale.”

“His Majesty says that the children of the orphanage are the children of Ilpein. He thinks it would be better if as many people as possible see the children off and bless their future.”

It was an appealing suggestion.

“Ah, that’s true.”

“There will be landowners who share the same intentions as Lady Hailey, so I’ll gather them this evening. Since it’s a farewell party by the landowners, he said the decision on how to proceed will be left to the landowners.”

In other words, once a decision was made, he would provide support accordingly.

I was secretly moved by Bloden.

‘The letter declining his goodwill couldn’t have felt pleasant.’

I saw Bloden in a new light as he proceeded by clearly separating that matter from this matter.

‘Bloden is a wise ruler.’

And the administrative official moved quickly, gathering domain residents who had similar thoughts to mine by late afternoon. The meeting place designated for preparation was the cafe on the hotel’s first floor.

I asked Baron, who was sitting quietly reading a book while I prepared to go out.

“Baron, I’m going to a meeting for the children’s farewell party. Want to come with me?”

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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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