This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 112
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 112
“A good man for me?”
“You said if you met a good man, you might even date and marry him.”
At Baron’s words, I found myself closing my mouth.
‘I’ve never really thought about what criteria make a good man.’
My life had never been one where I could afford such considerations.
‘I died crushed under my father’s debts.’
Since possessing this body, I had no one holding me back by the ankles, which was a relief, but I was still just as desperate to survive each passing day.
“I’m really curious, Nuna.”
Just then, Baron’s soft hair shifted slightly beneath my hand.
“What kind of man would be good for you?”
Only then did I realize my hand had stopped moving, and I resumed gently stroking Baron’s hair.
“Well, I haven’t given it much deep thought.”
But one thing came to mind immediately.
“Someone who loves my inner self more than my appearance would be nice.”
“Your inner self?”
‘Yes, because I’ve possessed this body.’
But I couldn’t tell him that truth.
“And someone who wouldn’t harm me….”
Safety comes first, after all. Yes, absolutely.
“And?”
“Hmm….”
As I paused to think, Baron asked first.
“What about a man who’s kind only to you, capable enough to let you live comfortably for life without doing anything, and tall and handsome on top of that?”
Baron quietly interlaced his fingers with mine. The childish gesture was so endearing that laughter escaped me naturally.
“Baron, my hand is so much bigger than yours. Holding it like this must be uncomfortable for you.”
I naturally unlinked our fingers and wrapped my hand around his instead.
Baron gazed at his captured hand and asked.
“What about a man with hands large enough to engulf yours at once? With long limbs and broad shoulders and back?”
“Hmm?”
“And if he’s strong enough to protect you even against monsters? What about a man like that?”
‘Hmm… aren’t there only a handful of men like that in the world?’
With his successive questions, my thoughts drifted to Raven.
‘Does Baron want me and Raven to develop into something special?’
Since Raven treated Baron so well, it wasn’t strange for him to harbor such thoughts.
But my mind eventually shifted to the man who had saved me from the monsters.
Bloden Ilpein.
His hair, gently undulating, gleamed like black silk scattered with stardust, and beneath his luminous forehead, his eyebrows stretched in a perfectly straight line, impressively dark.
His nose was high and his features were sharp like a sculpture carved by a master craftsman. In those crimson eyes gazing at me, there seemed to linger an inexplicable atmosphere and a mysterious gleam.
Whether it was mere chance or an intentional act, I found myself recalling that moment when his lips—ripe as a well-ripened fruit and flushed red—had drawn near to me.
The sensation that had touched the corner of my eye.
Though it was something he had done on his own whim, a strange feeling stirred within me, and my heart began to beat softly.
It was then that Baron asked me petulantly.
“Nuna, what kind of man is he?”
“Well, what woman wouldn’t like such a handsome man?”
Baron’s expression brightened noticeably.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
I checked the time and laid Baron back down on the bed.
“Let’s sleep now. We have a lot to prepare for tomorrow, so we need to wake up early.”
After I finished preparing for sleep, I lay down beside Baron. He was still lying there with bright, alert eyes, and he asked me with a silly grin.
“Nuna.”
“Hmm?”
“If I become that kind of man, will you marry me?”
‘Ah…’
It seemed like another round of “I want to marry Mom” was starting. He seemed particularly serious today.
In truth, the answer to this was already decided. I would wait until Baron grew up.
Once he enrolled in the Academy, his eyes would surely turn toward girls his own age.
“Goodness, what are you saying?”
“But you just said no woman would dislike such a handsome man.”
At his sulky tone, I spoke leisurely.
“First, eat well and grow up.”
“Growing up is enough?”
“I’m not into younger men.”
“Younger men? What’s that?”
“Men who are younger. And you’re not even a man.”
“What? I’m a man too!”
“You’re a child.”
…
Baron let out an exasperated sigh and rolled over onto his side.
“Tch. Nuna, you’re really too much. You don’t even understand my feelings.”
Soon after, I heard small grumbling sounds, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
What would a child know anyway?
“Baron.”
“What?”
“I love you. Have sweet dreams.”
As I said this calmly, Baron let out a long sigh and returned the greeting.
“I love you too, Nuna. Sleep well.”
* * *
Snoril Farewell Gathering
Children, be happy always!
A farewell gathering banner hung prominently in front of the Hotel.
Each table, adorned with simple floral decorations, overflowed with dishes the Landowners had brought.
Rye bread, meat pies, cabbage stew, seafood dishes featuring crab, shrimp, and fish, skewers prepared with various ingredients. Dried fruits and honey-preserved apples, assorted fruit pies, and chocolate cake also caught the eye.
The food was humble yet heartwarming, and the generous portions looked absolutely delightful.
From one corner, the sounds of violin, small drum, and wooden flute blended cheerfully together. A band renowned from some tavern had come to perform folk songs the children would enjoy.
The gathering filled with music brimmed with vitality, and people bustled about eating and drinking.
The departing children all sat gathered around a specially prepared table, eating together.
“Wow, Nuna. This is really delicious.”
“I’ve never eaten something like this before.”
The delighted children were eating kimbap, tteokbokki, tteok skewers, and odeng.
“It’s really amazing. Nuna, how do you make such pretty and delicious things? The thing wrapped in this black stuff looks different from what you gave us before, but it’s similar.”
“Oh, that.”
The kimbap I had prepared this time wasn’t simply seasoned rice wrapped in seaweed like before. It was authentic kimbap, filled with various ingredients including egg, ham, and pickled radish.
“I didn’t make it alone. I pooled my efforts with other adults.”
My gaze naturally turned to one side.
Among the Landowners preparing this event, there was a merchant who sold all sorts of pickled vegetables—olives, cucumbers, and bell peppers.
I had shared the recipe with him, and being a pickling expert, he had whipped up the pickled radish. Despite being hastily prepared, the result was quite respectable thanks to his expertise.
The ham was made by a smoking artisan. The egg omelets and sautéed carrots were also prepared by different people who had received my recipes.
From early morning, we gathered with our respective ingredients and rolled the kimbap together. Thanks to this, we were able to make enough for many people to eat generously.
‘In other words, it aligned perfectly with the spirit of the farewell gathering.’
Moreover, I received very good news.
The Landowners who had rolled kimbap together and tasted it proposed whether they could sell using the recipe I had shared.
Since kimbap is a portable food, they seemed eager to pool their resources, prepare the ingredients, make it, and try selling it.
Among those who made the proposal was a Merchant Guild master based in Snoril. He skillfully gathered and organized people’s opinions, then proposed giving me royalties.
Just then, Raven, who had been helping with various odd jobs nearby, stepped in to negotiate on my behalf, and thanks to that, it seemed I would receive 10% of the sales without having to make the kimbap myself.
At that moment, a Child spoke to me.
“Nuna, is there more of this red stuff?”
The Child was pointing at an empty plate with only tteokbokki broth remaining.
The tteokbokki, with its distinctive spiciness, had been unfamiliar to the children at first. But that was short-lived; the portion I had prepared disappeared along with the odeng as quickly as a crab hiding its eyes.
“Oh, what do I do? That’s all gone.”
The Child smacked their lips regretfully and looked at Baron standing beside me.
Baron had set aside his portion of tteokbokki in a cup but hadn’t touched it yet.
“If you’re not going to eat that, give it to me.”
At the Child’s words, Baron’s brow furrowed slightly.
“I don’t want to. It’s mine.”
Baron pouted and glanced around before speaking to me.
“Nuna, if I stay here, someone’s going to steal my tteokbokki, so I’m going to eat it somewhere else and come back.”
He could have eaten it right here, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to show others that he found it spicy.
“Sure, go ahead.”
Baron clutched his cup of tteokbokki protectively and left his seat.
After we had finished eating to some degree, another table was set up in one corner.
The people standing there waved their hands toward the children.
“Come here and pick up your bags, you little rascals.”
“You need to gather your things.”
The children who would soon be departing rushed over and each received their cloth bag.
“Now, make a round in that direction.”
The children moved as the person who had given them the bags guided them.
“Stay healthy.”
“Grow up strong, you brats.”
“You’re lucky children. His Majesty the Emperor himself is looking after you.”
“Study hard.”
“God will watch over you.”
“Eat this as a snack.”
The landowners standing along the designated route offered brief words of blessing and placed snacks into the children’s bags one by one—whole wheat bread tied with ribbons, freshly baked mini pies, walnuts preserved in honey, strawberry jam, and apples.
As I watched this scene with warmth, an unfamiliar voice suddenly reached my ears.
“Hello there?”
When I turned my head, a well-dressed gentleman smiled pleasantly and extended his business card to me.
“I’m Clark from the Roan Times.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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