This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 120

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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 120

“Your Majesty, so you’re saying….”
Raven tilted his head as he transcribed Bloden’s instructions.
“You’re going to send Toto to another house?”
“That’s right.”

Bloden had come to Raven’s Mansion while Hailey was out clam digging, and had just instructed him to post a notice on the town square bulletin board of a nearby domain stating that a cat was searching for its owner.
That wasn’t all. To prevent Hailey from suspecting anything, he’d also had flyers posted in Snoryl Square saying “an owner is searching for a cat,” and had recited the qualifications for finding Toto a completely new owner once a certain period had passed.
That was precisely what Raven had written in his record notebook.
Raven reviewed the “Qualifications for Toto’s Owner” that Bloden had mentioned.

【Qualifications for Toto’s Owner】
Rank of Baron or higher.
Manor of at least 40,000 square meters.
Provide Toto with a private annex and assign a veterinarian, chef, and dedicated caretaker.
Since this is a cat that enjoyed sunbathing on the beach, place exclusive cushions on every windowsill within the manor so it can bask in sunlight, and construct a glass conservatory where it can move about safely.
Install at least one cat tower on each floor of the annex. Prepare exclusive dining dishes made of gold or silver.

From everything Raven had heard so far, the problem was that Toto occupied the spot beside Hailey in bed.
This had greatly offended Bloden’s sensibilities, and my lord had ultimately concluded that he would find the cat’s original owner and send it back.
‘So His Majesty has grown jealous of a mere cat and refuses to tolerate it. He truly is the Demon King of Jealousy.’
However, Raven possessed enough tact to know this was something that could never be spoken aloud, so he swallowed the words that had risen to the tip of his tongue.
Still, Bloden wasn’t entirely without conscience.
‘If he wanted, he could make the cat disappear without a trace and make it seem as though Toto had simply left home.’
Yet here he was, attaching such meticulous conditions and asking him to find a new owner. Looking at it this way, Bloden didn’t actually dislike Toto.
‘If only this cat hadn’t coveted the spot beside Miss Hailey… without that, His Majesty would surely have tolerated it.’
Raven clicked his tongue softly and closed his record notebook.
Though the conditions Bloden had set were demanding, finding a new owner for Toto didn’t seem like it would be difficult. If he subtly leaked the information to nobles among those who wanted connections with the Imperial Palace and met the qualifications, they would all rush to take Toto in.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
At Bloden’s question, Raven straightened his posture.
“Ah, it’s not difficult to carry out, but I was wondering if this is truly acceptable, Your Majesty.”
“What’s your concern?”
“Miss Hailey is quite fond of Toto, isn’t she? Won’t she be disappointed?”
“A cat that acts so charmingly, like a fox—how could anyone not find it endearing?”
Bloden crossed his arms, recalling Toto’s behavior that he’d observed thus far.
“If it’s that devoted, anyone would adore it. But no matter how much she loves it, once an owner with that level of wealth appears, Nuna will have no choice but to let Toto go.”

* * *

“Good afternoon, Hailey.”
Late in the afternoon, Baron had gone to Raven’s Mansion, and I was alone at home toasting scorched rice when Linda from the Government Office suddenly appeared at my door.
“Hello, Linda. How have you been?”
After exchanging greetings, Linda handed me a stack of letters she’d been holding.
“Government officials are all the same, aren’t we? Anyway, it’s been two weeks since we last saw each other?”
“It really has. Time flies so quickly.”
Even as I accepted the letters, I wondered why Linda was the one delivering them. Usually, the postal carrier handled mail delivery.
Moreover, Linda, who normally left immediately after finishing her business, stood at the entrance with her eyes darting about restlessly.
‘Does she have something to say?’
I stepped aside slightly.
“Would you like to come inside for a moment if you have time?”
“Thank you for the offer. I just finished work, so I do have some time.”
Linda entered without hesitation. I noticed Toto, who had been grooming himself in the corner, quickly scurried under the bed.
“Something smells delicious.”
“I was making a snack.”
I seated Linda at the table and began brewing barley tea.
“Where’s Baron?”
“He went to the neighbor’s house to read.”
“I see. I was just about to leave work after collecting official documents to deliver to you, when the postal carrier who stopped by briefly mentioned that once he visited your house, his day would be complete.”
So she had taken the opportunity to collect all my mail as well.
Just as she finished explaining, the water began to boil.
I poured hot barley tea and thinly toasted scorched rice onto a plate and set them before Linda.
“My, I’ve never seen this tea and dessert before.”
Before picking up the teacup, she pulled two documents from her bag and handed them to me.
“These are receipts confirming the delivery of mail and official documents.”
After receiving my signature on the receipt, Linda continued.
“The mail appears to be from the children who went to the Capital, so you can review it at your leisure. There’s one official document, and I think you should look at it now.”
“Now?”
“Yes. It’s from Robinson Junior, the Baron of Snoril. He was studying abroad but returned after hearing about the accident. He sent several official documents today.”
Now that she mentioned it, I recalled overhearing people in the City discussing how the young Baron had returned and would soon inherit the lordship.
“He’s requesting a response by tomorrow. But given how administrative matters are handled in our Domain, official documents from the Lord or his representative usually have predetermined answers, so I think you’ll only need to review the contents.”
As Linda spoke, her eyes widened while she sipped the barley tea.
“Oh? This is delicious. What kind of tea is this exactly?”
“It’s barley tea. Please try the scorched rice as well.”
After offering Linda the food, I listened to her exclamations of delight as I opened the official document.
It was a command ordering me to supply 300 rice cakes on skewers for the distinguished guests expected to arrive from across the Empire to enjoy at the grand banquet accompanying the Lord’s succession ceremony, scheduled to take place one month hence.
‘Well, this is what you’d expect in a class-based society. Both the schedule and quantity are entirely one-sided.’
Of course, the document did include provisions for claiming labor costs and material expenses. But the stark difference between the benefits of compliance and the disadvantages of refusal made my brow furrow involuntarily.
I understood Linda’s point that the answer was already predetermined.
“So if I comply, I receive an invitation to the banquet, and if I refuse, it’s one month in prison?”
“Then the official documents sent to various places today must have had similar terms. Should I send word tomorrow that I’ll comply?”
I had no choice but to nod. At the same time, I decided to focus only on the positives.
‘I have the dress Bloden gave me, after all. This is my chance to wear it.’
A commoner attending a noble’s party didn’t seem like it would be particularly entertaining, but it seemed worthwhile to observe it as an experience. Since few nobles would dare to pick a quarrel with a commoner directly invited by the Lord himself, wouldn’t I be able to simply observe without worrying about safety?
Just then, Linda emptied her teacup and the plate of scorched rice, then smiled happily.
“That was absolutely delicious. Thank you, Hailey.”
“Would you like some more?”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
I served Linda more barley tea and scorched rice.
As Linda ate and chatted about this and that, Toto emerged from beneath the bed and jumped onto my lap.
“Oh, you keep a cat?”
“Yes, quite by accident.”
Linda, crunching on the scorched rice while watching Toto, soon tilted her head curiously.
“The cat looks exactly like the one drawn in the notice we were going to post on the Town Square bulletin board.”
“Really?”
“A citizen’s request to post a notice about a missing cat was approved four days ago. The portrait is drawn quite well. It seems the owner has considerable means—they must have hired a professional painter.”
“And you’re saying it looks exactly like Toto?”
“Yes, if you go to the Town Square, you’ll be able to see the cat’s picture. But more importantly, there’s a recent development I think you absolutely need to know about.”
Linda changed the subject as if the cat matter was of little consequence.
“What is it?”
.
.
.
After hearing Linda’s story, I was truly startled.
“You’re saying new neighbors will be moving in besides Our House and Raven’s Mansion?”
“Yes, inquiries about usage rights for state-owned land in this area have been increasing. I’ve been guiding them through the proper procedures, but it occurred to me that your Cottage isn’t in a formally occupied status.”
“Oh no! Now that you mention it!”
I remembered hearing an explanation about usage rights from Raven before, but at that time, before my identity was verified, I had simply decided to just live there for now.
This is serious—if I’m not careful, they could take Our House away from me!

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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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