This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 127

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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 127

Robinson Junior Snoril, the only son of Duke Snorril.
He first learned of Hailey upon returning to Snorilo after completing his lengthy studies abroad. As Robinson’s carriage carried him homeward, he caught sight of a woman holding a boy’s hand and found himself unable to look away.
The woman wore fine clothing and was truly beautiful. Judging by the child at her side, she appeared to be a middle-class commoner’s wife, though such details hardly mattered. For a nobleman, acquiring a woman outside the nobility was scarcely worth consideration.
The moment Robinson arrived at the Manor, he summoned the Butler and described the woman’s appearance, ordering him to discover where she lived and who she was. He expected it would take considerable time, but to his surprise, the Butler answered immediately.
“It appears you’ve seen Miss Hailey.”
“Hailey?”
“Yes, regarding Miss Hailey….”
Information about Hailey poured from the Butler’s lips in torrents.
She lived down by the Seaside, was raising a young sibling alone, was unmarried, and was an illegal resident with no official identity….
Upon hearing this much, Robinson thought: perfect! Since he had no intention of marriage anyway, it seemed simple enough to visit, offer some gifts, and seduce her. If that failed, he could always abduct her secretly and make her his mistress.
‘No one cares if one illegal resident disappears.’
He gazed around his ornate Study with a satisfied smile.
‘After living in a place like this for a few days, she’d never want to return to that wretched Cottage, would she? She’d cling to me, begging to stay here.’
But the Butler’s next words immediately changed his thinking.
“What? Father vouched for her and had her identity registered? For an illegal resident?”
“Yes, your father’s remarkable foresight is evident—the taxes she generates are quite substantial.”
“How is that possible? What could an illegal resident have done to pay such taxes?”
The Butler began recounting Hailey’s heroic deeds and business acumen.
‘This makes no sense. A woman with nothing achieves such success? How?’
Moreover, two exceptionally handsome and well-built men lived nearby, and she maintained good relations with them.
“One is even a nobleman from another territory, yet I observed him addressing her as ‘Lady Hailey’ and treating her with the utmost respect, as one would serve a superior.”
Though relieved to hear their relationship was nothing romantic, Robinson felt himself shrinking as he absorbed the full extent of Hailey’s accomplishments.
A woman popular among the Domain’s residents, respected by foreign nobility, and who had even met the Emperor—she could not be approached recklessly.
His previous plan had to be abandoned entirely.
‘I’ll have to meet her naturally and seduce her instead.’
If her character and business acumen were truly so exceptional, perhaps taking her as a wife despite her lower status wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Robinson checked his reflection in the full-length mirror. He saw a handsome man standing at 175 centimeters with blonde hair and deep brown eyes.
The problem was that no one except his Mother and the Maids had ever called him handsome.
“Butler.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Between those neighboring men and myself, who is more handsome?”
“Naturally, you are, young master.”
“Truly?”
….
At the Butler’s silence, Robinson changed his question.
“Are those neighbors taller than me?”
“Yes, slightly taller.”
“How much taller? What’s his height?”
“….”
“Miss, won’t you speak plainly?”
The Butler withdrew a handkerchief and dabbed away the perspiration beading on his brow as he spoke.
“He appeared to be around 190 centimeters.”
Robinson Junior was overwhelmed by a difference that defied comparison.
“How is that just slightly taller! He’s absurdly massive!”
Accompanied by curses, he began berating the Butler.
Of course, a measure of flattery was necessary. But a servant who failed to report truthfully deserved stern reprimand.
Afterward, the Butler apologized to Robinson Junior, then acquiesced to his one-sided desires.

* * *

After the two put their heads together, what emerged was the plan to mobilize people for the succession ceremony. The method was to issue commands that the landowners could not refuse, pressure them to prepare documents, and summon them under the pretense of holding related meetings.
Here, Robinson Junior intended to win favor by displaying himself as “cold-blooded yet warm toward my woman,” then seduce her in earnest at the banquet to follow.
Additionally, he planned to learn the manufacturing method of those skewered rice cakes that Hailey supposedly sold.
He didn’t know the details, but it was certain to be profitable. However, if she were to become his wife, making and selling food directly would be beneath her station.
So he would simply learn the method beforehand, hire someone to produce it, and thereby naturally acquire the business rights to kimbap, which Hailey apparently held royalties for.
‘This is what they call killing two birds with one stone.’
With a satisfied smile, he issued instructions to the summoned Maid.
“A bit lower.”
At Robinson Junior’s request, the Maid moved her hand downward.
“Here, sir?”
“Ah, a bit lower than that.”
“Here?”
“Yes. There. Put more strength into it.”
The Maid applied more pressure. Only then did Robinson Junior close his eyes, a tingling yet refreshing sensation washing over him, and a pleased groan escaped unbidden.
“Excellent. Mmm. Your touch truly is exceptional.”
At Robinson Junior’s satisfied response, the Maid’s expression brightened considerably.
“Hehe, you enjoy it so much?”
“Of course. Scratching my back—you’re the best at it.”
Entrusting his back to the Maid, Robinson Junior examined the documents piled before his desk. They were production schedule reports sent from the places where he had issued mobilization orders.
He had already ascertained what sort of food it was when issuing the orders, and since most items were from officially registered shops with prices already set, the report format was simplified.
The actual costs were covered out of pocket first, then reimbursed upon submission of receipts. Thus the report items consisted merely of estimated costs, labor fees, and delivery schedules.
As Robinson Junior quickly reviewed the reports, he furrowed his brow and flipped back to the beginning. The reports, which should have been densely packed with text due to their different format, were missing.
Robinson Junior rang the hand bell.
“You called, sir?”
Shortly after, the Old Butler entered with a knock, holding several letters on a silver tray, his expression tense.
Upon seeing Robinson Junior with his shirt cravat and buttons undone, his back still being attended to by the Maid, he cleared his throat. The Maid, catching the hint, bowed her head respectfully and withdrew from the room.
Once Robinson Junior confirmed the Study door had closed, he jabbed his finger repeatedly at the reports stacked before his desk.
“Hmm, it seems the production schedule reports for the tribute items haven’t all come in yet? Especially that kimbap and tteokkkochi.”
“Ah, the submission deadline is four days from now.”
“What? Why is it taking so long? When is the conference?”
“Two days after submission, so five days from now.”
“Ah, that’s too late.”
Robinson Junior turned his gaze toward the window, staring intently at Hailey’s Cabin visible in the distance.
“So I have to wait five days to see Hailey’s face up close.”
The Butler, who swallowed hard at the young master’s eager anticipation of meeting Hailey, set down the letter tray on the desk and took a deep breath.
“Young Master. Please look at this.”
“What is it?”
The moment Robinson Junior saw the seal pattern on the letter, he jumped to his feet in surprise.
“What? Why is there a letter from the Imperial Palace?”

* * *

“What? The Imperial Palace’s priority has been invoked, and kimbap and tteokkkochi have been excluded from the banquet?”
I was genuinely startled by Linda’s explanation as she hurried over with the official document.
“Yes, it’s His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday four weeks from now. According to Imperial Law, when Imperial Palace and Domain events overlap, the same subjects cannot be mobilized twice. This time, those subjects are the merchant guild master running the kimbap business and Hailey.”
So that’s why the Imperial Palace’s official document came to me.
I lowered my gaze to examine the seal pattern on the Imperial Palace document Linda had brought.
A sun wearing a crown with wings, and within it, crossed swords and a shield.
It was the same pattern as the Imperial Palace’s emblem described in the novel.
‘Wow, it really is an official document from the Imperial Palace.’
Nervous, I bit my lip and opened the document.
It was written in the same handwriting as the notice I’d seen in the Town Square—a command to deliver one bowl of tteokbokki for His Majesty to consume at a grand banquet to be held at the Imperial Palace a month from now.
‘Huh, just one bowl? Will this be enough?’
What was surprising came in the next passage.
If I complied, I would receive an invitation to the Imperial Palace banquet and full financial support for all related expenses. If I refused, the Lord of the Domain I belonged to would face one month of imprisonment.
‘At least I’m not the one going to prison.’
Moreover, no report was even necessary. Since the Administrative Official would handle the relevant documents, there was only a request to cooperate with simple questions and answers when meeting the Administrative Official at the Imperial Palace.
‘This is surprisingly convenient?’

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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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