This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 128

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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 128

An invitation to Bloden’s birthday celebration at the Imperial Palace—this was one of the Empire’s grandest events, rivaling the Foundation Day Festival itself. It was incomparable to the mere banquets held at the Lord’s Manor in Snoril.
Scenes from the original work came flooding back to me.
Diamond chandeliers showcasing the pinnacle of opulence, and beneath them, a ballroom so vast it was almost majestic.
Nobles dressed to the nines, the air brimming with excitement, orchestral waltzes filling the space, people swaying in elegant grace.
The prospect of encountering Bloden, who had designs on me, and Anna, the villain, gave me some pause. The presence of Nelloa, who had become a new villain by my standards, was equally troubling.
But it was obvious that there would be an enormous crowd surrounding them at the center of the celebration. Besides, as the guest of honor, Bloden would be far too busy receiving a long line of formal greetings.
So as long as I could enter the ballroom, I could easily enjoy myself without drawing their attention. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a Royal Court banquet firsthand.
My heart raced with anticipation.
‘I have to go!’
“You must be so excited, Hailey. An Imperial Palace event!”
Oh right, Linda was here.
Linda continued her explanation, her eyes tinged with envy.
“The Lord obtains the consent of the attendee directly before sending the confirmation letter. You just need to go to the Lord’s Manor by three o’clock tomorrow afternoon and sign as instructed.”

* * *

The next day, I went to the Lord’s Manor as Linda had directed.
“Hello.”
The soldiers standing guard at the Manor entrance greeted me warmly as soon as I offered my greeting.
“Oh! Welcome, Hailey!”
“We were told you’d be arriving at three o’clock, but you’ve come a bit early!”
‘I was just being polite with my greeting…’
The soldiers’ response was far more respectful than I’d anticipated, which surprised me.

‘Imperial Law protects the landowners, not people like a young lady.’

It was a completely different attitude from when they’d mocked me after hearing the Lord’s stern warning that spreading false rumors about monsters appearing would result in severe punishment.
I wondered what had changed, and one of the soldiers spoke awkwardly.
“I’m truly sorry for not believing you and laughing at you when you reported the monster before. Back then, it was something we couldn’t even imagine…”
“I apologize as well.”
Another soldier opened his mouth with an apologetic expression.
“We were all deeply moved hearing about Hailey’s courage in rescuing the orphanage children even during the fire.”
Only then did I understand why the soldiers’ attitudes had changed.
And receiving their sincere apologies helped ease the helplessness and hurt I’d felt back then.
The maid guiding me and the servants I passed on the way to the reception room all wore expressions not unlike the soldiers’.
.
.
.
“Oh my! Welcome, Miss Hailey.”
The moment I entered the reception room under the maid’s guidance, a middle-aged man who had been sitting with a small box beside him jumped to his feet to greet me. He was the Merchant Guild Master who had negotiated the kimbap recipe on behalf of the landowners at the children’s farewell gathering.
“Hello, Merchant Guild Master. How have you been?”
“Ah, thanks to you, life feels worth living.”
He rattled off his business situation without my asking.
He’d set up small stalls and counters at every port, taking orders from passengers and sailors and making kimbap on the spot to sell, and he planned to open shops in prime locations throughout the Empire’s cities for general customers as well.
Everything else was going well, so the only thing I needed to emphasize was hygiene. I’d already conveyed through Raven that kimbap didn’t store well, which is why they’d adopted the made-to-order approach.
“Well… we do make some ahead of time. I deliberately tasted it a day later, and it tasted just fine.”
I was beginning to feel uneasy, but the Merchant Guild Master scratched the back of his neck and laughed.
“But they sell so quickly that we can’t even keep a stockpile. Oh, and another thing.”
What followed was surprising.
“Whether in the Empire or abroad, anyone selling kimbap must receive our permission. That means you’ll become wealthy, Miss Hailey.”
“What, really?”
My eyes widened in surprise, and the Merchant Guild Master broke into a broad smile.
“Yes, congratulations, Miss Hailey.”
He handed me the box he’d been keeping beside him. It was small enough to hold in one hand, but quite heavy.
“What is this?”
“Nothing special, just a small token of goodwill.”
I carefully opened the box and gasped, quickly closing it again. Inside lay a single gold ingot.
“W-why are you giving this to me?”
“We intend to do well by this, so we hope you’ll maintain the contract with us even five years from now. I hear you have quite a few excellent unreleased recipes… If you’re thinking of profiting from them as a business, please tell us first.”
The Merchant Guild Master paused mid-sentence and winked.
“We’ll always offer you the best terms. You understand, don’t you?”
‘In the world I came from, recipes weren’t protected intellectual property.’
But since this is a world from a novel, it seemed recipes had their own rights here.
“Your representative told us that all recipes for foods you’ve made public in this world have been registered for patents. Moreover, you have no intention of transferring the recipes themselves—contracts are only possible on a royalty basis depending on the usage period.”
I’d heard the conclusion from Raven, but I was hearing the detailed circumstances for the first time today.
‘Wow, Raven is impressive. He said he’d handle everything if I just gave him power of attorney.’
Reflecting on it, I realized I owed this gold ingot to Raven as well, and my gratitude toward her deepened considerably.
‘Since I’m receiving royalties separately, I should give this to Raven.’
It was at that moment I decided to pick up some other gifts on the way back home.
The door burst open, and a young man I’d never seen before entered with the Butler.
The Butler informed the young man of who we were, then introduced him to us.
“This is Robinson Junior Snoril, who is currently acting as the Lord’s representative.”
Robinson shook hands with the Merchant Guild Master in a proper manner, then looked me up and down before meeting my gaze and offering his hand.
His appearance and attire were neat, and his tone was courteous. But the moment we shook hands, it felt like touching a worm writhing on a freshly dug potato from the field.
Yet even after the handshake ended, he didn’t release my hand—instead, he gripped it more firmly.
“You’re truly beautiful.”
It was clearly a compliment, but it made me deeply uncomfortable. Then Robinson twisted my hand, attempting to kiss the back of it.
“Eek!”
Startled, I reflexively pulled my hand away before his lips could touch it.
The Merchant Guild Master and the Butler’s jaws dropped, and Robinson’s eyebrow twitched as he stared at his now-empty hand. The look in his eyes was unsettling—his pride had clearly been wounded.
‘Oh no, if I’m not careful, I’ll cause trouble.’
Though it was his fault for suddenly trying to kiss my hand, I thought of Baron waiting at home and apologized first.
“I’m so sorry. I’m simply not accustomed to the etiquette of the upper classes.”
“Please be understanding. I’m just a commoner girl who knows nothing of the world.”
The Merchant Guild Master quickly came to my defense. At his words, Robinson twisted one corner of his mouth upward and responded.
“I see. I’ve heard about it—that you had no identity until recently. You wouldn’t have had the chance to be treated as a lady, then. I understand.”
What an insufferable bastard.
“There’s no need for lengthy explanations. Just sign the response document first.”
Seated at the head of the table, Robinson flicked his fingers at the Butler. The Butler then placed the response document before the Merchant Guild Master, who, after reviewing it, signed without objection.
Soon the document was passed to me, and I picked up a pen to review its contents.
The response document itself contained a simple statement that we would faithfully comply with the Royal Court’s mobilization.
But throughout my reading, Robinson’s sticky gaze continued to follow me, making me deeply uncomfortable. When I glanced up, I noticed he was licking his lips, and a chill ran down my spine.
‘That’s clearly not just about coveting my recipe. In a romance novel world, what happens when a rude man of power sets his sights on a commoner?’
His attempt to seize the skewer recipe under the guise of the report had been neutralized when we were mobilized for the Royal Court event, and I’d learned that Raven had filed a patent. But I wasn’t sure if that alone would be enough to keep me safe.
Earlier, the Merchant Guild Master had said that once a patent is registered, royalties are generated unless someone transfers it to another party….
‘Then couldn’t he just pressure me into transferring it?’
What if one day he suddenly showed up claiming to investigate suspected tax issues? What if he took Baron hostage and threatened me?
No matter how cleanly and righteously I lived, it would become exhaustingly complicated.
‘If I’m not careful, I’ll completely ruin this new life I’ve just gained. I can’t let this slide.’
After thinking for a moment, I set down my pen and straightened my posture.
While everyone looked puzzled, Robinson asked me.
“Why aren’t you signing?”

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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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