This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 129

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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 129

Robinson and the Butler were utterly flabbergasted when they heard why I refused to sign.
“You won’t go because the Imperial Palace is too far?”
“Yes, the travel time is simply too long. And I’m worried about leaving my younger sister behind.”
I counted off on my fingers just how much I stood to lose.
“Most importantly, I’m anxious that someone might steal my business while I’m away. What if I lose my customers?”
“Now, who would steal—”
Robinson’s expression turned contemptuous before he suddenly trailed off, his eyes darting about. He seemed to have grasped exactly whom I was referring to.
“Wait, are you acting like this because I asked for a detailed production schedule report? Do you think I’d steal it?”
“What? I didn’t mean—oh!”
I deliberately feigned confusion before gasping in realization, covering my mouth with both hands. Then I let out a hollow laugh and waved my hand dismissively.
“Come now, surely not. You’re the heir to the Domain—I can’t imagine you’d do something so petty, despicable, and shameless.”
Robinson’s face flushed crimson.
‘He was absolutely planning to do exactly that.’
In any case, I emphasized my concerns and laid out my demands point by point.
Robinson suppressed his irritation and stood up.
“I understand what you’re asking for, but your paranoia is excessive. I’ll look into it, so wait a moment. It’ll take a while.”
Robinson left while keeping the Butler behind.
His excuse was that the Butler should attend to tea service until his return, but it was clearly an attempt to monitor what the Merchant Guild Master and I discussed.
‘He’s definitely going to find Baron and Raven Aner.’
I felt a twinge of disappointment inwardly.
However, Baron and Raven Aner were perceptive. Since they knew I was here, they wouldn’t answer any questions in a way that favored the heir to the Domain.
.
.
.
As expected, after Baron and Raven Aner handled themselves well and Robinson completed his verification, what he had the Butler deliver to me was a notarized document.
It promised that the Domain would provide security for my journey to the Imperial Palace with Baron, absolutely protect my business rights and recipes, and refrain from causing any disadvantage to me and those around me afterward.
“Thank you so much for carefully considering my concerns and even offering support, heir to the Domain.”
I smiled brightly and signed the agreement. On the other hand, I heaved a sigh of relief.
Phew, I’d successfully bluffed the heir to the Domain!
I felt genuinely grateful to the Merchant Guild Master who made kimbap. His help had been invaluable in getting this far.
The Imperial Palace’s official document was sealed, and I didn’t tell anyone about the quantity I’d been assigned—”one bowl of tteokbokki.” Since it was an Imperial event, the detailed specifications were likely confidential and shared only with the relevant parties.
‘Still, since this is for the Merchant Guild, the Imperial Palace’s request for kimbap must be far greater than mine, right?’
With that thought, I dragged out the signing process, allowing the Merchant Guild Master to mention the relevant quantities first. Fortunately, he subtly took my side at just the right moment, giving me confirmation.

‘Well, I’ve been notified of three thousand kimbap rolls, so Miss Hailey must have been assigned an equally enormous quantity. It’s certainly something to worry about.’
‘You’re right, Merchant Guild Master. Fifteen hundred tteokkkochi skewers… that quantity is impossible for me to handle.’
‘I can simply order around my guild members, but Miss Hailey won’t have it so easy. These are provisions for the Imperial Palace—we can’t just hire anyone, can we?’

When such an enormous quantity was mentioned, Robinson and the Butler’s eyes widened in astonishment.
‘Just as I suspected—these people have no idea what official document I received.’
Robinson carefully secured the documents and rose from his seat, offering encouragement to me and the Merchant Guild Master.
“Fifteen hundred tteokkkochi skewers and three thousand kimbap rolls. Both are daunting tasks, but do your best for the honor of the Domain.”
Robinson clearly disliked this situation. Yet there was nothing that could change it. If I refused to comply with the requisition order, Robinson would face imprisonment right after inheriting the Lord’s position.
“There’s no choice in the matter, is there?”
“I’ll do my very best as well.”
I bowed respectfully alongside the Merchant Guild Master, who was also bowing to Robinson, and Robinson waved his hand dismissively, signaling us to leave.
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.
.
We exited the Lord’s Manor side by side.
After walking in silence for some time, I confirmed that no one was nearby before asking the Merchant Guild Master walking beside me in a very quiet voice.
“Is it really three thousand kimbap rolls?”
The Merchant Guild Master then glanced around before lowering his voice in response.
“Actually, it’s exactly ten rolls.”
“…Really? Truly?”
“Yes. I was instructed to deliver it secretly, and there was even a specified list. How many did Miss Hailey receive?”
“One bowl of tteokbokki. It’s only for His Majesty.”
Upon hearing my words, the Merchant Guild Master caught on to the truth and clutched his stomach laughing.
On our way back, we burst into laughter for quite some time, exchanged a high-five, and parted ways.

* * *

At our House, Baron, Raven, and Kimarise were gathered together.
Baron, his eyes rimmed red, looked at me with an eager gleam the moment I arrived.
“Nuna, that person who claimed to be the Lord’s heir—what happened with them?”
“So they said they’d verify things, and it seems they came all the way here in person.”
Judging by the expressions on Baron’s, Raven’s, and Kimarise’s faces, they had handled the situation remarkably well. Yet Baron’s face was flushed crimson.
“Don’t even mention it—I got scolded for doing something completely unbecoming because of that person.”
“Something unbecoming?”
Raven shrugged his shoulders.
“He insisted he could never be separated from Nuna, and then proceeded to roll about on the floor weeping with such theatrical flair that I wondered if he might become an actor. His performance was quite impressive, I must say.”
Baron covered his face with both hands in embarrassment.
“Ugh, I kept rolling until he left with that fed-up expression on his face. The more I do it, the better my acting seems to get.”
Oh my, my dear Baron had gone so far as to abandon his pride and put on such a performance for my sake. So that’s why his eyes were so flushed.
“Thank you, Baron.”
I expressed my gratitude and handed Baron the notarized document I had received from Robinson.
“Thanks to you, everything was resolved beautifully.”
Baron laughed heartily upon seeing the notarized document.
“Wow, when Raven and Kimarise mentioned they were going to the Imperial Palace banquet, I thought I’d have to stay here alone. So I get to go too? And without spending any of our own money?”
“That’s right.”
I answered with a smile and turned to Raven with a question.
“By the way, do you two attend the Imperial Palace banquet as well?”
“Yes, we attend every year.”
Ah, that’s right—they mentioned conducting business with the Imperial Palace.
Kimarise answered, and Raven broke into a genuinely delighted smile.
“How wonderful! Let’s travel together on our Ship.”

* * *

Sitting at her Study desk reviewing Bloden’s birthday banquet budget documents with the bureaucrats, Anna shook her head in bewilderment.
“His Majesty’s birthday banquet is the Empire’s most prestigious event. So such a budget is reasonable. However.”
Anna had consistently adjusted the actual scale of Bloden’s birthday banquet each year so it wouldn’t differ greatly from her own birthday celebration.
“The guest of honor himself only shows his precious face for a brief moment before leaving. He never even looks over the banquet. So there’s no need to spend such an enormous sum on these aspects.”
It was the same reason as always, and the bureaucrats couldn’t refute it.
Just as Anna was rejecting the budget documents she found unsatisfactory.
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded, the door opened, and a man in a formal dark green dress uniform embroidered with gold thread entered, carrying a rather thick folder of documents.
“What?”
“Lord Aner!”
Upon confirming the identity of the newcomer, the bureaucrats were startled, either jumping to their feet or exchanging nervous glances.
Raven Aner ignored the bureaucrats’ reactions and stood before Anna, speaking with formal courtesy.
“I greet you, The Regent.”
Even as he showed respect, that characteristic arrogant air of looking down on people remained unchanged.
To Anna, Raven Aner was an eyesore she would one day have to eliminate. Yet Anna welcomed him with a leisurely smile as if she’d never harbored such thoughts.
“Well, who do we have here? None other than Lord Raven Aner, His Majesty’s loyal subject. It’s been quite a while indeed. So, what brings you to burst in so suddenly?”
Raven Aner held up the documents he’d brought and pulled his lips into a false smile.
“It is His Majesty’s imperial decree. I’ve been ordered to deliver it directly to you, The Regent.”
“His Majesty… an imperial decree?”
Until now, Bloden had never issued decrees to Anna. He had delegated everything except matters related to the Gate to the Regent.
For the Emperor to suddenly insist on delivering it in front of the bureaucrats was a departure from his usual conduct, and it left her feeling distinctly uneasy.
“Good heavens!”
Trying to appear unaffected, Anna checked Bloden’s imperial decree but ultimately failed to maintain her composure.

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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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