This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 130

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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 130

Anna examined Bloden’s decree and immediately turned to Raven with a question.
“His Majesty’s birthday celebration budget is ten times greater than the previous allocation, is it not? The festival duration has also been extended from two days to five. To allocate such a staggering sum….”
The bureaucrats who heard her words began to murmur in astonishment. Anna sighed and shook her head.
“It appears His Majesty’s political sensibilities have grown somewhat dull from his prolonged stay at the Northern Gate.”
“That cannot be.”
Raven spoke without so much as raising an eyebrow.
“His Majesty stated that his birthday celebration is the Empire’s greatest event, and since he will assume direct rule next year, it is time to establish a scale befitting that occasion.”
“However, the Imperial Palace’s current finances cannot immediately execute a project of this magnitude.”
To be honest, the budget itself could be arranged. The Imperial Court was not truly without funds. The previous Emperor had conducted celebrations of comparable scale.
Yet I could not allocate such resources to Bloden’s birthday celebration. To do so would immediately showcase his presence and authority throughout the Entire Empire.
Raven seemed to see through my inner thoughts, a faint smile playing at his lips.
“His Majesty will cover such expenses from his personal treasury, so there is no need for concern. The Regent need only execute the decree as written.”

* * *

Today was remarkably clear and pleasant—perfect weather to begin our voyage to the Capital.
Baron and I each carried a large travel bag as we boarded Raven’s merchant vessel. The important luggage had already been loaded onto the ship.
As my feet touched the deck, the captain, crew members, and sailors lined up to greet Raven, the Merchant Guild Master, and his companions—us.
The crew members approached and attempted to take our travel bags.
“We shall show you to your quarters for the voyage.”
I readily handed my bag to the crew member. But Baron clutched his bag and stepped back.
“Never mind. I’ll carry my own bag.”
He seemed disinclined to have a stranger handle his belongings.
Then Raven stepped forward and took my bag from the crew member’s hands instead.
“I shall provide the guidance. Everyone else, return to your duties.”
At his gesture, Kimarise and the captain departed. With only the three of us remaining, Raven extended his hand to Baron as well.
“Baron, your bag appears cumbersome. Please, allow me to take it.”
I thought Baron would entrust his bag to Raven, but again he shook his head.
“Don’t worry about my bag. Just show us to the cabin Nuna and I will use.”
Baron’s behavior today was peculiar.
“Baron, what if Nuna carried it for you?”
But Baron shook his head.
“I’m stronger anyway. I’ll just carry it myself.”
His fixation on the bag was strange, but there was nothing to be done about it.
“Then let us proceed.”
Raven, apparently thinking the same, gracefully acquiesced.
.
.
.
“…Wow. How magnificent.”
The words escaped my lips unbidden the moment I laid eyes on the guest cabin.
When I first boarded, the ship had seemed like an ordinary mid-sized merchant vessel. Yet this cabin surpassed even the Suite Room at the highest floor of the Hotel.
Honestly, it would not have seemed strange if the Emperor himself used it—my gaze naturally drifted toward Raven, who met my eyes with a gentle smile.
“I am delighted it pleases you. I do hope your journey proves comfortable.”
Soon the ship began to move.
“I have matters to attend to, so please make use of anything in the cabin as you wish. Do rest.”
After Raven departed, leaving only Baron and me, I began unpacking my travel bag.
Since the journey to the Capital would take five days by ship, it seemed wise to arrange my clothes in the wardrobe.
“Baron, shouldn’t you organize your bag as well?”
As I turned back, I noticed something odd about Baron’s behavior. He was still clutching his luggage to his chest.
Now that I thought about it, Baron had not uttered a single word of admiration upon seeing this splendid cabin.
“Baron, is something wrong? Why are you acting like that?”
“Well, you see, Nuna.”
“Yes?”
“I actually have something to confess.”
I studied Baron’s expression. His eyes darted about, and his lips puckered—he looked like someone struggling to say something difficult.
“What is it? Tell me.”
Then Baron spoke quickly.
“But first, you have to promise me something.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I have a feeling you’d agree anyway… but you have to promise.”
It was an odd request.
“Promise what, all of a sudden?”
“And no matter what unexpected thing I’ve done, you won’t get angry with me.”
It certainly seemed like Baron had gotten into some kind of trouble. But what could he possibly have done?
I couldn’t think of anything obvious. Still, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
“Shouldn’t I decide that after knowing what kind of action you’re talking about?”
At that moment, Baron looked up at me, his large violet eyes gleaming with an imploring light.
‘Ugh, this boy.’
Before I could even discern what he was asking, my resolve began to soften at his pleading expression.
“Fine, just tell me already.”
“Actually….”
Only then did Baron carefully set down his bag and open it wide.
Clothes and personal items were neatly arranged, but in the middle of the pile of garments, something bulged noticeably.
“Ah, so you didn’t want to hand over your bag because you were afraid this would be discovered?”
“Yes, I thought they wouldn’t let me board if they found out.”
Baron’s worried expression was so endearing that a soft laugh escaped me.
“Don’t worry. There shouldn’t be any items prohibited from boarding, right?”
As I tried to reassure Baron and peek at the clothes inside the bag, I felt something amiss and quickly withdrew my hand.
Just now, that bulging protrusion had moved.
“B-Baron, what on earth did you sneak aboard?”
Baron’s answer wasn’t necessary. The thing that had been moving suddenly poked its face out.
Shimmering silver fur, luminous silver eyes, an elongated snout crowned with a sleek black nose gleaming with moisture.
“A… a puppy?”
The puppy looked around, wriggled free from the clothes, and stretched luxuriously. Then, seeing Baron and me, it began wagging its tail.
The puppy, small enough to fit in an adult’s two hands, seemed both familiar and unfamiliar in breed.
Looking at its plump paws, it resembled the Sigorjabu breed that set the standard for the neighborhood’s refinement, though it appeared to be a large dog type.
“How adorable.”
Without thinking, I scooped up the puppy and smiled broadly, but my senses quickly returned.
‘Wait, that’s not the point! You can’t just board a ship with a dog on a whim, can you?’
In any case, it was truly unexpected, and I was genuinely startled.
“How did this happen? Baron.”
Baron scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Well, actually, I found it on the Back Mountain near the Lord’s Wheat Field…”
“What? You went there? That’s dangerous.”
“It was after the Gate had closed.”
In that case, there seemed to be no cause for concern.
“It was crying alone. I thought maybe its owner or mother dog might come, so I left it there and looked after it for a while. I considered bringing it home…”
As Baron explained the situation, he rolled his eyes and shrugged.
“But Toto was at home then.”
If Toto was at home, it meant he had cared for it over quite a long period.
Baron continued, saying no one had come while he was looking after it.
“It was always alone. But this time, we’re going to be away for a long while. I’ve already grown attached to it, and I couldn’t find anyone suitable to entrust it to.”
“Suitable, you say. Raven came with us, but there’s Ben’s household, and Cosette’s household too.”
I recalled the landowners I had grown close to in the meantime.
“If you had asked, they would have gladly looked after it. It’s adorable, after all.”
“Actually, I asked without telling you.”
Baron shook his head as if disappointed.
“What? They said no?”
“They said yes. But there was another problem, so I couldn’t leave it with them. That’s why I had no choice but to bring it along, but if I told you first and you said it wasn’t allowed, Crockel would be left alone for sure.”
So Baron, who had brought it along secretly, called the puppy that was sniffing around me.
“Come here. Crockel.”
The moment he called, the puppy dashed over and stood before Baron.
“You even gave it a name?”
“Yeah. It seems to understand its name and some commands. How should I put it…”
Baron petted the puppy without hesitation and smiled wryly.
“Honestly, it seems a bit dim-witted.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve been trying to teach him various things….”
Baron trailed off as he asked me a question.
“Want to see?”
I nodded, and Baron gave Crockel an instruction.
“Crockel, sit.”
Crockel sat down.
“My, how clever.”
“Lie down. Play dead.”
Crockel obediently lay down and played dead as Baron commanded. The sight of the adorable pup made me laugh involuntarily.
“He’s so intelligent—where exactly is he being foolish?”
Then Baron stood up and walked over to the other side before giving Crockel another command.
“Come here.”
I immediately imagined Crockel bounding toward Baron with that cute little run of his.
But something unexpected happened.
Instead of running, Crockel began pushing himself along the ground with his back, sliding toward Baron while still lying down.
“See? That’s the problem. He does whatever he pleases—a bit foolish, really.”
Yet despite his unconventional method, he reached Baron remarkably quickly.
“Get up.”
Only then did Crockel stand.
“Still, he listens well enough.”
As I came to Crockel’s defense, Baron tilted his head to one side.
“Is that so?”
His behavior is a bit eccentric, but he understands commands perfectly well—so what other issue could possibly make him unsuitable?

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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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