This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 131

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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 131

“Pardon me.”
A knock sounded at the door, and it swung open. An attendant entered, carrying a tray laden with beverages and refreshments.
“Oh my?”
The attendant’s eyes widened upon spotting Crockel.
I braced myself, anticipating a lecture about dogs not being permitted, but the attendant simply set the tray down on a side table beside the door without a word of complaint.
“What a adorable puppy! Would it be alright if I said hello?”
From the attendant’s demeanor, it appeared that bringing the dog aboard posed no issue whatsoever.
“Yes, he seems quite gentle.”
I answered with relief.
“Grrr!”
“Crockel, behave yourself.”
Crockel’s growl and Baron’s firm command erupted simultaneously.
Turning around, I saw Crockel snapping viciously at the attendant as if ready to bite, while Baron held the dog’s tail firmly in one hand, keeping him pinned down.
Baron shook his head with an apologetic expression and gestured for the attendant to leave.
“He tends to bite anyone who looks at him besides his master. That’s why Ben and Cosette’s households also—”
The attendant, having heard Baron’s explanation, looked somewhat disappointed. Yet he left the cabin after expressing his understanding, acknowledging that such dogs did exist in the world.
I, however, remained utterly bewildered.
“He doesn’t do that with me.”
The moment I extended my hand, Crockel bounded over as if he’d never been angry at all, nuzzling against me. Watching his tail wag with such enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable he was.
“He’s such a sweetheart.”
Baron smiled softly as he watched Crockel and me together.
“Indeed. Quite remarkable.”
* * *
On the fourth dawn of our voyage.
Baron rose from his bed and surveyed the cabin, where an unusually bright moonlight streamed through the windows.
In the dim light, I could see Hailey sleeping deeply. Simultaneously, Crockel, who had been lying beneath the bed with his belly exposed like a human, sensed his master’s presence and opened his eyes.
Baron’s eyes glowed crimson.
Along the route to the Empire, this was the closest point to the Kingdom of Meridon. It was the perfect timing to investigate the situation firsthand. Though aquatic combat differed vastly from the Northern Region and would prove challenging, he intended to eliminate the Monster heading toward the Imperial Capital today as well.
At Baron’s beckoning glance, Crockel—who had been wriggling like a caterpillar with his back on the floor—suddenly sprang to his feet upon reaching the door.
With eyes brimming with enthusiasm, he looked at Bloden and spoke.
-It’s time, master!
This was Crockel’s language, comprehensible only to Bloden.
“Woof!”
The problem was that to everyone else, this sounded like nothing more than a dog’s bark.
The spirited sound of the puppy’s bark echoed through the cabin, rousing Hailey from her sleep. Startled, Bloden quickly lay back down and turned his body.
Just as Bloden’s pale crimson gaze shifted to violet, I heard Hailey’s drowsy voice from behind him.
“Mmm, Crockel, what’s wrong?”
“Squeak, squeak.”
-Master, why are you lying down again? Didn’t you say we were going to hunt monsters today?
Bloden, now in Baron’s form, closed his eyes quietly.
‘I specifically told him to leave quietly.’
“Do you need to use the bathroom?”
“Squeak.”
-No, master. I promised to hunt monsters with you.
Thanks to his disguise as a puppy, Hailey couldn’t understand him, but Baron felt a chill run down his spine.
‘I explicitly told him that was top-secret information in front of Hailey.’
His fists clenched with the urge to punch Crockel.
The memory surfaced of when he became Emperor and ventured into the Abyss to summon the Commanders.
‘I should have been more careful when summoning the Commander and making the contract.’
Since Bloden had been young at the time, he’d been dazzled by Crockel’s abilities and hadn’t considered other aspects. He deeply regretted that mistake now.
Sensing Hailey’s gaze directed at him, Baron quietly released the tension in his fists.
For now, he’d endure it. He’d deal with Crockel properly later.
“You’re kicking off your blanket again. What if your stomach hurts?”
As Hailey murmured softly, she draped the blanket over Baron’s shoulders. She gently brushed back the hair of the sleeping Baron and left a light kiss near his temple.
As the stress melted away, Baron found himself smiling without realizing it. His desire to punish Crockel vanished entirely.
What did it matter if the schedule fell behind and they drifted further from the Kingdom of Meridon? He could simply sail faster to make up for it.
“Hehe, are you having a good dream?”
Hailey murmured in a barely audible voice and carefully climbed down from the bed.
“Let’s go, Crockel. I’ll take you to the bathroom.”
“Squeak. Squeak.”
-It’s not the bathroom. I need to hunt monsters with master….
“Alright, alright. If you whine too much, you’ll wake Baron. Shh.”
The sound of the door opening and closing followed Hailey’s murmur.
Realizing that Hailey had taken Crockel with her, Baron sat up and sighed.
‘That idiot.’
Today’s plan had failed.
* * *
It had already been four days since we boarded the ship heading toward the Capital. Though the sky occasionally drizzled, the winds were favorable, making the voyage smooth.
Today was one of those days.
“There’s a castaway over there!”
If only we hadn’t heard the sailor’s shout from the deck.
The atmosphere on the ship became chaotic in an instant.
Baron and I, our eyes meeting, closed the books we’d been reading and stepped out of the cabin.
The sailors had gathered on one side of the deck, and beyond them, the Sea was scattered with wreckage from a destroyed ship and cargo.
A small boat was already approaching castaways waving their clothes from a wide wooden plank.
The castaways—three men and two women—were soon rescued. All five looked disheveled and frantic.
But even so, the other four were taking care of a young man with orange-colored hair.
‘That orange-tinted hair color seems oddly familiar…’
It appeared that a ship carrying high-ranking nobles had been shipwrecked.
Once they safely boarded our vessel and set foot on the deck, they began weeping with joy.
“We’re alive.”
“Thank the gods, sob.”
“We’re truly grateful!”
“What exactly happened?”
At Raven’s inquiry, a middle-aged man wiped his tears and straightened his posture.
“We sincerely thank you for saving us.”
The man, who introduced himself as an Attendant of the Kelite Royal Palace, respectfully gestured toward the young man with orange-tinted hair.
“This is His Highness Stanley Kelite, the Crown Prince.”
What? Nelloa’s family?
Stanley cleared his throat and asked Raven.
“Are you the owner of this ship?”
“I am.”
“I am truly grateful. Kelite will not forget this debt.”
What Stanley said next was astonishing.
“We were en route to an invitation to the Emperor’s birthday celebration when we were attacked by enormous monsters.”
It was truly something that made one doubt their own ears.
While the startled sailors murmured among themselves, Stanley, who had emptied a bowl of soup as quickly as a crab disappearing into sand, explained what they had experienced.
Two days ago, enormous monsters appeared and devoured the ship. Realizing the situation was dire, Stanley and a few of his attendants quickly leaped from the vessel, and thanks to that, they barely managed to survive.
“The monsters that destroyed our ship headed toward the Empire. Given the potential for catastrophic damage, it seems you must urgently contact His Majesty.”
Stanley, having made this appeal to Raven, pointed to wooden crates floating in the sea.
“And fortunately, several crates drifted out after our escape. They likely contain valuables inside. If you don’t mind, could you help us retrieve them?”
“Understood.”
Raven issued orders to the crew. The ship became bustling once again.
As the crates were soon brought aboard, Stanley tapped one of them and smiled broadly.
“This crate contains a gift to present to His Majesty, and I’m immensely relieved it survived intact.”
However, the Attendant examining the crate beside it reacted differently.
“It seems some seawater has seeped in. We should open it immediately.”
At those words, Stanley promptly opened the crate.
From the crate emerged a resplendent golden vase and a large portrait frame. The golden vase was so exquisitely crafted that it seemed perfect for display in the Imperial Palace, while the large frame showed only its back, so the painting within remained unseen.
“This is a treasure of our kingdom—a golden vase. There’s a legend that it can turn back time, but that’s merely legend, ha ha. Doesn’t the value shine through in this beautiful craftsmanship?”
He then gestured toward the frame.
“The other is a portrait of our Princess.”
“The Princess? You mean the Princess of Kelite?”
At Raven’s question, Stanley nodded with a face full of pride.
“Indeed. She’s my younger sister, and quite beautiful. I brought it to show His Majesty just how lovely she is.”
Having praised his sister, Stanley turned the portrait around so it could be seen. In that instant, without anyone needing to speak first, we all covered our mouths with our hands.
Inside the portrait was Nelloa.
However, the canvas, soaked in seawater, had warped, causing the facial contours to shift subtly out of alignment, and due to the cracked layers of paint, the skin had transformed to resemble the wrinkles of an elderly person.

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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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