This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 138

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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 138

The Administrative Official wore a regretful smile, mirroring my own sentiment.
“This system was established by the previous Emperor, but currently The Regent is deciding on the specific details. Due to various circumstances, the funding has been reduced somewhat, but I believe it will be restored once His Majesty takes direct rule.”
“I see. There’s nothing to be done about it, then.”
The Administrative Official’s pen moved swiftly across the document. After recording the necessary information, he slid the papers toward me for clarity.
“All you need to do is sign here.”
Once I finished signing, he affixed the official seal to complete the document.
“Thank you for your full cooperation, Miss Hailey.”
“Oh, please. I should be thanking you for the clear explanation. When can I start using the auxiliary staff?”
“I’ll have them report for duty starting tomorrow.”
“Thank you for all your consideration, Administrative Official.”
As I left through the rear entrance of the Imperial Palace, the stiffness in the air seemed to dissipate.
I checked the address the Administrative Official had given me.
‘Since the auxiliary staff will arrive tomorrow, I should go check the condition of the place beforehand.’
While I was heading into the City, I might as well browse the ingredient shops as well.

* * *

I hired a carriage from the rear entrance and headed toward the City, but along the way, I spotted several carriages heading toward the Main Gate of the Imperial Palace.
From white carriages gleaming with gold trim to oak-colored ones adorned with restrained ornamental patterns.
Each carriage had a distinct appearance, and while I was absorbed in admiring them, I spotted a magnificent carriage drawn by four horses.
“Wow, that’s really luxurious. What rank would you need to be to ride in a carriage like that?”
At that moment, I caught sight of Nelloa through the carriage window. Nelloa was entering the Imperial Palace.
‘Ah, so that’s a royal family carriage.’
Nelloa was facing forward, apparently in conversation with someone seated across from her. I turned my head to follow her carriage and also caught a glimpse of the man sitting opposite her.
“Oh, that man!”
He was the Roan Times Journalist I’d seen in Snoril. However, I couldn’t recall his name.
‘What was it again?’
After thinking for a moment, I shook my head lightly.
‘Well, there’s no need to remember a journalist’s name anyway.’

* * *

The carriage, which had been running for quite some time, came to a halt. We had arrived at the address the Administrative Official had provided.
After paying the fare and stepping inside, a woman who had been working there verified a few details before handing me a key.
“It’s the Red Roof Building at Fountain Square. There’s no sign, but since there’s only one red roof, you’ll find it easily. Just return the key after one year.”
I headed toward the square where the fountain stood.
Beneath the azure sky, a five-tiered fountain rose majestically, its waters spouting at a steady rhythm. As the sunlight poured through the mist of water droplets, tiny rainbows shimmered here and there across the plaza.
The square bustled with preparations for a festival celebrating the Emperor’s birthday. I could see the Port stretching out in the distance.
Before long, I arrived at the Red Roof Building. Though the three-story structure boasted an excellent location, its firmly closed doors seemed a waste of such prime real estate.
The interior was immaculate and well-organized. Expensive magical stone wall lamps adorned various spots, and there was ample space for cooking.
‘I could open the doors and start business right away.’
As I thought this, I casually opened a piece of furniture placed to one side and was genuinely startled.
“Gasp! Isn’t this a refrigerator?”
I closed the door and opened it again to verify. The cold air flowing out was unmistakably a refrigerator.
‘A refrigerator exists in this world? The original work never mentioned one?’
As I examined the interior, I realized the cold was emanating from the magical stones inside the refrigerator.
‘Ah, so magical stones are used in refrigerators too.’
I assessed the refrigerator’s capacity and closed the door.
I had never seen a refrigerator in Snoril, but the Capital was clearly different.
.
.
.
After securing the building, I stepped outside and surveyed the surroundings. Wide streets stretched out in all directions, making it easy to find the shops I needed.
However, the scattered conversations of passersby kept grating on my ears.
Though their expressions varied, the content was ultimately the same.
Bloden was the only person capable of managing the Gate, and even working day and night to hold back the Monsters was barely sufficient—yet the Emperor was holding a birthday celebration larger than last year, which troubled many.
I finally stopped walking in front of a tavern with tables set up outdoors, unable to restrain myself any longer.
“I heard His Majesty guards the Northern Region, but is he actually doing so?”
A man speaking loudly was in the middle of drinking beer. The person across from him, looking tense, glanced nervously around before reproaching him.
“Hey, watch your words.”
“But some things need to be said. You’ve read the newspapers these past few days, haven’t you?”
The man’s voice grew even louder, as if demanding to be heard.
“There are twelve Gates open throughout the Empire!”
He slowly swirled his beer glass and methodically listed where each Gate was located.
“And Snoril has three of them open—it’s like hell itself!”
The man drained his beer in one gulp and set the glass down on the table with a sharp clink.
“So he’s busy dealing with all the Gates, yet he’s throwing a grand birthday celebration? How does that make sense? The people, especially those in Snoril, are being slaughtered by Monsters right now, and he thinks his birthday is more important?”
What followed from him was outrageous.
“If I were him, I’d scale back the birthday celebration compared to previous years and rush straight to the Gates to slay Monsters day and night without rest. And I’d stay in the Northern Region guarding the Gate. Isn’t that the duty the Emperor was born to fulfill?”
The listeners began nodding and clapping.
“He’s right. I read about the response to this Gate crisis in the newspapers too. It was disappointing.”
“How can he enjoy a celebration when Monsters are swarming everywhere?”
“The Gate opened wide, yet no one seems to care.”
The atmosphere spread as though the man’s initial loud claims were absolute truth.
‘Ah, I can’t let this stand.’
I immediately rolled up my sleeves and stepped forward to confront the man.
“Excuse me!”
Bang!
As I struck the table forcefully, the man who had been speaking jumped in surprise and stared at me.
“The more I hear, the more absurd this becomes. I came from Snoril, you see? And I was right there when the incident occurred—I was nearly killed by a Monster myself!”
At my words, the crowd began to stir.
“Do you know how magnificently His Majesty responded to the Monster?”
I loudly recounted Bloden’s remarkable actions in Snoril and the current state of affairs thanks to his efforts. The surrounding people began to murmur with interest.
“If you don’t believe me, the children from the Snoril Orphanage are at the Capital Orphanage—go ask them yourselves if you’re bringing donations!”
After finishing my speech, I issued a warning to the man who had been speaking carelessly.
“Don’t spread false rumors. Get your facts straight before you speak!”
The man merely rolled his eyes like someone struck dumb, then furrowed his brow and spoke.
“That may be true for Snoril, but there’s no guarantee other regions are the same.”
“Pfft! What kind of argument is that?”
I exhaled sharply to calm my agitation, blowing my bangs aside, and met the man’s gaze directly.
“Given that His Majesty resolves situations so thoroughly, he would naturally have taken measures at the other Gates as well. After all, there’s only one body, not ten.”
Then I recalled the fact that Stanley had been adrift. Since that day, there had been no particular discussion, but the sailors had remained vigilant throughout the voyage, monitoring their surroundings.
“Oh, and did you know? During our journey from Snoril to here by ship, we encountered a castaway who had been attacked by Monsters and took him aboard. We arrived safely, but based on the direction, those Monsters could have marched on the Capital without anything being amiss.”
The man’s companions suddenly looked alarmed and asked me.
“What? Miss, is that true?”
“I can’t say exactly where the Monster went. But it’s a fact that a Monster large enough to devour and wreck a ship appeared.”
I crossed my arms and stepped back slightly.
“The Kingdom of Meridon fell to invasion by Monsters and Kelite. There may be no nation bold enough to invade the Empire, but Monsters are another matter. If a Monster attacked the Capital and His Majesty weren’t there, everyone would take up arms and march out, wouldn’t they? Of course, you’d realize that doing so would mean certain death?”
At my words, silence fell over the room.
“He sacrifices his own life to protect the lives and property of the Empire’s people day and night. There aren’t many people with the ability to fight Monsters either. Rather than complaining about why it isn’t being done faster, shouldn’t we be cheering him on and expressing gratitude?”

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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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