This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 142

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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 142

“I only added a little gochujang, but it’s still spicy? It’ll taste much better if you eat it with the egg soup.”
But Baron scooped up another large spoonful and shoved it into his mouth. He barely chewed before swallowing, then suddenly shot up from his seat.
“Wow. Nuna, what is this?”
“Hm?”
“Nuna, are you a sorceress?”
Faced with this nonsensical question, I studied Baron’s expression carefully.
Where had the rebellious adolescent boy gone?
The flush on his cheeks deepened, his lips quivered with joy, and his eyes gleamed with brightness.
Judging by this reaction, it seemed he’d been twisted out of shape from not eating proper home-cooked meals.
I wondered if his attitude had really changed this much just over food, but thinking about it again, it wasn’t easy for a child to endure the frustration that built up from not being able to eat what he craved.
‘Ah, Baron. You should have just said you wanted the food I made.’
As my worry dissipated like smoke, relief brought a smile to my face.
“Yes, I cast a little cooking magic into it. Eat up quickly.”
“Okay!”
Baron sat back down and began eating eagerly. I was relieved he enjoyed it, but unlike his usual self, watching him swallow without chewing was rather startling.
“Baron, you’ll get indigestion that way. You need to chew thoroughly.”
But ignoring my words, Baron quickly emptied his bowl, devoured all the cucumber side dish, and even gulped down the egg soup.
“Wow, I’m seriously losing it. I feel like I’m coming back to life.”
Baron leaned back against the dining chair and murmured.
“It feels like all my injuries are completely healed.”
Startled by his words, I asked quickly.
“What? Baron! Were you hurt somewhere?”
“Yeah, I was, but now it doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Really?”
“It’s all gone after eating this. Thank you.”
Baron smiled with the most peaceful expression in the world.
“Your skills are seriously incredible, Nuna. No wonder I couldn’t help but like you.”
His words were cryptic, but they were words of admiration nonetheless. And I was beginning to understand why Baron had been acting so strangely.
‘It wasn’t adolescence—he was irritable because he was in pain.’
And I’d made him sit in the thinking chair for thirty minutes without knowing that.

‘So, are you going to discard him now?’

I understood why he had asked. He had kept saying I was strong and not to worry, but it seemed he believed that showing pain would make him useless.
“Baron, I’m sorry for not understanding your heart.”
I quickly rose from my seat and went to embrace him. Baron flinched and stiffened rigidly.
“Wh-what? Why are you doing this?”
“It’s true that I find it reassuring that you’re strong, but it’s fine even if you’re not.”
“Huh?”
“No matter how strong you are, it’s difficult and frustrating when you’re in pain.”
I released the embrace and gently cupped his small shoulders with both hands, meeting his gaze.
“So tell me right away if you’re hurting, okay?”
This time, Baron’s face flushed crimson. I could feel his heart pounding fiercely within his small frame.
After staring at me for a moment, Baron spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Nuna. I’ve finally found it.”
“What?”
“You seem like the savior of this world.”
What on earth was he talking about?
“Marry me.”
“….”
“I’m serious. This time, I think I can finally achieve what I want. With you by my side, I could even conquer this entire world. I’ll take over this world and give it all to you.”
His words were so absurd that I stared at Baron for a long while. There wasn’t even a hint of jest in his expression.
Now that I thought about it, the original story had been twisted. Had the genre changed from romance to fantasy because of that?
I had received marriage proposals from Baron before, but world conquest all of a sudden?
“Nuna, I’m asking you to marry me, okay?”
Then I heard the sound of clapping twice.
“Baron, isn’t marriage a bit premature?”
Raven was standing at the entrance—I wasn’t sure when he had arrived. He examined Baron’s face and smiled softly.
“It seems the atmosphere has lightened. Good. Now, shall we change clothes and practice the waltz?”
.
.
.
I tied my hair up and changed into a sky-blue dress before descending to the First Floor. I could see Kimarise sitting before the piano and Raven holding a violin, both waiting for me.
“Meow!”
Crockel circled around me with sparkling eyes in greeting. He seemed delighted with my appearance.
Then I heard Baron’s voice.
“You’re being a nuisance, so go play outside. Crockel. If you get tangled around Nuna’s feet, she could get hurt.”
“Meow.”
Crockel’s ears and tail drooped, looking disappointed.
But Baron’s tone was exactly the same as usual, and hearing it put my mind at ease. It seemed the troubles of these past two days would pass as nothing more than a minor incident.
“Go play in the Backyard. You’ll find it interesting there too.”
Raven said this and opened the entrance door. Crockel tilted his head curiously and went outside.
Baron, who had been descending the Stairs with his clothes arranged more neatly, stopped in his tracks as I turned around. His cheeks flushed a rosy pink like a ripe peach, and his violet eyes grew increasingly luminous—he seemed quite pleased with my dress.
“How do I look?”
I gathered the hem of my dress and spun around once, and Baron broke into a radiant smile.
“I’ve never seen anyone this beautiful before. You’re the best, Nuna,”
“I share that sentiment entirely.”
“If a goddess existed, I believe she would look exactly like you do now, Hailey.”
Following Baron came Raven and Kimarise.
“Ah ha ha, I’m… I’m embarrassed.”
Though their words might have seemed like mere flattery, I could feel the sincerity behind them so clearly that I felt genuinely humbled.
“Thank you for your kind words.”
“It’s not just kindness—you really are beautiful, Nuna.”
Baron, standing before me, signaled to Raven and Kimarise with a glance. At that, Kimarise began striking the piano keys. Raven added to the melody by drawing the bow across the violin strings.
Soon, a performance worthy of any grand ball filled the air.
“Would you honor me with a waltz, dear sister?”
Baron extended his hand to me with such elegant and courteous grace, like a prince from a fairy tale, that I couldn’t help but smile at how dignified and endearing he appeared.
‘Dear sister—goodness!’
I offered my right hand to Baron.
“With pleasure.”
As my hand settled upon his small palm, Baron brought my hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

* * *

‘It appears that Hailey possesses an innate talent for waltz. Your execution is flawless, without a single flaw.’
‘You seem to understand everything after being taught just once.’
‘I agree. You must be a genius, Nuna.’

Such were the impressions of Raven, Kimarise, and Baron as they watched me learn the waltz.
The reason was simple—I had barely moved to the rhythm of the music when my feet naturally found their way through the steps of the waltz.
When they praised me, I feigned ignorance and thanked them, but it seemed my body remembered the movements that Adeline had once learned.

‘I believe one final practice in a realistic setting would suffice. Including with the Captain. On the day of the final rehearsal, I shall bring those who will assist Hailey’s Captain and serve as your dance partner at the appointed time.’

I thanked Raven for her consideration and agreed to do as she suggested.
But then.
.
.
.
“Beautiful lady, would you grant me the honor of sharing a waltz with you this evening?”
As Bloden extended his hand to me with dignified grace, I glanced over at Raven, who held a violin in one hand.
‘Raven? You never mentioned that my waltz practice partner would be His Majesty the Emperor?’
I had accepted the effort of calling in a professional hairstylist and makeup artist to prepare me. But when Baron was sent off first with the suggestion of taking an evening stroll with Crockel, something had felt odd about it—and now I finally understood the reason.
‘If you had told me the practice partner was His Majesty, I would have found someone else on my own.’
When Raven’s eyes met mine, she turned her head away as if she hadn’t noticed and began playing the violin with great enthusiasm. Kimarise, too, was absorbed in the piano performance as if lost in the music.
I considered ways to avoid the waltz with Bloden, but no woman in the world could refuse a dance request from the Emperor. Besides, he had made time specifically to help with my practice—what could I possibly say?
“….”
And to be honest, I didn’t dislike what Bloden was doing. In fact, I rather liked it.
‘If Baron were included in this amnesty, that would be wonderful.’
Even if that were the case, I could never become close to Bloden, but at least the constant worry about something happening to Baron would disappear.
“Hailey?”
‘Oh my.’
I smiled softly and offered my hand to Bloden.
“I am honored to accept His Majesty the Emperor’s invitation.”
Bloden brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.
‘Oh my goodness.’
With my hand resting on his shoulder, Bloden supported my back and began to lead the waltz.
As we drew close, his scent enveloped me. His gaze following me was captivating, but my breath caught without my realizing it. My face grew increasingly warm, so I turned away from his gaze and looked to the side.
After a moment, Bloden coached me.
“While dancing the waltz, it’s just the two of us. So you should only look at your partner.”
His low voice, penetrating my ear, felt overwhelmingly sweet.
In that instant, my mind grew hazy, and a problem arose from it. My waltz steps became tangled.
“Careful.”
In a flash, Bloden caught me as I nearly stumbled, wrapping me in his arms.
His embrace against my face was as vast and secure as a great mountain. A tingling sensation spread through my entire body, and my heart began to race wildly.
The piano and violin duet had stopped at some point. Kimarise and Raven were watching us with dazed expressions.
Then Bloden pulled me closer into his embrace. A soft yet subtle voice resonated above my head.
“How is it? Do we look good together?”

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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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