This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 143

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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 143

“How does it look? Does it suit me?”
The moment I heard Bloden’s question to Raven Aner and Kimarise, pleasant chills cascaded across my entire body.
“I, I, what are you saying!”
I quickly straightened my posture and stepped back. My face burned so intensely and my heart raced so wildly that I felt I would have to flee or lose myself entirely.
But Bloden was faster. He seized my hand, adjusted my stance, and began to lead me with practiced grace.
The piano and violin concerto resumed once more.
For a while I couldn’t meet his gaze, but he said nothing. When I stole a glance upward, I saw his alluring lips curve softly into a smile.
He looked so genuinely delighted that I found myself asking without thinking.
“Do you enjoy waltzing?”
“No.”
Surprised by his unexpected answer, I lifted my head higher to study his face more carefully.
“But you seem to be enjoying it.”
“I don’t enjoy waltzing.”
Bloden spoke softly, his eyes crinkling with warmth.
His brilliant crimson eyes sparkled like jewels. When I thought they resembled the color of the gem set in the ring that Raven Aner had created, Bloden dropped a bombshell from his lips.
“I enjoy dancing with you.”
The heat that had barely subsided surged through me once again.
My heart raced even more wildly.
‘Calm down, heart. Calm down.’
But no matter how hard I tried to appear composed, I could no longer meet his eyes. In the end, I dropped my gaze, unable to hold his stare.
Soon the performance ended.
Bloden gently grasped my chin with his hand and tilted it upward.
“The end of a waltz between two people alone should be a kiss.”
Bloden slowly lowered his head, tilting it at an angle.
‘Gasp!’
My racing heart seemed to stop entirely.
‘This, this is too direct, isn’t it?’
As my eyes darted about, I spotted Kimarise seated at the piano and Raven Aner holding the violin. Both of them, eyes wide as saucers, were staring intently at us.
Oh no! How embarrassing!
I hastily stopped Bloden in a small voice.
“Your Majesty, we’re not alone here.”
Bloden glanced at Raven Aner and Kimarise, then lowered his head further with an expression that said ‘so what’.
“Those two aren’t people, so we are alone.”
“What? That can’t possibly be true.”
Then Raven Aner and Kimarise spoke in turn and turned toward the wall.
“I am merely a violin, not a person.”
“I am nothing but a piano.”
No, even if my opponent is the Emperor, what if he abandons his humanity!
Bloden’s lips drew closer and closer, and my heart spiraled further into chaos.
Bloden, observing my expression, whispered softly.
“If you dislike it, tell me to stop. You can turn your head away and refuse.”
I should have turned my head away and clearly told him to stop.
I should have.
But instead of words leaving my lips or my head turning, I found myself thinking only that Bloden approaching me was magnificent and beautiful.
Unable to resist the thrill, I eventually closed my eyes.
Every nerve in my body concentrated on the lips about to touch mine.
I heard Bloden’s soft laughter, and warm lips brushed against my cheek.
When I opened my eyes, Bloden gently swept the hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear.
“Since you were a practice partner today, not a real one, we’ll stop here.”
Bloden kissed the back of my hand once more and withdrew with courtesy.
“Your waltz was perfect except for your gaze control. I’ll see you again at the banquet.”

* * *

‘Since today is real, I’ll finish what I started.’
At his sweet voice, I turned my head and Bloden kissed me immediately.
The moment our lips touched, a thrilling sensation made my entire body tremble involuntarily.
Bloden then smiled charmingly with his eyes and slowly rubbed his lips with his thumb.
‘Your lips are quite fiery. Hmm, yes. They taste like the tteokbokki I had on your birthday.’
What nonsense was this?
“Tteokbokki flavor? Are you serious?”
The moment I jolted up in genuine surprise, my vision shifted.
The room was now bright with morning sunlight streaming through the windows, and Baron stood with wide eyes, staring directly at me as he held back the curtains.
“Nuna, what’s wrong? Why tteokbokki flavor?”
“Oh….”
I glanced around, embarrassed, and scratched the back of my neck sheepishly.
“It was just a dream, I guess.”
“A dream? What kind of dream was it?”
Instead of answering, I pulled the blanket over my head and lay back down.
“It was nothing special.”
Two days ago, I was relieved that Bloden had pretended to kiss me but then withdrawn, yet deep down I felt disappointed.
It seemed that disappointment had manifested perfectly in my dream.
Meanwhile, Baron, unable to imagine what was going through my mind, began gently shaking me.
“Nuna, wake up. Let’s eat.”
“….”
“Raven Aner prepared breakfast and left. He said you need to go to work this morning too.”
I wished there was somewhere to hide, but there wasn’t. All I could do was act composed and go about my day.
.
.
.
On my way home after finishing my duties, I heard the long-awaited news that the Grand Decree had finally been proclaimed.
“What does it matter whether our family is on the Grand Decree list or not? There’s only me left anyway.”
Baron, who had been lying diagonally on the bed reading a book, responded to my suggestion to check the Grand Decree list together by picking at his ear with his pinky finger.
His rare display of such cynicism made me feel sorry for him.
‘The annihilation of our house has left a deep wound on Baron.’
Of course, he didn’t speak of it. How terrifying that situation must have been.
“Then I’ll go alone and check, then tell you about it. Keep reading your book.”
At that, Baron immediately closed his book and stood up.
“No, let’s go together.”
“Huh? You said it didn’t matter.”
“That’s different. If the family is truly necessary, we can always rebuild it later.”
Baron took my hand and smiled mischievously as he said something unexpected.
“I want to be with you forever, Nuna.”
“….”
Was it just my imagination? Both Bloden and Baron seemed to throw such straightforward words at me.
Still, hearing Baron say such things made me feel good.
“Let’s go quickly.”
At Baron’s urging, I moved my feet forward.
.
.
.
A crowd of people had gathered in front of the large bulletin board in Capital Square.
We squeezed through the crowd and confirmed the list of the Grand Decree.

[Restoration of Rank], [Restoration of Status], [Amnesty].
The list was divided into three major categories.
I checked the Restoration of Rank and Restoration of Status first, just in case, but there were barely any names that qualified. Even at a glance, Baron’s family name was nowhere to be found.
In the end, I had to search through the densely packed Amnesty list for his name or family name. It seemed I just needed to find either Baron or Eldite Family.
That was when Baron pointed to the lower-middle section of the proclamation.
“There it is. Eldite Family.”
“Where, where?”
Seeing the family name plainly displayed on the Amnesty list, my heart felt as light as it might take flight.
“That’s wonderful, Baron.”
“Even before this, we maintained the family name as long as we weren’t nobles. As long as we didn’t get caught by the Royal Court, we could do whatever we wanted….”
Baron, who had been answering as if he’d entered adolescence again despite having eaten well today and having no ailments, suddenly paused and smiled at me like a full-bloomed flower.
“…but I couldn’t bear not seeing you, Nuna.”
Huh? What was the context for that?
“Because you’re happy for me, I’m so excited and joyful. Thank you, Nuna.”
I was bewildered.
‘Do kids these days go through adolescence this quickly? Does his attitude really shift this drastically?’
That was when it happened.
“This is absurd! Why is it only Amnesty?”
“Please calm yourself, Young Master.”
“Do I look calm? You said it was a false charge. I thought it would be Restoration of Rank or Restoration of Status.”
“Young Master, you mustn’t do this here. People are watching. Let’s move somewhere else quickly.”
‘Why am I hearing Kyle’s voice here?’
Someone was shouting loudly while what seemed to be a servant tried to stop them, but no matter how I listened, it was definitely Kyle’s voice.
“Baron. That voice just now—didn’t it sound like Kyle?”
“Kyle?”
‘Huh? Why does he look like he doesn’t know who Kyle is?’
Seeing my expression, Baron rolled his eyes once, then interlaced his hands behind his head.
“Ah, is that so? But the person stopping him called him Young Master. He’s not a young master, is he?”
“Let’s go check.”
I took Baron’s hand and followed the voice trying to stop Kyle.
“Sigh, maybe I’ll get Restoration of Rank next year.”
I could see a black-haired boy ahead muttering as he walked. He was taller than the Kyle I knew, so I wasn’t certain, but I cautiously approached and called out his name.
“Kyle?”
The black-haired boy turned to face me. His facial features were slightly sharper than before and his shoulders broader, but it was definitely Kyle.

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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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