This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 152

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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 152

I was about to step back when Raven suddenly appeared before me.
“Ah, you’ve arrived, Hailey.”
When I turned around, Raven was smiling brightly—though I hadn’t noticed when he’d arrived.
“Raven?”
“Yes, I wanted to enjoy the banquet together, but there were too many eyes in the hall.”
Raven stepped forward and gestured toward a path where light sparkled.
“I suddenly remembered there’s a beautiful promenade here. Since you’ve come all this way, it would be a shame if you left without seeing it. So I asked the Administrative Official to deliver a card to you…”
“…”
“I hope I wasn’t being presumptuous?”
At his uncertain tone, I quickly waved my hands in dismissal.
“No, not at all. If it’s you, Raven, it’s perfectly fine. I’m actually grateful you thought of me.”
If I’d known Raven was visiting such a scenic place, I would have invited him to show me around.
“I’m relieved.”
Raven and I began walking side by side along the beautiful promenade. Soon he spoke naturally.
“I was too busy with the Merchant Guild to go out, but I heard the City festival was enjoyable?”
“Ah, yes.”
I told him about the things I’d enjoyed on Festival Street, and as Raven listened, he smiled and spoke.
“Just hearing about it sounds delightful. But one of our guild members mentioned seeing you with a strikingly handsome silver-haired man…”
“…Pardon?”
I asked carefully.
“Was it Charlie from the guild?”
“Yes. He said that after visiting a weapons shop with Baron and Kyle, he saw you while wandering through the City.”
“Good heavens, they were nearby! I had no idea. Baron should have called out if he saw me.”
Then I tilted my head, finding it strange.
I would have expected Baron to ask who I was with first. Yet Baron had only mentioned how much fun the weapons shop and fireworks were.
As if reading my thoughts, Raven answered.
“It seems Baron didn’t see you—only Charlie did. But I’ve never heard of such an appearance before. Do you have a friend in the Capital?”
“Ah, that person isn’t exactly a friend…”
What should I say? Should I just honestly say His Majesty?
That was when it happened.
“That silver-haired man was me.”
Bloden’s voice suddenly interjected from ahead.
When I turned my head, there was a fairly spacious reservoir on one side of the promenade, and I could see an elegant open pavilion with marble columns.
When the figure standing in the pavilion gestured, the light particles scattered on the path gathered into a single mass, emitting a soft glow that made his appearance clear.
He wore no purple cloak, but instead a black uniform adorned with gold. The owner of that dazzling beauty, even in the darkness, was indeed Bloden.
“We pay our respects to the Sun of the Ilpein Empire and the Eternal Savior.”
Startled, Raven bowed respectfully, and I followed suit with proper courtesy. Bloden nodded and observed both Raven and me carefully before asking.
“But what are the two of you doing here?”
“Ah, it seems Hailey was unable to see the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Palace, so we were enjoying a stroll together.”
“Is that so? Are you perhaps lovers?”
Raven quickly waved his hand in denial.
“No, that’s not it. We’re merely neighbors.”
“I see. I stepped out for a brief rest myself.”
Bloden retrieved something from his pocket and placed it on a marble chair inside the pavilion.
Immediately, the waltz melody from the banquet hall began playing at a moderate volume within the pavilion.
“Being in the banquet hall makes one’s mind restless—it’s difficult to savor even a single piece of music at leisure.”
“It’s a beautiful composition. It makes one want to dance the waltz.”
“Does it?”
Bloden tilted his head at Raven’s agreement and glanced around before turning to me with a question.
“Come to think of it, I was also too conscious of my surroundings to enjoy the waltz. What about you? Was your practice worthwhile?”
I shook my head.
“There was no one elegant enough to dance the waltz with.”
At the same time, I found myself wondering why I had even practiced a waltz I would never perform. But then Bloden asked:
“Now I think I could enjoy it more comfortably. How about it? Would you be my partner and dance one piece with me?”
We had clearly established yesterday that we were nothing to each other, yet he was extending his hand to me without hesitation.
What was even more absurd was that despite thinking this, his appearance seemed so captivating that my heart was racing of its own accord.
‘I must be losing my mind.’
I needed to regain my composure.
But Raven quickly stepped backward, retreating to a distance.
I was inwardly flustered, but there was nothing to be done. As a mere noble, Raven could not dissuade the Emperor.
On the other hand, it was the Emperor’s birthday celebration, and I wondered if it was appropriate to refuse the Emperor’s own request.
Bloden smiled wryly, as if reading my hesitation.
“It is my birthday today, but you’re welcome to refuse if you’d prefer.”
‘Ah, now I see it—he’s quite the schemer.’
No wonder the fox headpiece he wore yesterday suited him so well.
I glanced behind him, and Bloden turned to look behind himself as well.
“What? Is something there?”
I took his extended hand and pouted slightly.
“I was checking to see how many fox tails you have.”
“Is my scheme that transparent?”
Bloden chuckled softly at my words and began leading me in rhythm with the waltz.
“But what can I do? I’m far too fond of you.”
As we spun across the wide, smooth marble floor of the pavilion, the gathered light dispersed again, dancing around us.
A waltz with the handsome Emperor, accompanied by beautiful light and music.
It felt as though I were dreaming.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
“I’m glad you’re pleased.”
Bloden’s eyes curved into a gentle smile, his crimson gaze shimmering with an alluring softness that drew my eyes to his face without conscious thought.
As the dreamlike waltz ended, Bloden took both my hands and carefully pressed his lips to my forehead.
“Hailey.”
When he called my name in that tender, hushed voice, my heart began racing again.
Bloden continued, his voice turning serious.
“Yesterday, you said we were nothing to each other. But I want to change that.”
I felt Bloden take a step back.
“I want to become someone special to you.”
Only then did I realize my eyes had closed without my awareness.
“I won’t ask for your love immediately. I simply ask that you grant me one year to prove myself as a sincere man to you.”
When I opened my eyes in that hazy state, I saw Bloden on one knee, extending a diamond ring toward me.
Wait… could this be…?
“If you come to love me by then, will you marry me and spend your life with me?”
My goodness! A proposal!

* * *

‘Whether you grow up healthy in the Imperial Palace until you reach adulthood or fight Monsters and protect the Empire’s people from endless death—both are your choice as Emperor, and both are your rightful authority. However, I trust you know well which choice your late predecessor would have been pleased with.’

Every time Anna saw the young Bloden, she would smile kindly and repeat similar words. No matter how strong he became, it didn’t take long before she could manipulate him as she pleased.
By laying down plausible justifications and emphasizing his responsibilities as Emperor, Bloden danced in the palm of her hand.
Anna intended to challenge the changes to this commander’s roster using the same logic.
Ilnid being corrected to Eldit, and the Prediki Family being newly added.
Of course, the Emperor’s final approval meant changes were possible at his discretion. But how much could Bloden, who had been too busy scrambling in the Northern battlefields, possibly understand about administrative details?
She needed to subtly investigate who Eldit was, and more importantly, she had to discover why the Emperor had added the Prediki Family.
As Anna recalled matters related to Duke Utra, her hands involuntarily clenched.
At that moment, the doors to the Audience Chamber opened, and a handsome man with bronzed skin and golden hair emerged. He was an aide Bloden had brought with him upon returning to the Imperial Palace.
‘His name was Kimarise, if I recall correctly.’
After confirming his identity, he turned out to be a minor noble from the Northern frontier. Bloden had recruited him as talent—someone with excellent knowledge of geography and skill enough to handle lower-tier Monsters.
He spoke in a dry tone.
“You may enter now.”
Though he used formal speech, his demeanor somehow seemed to look down upon her.
“If you serve the Emperor, you should adopt a more respectful tone. Otherwise, you’ll diminish His Majesty’s dignity.”
Displeased, Anna reprimanded him and entered the Audience Chamber.
Bloden sat upon the imperial throne in the Audience Chamber.
“I pay my respects to the Sun of the Ilpein Empire and the Eternal Savior.”
After offering proper courtesy, Anna raised her head and was startled.
Bloden sat with his legs crossed arrogantly, looking down upon Anna. His lips were pressed firmly shut, and his crimson eyes held the gaze of one regarding an insect.
The atmosphere was so different from the Bloden she knew that Anna found herself instinctively intimidated and cautiously asked.
“Your Majesty, is something troubling you?”
“No.”
“Perhaps you haven’t yet recovered from the fatigue of last night’s banquet?”
“I’m fine.”
‘Fine? His demeanor and tone are completely different from usual.’
That was it. The one standing before Anna was not Bloden, but Dantarion.

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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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