This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 159

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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 159

“If you’re lying, know that your life won’t be the only price.”
After warning Nelloa, Baron returned to the Library.
Using Salamander to locate an empty space, Baron summoned Black Libia and instructed her to verify the center of the Southern Forest in Aer Domain, just as Nelloa had said.
The confirmation didn’t take long. There truly was a small Gate there.
When Baron emerged from the Library again, Nelloa, who had been waiting, smiled brightly once more.
“Did you confirm it?”
Though reluctant to admit it, Baron had no choice. He asked Nelloa a question.
“What do you mean by ‘strategic partner’?”
“Ah, I’ll inform you the moment a Gate appears. Then you can handle it early. You might be able to resolve it just by dispatching troops.”
This was her argument that Anna’s regency could end and Bloden could establish himself as Emperor more easily.
“You’d only need to focus on the Northern Gate. The Empire—indeed, the entire world—would become far safer.”
“….”
As Baron fell silent at her persuasive argument, Nelloa continued with keen insight.
“You’d also have time to spare, so if you wish to court Hailey, you’re free to do so.”
Courting Hailey—those words were incredibly tempting.
But “strategic partner” meant a transaction. I needed to understand what the other party wanted.
“What are your conditions?”
Though his tone was cold, Nelloa spoke calmly.
“A political marriage.”
“…What? Marriage?”
“Love isn’t necessary. You can take Hailey as your concubine. I only ask that you accept me as Empress. And give me one child to secure the succession for the Empire.”
Having stated her requirements clearly, Nelloa was moved by her own words.
‘Isn’t this the most clichéd of all clichés?’
An Emperor who cherishes his concubine Hailey but accepts Nelloa as Empress for the Empire’s peace.
He maintains only obligatory relations for producing an heir while showing her disdain.
But in truth, without realizing it, he’s grown attached, and one day when Nelloa demands a divorce, saying she needs neither love nor children, he finds himself drawn to her against his will, becoming consumed by regret—that’s the typical trajectory.
“Why hesitate when the strategic advantage is clear?”
“Indeed.”
Baron nodded at Nelloa’s proposal.
“You’re right. There’s no need to hesitate at all.”
His expression showed he understood perfectly, so Nelloa was certain her proposal had succeeded.
No matter how powerful an Emperor might be, managing Gates erupting simultaneously across the world was impossible. Moreover, he now faced the task of escaping the regency and governing directly.
Even with a regent governing in his stead, an Empress was preferable to a Regent. So he had no choice but to accept her offer.
Nelloa extended her hand toward Baron with confidence.
“Then shall we promise to become one team now and draw up a contract?”
Baron’s mouth curved upward at one corner.
“I understand you have ability, but that doesn’t make it a reason for me to accept you as Empress and keep Nuna as my concubine.”
Nelloa’s expression crumbled at the utterly unexpected answer, her composure slipping entirely.
“Even if a hundred gates opened simultaneously, I wouldn’t need your ability.”
“…Pardon?”
“Consider yourself fortunate that I’m not killing you here and now for being Nuna’s enemy. If you wish to live longer, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about my identity.”
The violet eyes that had been fixed on Nelloa shifted in an instant, transforming into a chilling crimson.
“My empress will be Nuna alone.”
Bloden—not Baron—turned away with the sharpness of a blade.
Nelloa felt as though her head had been struck by a hammer.
She had been certain this proposal would work. Knowing the gate’s location immediately versus discovering it later required vastly different amounts of energy to manage.
Even if she found a way to break the curse, magical power had its limits.
‘But why is this method falling apart?’
No matter how I thought about it, the cause could only be Hailey.
Whether Hailey, who had deceived me by claiming to know the “original story,” did this knowingly or unknowingly, she had twisted everything.
Preventing Nelloa from reaching her happy ending and steering things toward becoming empress herself.
‘I absolutely cannot let this stand!’
With her fists clenched, Nelloa chased after the retreating Bloden, her voice growing forceful.
“Your Majesty is being deceived by Hailey.”
Bloden did not respond.
“She’s not Adeline. And she’s not Hailey either.”
“…?”
“In truth, she’s a corrupted soul. A malevolent spirit that possessed that body after living in another world.”
Bloden’s brow furrowed.
“I won’t forgive anyone who insults Nuna.”
“It’s not an insult—it’s the truth. Didn’t you find it strange? How she creates foods that don’t exist in this world—skewered rice cakes, seaweed rolls, spicy rice cakes?”
Seeing the look in Bloden’s eyes as though he were observing a madwoman, Nelloa struck her chest in frustration.
“She was originally an extremely ugly woman with a face full of wrinkles, but she’s wearing Adeline’s skin to deceive Your Majesty. Even her original name’s form would be different from now.”
Nelloa’s words poured out without hesitation.
“Ask her. Before possession, was your surname Kim or Lee? It could have been Park or Choi. Combined with her given name, it was probably three characters?”
Bloden stopped walking. He recalled that Hailey had once mentioned her name was Sojung Kim.
“She would also despise using power to control others. She lived in a world where leaders are chosen by vote, not ruled by a king. Such behavior might have seemed novel to you. It might have appeared that only she was different from everyone else. But that’s simply what she does because she believes herself superior.”
What Nelloa said was far from the truth. Hailey was neither above anyone nor arrogant.
Yet her claim that Hailey remained unbowed even in the face of power seemed to ring true.
“How do you know about things like foods from another world or her name?”
“I told you—I sense the emergence of gates. It’s an ability to sense corruption. When I encounter a corrupted soul, I can even see the background related to it.”
Watching Bloden appear lost in thought, I became certain that my words had finally gotten through to him.
“Please believe me. I’m truly making this proposal for Your Majesty’s wellbeing and the world’s peace.”
It was as she spoke with desperate conviction, driving her point home.
“Good grief.”
Bloden reacted in a direction entirely opposite to Nelloa’s expectations.
“Even if everything you say is true, I prefer Nuna. And honestly, I didn’t want to say this.”
By the time Bloden’s eyes had shifted back to their violet hue—or rather, Baron’s eyes—he pointed at Nelloa’s face.
“Instead of speculating about someone else’s appearance, worry about your own aging.”
“Pardon? Aging? What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you looked in a mirror? I’d believe it if you told me you’re older than the Regent. Besides, I had one more question about your ability.”
Baron let out a scoff.
“No need to ask further. Your ability seems cursed too. Obviously, you’re aging rapidly.”
Baron turned away from Nelloa and walked on.
“Eek!”
A small cry escaped from behind him as Nelloa gasped.
When Baron glanced back, Nelloa was trembling with both hands covering her face.
Baron read shame and anger in her reaction.
‘She knows it well herself. She must have thought she was hiding those deep eye wrinkles and nasolabial folds with makeup.’
How fitting that someone so unremarkable was thrashing about without knowing her place. This should keep her from acting recklessly again.
Baron scoffed and turned his head away, continuing his walk.
At that moment, Kimarise’s voice resonated in his mind.
-My lord, the meeting has concluded.
-Report.
-No definitive conclusion was reached. The contents of the meeting were….
With Baron’s permission, Kimarise began summarizing and relaying the information.
The more he heard, the more absurd it became, drawing a hollow laugh from him.
Baron already knew that Robinson’s demanded toll was rooted in dark intentions toward Hailey. When Hailey returned from the Manor and tried to calmly explain things to Raven and Kimarise, she couldn’t hide her bewilderment and anger.
Now the shopkeepers in the makeshift market had all learned of Robinson’s dark intentions, and some reports suggested that certain merchants hoped Hailey would accept Robinson’s advances.
Robinson possessed both power and wealth at a young age. Within Snoril, he was the most desirable suitor, so everyone believed it would be advantageous for Hailey to accept the new Lord’s proposal.
-That concludes my report.
‘How dare he covet Nuna.’
He wanted to storm into the Manor immediately and kill Robinson.
But Baron suppressed his emotions firmly.
People had to be governed by the Empire’s laws. The problem was that the Empire had no legal basis to punish actions where someone wielded their status and power to dominate others.
The reality was that Robinson couldn’t be punished, no matter how objectionable he was.
Even if Bloden tried to enact new laws, that wouldn’t be possible until next year when the Regency ended.
‘What if I appeared before him in the Emperor’s form and crushed that Lord with my power?’
It seemed like a reasonable approach—he’d never dare approach Hailey again.
The problem was that I had no certainty Hailey would approve of the Emperor wielding ruthless power to suppress others.
If I made a mistake, it could actually make her dislike me more. And if rumors spread, Anna would definitely try to extend her claws toward Hailey in some way.
For various reasons, I would suppress my impulses, but the more I thought about it, the more anxious I became.
‘But what if that Lord continues to pressure Nuna? What if Nuna, despite disliking the Lord, offers to sacrifice herself for the Domain’s people?’
The mere thought was unpleasant. Yet doubts kept multiplying.
‘When Nuna makes that decision, can I stop her?’
I couldn’t be certain. It seemed I’d have to write a marriage certificate with Hailey first to prevent the worst-case scenario.
Baron recalled the time not long ago when he had sprawled out at home.
Hailey merely scolded me gently, but she refused to sign her name on the marriage certificate.
‘Ah, how do I get her to write her name?’
As impatience gnawed at me, a method surfaced in my mind—I could appear as Bloden myself and issue an imperial decree, forcing her to sign by coercion.
In truth, it was the easiest approach. But the moment the thought crossed my mind, self-loathing washed over me.
‘That would be the worst. How would it differ from what that Lord does? And if I did that, Nuna would come to despise Bloden the Emperor deeply.’
Moreover, if Nelloa went mad and exposed Baron’s true identity to Hailey, the situation would spiral beyond control. Since Hailey never bowed to anyone, I risked losing her heart forever if I made the wrong move.
That was when it happened.
“No! Waaaaaaah!”
The Boy’s voice pierced the air with a wail that could tear eardrums.

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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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