This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 16

“Huh? You just said only kids watch this…”

Baron quickly shook his head.

“It’s a fairy tale book, so of course only kids watch it. And I’m a kid.”

“?”

“Aren’t you going to read me a fairy tale and give me a goodnight kiss? And after I fall asleep, tuck me in and pat me gently.”

‘Ah.’

It was the moment I understood his brazenly rapid attitude change.

Oh my, our little one! He likes the idea of Nuna reading to him sweetly more than the actual fairy tale content!

He was so cute I almost burst out laughing, but I held it in since Baron would probably be embarrassed if I laughed.

“Yeah. That’s right.”

Hearing my answer, Baron couldn’t hide his twitching lips as he looked at the bookshelf.

“Yeah, let’s hurry and choose. What kind of book do you like, Nuna?”

Baron pulled out a book and opened it.

“This one has a baby rabbit.”

The bookstore Ajumma who had been watching us from the side smiled brightly.

“That’s for four-year-olds. How old are you?”

“Seven years old.”

“Hmm, books that kids your age like these days… this one. It just came out recently and we happen to have it, so you’re lucky.”

The bookstore Ajumma recommended three thin used books.

“This is the most popular Northern Region Gate picture fairy tale, this is the headless magic knight fairy tale, and the princess who fell into a book.”

They had hard covers, but the paper inside had frayed edges.

“They’re so popular that they’re in this condition.”

After considering the Ajumma’s recommendations, Baron and I decided on the Northern Region Gate picture fairy tale.

She said if we bought it, read it cleanly, and brought it back, she’d return the money minus just the rental fee, so we should read it well and bring it back.

On the way out after buying the book, I suddenly thought it would be nice if I had a book to read too.

‘Oh, come to think of it, there was a Public Library around here too.’

Due to identity verification issues, it would be difficult for me to borrow books directly, but it seemed possible if I went with Baron.

“Baron, shall we go to the Public Library and borrow books? One for you, one for me, how about it?”

Baron also nodded readily.

What I chose at the library was a history book of the Empire. Since what I knew was novel content, I needed more information beyond that.

Baron, who had disappeared for a while, came back with a book that was quite thick and caught my eye. But I couldn’t read the title.

‘Huh? A foreign book?’

After leaving the library, I opened the book Baron had borrowed. I saw foreign language and incomprehensible diagrams.

“Baron, do you know foreign languages?”

“Yeah.”

I was surprised by his ready answer.

Do noble children learn foreign languages very early?

I flipped through a few pages and saw incomprehensible characters densely packed. It seemed even denser than the Empire history book I had chosen.

“Y-you’re going to read this?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“There are so many characters. It looks like a specialized book.”

“You’re saying I look intellectual?”

Baron shrugged his shoulders and closed the book I had opened.

“Yeah, what kind of book is it?”

“Well…”

Baron rolled his eyes for a moment before speaking.

“Frogs.”

“Huh? Frogs?”

“Yeah yeah, a book about how to catch frogs.”

“How to catch frogs?”

I stared intently at the book Baron was holding.

Such a thick hardcover book is about catching frogs?

Seeing my reaction, Baron pouted and grumbled.

“Nuna doesn’t seem to know well, but there are really many frogs in this world, you know? To catch various frogs, the more information the better.”

“What are you going to do after catching frogs?”

“Well, that’s a secret for now. Anyway, let’s go now.”

I didn’t know why he wanted to catch frogs, but apparently frog hunter was among Baron’s future aspirations.

‘Is it similar to wanting to become a police car or dinosaur when you grow up? Though the book seems too high-level for that.’

Since Baron is a noble by birth, he might be different from ordinary kids.

* * *

We stopped by a restaurant for lunch and headed home.

Since we were both carrying something in our hands, I couldn’t give Baron a piggyback ride this time.

Should I talk about frogs that Baron likes?

Tree frogs? Or maybe true frogs? Would toads or narrow-mouthed toads be better?

No, do the frogs I know even exist in this world?

While I was briefly pondering, Baron spoke first.

“When are you buying clothes, Nuna?”

“Huh?”

“Your clothes are really worn out too. If we hadn’t bought my pajamas and groceries today, we probably could have bought you at least one outfit.”

I shook my head. I did have exactly two worn-out outfits I found by searching the Cottage, but they were fine if I washed them cleanly. Also, I definitely had to wash Baron’s clothes today.

“Hey, that’s all the clothes you have. You need at least pajamas to wash and wear.”

“You don’t need to worry about my clothes. I’m clean.”

I glanced at Baron’s clothes.

Even though he hadn’t changed clothes from the day we first met until now, Baron was as neat as if he were wearing new clothes, just as he said.

Probably because he was a noble child, his ingrained proper behavior meant his clothes didn’t get dirty easily.

Thanks to that, laundry would be convenient, but having only one outfit would naturally be inconvenient.

“Still, there are limits after this many days. You just can’t see it, but it’s probably crawling with germs. Also, if we don’t buy groceries, you’ll only eat sea snails and crabs again today.”

“At least I won’t starve.”

“Children need to eat a balanced diet to grow well.”

“I’m really fine though.”

“Fine my foot, listen to Nuna. I’ll make you a special dish today.”

Just then, I saw a seagull flying across the blue sky.

The scenery is so beautiful. And on the peaceful Seaside heading home, there are only Baron and me.

I felt good and started humming. As I hummed, my steps became lighter too.

“What song is that?”

“Oh, this is a children’s song. Do you want to sing along?”

“I don’t know that song?”

It was a children’s song from the world before my possession, so it was natural that Baron didn’t know it.

“It’s easy, you’ll learn it quickly. Listen carefully. It’s a song called Baby Goat.”

When I sang the children’s song, Baron’s eyes widened.

Baron memorized the entire song after hearing it just once. After humming together two or three times, Baron got excited and sang the children’s song loudly.

He even hopped around and spun in circles with me.

This made both Baron and me laugh naturally. We didn’t hold back and laughed heartily as we headed home.

Baron laughing brightly against the backdrop of the blue Sea was so cute and lovable, and being able to enjoy the world singing together several times.

I was truly happy.

.

.

.

When I felt I had sung to my heart’s content, we arrived near the house.

The neighboring house was bustling with construction workers and building equipment. Yesterday there had only been a construction site about the same size as our house, but now the framework was already completely erected.

“Hello, Baron, Hailey. You both look very happy.”

Raven, who had been inspecting the construction site, greeted us warmly when he saw us.

“Hello, Raven.”

Baron simply raised one hand as a greeting. His face was stoic, as if he hadn’t just been laughing cheerfully moments ago.

Raven approached and checked the items in our hands.

“Oh, looks like you went shopping. And borrowed some books too. Are you interested in imperial history?”

“Yes, there’s a lot I don’t know.”

Raven’s gaze, which had been looking around, soon turned to the book in Baron’s hand.

“Do you happen to speak foreign languages well too, Raven?”

“I’m a merchant, so it’s basic.”

“Baron also knows foreign languages.”

“Ah, he looked smart and indeed he is. Now, what book did Baron bring?”

Raven’s expression changed slightly when he saw the book title. Meanwhile, Baron asked without any particular change in expression.

“Do you know this frog book too, Raven?”

“Frog… book?”

“Yeah, it’s a book about how to catch frogs, but Nuna seemed like she didn’t believe me.”

When Raven’s gaze turned to me, I just shrugged my shoulders.

“I wondered if stories about tree frogs and pond frogs would match this kind of cover. I questioned whether it was really a frog book.”

“Hmm. The title suggests that.”

Raven answered while taking the book from Baron and opening it. After flipping through a few pages, he soon nodded.

“It is indeed a frog book. However, they’re not such harmless frogs, but ones that appear near Gates… This page says that red frogs are frogs that emit strong poisonous mist, so you must prepare an antidote if you want to catch them.”

My head started spinning.

‘Po-poison frogs? And they emit poisonous mist too?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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