This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 160

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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 160

Baron turned toward the sound. A Boy, who appeared to be around ten years old, was sprawled out on the ground in front of a toy Stall, throwing a tantrum.
“Buy this for me! Please buy it!”
A Woman who appeared to be the Child’s mother crossed her arms.
“Ugh! You’re not a toddler anymore—what are you doing? You’re getting your clothes dirty. Get up this instant.”
“No! If you won’t buy it, I won’t study!”
The Woman sighed deeply and furrowed her brow.
“Then you’ll suffer for it,”
“Then I won’t eat!”
The Woman’s expression turned fierce.
“Starve!”
At her firm response, the Boy’s eyes widened. Soon, he began thrashing his limbs and wailing loudly.
“Waaaaaah!”
The Child’s cries were deafening. Even passersby stopped and watched the scene unfold.
“Get up right now! Have you no shame?”
The Woman, her voice booming with authority, forcibly lifted the Boy and struck his back.
“I can’t take this! I’m going to beat you senseless!”
Even as he was struck, the Boy continued wailing and was dragged away by the Woman.
“My, both the Child and the mother have quite the temperament.”
The onlookers clicked their tongues and went about their business.
At that moment, Baron realized how pathetic and amateurish his own behavior had been when he’d thrown himself on the ground not long ago.
‘So that’s how you throw a tantrum!’
But merely imagining himself mimicking such a display made his face burn with embarrassment.
‘That’s not a method I could possibly use.’
Yet no better approach came to mind, so Baron sighed.
‘Besides, I’m the Emperor—I can’t resort to such madness.’
Then a Flower Shop caught his eye.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t there a lute in my Pocket Dimension?’
I had learned to play the lute during my time in the Northern Region. And I recalled the legendary serenade of the bard.
‘I never imagined I’d use it like this… but let me try to persuade Nuna once more, like a gentleman.’
I would win her heart with a sweet serenade.
With that resolve, Baron entered the Flower Shop and purchased a small bouquet. Then he contacted Kimarise.
-Go home first and wait. Make some excuse to Nuna and have her return home.

* * *

Among the Merchants, talk arose of relocating the temporary stalls to the City.
It seemed plausible, but this method too had its problems. Moving the temporary structures would require the roads to be cleared first.
Waiting for low tide to move them presented numerous complications.
Some suggested preemptively offering The Lord a certain fee for the privilege.
However, no one could settle on an amount. At any reasonable figure, The Lord wouldn’t even bat an eye.
The lengthy meeting continued until the tide began to recede once more, concluding with a decision to explore whether other methods existed.
In other words, the meeting ended without any substantial progress.
As the gathering wound down and I prepared to head to the Library to fetch Baron, Kimarise called out to me.
“What? Baron went home alone?”
“Yes, he wished to return home. Since this is a Tavern, he couldn’t enter, so he asked a staff member to pass along a note.”
Kimarise showed me the note. By any measure, it was unmistakably Baron’s handwriting.
Well, the low tide should have begun by now, so if he left earlier, there would be no problem crossing.
“Thank you for delivering the note. Let’s head back quickly as well.”
.
.
.
“Nuna, welcome home.”
The moment I opened the Entrance and stepped inside, Baron, dressed impeccably, greeted me with a radiant smile and an adorable expression.
I stood motionless, my eyes widening. I had merely stepped in without thinking, yet I found myself standing in the center of a heart made from red rose petals.
A pleasant fragrance wafted through the House. Baron had lit small candles scattered throughout, and the scent seemed to emanate from them. The gentle, flickering candlelight created a romantic atmosphere.
My gaze naturally drifted toward the dining table. Upon what appeared to be a rather elegant tablecloth lay wine, cheese, and fruit.
And at my place sat a small but exquisitely beautiful bouquet and a single sheet of paper.
‘Surely not….’
Pluck, ding-ling—
As Baron plucked the lute strings, a clear, crystalline sound resonated softly throughout the House.
“I begin this song to seek your love.”
I was genuinely startled, covering my mouth with both hands.
Baron winked at me, then began singing in a clear, melodious voice.
‘If heavenly voices exist, surely they would sound like this.’
Moreover, his lute playing was no less skillful than a professional musician’s.
‘Goodness, why is he good at everything?’
As the song continued, tears of emotion flowed unbidden. Along with them came genuine concern about Baron’s future path.
Looking at him now, my Baron seemed far better suited to be a genius idol than a Palace Knight Captain.
‘Should I raise our child to be a superstar? How does the entertainment industry work in this world?’
“My love, extend but one hand to me. Please do not abandon one who can live by your love alone.”
The resonance of the lute faded.
Baron, his eyes deep and tender, gazed at me as the lingering emotion of the performance still graced my expression.
“Nuna, will you marry me?”
At those words, the lingering emotion cleanly vanished.
Regaining my composure, I applauded Baron and smiled warmly.
“Wow, Baron, your singing is truly amazing. That was so impressive.”
I praised Baron as I made my way toward the dining table.
“The flowers are so beautiful. And is this wine? But I can’t drink alcohol—how did you manage to get this?”
Baron pouted.
“It’s grape juice.”
“Then we can enjoy it together.”
The single sheet of paper was indeed a marriage certificate.
Soon, Baron’s earnest voice reached my ears.
“Nuna, I’m proposing to you.”
“Baron, thank you so much for preparing such a wonderful event. However….”
I took a deep breath to speak firmly.
Though it was a touching gesture, there were simply some things in this world that could not be.
“I’m sorry, but it’s impossible. You already know the reason from before, so I won’t repeat it.”
Baron’s eyes trembled greatly, and I noticed moisture beginning to gather in them, so I spoke quickly.
“Stop! Crying won’t help. This is absolutely something I cannot do.”
“Ha….”
Baron exhaled a heavy sigh and stood dazed for a moment.
Standing with an indecipherable expression, Baron’s face suddenly flushed crimson. He set down his lute and covered his face with both hands.
“I didn’t want to resort to this, but it’s all because of you that I’ve become like this.”
…What? What is he talking about?
Baron flopped onto the floor. Then, flailing his limbs, he began to cry loudly.
“Marry me! Nuna! Wahhhhh! Please marry me!”
‘Gasp!’
Startled, I quickly spoke to Baron.
“Baron, you’re not a toddler! Where on earth did you learn to do this? Get up right now.”
Baron’s face grew even redder as he shrieked.
“I don’t care! I won’t get up until you marry me! And I won’t study!”
What? He won’t study?
“I won’t go to the Academy!”
‘This brat, seriously?’
I couldn’t hide my sigh as I pressed my forehead.
‘So he’s going to push through with his tantrum through sheer stubbornness?’
I recalled a parenting program I’d seen on television before my possession.
‘What did they say to do when a child throws a tantrum? Don’t react and cut off attention entirely?’
I seemed to recall they said to stay in place but minimize eye contact.
I turned away from Baron with my arms crossed.
Baron seemed flustered for a moment before raising his voice again.
“I won’t go to the Academy!”
They said not to negotiate while a child is throwing a fit. If you give in to their demands, they learn that tantrums work in the future.
“If you don’t study, it’s your loss.”
“I love you, Nuna! I’m going to marry you! If you won’t marry me, I won’t eat!”
‘Ha, he won’t eat? He’ll eat once he gets hungry.’
I remained seated in my chair, waiting for Baron to calm down while mentally reviewing the disciplinary approach.
The child psychologist on that program had said not to react to the child, but to wait until they calmed down, then name their emotions for them.
‘Our Baron is angry, he’s upset because things didn’t go his way.’
Then I would simply explain why it couldn’t happen—briefly and clearly.
‘Hmm?’
But something felt off.
Even though Baron was young, he wasn’t the type of child who couldn’t distinguish between anger and disappointment, was he?
If anything, he was exceptionally good at emotional regulation compared to his peers.
Moreover, Baron understood perfectly well why his request couldn’t be granted. I had already explained it to him clearly.
He knew all this, yet here he was, carrying on.
‘This is impossible. Really.’
I found myself genuinely at a loss, covering my face with both hands.

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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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