This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 172

—————

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

—————

Chapter 172

Clark was startled by Nelloa’s words.
“Really? You’ve seen Kail Frediky?”
During the Emperor’s birthday celebration season, Anna had requested that Duke Utra issue a public bounty for Kail throughout the Empire. After that, Nelloa had also seen Kail’s portrait and knew what Duke Utra had demanded of Clark.
“Yes, I can tell you where he is. But it won’t be free.”
Clark fell silent for a moment.
Until now, Nelloa had given Clark various pieces of information. Thanks to that, he’d managed to scoop several exclusive stories, which was why he’d volunteered to become her attendant and followed her around.
At appropriate times, he’d also published favorable feature articles so that the people of the Empire would develop goodwill toward Nelloa.
“Princess Nelloa Visits the Orphanage,” “Princess Nelloa Personally Carries an Injured Elderly Man to the Hospital,” “The Empire’s Young Ladies Wish to Emulate Princess Nelloa’s Beauty”—and so on.
Of course, they were all lies, but even so, it was acceptable enough.
The problem was that it would be difficult for him to write articles exactly as Nelloa wanted.
No matter what, he couldn’t write gossip that Nelloa and Bloden had exchanged glances and spent a night together during the birthday celebration.
Every noble knew that Nelloa had never been alone throughout the entire celebration period.
‘If I wrote such an article, my head would roll.’
As Clark’s silence lengthened, Nelloa’s lips curved upward with a fresh expression.
“Don’t worry about the article I’m requesting this time. It’s an exclusive story I’m willing to stake my name and honor on.”
That was truly reassuring.
Clark decided to publish the article as Nelloa suggested and relay Kail Frediky’s location to his father. Seeing Clark’s brightened expression, Nelloa narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“Moreover, the name of journalist Clark Utra will become known throughout the Empire.”

* * *

On the day of the Academy entrance ceremony, it was easiest to find Baron’s name among the forty names on the scoreboard posted at the Main Gate.

1st Place. Baron Eldit (Seed Class 1. Age 8)

“Wow! Baron, you’re first!”
Delighted, I clapped my hands together, and Baron in his neat school uniform avoided my gaze with an embarrassed expression.
“I told you I’d be first. Why make a fuss over this… how embarrassing.”
Raven and Kimarise smiled quietly, applauding with raised lips.
“Still, this is cause for celebration. Congratulations, Baron.”
“My congratulations.”
Kyle raised his thumb with an expression of amazement.
“Wow, when you said it with such confidence, I had my doubts, but you actually pulled off first place. That’s incredible.”
Baron’s face flushed an even deeper crimson.
“Stop it. People are staring.”
True to his words, those around us were murmuring as they looked at Baron.
“That boy is first?”
“I heard this Academy entrance exam was incredibly difficult?”
“He’s the only one who got a perfect score on this entrance exam. And he beat second place by 24 points, no less?”
“What? So second place scored 76?”
“The Academy never imagined a perfect score student would appear.”
“The professors have their eyes on him, I hear?”
The gazes around us converged increasingly on Baron.
“And he’s quite the beautiful boy.”
“Not only handsome but brilliant too.”
As expected, the eyes of the female students nearby began to sparkle with interest.
Unable to bear the attention, Baron covered his face with both hands and murmured.
“Nuna, the stares are more embarrassing than I thought. I’m starting to think I made a mistake—should I withdraw from the Academy?”
I leaned down and whispered softly into Baron’s ear.
“Then our marriage registration would become void. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
Baron lowered his hands as if he’d never said anything and smiled elegantly.
“Right. Nuna. I promised I’d be first in everything. I shouldn’t be like this—I should check what rank Kyle got.”
Kyle pointed to the lower part of his score sheet.
“I’m down there.”

17th Place. Kail Frediky (Class 3-C. Age 13.)

It was a shame we weren’t in the same class, but there was nothing to be done about it.
“Kyle did wonderfully too! You must have worked so hard on the exam.”
Just then, the bell signaling the start of the entrance ceremony rang out. People began moving toward the auditorium.
The entrance ceremony proceeded formally according to protocol. Once all the ceremonies concluded, the children were directed to the dormitories. It was time for the children and their parents to say goodbye.
I could hear a few children who were being separated from their parents for the first time crying.
Among them, I embraced Baron and Kyle in turn.
“I’ll come pick you up this weekend. See you then.”
Baron and Kyle nodded.
I was relieved that both of them were more composed than I’d expected. In fact, being separated from Baron made me feel so wistful that I wondered if I was the one being unreasonable.
But I composed myself and turned to leave.
‘It’s because our boy is growing up so well. Besides, I’ll see him again this weekend.’
That was when it happened.
“Nuna.”
Baron hugged me from behind.
“Hm? What is it?”
“…I don’t want to say goodbye. Can’t I stay?”
I quickly held my breath. For a moment, tears welled up and I nearly broke down.
‘No, even he’s not crying—what am I doing?’
I held back the tears threatening to spill and turned around to embrace Baron again.
“I don’t want to say goodbye either. But for our Baron to grow up wonderfully, you need to study hard.”
“Then I suppose there’s no choice, but Nuna.”
“Hm?”
Baron held me tight, kissed my cheek, and whispered.
“You can’t cheat on me while I’m away. Understood?”
“….”
“And you can’t bring anyone else into the house?”
In an instant, my tears vanished.
“Where did you learn to say such things?”
“But Nuna, you’re far too beautiful. Understood?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, but my answer came easily.
“Understood. Besides, there’s only Crockel at home now anyway.”
“Even if Crockel asks to sleep with you, don’t cuddle him.”
“Hm? But Crockel is a dog?”
Baron shook his head.
“He’s still male. Understood?”
“….”
‘Baron, you’re even jealous of the dog.’
Baron spoke with such earnest gravity that I simply nodded in agreement.
“Understood, understood.”
Finally, after receiving one last kiss on the cheek from me, Baron reluctantly let go.
After leaving the children at the Academy, Raven and I climbed into the carriage that Kimarise was driving. The moment it began to move, I asked Raven to drop me off at the City Square.
“Where are you headed? Shall I accompany you?”
“No, thank you for the offer, but I’ll be fine.”
I declined his kind gesture and hurried out the moment we arrived at the square.
.
.
.
My destination was the Detective Agency. Yesterday afternoon, I’d received word that they’d obtained the information I needed, so I made the visit.
The moment I entered the Detective Agency, an Employee who recognized me immediately handed me a document, as if he’d been waiting.
“The location was different from what we expected, so we had some difficulty tracking it down.”
The way he formed his fingers into a circle made it clear he was asking for a larger tip.
The instant I opened the document, I saw an address that was utterly unexpected.

[Mistril Territory, Enox Count’s Estate Annex.]

‘Lord Roelden is staying at the Count’s Estate Annex?’
Bewildered though I was, I handed over the tip without hesitation and asked, “I thought he was staying in the Aer Domain. That’s not the case?”
The Detective Agency Employee who’d pocketed the tip grinned widely.
“If you take a ship heading toward the Capital from here, it should take about sixteen hours to arrive. Moreover, if you’re planning to visit the Count’s Estate, you’ll need to contact them in advance and obtain permission. Would you like me to send a letter to them if you’re thinking of visiting?”
Hearing that a messenger could deliver it today, I gladly paid the additional fee.
“Thank you so much. I’d appreciate it.”
I then went straight to the Port, purchased a ticket for a ship departing for Mistril Territory a few hours later, returned home to pack a travel bag, and went to find Raven.
“Welcome, Hailey.”
Raven said he was just about to have tea with Kimarise. When I was invited to join, I gratefully accepted a cup and broached the matter I’d come to discuss.
“Raven, I have a favor to ask.”
“What could I possibly owe an apology for? I’d be delighted to help with anything you ask, Hailey.”
“I’m truly grateful.”
“Yes, what can I assist you with?”
“I have somewhere to go for a few days. I’ll be away from home starting this evening for about four days. Would you be able to look after Crockel?”
“Pardon?”
Raven and Kimarise froze like broken wind-up dolls. Both wore expressions of disbelief.
Raven and Kimarise froze like broken wind-up dolls. Both of them had expressions of disbelief on their faces.

—————

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

—————