This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 173

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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 173

‘Oh no, I should have asked about their schedules first.’
Since returning from the Capital, Raven and Kimarise had always stayed at our house, and even when they worked, they handled everything from home. It never occurred to me that they might have external commitments.
‘Ugh, what an idiot I am!’
I realized booking the ship’s passage had been premature.
“I’m so sorry. I should have confirmed whether you had availability first… I think I made my request far too abruptly.”
“That’s not the issue. Taking care of Crockel poses no problem whatsoever.”
Raven drank a full glass of water as if parched, then lifted the corners of his mouth and asked.
“It’s just surprising that you’ll be gone for several days. If you don’t mind my asking, could I inquire where you’re going?”
“I have an acquaintance there, so I was planning to visit the Mistril Territory for a bit.”
“The Mistril Territory?”
Raven stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before asking me.
“Who will you be going with?”
“I’m just going alone to see their face and come right back.”
At my words, Kimarise set down his teacup.
“Alone? That simply won’t do.”
“Pardon?”
“I shall escort you.”
“An e-escort? No, I couldn’t possibly impose such a burden. I’m just taking a ship there to see their face and returning immediately. Please, just watch over Crockel for me.”

* * *

“Hey, are you that top-ranked freshman everyone’s been talking about?”
“Baron Eldit, right?”
Baron, who had been heading into the dormitory assigned to him and Kyle, came to an abrupt halt. In an instant, a group of roughly ten upperclassmen had surrounded both of them.
“What? Who are you guys?”
A flustered Kyle clenched his fists, tensing himself to counter any attack, while Baron calmly surveyed his surroundings.
The upperclassmen ranged in age from approximately twelve to eighteen years old.
On the left chest of their academy uniforms hung numbered brooches indicating which grade level they were currently in.
‘3, 5, 7, 8, 7, 10, 10….’
At this Academy, the first year began after completing the foundational seed class. And unless one skipped grades, students would graduate after a ten-year educational program.
“So you really did score a perfect mark on that notoriously difficult entrance exam?”
A seventh-year female student with her arms crossed appeared to be the daughter of some noble house. A robust tenth-year male student who looked to be around Bloden’s age studied Baron intently, then raised one corner of his mouth into a smirk.
“When I heard the rumors, I was skeptical, but seeing you in person—your face really is stunning.”
Baron had anticipated that attending the Academy would mean hearing all sorts of comments from younger students. But he hadn’t expected it to start on his very first day.
Baron rubbed the space between his eyebrows a couple of times.
“So what do you want?”
At his cold response, a fifth-year male student raised one eyebrow.
“Wow, look at this little guy speaking casually—what audacity.”
I thought they were looking for a fight. But then—
“That’s why he’s like a prickly little kitten, isn’t he? God, he’s so cute.”
What?
The seventh-year female student beside him clasped her hands together, her cheeks flushing.
“He’s got personality because he’s so clever. He’s absolutely adorable.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
The fifth-year student, who had rubbed his nose, handed Baron a piece of candy.
“Here, eat this. You need to grow taller soon.”
Huh?
The upperclassmen surrounding the two began eagerly pressing snacks into Baron’s hands.
“Try this too. It’s chocolate we specially brought from home.”
“And this. It’s pudding.”
“Hey, you idiots, if you pile all of this in the kid’s hands, what are you doing? His hands are so small.”
A tenth-year female student scolded those around her, then pulled out a small cloth pouch. She gathered the snacks that had accumulated in Baron’s hands and those that had fallen to the floor, placed them firmly in his grasp, and smiled warmly.
“Our little kitten. If anyone bothers you, come tell this noona everything, okay?”
“If you’re scared to sleep alone, come to room 706. I’ll let you sleep there.”
“Want me to show you around the Academy tomorrow? You haven’t seen everything yet, right?”
After chattering away for a while, the students began waving their hands and leaving as the bell rang.
“It’s time to head back to the dormitory.”
“See you next time.”
“Bye, little chick.”
“Take good care of your brother.”
The upperclassmen, having greeted Baron and even given Kyle some parting words, filed out in a rush.
Kyle, who had been clenching his fists the entire time, watched the senior students’ retreating figures and muttered in disbelief.
“What? They were actually decent people?”
Baron, who had been momentarily dazed, finally let out a soft chuckle and replied.
“Right?”
That was when it happened.
-My lord, we have a situation.

* * *

The evening of the entrance ceremony.
Baron summoned Dantarion and had him take on his exact appearance.
Then, after eating the tteokbokki he’d prepared in advance as a snack, he transformed into Bloden’s form.
“You know you have to attend classes starting tomorrow, right? Keep up the appearance of a perfect model student. No matter what the others say, don’t hit anyone or intimidate them.”
Dantarion scratched his head and chuckled.
“My lord, no matter how reckless I am, I wouldn’t hit the students.”
After instructing Dantarion to share his vision if anything happened, Bloden pulled his robe low over his head and quickly left the dormitory.
Then he met Raven at the designated location at the port.
“Your Majesty.”
The moment Raven saw Bloden, he handed over a small potion bottle and a boarding pass.
It was a magical potion used during covert operations—one that could change hair color for as long as desired.
Bloden dripped the potion onto his hair. His lustrous locks transformed into a pale pink hue.
“What about Nuna?”
“She has already boarded. Kimarise followed as well. Hailey’s cabin is room 204—a single cabin in second class.”
At that moment, a long ship’s horn sounded. It was the signal for imminent departure.
“Good. I’ll hear the rest through Kimarise. You stay here and keep watch.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
Bloden boarded the ship, leaving Raven bowing respectfully behind him.
Soon the ship set sail.
As Bloden made his way to the second-class quarters where Hailey had unpacked her belongings, he recalled what Kimarise had told him.
When Hailey mentioned visiting the Mistril Territory, both Raven and Kimarise immediately understood where her destination truly was.
It was the Enox Count’s Estate Annex, where Lord Margie Lowelden was recuperating.
If that were the case, then Hailey’s business was certainly connected to the Meridian Royal Family’s seal mold.
He couldn’t pretend to know about this. Raven and Kimarise were maintaining the pretense of not knowing that Hailey was Adelaine Meridian.
All they could do was report immediately to Bloden.
Upon receiving this information, Bloden had immediately ordered Kimarise to discreetly follow and protect Hailey. And he had come along himself.
In truth, the Mistril Territory wasn’t particularly dangerous if one stuck to the main roads. But leaving Hailey to travel alone made him deeply uneasy.
That was when Kimarise’s report came through.
-My lord, I’ve detected suspicious individuals.
-…What?
-There are about ten able-bodied men here.
Soon Kimarise shared his vision with me.
The men on the ship deck were on guard, discussing something in hushed voices among themselves.
I couldn’t hear everything they said, but the words “a woman alone,” “tonight,” and “child” came through loud and clear.
-These bastards. It seems their target is the young woman traveling alone and the child, doesn’t it? What should we do?
It was a question that didn’t require deliberation.
-I’ll protect Nuna. When there are no eyes watching, capture every last one of them and beat them senseless. Leave one alive.
-Yes, I obey.
After giving his orders, Bloden went straight to the front of Room 204, leaned both arms on the railing, and gazed toward the sea while monitoring Kimarise’s vision.
Once the area had cleared of people, Kimarise knocked down all ten men. He loaded all but the strongest one onto a small boat and sent them out to sea.
-Row that way. If you’re lucky, you might survive.
At Kimarise’s chilling words, the nine terrified men began rowing frantically to escape.
Soon Kimarise’s bright voice echoed in Bloden’s mind.
-Your Majesty, I’ve released all but one. Now I’ll focus on this one and extract his true intentions.

* * *

Quite some time had passed since we departed for Mistril Territory, and evening had arrived.
The sailor who checked our boarding tickets told me to come to the back of the ship deck when it was time to eat. All three meals were served as a buffet, apparently?
The sailor spoke of it with such pride that I couldn’t possibly miss it. I prepared to open the door and step outside.
But the moment I opened the door, I saw the familiar silhouette of a man.
Broad shoulders, a sturdy frame, and exceptionally long legs.
His hair was a pale pink like spring blossoms, but I recognized him at once—the man gazing out at the sea.
“Your Majesty?”
The instant I murmured the words, the man turned to face me.
As expected, it was Bloden.

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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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