This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 176

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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 176

‘I absolutely must not venture into the alley.’

Bloden had clearly warned me about the dangers, and I had sworn to heed his words.
Yet when I heard a child’s cry, I found myself unable to resist peering into the alley despite knowing better.
I would just take a quick look and slip back out.
I glanced into the alley and spotted a gaunt man attempting to drag a boy who appeared to be around ten years old, his hand clamped over the child’s mouth.
I drew a sharp breath and shouted at the top of my lungs.
“Hey! Let go of him this instant!”
The moment the man hesitated, the boy thrashed violently. Yet the man refused to release him.
I rushed forward and swung my bag at the man. Startled, he stumbled backward, and I seized the opportunity to grab the boy’s hand as he broke free.
“Run to the main street, now!”
I bolted forward with the boy in tow. Glancing back, he didn’t seem to be pursuing us. But the child was gasping for breath.
“Miss… I’m exhausted.”
‘What? We’ve barely run a few steps.’
Wondering if he’d simply worn himself out struggling, I slowed my pace and tried to comfort him.
“Just a little further. Let’s get out of here quickly.”
“No, let’s rest here.”
Something felt off. Looking more carefully, the boy’s eyes didn’t reflect fear at all.
Just then, a door creaked open beside us. I startled and tried to dash toward the main street, but the boy gripped my hand firmly and attempted to throw himself down.
‘It was a trap!’
A chill ran down my spine. I immediately abandoned my bag and yanked the boy’s hand with all my strength.
Had I still been in the early days after possession, my weakened body would have been no match for him.
But now I maintained a disciplined sleep schedule, ate nourishing meals at regular intervals, and my muscles had grown firm from clam digging and various labors.
In other words, appearances could be deceiving.
I regularly hauled twenty kilograms of shellfish across the tidal flats—a ten-year-old standing on his own two feet was hardly a challenge.
‘The bag is unfortunate to lose, but I’m glad I kept the truly important things tucked away separately.’
“Ugh!”
The boy, unwilling to be dragged and fall, began running alongside me.
The commotion behind me made me glance back—three men were emerging and giving chase.
‘I just need to reach the main street!’
I turned my gaze forward, only to collide directly with someone.
When they caught me in their embrace, I felt dizzy. In that brief instant, they had clearly anticipated my escape and positioned themselves to block my path.
But the shock faded quickly when I caught a familiar scent, and relief washed over me.
“You’re incorrigible. I distinctly told you the alley was dangerous.”
I lifted my head and saw Bloden. Immediately, the boy wrenched his hand from mine and fled back into the alley. The men who had been chasing us hurried back through the door they’d emerged from and slammed it shut.
“Are you hurt?”
As I stood there in a daze, Bloden’s gentle voice pulled me back to my senses.
As I felt his firm chest, my heart began to race wildly.
“I don’t think anything’s missing. Thank you for rescuing me.”
I tried to slip out of his embrace, but Bloden suddenly lifted me up in his arms.
“No, that’s not it.”
Startled, I widened my eyes, and Bloden averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing red.
“I was asking because it looked like you twisted your ankle.”
“…Pardon?”
Once we reached the Main Street, Bloden seated me in a chair at a nearby Outdoor Café.
“Forgive me for a moment.”
He knelt on one knee, removed my left shoe, and placed my foot on his knee.
‘…Oh my!’
I was startled, but only briefly.
“Ow!”
The moment Bloden grasped my ankle and twisted it slightly, pain shot through it.
Observing my expression, Bloden handed a tip to the Employee who had come to take orders and spoke.
“Bring two cups of warm lemon balm tea, and call a Doctor immediately. Tell them it’s an ankle injury.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Employee who received the order rushed off. Soon, two cups of lemon balm tea arrived, and the Doctor came as well.
“It’s not severe. Once I secure it with a bandage, you should be able to walk right away, but please don’t overexert yourself. If you wait a moment, I’ll prepare some medicine for you.”
The Doctor examined the injured area, secured my ankle firmly with a bandage, and then left.
Bloden smiled with relief.
“Thank you so much. But how did you know?”
“I saw your ankle twist slightly when you pulled the Child. I’m glad it’s not serious. But where were you headed?”
“I know someone at the House of Enox, so I came to visit briefly.”
“I see.”
“Where were you headed?”
“The House of Enox as well.”
“What?”
Our destination was the same?
“Weren’t you heading to the Capital…?”
Could it be that you followed me?
Though I didn’t voice it aloud, Bloden seemed to read the doubt in my expression and answered first.
“I boarded the ship to investigate something, but then I had business with the Count. The matter is…”
Bloden pointed toward the Alley.
“Ah…”
I understood without him saying more.
“It seems more serious than I thought. If I’d known it would come to this, I should have come with you from the start. Then you wouldn’t have been in danger, and I wouldn’t have caused you any misunderstanding.”
“Oh, no misunderstanding. Not at all. I received tremendous help because of you.”
Just then, the Doctor returned with the medicine.
“Will you be able to walk?”
I rose to my feet and tested my mobility. Though a slight discomfort lingered, I could manage walking on my own without difficulty.
“Yes. I think I’m ready to head to the House of Enox now.”
“Good. I’ll call for a carriage, so wait a moment.”
“Really? I can walk just fine.”
Bloden then extended his arm toward me.
“Or would you prefer I support you?”
“No, I can walk alone——”
Bloden crossed his arms with a resolute expression.
“Carriage or support. Choose one.”
“….”
Bloden glanced briefly at the café chair.
“You could also sit and take time to think things through calmly.”
“…I’ll take the carriage.”
“Good.”
Only then did Bloden’s expression ease as he flagged down a passing hired carriage. We settled side by side in the cramped cabin and headed toward the House of Enox.
After a brief inspection at the gate, the carriage passed through the Main Gate and came to a stop at the mansion’s entrance.
But an unexpected scene unfolded before us. Through the small window on Bloden’s side, I could see the Count and Countess lined up with Knights and servants. Their attire was uniformly immaculate.
Bloden truly did have business at the House of Enox, and Count Enox clearly knew of the Emperor’s visit.
‘How embarrassing. I was being overly self-conscious.’
And in that moment, I wondered why Count Enox hadn’t sent an escort if he knew of Bloden’s arrival, and a sense of dismay washed over me.
When boarding the carriage, Bloden had let me enter first. At the time, I’d thought nothing of it, but in a situation like this, Bloden would exit first, and I would follow—creating an awkward impression.
Bloden would likely try to escort me out gracefully.
Though it was a hired carriage, if the order of exit played out that way, it would be obvious to the House of Enox how they would perceive me.
‘A scandal might break out.’
I quickly tried to open the carriage door on my side. If I exited first and closed the door behind me, it would appear as though Bloden had arrived alone.
But the door wouldn’t open—it was locked.
‘Oh no.’
Bloden, observing my actions, spoke.
“Hired carriages are designed so only the right door opens, for safety reasons.”
Right. I should have remembered that.
“Do you want to exit first?”
“I’m truly sorry, Your Majesty. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“What’s there to apologize for? We could have ridden together. Does protocol make you uncomfortable?”
“It does, somewhat. I think it would be better if I exited first.”
“But wouldn’t it be better if I exited first and helped you down?”
“Then it would look like you’re taking care of me. Everyone would suspect the nature of our relationship.”
“That’s a fair point.”
Bloden paused, considering something, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Though I wouldn’t mind.”
“…Your Majesty.”
“Understood. Do as you see fit.”
I was relieved.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Once you step down, I’ll close the carriage door. That way, the ceremonial proceedings will be much more convenient for you.”
I flashed a bright smile, quickly rose from my seat, and headed toward the door.
But the hired carriage was narrower than I’d anticipated. Like squeezing past someone by an airport bus window, I had to twist my body to avoid the knees of the person beside me.
“I-I’m terribly sorry, but could you shift a bit further inside?”
Bloden chuckled softly and obligingly slid his hips inward as I’d requested. As I twisted my body to move outward, his exceptionally long legs created an unexpected problem.
“Oh!”
I couldn’t completely avoid the obstruction.
In an instant, I lost my balance and my body tilted toward Bloden.
‘No, no, this can’t happen!’
As I flailed to regain my footing, Bloden calmly extended both hands toward me, as if prepared to catch me should I fall.

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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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