This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 177

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

Chapter 177

‘No! I absolutely cannot fall into His Majesty’s arms like this!’
I quickly gripped the back of the seat with both hands.
‘Phew.’
Thanks to my reflexes, I barely avoided tumbling into his embrace. However, Bloden now found himself trapped between my two arms. It appeared as though I had pinned the Emperor against the carriage wall.
My heart suddenly raced wildly, and heat flooded my face.
“I-I’m so sorry! The carriage is so cramped.”
“I understand.”
Bloden’s face flushed crimson as he averted his gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I had only expected you to lean against me, but now that it’s happened, this isn’t so bad either.”
“W-what are you saying?”
The corner of his mouth trembled as though he were suppressing laughter.
Though I felt somewhat caught off guard, this entire situation had arisen from my own attempt to exit alone in the first place.
‘Good heavens, the original novel never mentioned the male lead being this cunning!’
I felt like crying, but I forced myself to remain composed, opened the door, and stepped out. I then held the door wide open for Bloden’s convenience and quietly moved aside.
The people waiting outside looked puzzled as I descended, murmuring softly, but they straightened their posture at the Count’s cough.
Bloden was exiting the carriage.
“We are honored to receive the great savior of the Ilpein Empire, Your Majesty.”
As an elderly Count and Countess greeted Bloden first, the servants lined up bowed respectfully, and even the Coachman who had been unaware that his passenger was the Emperor hurried down and prostrated himself before Bloden.
The moment the servants finished speaking, Count Enox addressed him.
“Upon receiving word, I should have gone to escort you personally, but this old man failed to do so. Please forgive my negligence.”
“No, since I was traveling incognito, this arrangement was actually preferable.”
As Bloden and the Count’s couple exchanged brief words, the assembled servants regarded me with curiosity and tension. Soon, the Count and Countess naturally turned their attention toward me as well.
Then Bloden spoke as though he had just remembered me.
“Ah, I happened to meet her on the way, and since we were headed to the same destination, we traveled together.”
I felt grateful to Bloden for his explanation, delivered in a tone that suggested he had no particular interest in me.
Count Enox then whispered something to the Countess before turning to Bloden with a respectful smile.
“Please, come inside, Your Majesty.”
Bloden entered the Manor without so much as a backward glance.
Once Bloden and the Count had fully entered, the other servants began returning to their respective duties.
The Countess, who remained behind, firmly instructed the hired carriage’s Coachman to keep silent before turning to me with a question.
“Are you perhaps the guest who was scheduled to visit the Annex today?”
Though she could not entirely mask a deep shadow in her expression, giving her a stubborn appearance, her respectful demeanor toward a commoner like myself was unexpected.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hailey, and I live in Snoril. I’ve come to meet Margie Loweldern on a personal matter.”
“I see. What is your relationship with His Majesty?”
Even though Bloden had clearly explained what we were to each other, she was asking me again.
The question caught me somewhat off guard, so I forced a smile.
“We have no particular relationship. I simply had an accident on the way, and thanks to His Majesty’s gracious consideration, I was honored to share a hired carriage with him.”
“What kind of accident happened?”
“Ah, well…”
I recounted the incident from my journey in brief, hoping they would take an active role in resolving the matter since they were the Lord of this domain.
“I see.”
However, the Duchess of Borderland’s response ended with just those words. She continued to sigh softly, her complexion still dark.
‘Perhaps she’s troubled because such accidents happen frequently yet remain unresolved?’
Still, unlike the situation in Snoril, I felt no real concern. Bloden was here now, after all.
Bloden would not stand idly by and watch this crisis unfold.
A single word from Bloden would set Count Enox moving swiftly.
So it seemed best to end our conversation here and attend to my own business.
“By the way, I’m heading to the Annex. Which direction should I go?”

* * *

‘Lord Roelden always stays in the Annex, so you’re welcome to visit anytime.’

The Duchess, busy preparing to receive Bloden, had not yet informed Maji of my visit. She pointed me toward the path leading to the Annex.
As I followed that path, I spotted a Doctor carrying a medical bag approaching from the opposite direction.
‘The Duchess said there’s nothing but the Annex in this direction, so…’
Seeing the Doctor, I wondered who might be ill and spoke first.
“Hello. Are you coming from the Annex?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Is someone ill?”
The Doctor looked me up and down before responding.
“This is our first meeting. What is your relationship to Lord Roelden?”
Sensing something amiss, I offered a relationship he would accept without hesitation.
“I’m his daughter. I’ve come to visit after quite a long time.”
“Ah, I thought I sensed someone he longed for. So you do have a child…”
The Doctor stepped aside with a wistful smile, as if understanding.
“Lord Roelden will be delighted. I’ve managed to procure medicine for him, so he should be comfortable for some time.”
“Ah…”
“Above all, don’t forget that hope and stability are what matter most. I hope you fill your time together with good memories.”
Hope and stability? And fill the time with good memories?
“Wait. That sounds as though Mother doesn’t have much time left.”
“Ah, well, don’t worry. The Count has already sent a letter directly to your sister, the Duchess of Borderland, in Utra Territory.”
“A letter, you say?”
“In Utra Territory, there is the Empire’s foremost authority on burn treatment.”
The Doctor smiled brightly.
“The moment the Duchess of Borderland receives the letter, she will send that Doctor here. Once he arrives, your mother will be able to live much longer.”
The Doctor’s expression showed no awareness that the Duchess of Borderland had been imprisoned.
“If that Doctor doesn’t come, how much time is left? If he does come, by when must he arrive?”
“In my estimation, about a year, but he should arrive within the month, so please don’t worry.”
The Doctor answered as though it were no great matter, then went on his way.
Watching his retreating figure fade into the distance, I turned toward the Annex.
The Annex soon came into view, but my heart grew turbulent, and I couldn’t bring myself to knock on the door immediately.
Though I’d only exchanged a brief conversation with the Doctor by chance, it was now painfully clear why Maji had become terminally ill.
‘It’s because of me.’
Of course, the Adeline from that time wasn’t me. I’d experienced that strange phenomenon of meeting Maji and awakening to Adeline’s past, but there are novels where a person possesses another’s body and all their memories come flooding back intact.
So it was certain that she wasn’t me. If I were truly Adeline, I would have died, been reborn, died again, and then regressed—
‘That’s far too complicated.’
Whatever my true nature was, what mattered was that I was living in this body now. Since Maji’s sacrifice had allowed this body to live, I was indebted to her as much as anyone could be.
‘If there’s any way at all, I must save her.’
The moment I resolved this, something brushed softly against my leg as it passed. It was Toto, adorned with a crimson satin ribbon, rubbing against me and looking up with affection.
The instant our eyes met, Toto cried out in greeting.
“Meow.”
Before I could respond, the door swung open and Maji’s Maid emerged.
“Toto’s here… Oh? Princess!”
Upon seeing me, the Maid gasped in surprise and bolted back inside with a clatter.
“Mistress! Mistress! T-the Princess has arrived!”
“W-what did you say?”
From within came bustling sounds followed by labored coughing. Toto ambled inside unhurriedly, then turned back to look at me and meowed.
“Meow.”
As if inviting me to enter without hesitation.

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