This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 183

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

Chapter 183

Is there anything you want?
The Countess Enox’s question caught my attention.
Truth be told, since the return journey had gone faster than expected, I’d naturally thought of something I wanted to ask for.
“If that’s the case, would it be all right if I headed home now?”
“……I beg your pardon?”
“My younger brother comes out of the Academy Dormitory tomorrow at five in the afternoon. He’s only eight years old now, so I need to pick him up without being late. If I board a ship to Snoril right now, I think I can make it in time.”
The Count and Countess Enox looked as though they couldn’t believe their ears.
“I understand that my statement is needed since something serious happened. I’ll spend the weekend with my brother and come back around Tuesday.”
It seemed I could meet with Margie at that time as well.
Countess Enox looked at her husband at a loss for words. Then Count Enox let out a small cough.
“In all my years, I’ve never heard such an unusual request for compensation. It’s truly astonishing.”
Was it rude of me to ask……?
Embarrassed, I scratched the back of my neck slightly, and Count Enox asked me with a serious expression.
“So what you’re saying is that what Hailey wants is to go pick up your brother tomorrow?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“I understand.”
Count Enox clapped his hands together audibly and pointed toward the manor.
“I’ve just had a splendid idea. Please, come inside for now.”
To make the timing work, I should have headed straight to the port, but now I was being invited into the manor.
‘Is he preparing a carriage so we won’t be late? Having a servant buy the passage for me as well?’
Then I’d be comfortable, and that would be nice. I’m glad I asked.
Just then, the wolf nuzzled its nose against my hand once.
Wondering why, I looked down, and it nudged my hand so I’d pet it, then suddenly bounded back the way we’d come. It seemed to be returning to Bloden.
I quickly waved my hand in farewell.
“Thank you so much, Wolf.”
The wolf wagged its tail in farewell, then vanished from sight in an instant as it raced away.
.
.
.
The Count and Countess Enox led Lora and me into the reception room of the manor, then summoned the butler.
When the butler appeared just as I sat down on the sofa, he looked at Lora in disbelief and asked her.
“Ah, Miss? Are you really Miss?”
“It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
The butler’s expression brightened. Then Count Enox interjected into their conversation.
“I understand your joy, but let’s exchange pleasantries slowly. Lora has truly come back now.”
He immediately issued instructions to the butler.
“We’re planning to see Hailey off to Snoril, so check how long it would take if we use the Regallia. And…….”
The butler started in alarm before Count Enox had even finished speaking.
“The R, the Regallia, sir?”
“Hailey is our Lora’s benefactor, so of course.”
Sitting opposite me on the sofa alongside Lora, Countess Enox narrowed her eyes at her husband.
“Use the Regallia? I think it would only be proper to give it to her entirely?”
“Hmm, I was about to say the same thing.”
Count Enox’s cheeks flushed slightly as he added further instructions to the butler.
“Transfer the ownership of the Regallia to Hailey’s name. However, see to it that all costs of maintaining it are covered by us.”
It was a proposal I could scarcely believe.
The butler, mouth agape like mine, looked back and forth between Count and Countess Enox, Lora, and me, then pinched his own cheek once.
“What are you standing around for? Go at once.”
“Y-yes! Right away!”
The butler hurried out. While I stood there dumbfounded, I cautiously asked Count Enox.
“If I may ask, what exactly is the Regallia……?”
“Ah, it’s the name of a ship. The moment I heard what Hailey wanted, I thought it would be perfect to give you that ship as a gift.”
“No, the gift is far too generous!”
I quickly waved my hand in refusal. But Countess Enox only smiled warmly.
“Don’t be shy about it. It’s only a small ship, really. You are our daughter’s benefactor, after all.”
This won’t do. Rather than be treated as a benefactor like this, I’d be better off simply revealing everything Bloden had done.
Just then, a maid entered and set up various desserts and tea. And the butler, who had hurried back moments ago, made a report to Count and Countess Enox.
“If we depart at six tomorrow morning, we should arrive in Snoril around three in the afternoon.”
What? That fast?
I’d thought it was a small vessel, but it turned out to be a speedboat. If that was the case, meeting with Baron shouldn’t be a problem, and I felt relieved.
If I handled all the necessary matters today before leaving, there would be no need to come again another time.
“Then, without further ceremony, I’ll use it just this once. That would be more than enough.”
But the butler ignored my words with a look of confusion and continued his report to Count Enox.
“We shall prepare a room for Miss Hailey at once. The transfer of ownership will also proceed according to procedure.”
Good heavens—it really did seem like they were about to give me a ship.
“Very well. See that everything is arranged promptly so Miss Hailey faces no inconvenience.”
But I haven’t done anything! I need to quickly make it clear that Bloden did everything and change their minds.
However, the butler’s words were not yet finished.
“Understood, sir. And there is a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
“It is Bernard, a physician from Utra Territory. You had previously requested that he pay a visit.”
At those words, I suddenly realized that we had arrived faster than Bernard, who had departed from Utra Territory the day before.
“Before treating the guest in the annex, he says he has an urgent matter to discuss with you.”
“What? He came without even sending word ahead?”
The butler’s gaze turned toward Lora.
“It concerns Lora Enox, the Duchess of Utra.”
“Father, Bernard is the person who protected me there.”
At Lora’s words, Count Enox was startled and quickly had Bernard shown in.
“Good day. I am Bernard of Utra Territory. I am also the personal physician of Lora Enox, the Duchess of Utra, and—wait, eh?”
Bernard had entered with a tense air and offered a respectful bow, but upon seeing us, his eyes widened.
“Your Grace? Miss Hailey? How… how is this possible?”
“Please, sit.”
At Count Enox’s gesture toward the sofa across from him, Bernard settled down awkwardly.
Finally!
I seized the moment that had opened and stepped forward quickly.
“Allow me to explain.”
I recounted everything that had happened to the Count and Countess Enox.
Lora nodded continuously in agreement with my account, while the Countess’s complexion grew pale.
“Merciful heavens! Our Lora nearly died? I knew she had suffered hardship, but I never imagined it would be to such a degree!”
Count Enox also wiped his damp brow with a handkerchief.
“His Majesty sent word through the messenger birds with only the estimated time of Lora and Miss Hailey’s arrival, yet such things occurred.”
Bernard’s face had also gone ashen.
Seeing the reactions of all three, I felt a pang of regret.
“Looking back, it seems I may have placed the Duchess in greater danger. I sent Bernard to help me save Margie Loweldern, and it appears that prompted them to act.”
I hadn’t even imagined that they would send an assassin.
‘Perhaps it’s because I’m a commoner.’
I was struck anew by how much greater Bernard’s influence was than I had realized.
If it weren’t for Bloden’s help, both of us would surely be dead by now.
“As I mentioned before, His Majesty did everything. He is my benefactor, and he is also the one who saved the Duchess. So the gift should rightfully go to His Majesty. I need only return to Snoril before my brother leaves the dormitory.”
Count and Countess Enox’s eyes widened, and they exchanged glances. Then the Count smiled first.
“His Majesty moved to action because Miss Hailey went.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Count Enox moved to sit beside Lora. Grasping his daughter’s hand affectionately, he continued.
“The reason our Lora was falsely accused and fell into danger was in fact due to me. It’s difficult to explain the circumstances in detail, as I feared it would endanger Miss Hailey as well.”
But Lora shook her head.
“No. Father, you bear no fault. Everything is the Duke’s responsibility. And even if we were to grant every possible benefit of the doubt that His Majesty did everything—do you know something?”
Lora spoke to Count Enox while looking at me in bewilderment.
“Miss Hailey saved Bernard. If only I had escaped, my physician would have had to bear that responsibility.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right. If the Duchess had vanished, Duke Utra would surely have pursued the matter…”
Bernard exhaled with the expression of someone who had just realized, then furrowed his brow.
“But Count, Miss Hailey is no longer unconnected to this matter. The Duke will surely search for Miss Hailey, who was with them until the end.”
Ah, that’s true. I might be in danger as well.
But it didn’t seem like Bloden would have overlooked that. Besides, with Raven and Kimarise living next door in Snoril, along with the domain’s people, perhaps that was why.
I should be careful, but I wasn’t particularly frightened.
“Most importantly, Miss Hailey knows Kail Frediky.”
‘Right, there’s Kail too.’
I suddenly became concerned that Kail’s location might be exposed because of this.
‘What if they track me down and spot Kyle when he comes out on the weekend?’
Just then, Count Enox, his wife, and Lora all turned their gaze toward me.
“Good heavens. Kyle—is the boy safe?”
Worry saturated Lora’s voice. Her eyes reddened, and soon she began to weep.
“I feel terrible about what’s happened to Kyle. Because of our troubles, the entire family has been dragged into this….”
Watching Lora’s manner, I sensed that the Enox Family would lend their strength to protecting Kyle.
In that case, wouldn’t it be all right to speak honestly about Kyle?
“Yes, Kyle is doing very well, I assure you. And I know where he is. So, if you would, I’d very much like you to tell me what’s really going on.”
It was better to know and prepare than to suffer in ignorance.

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