This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 188

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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 188

Raven mentioned the conversation Count Enox and his wife had shared with Hailey, as well as Maji Loweldern’s condition.
“Kimarise made full use of his Clone Technique. This confirms that Lord Frediki was falsely accused, and the whereabouts of the key document have become our primary concern.”
“Nuna might try to speak with Kyle about that. If I slip in when that happens, it’ll look natural.”
“Yes, I thought the same. And Bernard has decided not to return to Utra Territory at all. Since the Utra Marquis’s Wife was rescued thanks to Hailey and he himself survived, he’s burning with determination to fully heal Lord Roelden and repay the debt.”
The corners of Bloden’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Good. At least Nuna won’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“Yes, then I’ll report on Dantarion’s situation.”
Raven summarized Dantarion’s life at the Academy and the confinement of the observers.
“As a result, Duke Utra has been revealed as their mastermind.”
“Duke Utra’s influence reaches that far already?”
“That is so, but since we are keeping watch, there should be no danger to Kyle. And I myself…”
While monitoring the situation in Snoril, Raven had been continuously expanding the Pocket Dimension used as a prison. After receiving Hailey’s telegram, he had also taken care to protect Kyle.
“Everyone has worked hard.”
Bloden offered his brief commendation and fell silent. Then Raven added something more.
“By the way, that fellow Clark Utra—hasn’t he sent people several times looking for a notebook?”
“A notebook?”
“Yes, a Journalist’s Notebook that Crockel retrieved and discarded.”
That day, Bloden had found the notebook and casually checked only the front pages.
It contained notes on what Clark had covered so far, story ideas for articles he meant to write, and information about the Roan Times’ archives.
Sensing that this notebook would make good evidence when the time came to raid the Roan Times, he’d tucked it into his Pocket Dimension and pretended to know nothing.
And when Clark’s people came searching, Raven sent them away saying the Journalist’s Notebook could not be found.
“Why that notebook? He still hasn’t given up?”
“No, he’s quite persistent. Now he wants to come himself and search for it—he’s demanding that we remove the dog. When I ignored him, he threw around his status as the Utra Margrave Family’s son. He threatened that he would stop at nothing to find that notebook.”
A slight smirk played at the corners of Bloden’s mouth.
“Stop at nothing?”
“Yes. He said that if we don’t find it, Hailey would have to be prepared to close her business. So I’ve been reviewing what methods he might employ.”
Clark had been staying at the Manor with Nelloa lately, occupied with his own affairs. Raven had organized the information taking even that situation into account.
“Clark Utra himself is not much of a concern, but if wildly distorted articles about him spread, there will certainly be repercussions. And if the Lord, pressed by Princess Nelloa, steps in directly, things could become troublesome.”
Just then, Dantarion interjected with an opinion.
“My lord, shall I go kill that reporter without a trace? Regardless of anything else, knowing he means to harm Nuna, I’d like nothing more than to slit his throat right now.”
“Hehehehe!”
-This fool actually came up with a decent idea! Let’s slit his throat!
As Crockel wagged his tail in agreement, Kimarise clicked his tongue.
“You brutes. If you just kill him outright, we won’t be able to uncover who’s behind him. And if someone connected to the Regent suddenly dies, who do you think will take the blame?”
“Yes, assassination does not appear to be a good method.”
Raven sighed as well.
“So if Your Majesty permits it, I would like to handle this man myself when the time comes.”
Raven explained his plan concerning Clark to Bloden.
The more Bloden listened, the worse his mood became.
‘Daring to lay a hand on Nuna.’
Death would be too good for him. His feelings had drawn closer to those of Dantarion and Crockel.
‘But if I had given back the notebook, this wouldn’t have happened.’
Thinking rationally, it was better to follow Kimarise and Raven’s opinion. So regardless of how he felt, there was only one thing to say right now.
Bloden leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes for a moment before finally granting Raven’s proposal.
“I leave it to you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
As Raven bowed, he paused briefly. He had noticed the vein throbbing in Bloden’s forehead and detected that his voice had grown somber.
It seemed good to lighten Bloden’s mood somewhat.
That way, even if he made a mistake, he could avoid his wrath.
‘The method isn’t difficult.’
Raven smiled and shifted the topic slightly.
“But now that I think about it, Hailey is quite remarkable.”
“Why?”
“Upon investigation, it turned out that Hailey was deeply connected to the kidnapping case, wasn’t she?”
It was an obvious point, so Bloden nodded. At the same time, the vein that had been throbbing in his forehead gradually faded away.
It was exactly as Raven had predicted—Bloden’s mood improved the moment he thought of Hailey.
“And yet following Hailey, we discover problems, find clues to unravel troublesome matters, and continue to make progress.”
Now Bloden laughed softly.
“Well, that’s true. Anna handled the kidnapping case so swiftly that we never uncovered the mastermind behind it. At the time, it seemed like the incident had been resolved.”
“Exactly. Without evidence of further crimes, there was no grounds to investigate further. But this time, when Hailey went to Mistril, an unexpected conspirator came to light, and not only the kidnapping but other criminal acts began spilling out like a vine of sweet potatoes, one after another.”
Raven began to praise Hailey as if she were “a goddess of fortune sent by the heavens.” Bloden let go of his displeasure and turned his attention to Raven’s words.
It pleased him to see his beloved Hailey praised. Moreover, as Raven said, without Hailey, they would never have understood the case to this extent.
Catching sight of Bloden’s reaction, Raven felt a secret smile of vindication bloom inside her.
‘Your Majesty, am I not the best at this?’

* * *

The day after returning to Snoril, I sought out Raven early in the morning and carefully broached the matters I had learned in Mistril.
Sitting across from me with tea between us, Raven was genuinely startled by what I told her.
“Heavens, if that’s the case, then the Frediki Family becomes terribly wronged.”
“Yes. That’s why I’ve come to want to ask Kyle something carefully.”
In truth, Kyle seemed not to know much. But Kyle, who had kept silent all along, only divulged fragments of the truth after the proclamation commemorating the Emperor’s birthday was posted.
‘Perhaps Kyle holds relevant clues but simply hasn’t spoken of them.’
The documents Lord Frediki allegedly concealed felt like crucial evidence that would completely overturn the situation. Without them, there would be no explanation for why Duke Utra was searching for Kyle so intensely.
Soon Raven called Kyle to us.
“Oh! Sister, what’s the matter?”
The moment I saw his bright face, my heart went out to him.
“Kyle, the thing is—I’ve been away on a personal matter. And while I was there, I learned something about Lord Frediki, and now I have something I’d like to ask you.”
“Is it about Father?”
I couldn’t tell Kyle exactly what Lord Frediki had done. If I wasn’t careful, Kyle’s resentment might turn toward the House of Enox.
At my question, Kyle tilted his head and asked in return.
“What exactly did you learn about?”
“I’ll tell you that slowly. Did Father ever give you documents or something like that?”
Kyle thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“No, not at all. It was hard even to see his face after I turned five.”
“Then is there a secret place that only you and Father knew about?”
“A secret place?”
“Yes, maybe somewhere with cherished memories.”
Kyle tilted his head in thought, then opened his mouth carefully.
“Now that you mention memories, I’m reminded of playing in the countryside.”
“The countryside?”
“Yes, it was around the time I had just turned five. We went to the countryside.”
Soon Kyle laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
“We fished together, went camping, things like that. We only went once, but it was so much fun.”
At those words, something Kyle had said before came back to me.

‘I naturally told Mother what I had seen. I tried to testify when Father had his trial, but Mother wouldn’t let me. She said that once the investigation ended, his false accusation would be cleared, so I should say nothing and stay in the countryside for a while. She promised to write to me….’

“Kyle, do you happen to know where that countryside is?”
“Of course. It was our fief, and it was called Frediki Village. It’s far from the Utra Territory, but close from here. It’s in a rural village next to the Aer Domain.”
A bittersweet shadow crossed Kyle’s smile.
“But it was confiscated. I’m not certain, but Duke Utra’s trusted subordinates may be guarding it and waiting for me to come.”

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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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