This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 204

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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 204

“Kyaaaah!”
The moment I heard the Newspaper Boy’s shout, I was so delighted I let out a shriek, then turned to Kimarise with a radiant smile.
“The Frediki Family has been cleared of the false accusation! The wanted notice is void, which means our Kyle has gained complete freedom!”
“Haha, that is indeed wonderful.”
“I must hurry and tell Kyle at once.”
I gathered all the newspapers I had collected and went to the Academy with Kimarise, where I requested a visitor’s pass for Kyle from the guard at the main gate.
After confirming the student’s identity, the guard answered politely.
“According to Academy regulations, weekday visits are not permitted for students who are not of noble birth.”
I unfolded the newspaper and showed it to the guard.
“I have news that Kyle must hear without delay.”
The guard’s expression brightened as he caught sight of Kyle’s article, but he spoke in the same measured tone.
“It is indeed glorious news. However, regulations are regulations.”
There was nothing for it, then.
“Then could you at least deliver this newspaper to Kyle?”
“Delivering outside materials is difficult in principle, but…”
After a moment’s hesitation, the guard accepted the newspaper.
“I shall attempt to pass it along to the administrative office.”

* * *

Friday afternoon finally arrived.
Kimarise and I went to the Academy’s main gate to pick up Baron and Kyle.
“Sister!”
Baron was the first to come running from among the departing children, and I lowered myself to embrace him.
“Baron, have you been well?”
Nestled in my arms, Baron drew a deep breath, then met my gaze.
“Yes, but I missed you so, so, so much!”
His violet eyes shone with joy at how much he had longed for me. I could almost see ears that weren’t there flattening against his head, his tail wagging furiously.
His expression was so endearing that my laughter came even more freely.
“Haha, you’re something, Baron.”
His clinginess this week seemed particularly pronounced, but Baron was still only eight years old. When I saw the other children his age nuzzling against their parents and exchanging kisses, it seemed like a natural thing.
Then Kimarise spoke.
“Ah, there comes Kyle now.”
Kyle was walking toward us in the distance, his bearing composed.
‘Did he not receive the newspaper?’
“Sister, brother. Thank you.”
Kyle stood before us with a measured voice. Yet his shoulders were squared, and his eyes held gravity.
‘Ah, he must have read the newspaper.’
Kyle asked us a question.
“If the false accusation has been proven baseless, then our family’s rehabilitation is automatic, isn’t it?”
Kimarise nodded.
“It is. You’ll recover all the property that was confiscated.”
“The Frediki Village too?”
“Of course. Everyone will know by now that you are the village’s rightful lord.”
Those words brought such relief that laughter spilled out of me unbidden.
“I’m so glad for you, Kyle.”
Kyle nodded, his fists clenching, and asked me eagerly.
“Sister, when can we go to the Frediki Village?”
I laughed lightly, squeezing Kyle’s shoulder.
“Whenever you wish. Shall we prepare and leave right now?”
I took Kyle’s and Baron’s hands in mine and climbed into the carriage.
.
.
.
When we returned home, an unexpected visitor was waiting.
Count Enox’s butler stood before a stack of gift boxes, waiting for us alongside the servants.
“Good afternoon, Miss Hailey.”
“Oh? Hello there. How have you been?”
After we exchanged greetings, the butler’s eyes moved between Baron and Kyle, and he asked a question.
“Both have black hair, I see. Which one is Kyle?”
“Ah, this is Kyle, and this is Baron.”
“I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The butler introduced himself as the head butler of the House of Enox and bowed to Baron and Kyle. Then he brought up the reason for his visit.
“There are items that Miss Lora asked me to deliver.”
“Items?”
The butler gestured toward the boxes stacked beside him.
“The pink one is for Hailey, the green one is for Hailey’s younger sibling, and the blue one is for Kyle.”
The butler, conveying his hope that we would accept them with joy, drew two letters from his pocket and handed them to me.
“Miss Lora has asked that you read her letter first, and then deliver the other one.”
I understood what he meant when I saw the recipient’s name written on the envelope of each letter.
One was addressed to me, the other to Kyle.
“Miss Lora is in Frediki Village. She said she would be waiting for Kyle and Hailey to arrive.”
Having finished his business, the butler bowed politely to us and took his leave.
After seeing them off, we went inside with the boxes we’d received.
“Sister, can I open this?”
“Go ahead. The green one is yours, and the blue one is Kyle’s.”
With my permission, Baron and Kyle began opening their boxes.
Inside were formal attires and shoes tailored perfectly to fit Baron and Kyle.
“Wow, these clothes are really nice.”
“Sister, open yours too.”
At Baron’s suggestion, I opened my box. Inside was an elegant silver-gray A-line dress and matching satin shoes.
“Wow, beautiful.”
“Sister, I understand why gifts are coming for you and Baron, but…”
It was then that Kyle asked me, his tone cautious.
“Who is Miss Lora that she’s sending me such a gift?”
“Oh, she’s the Duchess of Borderland.”
“…Pardon?”
“Lora Enox, the Duchess of Borderland. Just a moment.”
I sat on the sofa and opened the letter Lora had sent.
“In two weeks, the Imperial Palace will formally declare the reinstatement of the Frediki Family, and we’ll hold both the title conferment ceremony and the succession ceremony for Lord Frediki simultaneously. We were already having clothes made for us, but I thought you might like to wear these that day. Oh my goodness.”
As I read the next part of the letter, I gasped involuntarily and fell silent. Seeing my reaction, Baron asked with curious eyes.
“Sister, what does it say that made you react like that? Is it good news?”
“Well, if this counts as good news, then… yes, I suppose it is.”
Tilting my head in confusion, I handed over the letter that Kyle was meant to receive.
“I think what Kyle thinks matters most.”
Kyle took the letter and unfolded it.
His eyes widened, then narrowed. Then he folded the letter back up and opened it again to read it once more.
As he repeated this action several times, unable to believe the letter’s contents, Kimarise laughed and asked.
“Kyle, what does it say that’s getting such a reaction out of you?”

* * *

When we moored the Regalia at the harbor of the Aer Domain, the atmosphere was terribly unsettled.
It didn’t take long to understand why.

Newspapers with that headline printed in bold letters were held in nearly every person’s hands.
“Good grief, it’s hard to believe.”
“That the Lord committed such a terrible crime.”
“Why is he caught up with that traitor?”
“What’s going to happen to our domain now?”
What else could happen? The family would be annihilated, and a new lord would take control.
And Kimarise, walking briskly, spoke to me.
“I’ll go get a newspaper.”
Shortly after, the carriage we were to ride in was ready, and Kimarise brought the newspaper.
We climbed into the carriage toward Frediki Village and unfolded the newspaper.
Baron Aer had been arrested and dragged away long ago, and in the meantime all the kidnapped children had been rescued and were being protected under Bloden’s command.
Bloden announced that he would track down and rescue even the children already sold away, and would severely punish those who participated in the trafficking. However, the notice also included a provision that those who had sold children would receive reduced punishment if they turned themselves in.
It appeared to be a measure to quickly locate and rescue the children who had already been sold.
“Ah, it looks like the kidnapping case is finally going to be completely resolved.”
As I read through it all, my heart felt lighter and lighter, and a smile spread across my face.
After reading the newspaper for a while, Baron, sitting beside me, asked a question.
“Are you happy?”
“I am.”
I folded the newspaper without hiding my joy.
“It’s different from how things were handled when we rescued those kidnapped children before.”
“Hmm?”
“Back then, we weren’t able to properly look after the children. They suffered a lot at the orphanage.”
Unlike the children who had to endure so much at the Snoril Orphanage, the children rescued this time were being guaranteed safe food, clothing, and shelter.
“It really does make a difference when His Majesty takes action directly.”
“Does it?”
Baron tilted his head slightly, then his cheeks flushed pink and he laughed shyly.
“I’m even happier since you’re happy.”
He leaned his head against my shoulder, so I wrapped my arms around him and stroked his hair.
‘Oh my, this boy. He’s happy because I look happy.’
I couldn’t imagine where such a precious child had come from.
Kyle, sitting across from us and watching Baron’s reaction, laughed as if he found it absurd.
“I find it strange, though—you’re praising His Majesty, so why is he the one who looks pleased?”
Baron sat up straight and pouted.
“Because you being happy makes me happy, that’s why.”
Then the carriage came to a stop. We had arrived at the inn where we would be staying in Frediki Village.
But I could hear the coachman speaking in a flustered voice.
“Oh, Miss Lora!”
I looked out the window.
Lora, accompanied by a guard, was waiting for us alongside the townspeople.

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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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