This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 216

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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 216

Two weeks had passed watching Robinson carefully as he made a habit of passing by our house, performing good deeds at every turn.
No matter how I thought about it, there seemed to be some hidden agenda, and sure enough, there was.
His actions had a purpose.
“Hailey, I truly love you. Will you marry me?”
Seizing a moment when no one was listening, Robinson slipped a single rose and a diamond ring from his breast pocket and proposed.
‘Is he insane?’
I was more than flustered—I felt chills running down my spine. To think all those good deeds these past weeks had been buildup for this moment, and he’d even worked my name in so subtly.
Yet the fact that he proposed when surrounded by so many people but timing it so no one would hear meant he wanted to avoid public humiliation.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m sorry. Lord Robinson.”
I declined gently and quietly, and Robinson’s eyes flickered with displeasure for an instant.
‘Will he try to retaliate now?’
Given Robinson’s character, he’d be more than capable of it, but if it turned into business interference, he’d lose too.
His taxes would shrink, and he’d destroy in an instant the benevolent lord image he’d built up with tourists all this time.
‘He’s not stupid enough to self-destruct like that.’
Apparently reaching the same conclusion, Robinson withdrew with a dejected air.
It was a relief he took it so tamely.
I only hoped Robinson wouldn’t do anything foolish going forward.
I hoped this proposal would end as nothing more than an incident.
That’s what I truly wished for.
.
.
.
But what in the world was happening now?
“Hailey, I promise to do my best, so won’t you please accept me as your husband?”
Today Robinson had actually climbed over the fence and entered the flower garden in front of my house, thrusting a bouquet toward me.
‘Ugh…’
I grabbed my forehead, feeling stress rise to the very top of my head.
It wasn’t surprising.
This was Robinson’s tenth proposal.
I’d rejected him every single day so clearly and unmistakably there could be no confusion, yet here he was again.
He showed up like a ghost whenever Baron, Kyle, and Kimarise weren’t around, and at this point I wondered if he was monitoring my every move.
“Stop it. Lord Robinson.”
Finally I threw a direct, blunt refusal at him. Until now I’d been careful with my tone even when annoyed, but now he felt like a stalker and I couldn’t bring myself to be polite.
“I’ve already told you nine times that I won’t marry you.”
Robinson’s eyebrow twitched at the coldness in my voice.
“Perhaps you might agree today?”
“No. I don’t like you.”
Robinson’s tone revealed his true nature, but I’d reached my limit as well—I wasn’t about to move houses just to appease him.
“I will never marry you. Never. So stop showing up uninvited, and stop proposing like this. Completely. Permanently.”
Robinson’s expression hardened like stone. He hurled the bouquet to the ground and spat on it.
“Ha! You say yes-yes-yes so I think I’m getting soft with you, so you get cocky and forget your place! You can’t refuse my proposal. The Princess and the Regent are supporting our marriage!”
The Princess? Did he mean Nelloa? Supporting our marriage?
As I frowned in confusion, he added a threat.
“And if you keep acting like this, you should think about what might happen to your brother at the Academy.”
‘Is he—is he threatening to hurt Baron?’
My heart plummeted at just his words.
But the moment I saw Camen and Heart hunched in the corner of the flower garden, ready to rush in the instant I called, my fear evaporated completely and rage surged up.
“You’re going to touch my brother? You insane bastard!”
When I didn’t back down, Robinson looked startled and glanced around nervously.
“Quiet! This won’t do—get inside.”
As he grabbed my wrist and tried to drag me forcibly inside, I kicked him in the shin with all my strength.
“Agh!”
Robinson screamed and staggered back. I stepped away from him quickly, breathing hard.
So Nelloa and the Regent had his back? Well, I had mine too.
Did he think I had no backing? I had the Emperor himself on my side.
“What’s wrong? Hailey!”
Raven’s front door flew open and Kimarise rushed out. He’d been studying and came running at the commotion—a pen still in his hand.
“Tsk!”
Robinson, who’d been crouching and clutching at his shin, straightened with a grimace etched across his brow, swaying slightly as he glanced around.
It was then that the butler of the Snoril Marquis Household came rushing over, shouting to Robinson.
“Master! Word has come from the Imperial Palace!”
His scowl vanished as though it had never been, one corner of his mouth lifting in a thin smile. He departed hastily on uneven steps, as if he’d never intended to force his way into my house at all.
And Kimarise didn’t bother hiding his bewilderment as he turned to me.
“What exactly is going on?”
At this point, I had no choice but to explain.
“Well, the truth is…”
After listening to my full account, Kimarise pressed his brow between his thumb and forefinger.
“I’m not trying to blame Hailey, but how could you have gone this long without mentioning it?”
“…Pardon?”
“I have a duty to protect Hailey.”
“No, no—what do you mean, duty?”
I waved my hands at once. Kimarise’s protection of me was, at the end of the day, nothing more than kindness and consideration from him and Raven—it was no obligation.
But Kimarise’s expression was deadly serious.
“I thought he was just pestering Hailey with words, but I had no idea he was harassing her to this extent.”
“I didn’t mention it because it’s not something you should have to worry about. And I honestly didn’t anticipate him being quite so persistent.”
“Did you tell Baron?”
‘Why on earth would I tell Baron about this?’
I could see all too clearly what would happen next.
Baron would abandon his studies, drop out of school entirely, and come rushing back, insisting on protecting me.
‘I can’t let my son throw away his education.’
I dodged the question and watched the spot where Robinson had vanished.
“Well, I gave him a firm refusal, so surely he’ll stop now.”

* * *

A firm refusal meant nothing—I’d been hopelessly naive.
My judgment had been fatally shortsighted.
‘The bastard really was insane.’
Groom: Robinson Junior Snoril. Bride: Hailey.
Witnesses were Nelloa and Duke Roan, and the Marriage Registration Document had been approved by the Regent, Anna.
And Robinson had brought with him a receipt confirming that the marriage registration had been filed with the Administrative Office at five in the afternoon, five days ago.
Though final processing remained after filing, once the Regent had approved the Marriage Registration Document, there was virtually no chance of reversal.
Under Imperial Law, once a noble marriage is established, it cannot be dissolved—it was, in all practical terms, done.
It appeared that Nelloa and Robinson had orchestrated this behind the scenes.
‘Nelloa. I won’t let this stand.’
I bit my lip and surveyed the surroundings.
The tourist site that usually bustled with crowds now stood eerily empty.
Robinson had brought the Armed Knights, cleared out everyone at the site, and sealed off the entrances.
Under the pretext of an emergency search following a spy report, he’d offered the people compensation for the inconvenience caused by the search, requesting their understanding rather than issuing orders.
Even those of higher rank than the Marquis of Snoril had complied and left without protest, and as a result, only Kimarise and I remained at the tourist site.
“Stand aside. You’re breaking Imperial Law as we speak.”
Robinson waved the Marriage Registration Receipt in front of Kimarise, who stood between us.
“A husband taking his wife is a natural exercise of his rights.”
The spy search had been nothing but a pretext. He’d come to drag me away by force.
But Kimarise refused his command without hesitation.
“The marriage registration hasn’t been formally established yet. Even the Lord cannot proceed without that.”
“Once the document is filed, it’s merely a matter of time. Therefore, your actions now directly violate the rights guaranteed to me by Imperial Law—you should know you could be executed for this without recourse.”
Despite Robinson’s threats, Kimarise didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he issued a warning toward Robinson’s knights.
“If you advance, I cannot guarantee your safety. Fall back.”
Kimarise, who was addressing the Armed Knights, wore no armor.
Yet his voice carried a chill that made it seem plausible he could kill someone on the spot, and it was low, controlled. His mere presence intimidated the knights enough that they hesitated to approach, hanging back uncertainly.

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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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