This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 233

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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 233

“No, if you made it, I absolutely love it. But why did you make so much? Is this my birthday present?”
Bloden’s question wasn’t difficult to answer.
“No, Your Majesty. This is my way of lending support. After your birthday celebration passes, it seemed like you’d be heading out to subjugate the Gate.”
While I was in Snoril, I’d asked Raven various questions about the Gate even as I deliberated over what birthday gift to give Bloden.
Raven hadn’t answered everything I asked. But he did tell me that Gate Subjugation wasn’t the kind of operation where you could easily slip in and out of the Gate.
According to him, if Bloden set out this time, he’d be spending a long period inside the Gate until he dealt with Nelloa. Her Derivative Gate Creation ability was far too impactful.
‘Even if I wanted to help, I couldn’t follow him everywhere inside the Gate.’
Besides, Raven had said there was no need for me to go to the Northern Gate or strain myself making food. I should stay safe in Snoril, and he could come collect provisions whenever needed.
From my perspective, that made sense.
But unexpected situations could still arise.
‘There’s nothing stopping Nelloa from bypassing Bloden and finding me to kill me while he’s subjugating the Gate.’
The imperial escorts attached to me should keep me safe, but Nelloa was a dangerous Possessed Being. There was no way to predict what she’d do, so I couldn’t rest easy.
‘Quiet as she is now, she’ll still find ways to kill me eventually.’
If something happened to me because of Nelloa, Bloden would have to fight without my Ability, and he might end up bound to the Northern Gate for the rest of his life.
‘That would be just like what happened to Baron!’
I couldn’t bear to see that happen.
So it only made sense to help him complete a thorough conquest of the Gate while he was subjugating it.
‘In novels, there’s always a boss at the deepest part of the Gate.’
I wasn’t sure if this world worked the same way, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility.
‘For the world to be safe, Bloden has to be safe. And for me to live well, this world has to be safe.’
Having decided that, whenever I had a spare moment, I made food for Bloden and stored it all in my Pocket Dimension.
Just in case something terrible happened to me—I didn’t want him to ever have to retreat or die from Mana depletion.
I wanted him to be able to protect this world and exercise the Emperor’s authority fully.
I’d made my resolve, but I kept those feelings carefully hidden and smiled brightly as I continued explaining to Bloden.
“I thought about what kind of food would be easy to eat even while fighting Monsters, so I ended up making quite a few different types.”
The moment I finished speaking, the light from my Pocket Dimension faded.
“Kimbap, tteokbokki, grilled ribs—basically all the foods Your Majesty already knows about. Oh, and…”
I pulled out the onigiri I’d kept aside in my Pocket Dimension and the birthday gift I’d prepared for Bloden together. Then I handed him the gift first.
“This is the birthday present I prepared for Your Majesty.”
“My birthday present?”
“Yes, to celebrate your twentieth birthday.”
“I wonder what’s inside.”
Bloden began carefully unwrapping the gift with eager eyes.
‘He’s probably already owned most worldly treasures, so ordinary gifts probably won’t impress him.’
That’s why, as I’d struggled with the choice, I’d thought of the original story.
In this world, when war began, there was a custom of making and gifting ribbons while praying for the safety of soldiers, and the woman who became Empress had given Bloden a ribbon embroidered with gold thread as he set out for the Northern Gate.
‘In the original Bloden’s life, he’d given a small smile and hung that ribbon from his sword hilt.’
In the original story, that had been his best reaction. Since this gift was similar, he’d probably have about the same response this time.
Soon the gift box opened.
“This… this is!”
Over the deep sapphire ribbon lay embroidery in platinum thread, clear and distinct. Wooden vines wound around the first letter of Bloden’s name in a circular pattern.
“You embroidered this ribbon with your own hands, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.”
Bloden’s reaction was far more intense than in the original story, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘The platinum thread is actually my hair, but there’s no way he’d figure that out.’
I’d learned that in the Empire, there was also a custom where women would cut a handful of their hair, weave it, and gift it to men. But coming from the modern world, that way felt strange to me.
After thinking it over, I’d chosen to use my hair as thread for the embroidery instead.
Bloden quickly summoned his sword and held the hilt toward me.
“H-here, tie it on. It should be tied on by hand, right?”
“Excuse me? Not on the scabbard?”
“You don’t grip the scabbard when you fight. This is better.”
Now that I looked closer, there was a small loop at the end of the sword hilt for hanging a ribbon. I tied the sapphire ribbon firmly to that loop.
Bloden stared at the ribbon hanging long from the sword hilt for a while, then his eyes suddenly glistened with unshed tears.
“I know there’s a custom where people embroider ribbons with their own hands and give them to someone precious when they go to battle.”
‘Wow, what’s with this reaction?’
He was happier than I’d expected, and I felt a warm sense of satisfaction. That was when—
“But I never dreamed I’d receive a ribbon that my sister embroidered using her own hair as thread…….”
‘What? How did you know that?’
Bloden seemed to read my expression and continued without waiting for an answer.
“I’ve seen gold thread and silver thread countless times. Nothing shines quite like this except your hair.”
I was at a loss for words.
I’d been certain it would go unnoticed, but the secret had unraveled so effortlessly that shame sent heat flooding all the way to the tips of my ears.
Bloden gazed at the ribbon-bound sword for a long moment before carefully dispelling it.
“I’m truly grateful, sister. It feels like I could overcome anything that awaits in the Gate.”
Bloden’s radiant smile was almost blinding.
Unsure where to look, I floundered for a moment before remembering there were still onigiri left, and I quickly reached for them.
“Oh, this food here. It’s called onigiri—I made it so you could eat it easily.”
As I unwrapped the onigiri, a rice ball wrapped in seaweed emerged.
“As you can see, the outside is made of seaweed and rice. Inside is…….”
When I split the onigiri open, soy-braised meat glazed with a rich sheen spilled out.
“I filled it with side dishes prepared in fermented seasoning. I made several different varieties of fillings.”
Bloden’s eyes went wide as he stared at the onigiri, covering his mouth with his hand.
“S-sister. You went to all this trouble for me?”
Seeing the light shimmer in his enlarged eyes, it was clear he was deeply moved, and I felt immensely proud.
“Don’t falter during the Gate Subjugation. Don’t get hurt. Come back with victory.”
“Thank you, sister. Can I try it now?”
“Of course.”
“Aah.”
……
He hadn’t meant for me to feed him.
But watching Bloden open his mouth so naturally, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him to eat it himself.
In the end, I carefully placed a small piece of the onigiri into his mouth.
Bloden closed his mouth around it.
In that same instant, my heart seemed to plummet—my own finger had gone into his mouth along with the food.
‘Oh, oh no!’
I tried to yank my hand away in surprise, but Bloden’s grip on my wrist was faster.
His eyes locked directly onto mine as he slowly drew my finger deeper into his mouth. The soft yet warm pressure made my heart race wildly.
“Y-Your Majesty! P-please wait.”
“Hmm?”
“M-my finger too.”
“Ah, well…….”
The corners of Bloden’s mouth curved upward.
“That’s why it tastes even better.”
Goodness! Don’t talk with my finger still in your mouth!
“Y-you can’t say things like that. P-please let go.”
Bloden wiped my finger clean with the edge of his sleeve before releasing my hand without resistance.
“Did you dislike it?”
……
W-well, that’s not quite it.
Truthfully, I’d enjoyed it immensely. Still, I couldn’t say so.
This is an all-ages novel, remember! It’s my reality, but even so!
Just then, the carriage came to a stop.
Through the carriage window, the neatly constructed Orphanage building came into view. At the entrance, Count Enox and his family stood arranged alongside Kyle, who now bore every mark of a young nobleman, and what appeared to be staff from the Orphanage.
“Oh, we’re already here.”
Bloden wore a reluctant expression as he carefully placed the Pocket Dimension into his breast pocket and prepared to disembark.
.
.
.
The Orphanage Director had a stern appearance but was managing the children systematically.
The children who had been transferred from Snoril blended seamlessly with the existing ones, and all were growing well under the Empire’s education and support.
Several children weren’t visible—they’d been adopted by parents of good character and means, which was more than satisfactory.
Just as we were finishing our visit to the Orphanage, Kyle, who seemed to find meeting the Emperor intimidating and had stayed close to Lora the whole time, cautiously approached and asked.
“Sister, but where is Baron?”
‘Oh, Kyle still doesn’t know that Baron is Bloden?’
Memories of Baron and Kyle bickering over everyday matters surfaced, and before I could answer, I glanced toward Bloden.
Bloden’s pupils were trembling.

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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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