This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 235

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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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Episode 235

The moment our eyes met, Bloden’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
‘Oh.’
I’d experienced this before, so I knew what was coming.
He wanted to kiss my forehead again.
‘He was just as nervous then too…….’
Even in the form of a robust man, Bloden still managed to look endearingly innocent when he was like this, and I found myself smiling despite myself.
“I’m being serious, and you’re just laughing at me.”
Unable to wait for my permission any longer, his voice came through urgent and pleading. I nodded in response.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Bloden’s expression brightened, and he wrapped one of my hands, drawing me toward him.
I closed my eyes naturally, anticipating the gentle touch that would settle on my forehead.
But then, contrary to my expectation, a soft sensation descended on my lips instead.
‘……What?’
I opened my eyes in surprise. I could see Bloden’s eyelashes clearly—his eyes still closed.
“……Ah.”
At the small sound that escaped me, Bloden opened his eyes. A deep warmth bloomed in his crimson gaze, and at the same moment, the lips pressed against mine deepened slightly.
The moment I realized I’d been mistaken again, my face flushed instantly.
And just as our lips began to part, Bloden confessed softly yet distinctly.
“I love you. Hailey.”
“Your Maje…….”
Before I could even finish my startled reply, Bloden gently bit my lower lip. With my lips parted in surprise, our breaths mingled between them.
Warmth, softness, and a sweet tingling sensation climbed up my spine. Bloden closed his eyes and wrapped one arm around my waist, drawing me close.
The hand that had been holding mine now had its fingers interlaced tightly with mine. I felt our bodies press together completely, and my heart thundered against his—or was it his against mine? I couldn’t tell.
I was startled, yes, but I didn’t want to push him away. My breath came in gasps and my head spun, yet I didn’t want to escape the warmth and scent of him. I was happy to feel him drawing so close to me.
When I closed my eyes and fully accepted his kiss, the feelings I’d been carefully burying all this time surged up, too strong to contain any longer.
It was unmistakably different from the affection I held for Baron.
‘Ah, so this is love.’
Not all of the problems between us had been resolved yet.
But intoxicated by his scent, I wrapped my free arm around his neck and surrendered to this moment.
I felt our lips curve slightly against each other, and then a hot tear traced across my cheek.
When our lips finally parted, I could see Bloden’s face.
“Why are you crying?”
I reached up to cup his wet cheek, and Bloden laughed even as tears streamed down his face.
“I’m so happy.”
Bloden pulled me tightly into his arms.
“I love you, Hailey. You’re my everything.”

* * *

Upon receiving the urgent dispatch from the Knight, Raven headed toward the terrace where Bloden and Hailey had gone.
Utra and Aer, who had vanished through a Derivative Gate that had appeared in the prison, had been spotted in a nearby domain. According to the urgent message, they’d been preparing for some time and had amassed a considerable military force.
Up to that point, Raven could have accepted it. Suppressing an ordinary human army would be a simple matter.
But the news that followed was a serious problem—Utra and Aer had seized a portion of Imperial Territory in a matter of moments, leading an army of Monsters ahead of them.
They had joined hands with Nelloa and raised the banner of rebellion.
‘Of all the times.’
Raven made no effort to hide his displeasure as he raised his hand to knock on the door separating the terrace from the Banquet Hall.
That was when he heard it.
“I love you. Hailey.”
“Your Maje…….”
Even amid the chaos of the orchestra’s performance and the chatter of countless guests, Raven’s ears—those of a Deathknight—picked up the exchange between Bloden and Hailey with perfect clarity.
‘Your Majesty? Could it be that he’s succeeded!’
The fact that he needed to deliver the urgent dispatch slipped from his mind in an instant, swept away by joy.
A rebellion led by Monsters?
Bloden didn’t need to ride out to battle this very moment, and Raven found he couldn’t possibly interrupt two people who were finally making progress—not for something like this.
Raven fought down the urge to pull out a horn and blow it in celebration. Instead, he retrieved earplugs and stuffed them in his ears, then turned his back to the terrace door and naturally positioned himself to block the path so no one could approach. Yet he couldn’t quite manage to hide his expression.
As the usually cool Raven found his mouth twitching uncontrollably, a few Nobles who noticed approached him.
“Marquis Aner, it seems something fortunate has happened to you.”
“Your expression is quite radiant.”
“Ah, yes. Seeing His Majesty grown so well reminds me of his predecessor.”
The Nobles nodded at Raven’s reply. It was common knowledge that Raven, who had been Lienda’s closest aide, had served Bloden since childhood.
“Indeed, this must stir old memories for you, Aner.”
“Seeing him so happy brings joy to me as well. Heh.”
After some time of conversation, Raven sensed Crockel’s presence. Moments later, Hailey’s presence vanished along with Crockel’s.
Soon the terrace door opened, and Bloden emerged alone, his eyes bright with happiness.
The Nobles who had been conversing with Raven quickly bowed with proper respect, though their gazes kept drifting toward the doorway behind him. They were curious about who the woman was that had gone inside with the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived.”
Raven stepped forward to block the crowd’s view and quietly conveyed the news to Bloden.
The happiness that had filled his face moments before vanished in an instant, and Bloden’s eyes grew sharp.
“To the study.”

* * *

The kiss had been enchanting. But the thought of returning to the Ballroom and facing the flood of stares was daunting.
“Mm. I’d like to rest now. How can I slip back without drawing attention?”
Understanding what I meant, Bloden immediately summoned Crockel. Thanks to him, I was able to return to my assigned chambers in the palace without passing through the Ballroom.
“Thank you, Crockel. Have a good evening.”
As I stroked him, Crockel wagged his tail and rubbed his head against me before trotting back to Bloden.
I watched in the direction Crockel disappeared, then entered the palace.
I planned to rest in my assigned chambers tonight and return to the Hotel tomorrow.
But as I stepped into the Lobby, I found Stanley and his attendants, along with a couple I’d seen seated in the honored section during Bloden’s coming-of-age ceremony.
“Ah, Miss Hailey. You’ve returned?”
“…Your Majesty?”
It wasn’t strange to see Stanley from Kelite. I’d heard that the chambers in this palace were typically assigned to foreign dignitaries.
Yet the Masquerade Ball was well underway in the Banquet Hall, and the atmosphere of several people gathered as if for a meeting struck me as odd.
“This is the King and Queen of Ortix, and this is the Princess of the Kingdom of Meridon.”
I reflexively showed respect to the man introduced as King of Ortix, but the moment I heard the introduction, I felt uneasy.
‘That’s the kingdom that conspired with Utra to invade the Empire.’
I’d heard they apologized afterward and made their own reparations, but I couldn’t fathom why I was being introduced to them.
Once Stanley finished his introduction, the King of Ortix addressed me.
“So the woman who shared the first waltz with His Majesty was the Princess of the Kingdom of Meridon. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Stanley smiled warmly as well.
“You’ve returned early.”
“Yes. I wanted to rest.”
I meant it as a polite exit. But the King of Ortix’s eyes widened.
“The Regent—or rather, now the Duchess of Beldenborough. You didn’t return early after hearing from her, then?”
What is he talking about? Why is Anna’s name coming up?
At my confused look, Stanley spoke awkwardly.
“The Duchess of Beldenborough mentioned that her health is poor and external activities are difficult for her. Still, she wanted to send word that she wished to offer separate greetings.”
The King of Ortix nodded in agreement with Stanley’s words.
“Exactly. So we arranged to meet her here and have been waiting.”
It all sounded very strange to me.
“The Duchess of Beldenborough here? In this Lobby?”
“Yes, she said she would arrive shortly. I thought you had come for that reason.”
“……”
Something felt off, but it seemed I had no reason to linger since it wasn’t my concern.
“I see. I haven’t received any such message, so I’ll excuse myself. I’m exhausted.”
“Please rest well.”
“Good evening to you all.”
I bowed to them and was about to step toward the Stairs to the 2nd Floor when—
“I thought you were bold from what I saw before, but up close, you’re quite audacious for a princess.”
How long had she been there?
At the top of the 2nd Floor Stairs, Anna stood with two Guards in attendance, looking down at us.
“The King of Ortix and even the Crown Prince of Kelite waited for my message in the Lobby, yet the princess of a fallen kingdom doesn’t so much as blink—what insolence.”
With an arrogant expression, Anna pulled her mouth into a sneer and began descending the Stairs slowly, escorted by the Guards. Her eyes never left me the entire time.
‘What? Why are you coming down from there?’
Flabbergasted, I nonetheless stepped back from the Stairs and bowed properly to Anna.
“Good evening, Duchess of Beldenborough.”
At the same moment, I realized that rest was impossible.
‘I should have gone to the hotel instead of taking the assigned room.’
“To call this Regent the Duchess of Beldenborough—as if I’m nothing but a washed-up old fox now?”
‘You’re not the Regent anymore, are you?’
I held my tongue to gauge her intent, but Anna’s expression turned mocking.
“And here I thought you’d come up to rest leisurely, even after hearing that I was coming.”
“That could hardly be the case. I wasn’t invited, so I simply didn’t wish to impose.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
Anna had descended halfway down the stairs when she stopped, with about five steps still remaining.
“Truth be told, I wanted to summon you first. But waiting for you to return from the banquet seemed the most prudent course.”
I stared at Anna, puzzled by her meaning.
Why did her smile feel so dangerous?
“I’ve been asked to bring together you, the Crown Prince of Kelite, and the King of Ortix in one place.”
“…Pardon?”
I turned to look at Stanley and the King and Queen of Ortix. They all wore expressions of utter bewilderment.
That was when I heard the palace doors swing open.
The moment I turned to look, I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
“Kee-kee-kee. What a splendid gathering. The Regent has gone to considerable trouble.”
An old woman who looked to be well into her eighties entered the lobby, her laughter hollow and strange.
The old woman’s gaze swept over Stanley and the King of Ortix before finally settling on me.
“You can’t even begin to guess who I am, can you, Hailey?”
In that instant, I recognized the old woman’s true identity.
“You… you’re… Nelloa?”
The old woman answered only with cackling laughter. Remembering the chaos Nelloa had once wreaked in the Empire, I gritted my teeth and cried out.
“You! You shameless bastard!”

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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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