This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 258

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 258

With the Monster problem resolved and him now the greatest hero in history, perhaps that was why.
Bloden, now unencumbered by doubt, seemed to radiate light from every part of his being.
‘…Dazzling.’
As I stood transfixed, watching him, he stepped closer and pressed a bouquet into my arms.
“Why are you standing there like that? I’d say I’m a pretty decent man to date, wouldn’t you?”
“No, I mean, it’s not that you’re not a decent man…”
With his looks, power, wealth, and character all intact, he really did seem like the finest man on earth.
The problem was simply that he was too perfect.
‘He’s not just anyone—he’s the Emperor!’
So even as I accepted the bouquet, I lowered my voice.
“You stand out too much.”
“That’s always been the case.”
“Then why walk around undisguised? Aren’t you worried someone will recognize you?”
“No one did.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I think because it’s so crowded, most people are too preoccupied with their own affairs to notice much.”
Bloden was recounting the reactions he’d observed from passersby.
“They do glance and admire, but that’s all. I’ve thought about it, and I suspect they’re looking because I’m simply too handsome.”
A confident smile played across Bloden’s face.
I scanned our surroundings myself.
He was right—there were plenty of people casting sidelong glances, their eyes bright with interest. But whether it was because they recognized him as the Emperor or because of his striking appearance was impossible to say.
I recalled the romance novels I’d read.
‘Most of them traveled in disguise, but what about when they went out as themselves?’
I couldn’t quite remember such scenes. Though in some novels, there had been depictions of citizens prostrating themselves the moment the Emperor’s identity was revealed.
‘Still, people really don’t pay much attention to one another, do they? Even if someone has unusual eye color, most people don’t go around staring at everyone’s eyes.’
His wasn’t the only black hair in sight. Not all citizens would know the Emperor’s face anyway.
‘Then it should be fine?’
Bloden read the answer from my expression and took my hand. The moment I felt his large palm, my eyes met those of the Female Vendors from the Red Roof Building.
The vendors, both hands covering their surprised mouths, smiled silently and waved at me.
‘Greetings can wait. Enjoy your date, Boss.’
* * *
Bloden and Hailey left the Town Square.
Once the two of them were completely out of sight, the people in the square began to murmur among themselves.
“His clothes are simple, and there’s no guards around—that’s odd.”
“He must’ve dressed like that because he wanted to go unrecognized, right?”
“So we all pretended not to notice, but how could anyone actually fail to recognize him? We just saw him process through with an entire contingent of knights not long ago.”
“Exactly. Is there anyone in the Capital who doesn’t know the Emperor’s face by now?”
“Whew, I nearly fell flat on my face—good thing someone next to me caught on.”
“Keep your wits about you. Can’t you tell? He clearly wants to spend time on his date without drawing attention.”
Just then, a man with a flushed nose came scurrying over and grabbed the chattering middle-aged man by the arm.
“There you are!”
“What’s with all the fuss?”
“Do you know who I saw passing by earlier? I was drinking down the Alley just now.”
“Did you see His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Well, he just asked some young woman to go on a date with him, and they headed off that way together.”
The middle-aged man gestured toward where Bloden and Hailey had disappeared, then folded his arms and smiled warmly.
“Winter is over for him at last—spring is only fitting.”
* * *
We bought snacks and browsed the accessories at the stalls.
As Bloden and I walked hand in hand through the Festival Street, I heard someone’s voice.
“When lovers make this together and each wear one, your love becomes eternal. You won’t part until this thread snaps.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, and this thread is extremely durable.”
I turned to see four couples seated around a table beneath a nearby tent, while a young woman was soliciting passersby.
“It’s really easy to make, and an experienced expert will teach you how.”
Knot Bracelet Making Experience for Eternal Love
“Nuna, should we try it too?”
“Hmm?”
“That.”
“What?”
“If we make bracelets and wear them together, our love becomes eternal, and we’ll never part until the thread breaks.”
“You believe that?”
“It’s more like a wish, isn’t it?”
“The thread will break eventually.”
“Then I’ll make it so it doesn’t break.”
“It’s durable, but it’ll snap someday.”
“Just trust me.”
Bloden took my hand and led me forward.
We paid the fee and found an empty spot beneath the tent. The moment we sat, a woman claiming to be an expert appeared before us.
“Th-thank you very much for p-participating in the Knot Bracelet Making Experience for Eternal Love.”
She stammered through her explanation of how to make the bracelets.
Though she seemed to know the technique well, her hesitant speech and the way she kept dropping the thread suggested she wasn’t quite the expert she claimed to be.
Perhaps it was all promotional hype to draw customers.
In any case, the process didn’t seem difficult—we’d finish quickly.
“Th-the materials are in the containers on the t-table. You can start by ch-choosing whichever thread appeals to you.”
Just as she said, the containers held silk threads in every color imaginable. They were quite thick and sturdy—the finished bracelet would last a long time.
“Nuna, what color would you like your bracelet to be?”
“Hmm.”
I peered into the container and chose black, red, and purple. They weren’t identical to Bloden’s colors, but similar.
“How about these?”
Bloden smiled warmly at the colors I’d picked.
“They’re like mine.”
“Ideally they’d be exactly the same, but that’s hard to find.”
“I was thinking the exact same colors would be perfect too. Let me see what’s available…….”
Bloden selected pale yellow and blue.
With five colors arranged together, the combination looked quite beautiful.
“Let’s make the Knot Bracelet for Eternal Love with these five colors.”
I reached for the thread, but Bloden stopped me.
“Wait—these colors are just similar to us, not the same, are they?”
“What else can we do?”
“I’ve had an idea. I happen to have some thread with a similar feel.”
Bloden pulled out a Pocket Dimension from his robes and produced several threads of perfect thickness and length for bracelet-making.
The black, purple, and red threads shone with a luminous gleam just like Bloden’s own brilliance, as did the platinum and blue threads that matched mine exactly.
“Let’s use these.”
“They’re beautiful threads. You had these with you?”
When I lowered my voice to ask, Bloden chuckled softly and whispered back.
“I picked them up here and there. Let’s make them now.”
As Bloden began braiding the bracelet he would give me, I picked up my thread as well.
About twenty minutes later, we had finished our bracelets and slipped them onto each other’s wrists before leaving the tent.
“B-best wishes for a beautiful l-love!”
Bloden walked beside me, leaving the well-wisher’s blessing behind, and spoke warmly as he noticed me still admiring my bracelet.
“You seem to like it.”
“The more I look at it, the more unusual the thread is. There’s a strange charm to it.”
“Right?”
“I’d be sad if it broke.”
“Don’t worry—I told you it won’t break.”
“It might not break while we’re alive, at least.”
“It will never break.”
The certainty in his voice was so absolute that I lifted my head to look at him.
With such confidence, could this be no ordinary thread?
That was when it happened.
“There you are, Your Majesty, Hailey.”
Raven appeared, calling out to us in a hushed voice as if wary of being overheard.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“The state affairs have concluded, and I thought it best to report quickly.”
Raven bowed respectfully toward me with a broad smile.
“The Marriage Annulment Bill has finally passed.”
Following proper procedure, the law would be proclaimed in two weeks, and the ruling would come a month after filing.
“At last I’ll be able to undo the wrong I did to you.”
Bloden exhaled with relief once he’d finished hearing the relevant briefing.
“Hailey, in six weeks we’ll be legally nothing to each other.”
……
It was the right thing to say, the moment we’d been waiting for, and yet hearing it from Bloden left me with an oddly complicated feeling.
What was I supposed to say?
That it had worked out well? That I was relieved? Should I tell him never to do such a thing again?
I was still searching for the right words when Raven spoke to Bloden.
“By the way, Your Majesty, did you make a couple’s bracelet at Etariumsa?”
Etariumsa?
Raven’s gaze was fixed on my wrist and Bloden’s. He pointed toward the back with a tilt of his chin.
“When lovers make this together and wear it as a pair, their love becomes eternal. They say you’ll never part as long as this thread holds.”
A woman’s voice, eagerly soliciting customers, supplied the explanation in Bloden’s stead.
“Ah, I see.”
Raven’s eyes grew misty with emotion, and he drew out a handkerchief to dab at the corners of his eyes.
“Though it is an unexpected application, the fact that the two of you have chosen to make a symbol of never parting—and with Etariumsa, no less—speaks to a most excellent choice.”
At this point, I couldn’t help but ask.
“Excuse me, but I’ve never heard of Etariumsa before. Is it really that durable?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————