This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 262

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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 262

‘At last.’
The Extra Edition laid out, in meticulous detail, the punishments imposed upon Anna and everyone else who had participated in the treason.
Yet even as I read it, doubt crept in.
‘The trial was processed this quickly?’
“Extra! Extra! Anna Beldenburo sentenced to death! See the final end of one who forgot gratitude and indulged in greed!”
As the Newspaper Seller’s boyish voice carried, the crowd’s restlessness grew.
“Good heavens, what is this world coming to.”
“Why would anyone commit treason, I ask you. Madness, pure madness.”
“Such contemptible creatures. His Majesty risked his own life battling Monsters to protect the Empire, yet these nobles…… Tsk.”
“Blood relation or not, what kind of mother does such a thing?”
“A thousand deaths would be too lenient.”
Not a soul showed Anna any sympathy.
That was not all.
“Turns out that Transparent Warrior Fairy Tale was a scheme to erase His Majesty, wasn’t it?”
“Oh dear, I read it to my child without knowing any of this.”
“I knew about it because Ben here told me.”
“Ahem. Well, I didn’t catch on at first either, but as the story went on, its intent became plainly obvious.”
Ben was among those exchanging remarks, and when our eyes met, he winked at me.
Upon noticing, the people around me turned back with knowing smirks and patted Ben’s shoulder playfully.
“So you’ve been benefiting from Hailey’s wisdom!”
“I always wondered how you came up with such clever things.”
“If you’re jealous, then get closer to the lady yourself!”
Their good-natured bickering, edged with the warmth of long acquaintance, drew a laugh from me.
Then Kimarise emerged, dressed in the Knight Order’s formal uniform—collar crisp and straight, shoulder boards and decorative cords impeccably placed, a ceremonial sword hanging at his waist.
The sight of such attire made me uneasy.
‘No matter how I look at it, the dress code seems to be on a different level entirely.’
I was wearing a dress, yes. But it was a more conservative one-piece style, with the skirt ending near my calves—neater than my usual wear.
Sure enough, Ben and the others who knew Kimarise in passing all widened their eyes.
“What kind of outfit is that? It looks so impressive!”
“Are you attending some grand party?”
“Seeing you both like this, you look like important people.”
The eyes that had been studying Kimarise’s appearance now turned toward me.
“Now that I think about it, your outfit is different from usual too?”
“Is something happening?”
“Were the two of you invited somewhere?”
“Well, someone said they’d be visiting…”
“A visitor? Who?”
“An important guest for you?”
“I only just found out myself a moment ago…”
I bit my lip as I answered, then quickly asked Kimarise, “Should I change clothes?”
“Would it be better if I wore something different?”
Kimarise studied me briefly, then smiled warmly.
“There’s no need. He’ll be here soon, and he says you look quite beautiful just as you are.”
Ben looked puzzled at that reply, and knowing the reason behind his words, my face flushed.
‘So he just saw my appearance through Kimarise.’
Then it happened.
In the distance, commotion stirred, and people began parting on either side to open a path.
“What? What’s going on?”
The people standing in front of Ben and me also craned their necks in that direction.
“An, an Extra! Or—not an Extra, but s, s-sister! Em, emergency news!”
The Newspaper Seller’s face had turned ashen as he ran toward me, calling out.
“His M, His Majesty the Emperor is coming this way with the Knight Order!”
The Knights appeared first. Dressed in uniforms identical to Kimarise’s, they carried enormous baskets brimming with flower petals in one arm, while their other hand held a bouquet of white and crimson peonies.
Ben and the crowd, taken aback, stepped aside, and seeing their glances, Kimarise presented me formally with both hands. The Knights then spoke in unison.
“We are honored to meet you, Your Highness.”
The moment the Knights bowed to me in perfect synchrony, Ben’s and the crowd’s jaws dropped.
“Forgive the intrusion.”
The knights began scattering flower petals across the path. More knights arrived in succession, laying petals along the road just as their predecessors had done.
Once all the flowers they’d brought were arranged, the knights standing in two neat rows on either side turned to me.
“We ask that you follow this path.”
My face had already grown warm, but Kimarise stepped ahead of me and guided me onto the petal-strewn path.
“I shall proceed.”
I bit my lip slightly and moved forward with careful steps.
In that moment, the knights standing on either side all at once held bundles of peony flowers aloft before their chests.
With each step on the soft, yielding carpet beneath my feet, the fragrance of flowers drifted pleasantly through the air.
The people standing at the end of the flower path suddenly bowed their heads and parted to either side. In the center of the open passage, I could see Raven and Dantarion, Crockel, and Bloden leading the Knight Order.
He wore formal attire and a purple cloak draped across his shoulders.
The moment our eyes met, Bloden smiled brilliantly and stepped onto the flower path himself.
Before long, we met in the middle of the petal-strewn path.
Bloden’s eyes, gazing at me intently, grew softer at the corners, and his lips curved into a beautiful smile.
“I’m here.”
I startled at his words and examined his face closely, forgetting all sense of propriety.
It had been a month and a half since I’d last seen him, and he had changed considerably.
His face itself was the same, yet he carried an air of greater dignity, a more masculine definition to his features.
‘How does a person become even more handsome than that?’
Captivated by the sight alone, I soon narrowed my eyes and studied him more carefully.
Looking again, I noticed faint darkness beneath his eyes. Dark circles.
“Surely you haven’t been sleeping these past weeks?”
Bloden didn’t answer, only touching the corner of his eye lightly with his fingertips, so I glanced toward Raven and Dantarion.
“He has managed roughly an hour of sleep a day, and I, along with the other ministers, have seen to it that we rest at least that much as well.”
Raven’s answer left me dumbfounded, and for a moment I forgot that Bloden was the Emperor and let loose a barrage of nagging.
“But I told you clearly—even if it takes time, you must eat properly and sleep well. What will you do if you fall ill……?”
Heavens, I’m not faring well! If I’d known he worked like this, I’d have stayed by his side cooking for him.
“Well. The situation is complex, so I’ve been trying to settle things quickly…….”
One cough from Bloden and I suddenly remembered that there were eyes upon us.
“……I apologize.”
But the sigh that escaped despite my embarrassment was unavoidable.
“Once the matter is resolved quickly, I can come to you.”
Bloden smiled and gestured to Raven.
Dantarion received an elegantly crafted box in both hands, and Raven withdrew a tightly rolled document from it and handed it to Bloden.
“This is the document you wanted.”
I unrolled the document I’d taken, and inside was written a Marriage Annulment Document.

[By order, the non-existence of the validity of the marriage between the parties is hereby confirmed.]

The reason was clearly stated as well.

[This marriage registration was executed without the lawful consent of one party, and therefore failed to satisfy the requirements for the establishment of a valid marriage, such that it shall produce no legal effect.]

The consequences were also explained. The marriage was to be treated as having never existed from the beginning.
“I hope you find it satisfactory.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
With my acknowledgment, Kimarise beside me accepted the document, which I had carefully rolled up once more.
“This matter is now concluded.”
Before Bloden’s words had even finished, Raven produced a lush peony flower bouquet and handed it to me.
‘What is this bouquet for?’
I asked with my eyes, but Raven simply smiled and took a step back.
‘Is this a congratulatory bouquet for the annulment?’
That was when it happened.
“Oh!”
“Ah!”
“What!”
Gasps of astonishment burst from the onlookers who had been silently observing the situation with slack jaws.
I too covered my gaping mouth with one hand, equally startled.
Bloden had withdrawn a small box from his breast and dropped gracefully to one knee before me.
“Your—Your Majesty! Not here, not like this……!”
“When asking the one you love to spend a life with you, rank has no bearing.”
Bloden looked up at me and smiled as he opened the box. Inside lay a proposal ring, gleaming with brilliant light.
“I, Bloden Ilpein, humbly ask of Hailey of Snoril that she become my companion in life and share all my days with me.”

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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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