This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 28

 

Once Nelloa set her mind to it, the fall of the Kingdom of Meridon was only a matter of time.

 

Unlike with Tilan, it was disappointing that they couldn’t find the princess’s body since the entire royal palace of Meridon had burned down, but the objective was achieved.

 

Sure enough.

 

After some time passed, Nelloa received a letter from Anna Beldenburo, the regent of the Ilpein Empire.

 

It said that Bloden, who had achieved a great victory in battle against the monsters of the Northern Gate, would soon return.

 

Bloden was currently 18 years old, while Nelloa herself was 21.

 

The content stated that since Nelloa was the only princess of a similar age to Bloden, she was being considered as a candidate for empress.

 

‘As expected, it was good that I eliminated the competitors in advance.’

 

That was Nelloa’s thought as she read the letter.

 

Now all that remained was to seduce Bloden into loving her.

 

Naturally, if possible.

 

‘I don’t want to become an empress who only works.’

 

After sending a positive reply to Anna, Nelloa immediately came to the imperial palace of the Ilpein Empire.

 

But contrary to her expectations, Bloden had not returned. Rather, Raven, who was said to be his right hand, was absent.

 

Based on this, the nobles predicted that the emperor would likely return after finding and eliminating the derivative gates that would emerge in the future.

 

Since there were still about 2 years left until the regency ended, now was the perfect time to engage in related activities.

 

Come to think of it, the nobles’ argument wasn’t wrong either. So Nelloa used messenger birds and spies to scatter the gate seeds she had created throughout the empire, recording their locations. When derivative gates were discovered, Bloden would eliminate them either personally or through his subordinates.

 

In other words, wherever derivative gates disappeared was where the emperor was staying.

 

‘Good. Let’s go to Snoril tomorrow.’

 

Nelloa went back to sleep, eagerly anticipating a natural encounter with Bloden.

 

Although she had never seen him in person, even if he was disguised and traveling incognito, Nelloa would be able to recognize Bloden. His eyes were a captivating red color.

 

Nelloa knew very well about the kidnapping incident, even the mastermind behind it. It had been described in detail in the original work. She planned to use the information from the original work to build Bloden’s favor.

 

‘If I’m helpful, he’ll develop feelings for me.’

 

* * *

 

The rain that had started pouring heavily since last night was still continuing even now, well past morning.

 

It seemed like I should prepare some rain buckets soon.

 

‘How many buckets did I use to catch rainwater back then.’

 

The bucket for washing dishes, the pot, and also…

 

As I looked up at the ceiling, trying to gauge where the rain would leak first, I soon felt puzzled.

 

“That’s strange.”

 

Baron asked about my muttering.

 

“What is?”

 

“When it rained before, it definitely leaked, right?”

 

“Yeah. It did.”

 

“But today, not a single drop is leaking.”

 

Baron also looked up at the ceiling and nodded.

 

“You’re right. Maybe it fixed itself?”

 

“Does that make sense?”

 

Baron chuckled at my reaction.

 

“There was an earthquake a few weeks ago. Maybe the gaps that had opened up got realigned when it shook?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Hearing Baron’s words, it seemed plausible.

 

The earthquake back then wasn’t strong, but it wasn’t weak enough to ignore either.

 

When I went to the city the next day, everyone was making a fuss. No one had suffered property damage or injuries from the earthquake, but since it was everyone’s first experience of the ground shaking, even slightly, they were a bit startled.

 

That was brief though, as everyone returned to their peaceful daily lives not long after.

 

“Ha, just thinking about how you disappeared back then, really.”

 

Baron smiled awkwardly.

 

“Sorry, Nuna. If that happens again next time, I’ll stay right in front of the house without moving.”

 

“No. If a tsunami occurs due to earthquake aftershocks, you must flee to higher ground. They say this area rarely has earthquakes, but it’s better to know just in case.”

 

I gave Baron earthquake preparedness education.

 

“Oh, so that’s how you escape.”

 

Baron’s reaction was so good as he listened attentively that I got excited and ended up mentioning not just disaster evacuation but also safety and first aid.

 

“Wait, Nuna, I have something I’m curious about.”

 

Baron tilted his head.

 

“If breathing and heartbeat stop, you’re dead, but if you perform first aid called CPR at that time, you can save them? Even if you’re not a doctor? Anyone can learn and do it?”

 

“Yeah. There are cases where people recover.”

 

“How do you do it? Do you know how to do it yourself?”

 

“It’s basic.”

 

“Show me.”

 

“Alright. Lie down.”

 

Baron immediately lay flat on the floor. I first explained about the golden time and showed the sequence and demonstration of CPR.

 

“Two, three, four, five, six, seven… Like this, chest compressions hard 30 times. When this is done, 2 rescue breaths, and you repeat this.”

 

Soon the 30 chest compressions were finished.

 

“Then 2 rescue breaths. The method for rescue breathing is…”

 

After finishing the theoretical explanation of rescue breathing and just pretending to pinch Baron’s nose, I was startled.

 

Baron was breaking out in cold sweat with trembling eyes.

 

“Huh? Baron, are you hurt somewhere?”

 

“N-no. I’m fine. Good. You can continue.”

 

“No, you’re not? You’re sweating too much? Oh my, now I see your face is bright red too.”

 

I was shocked when I casually touched Baron’s body. Baron’s heart was beating like crazy.

 

“Gasp!”

 

Startled, I examined Baron’s condition. Looking closely, the kid wasn’t even breathing.

 

“Baron! Breathe! Are you feeling unwell? Can’t you breathe?”

 

While I was flustered and didn’t know what to do, Baron finally exhaled and sat up.

 

“No, I’m not suffocating.”

 

“Then why weren’t you breathing!”

 

“Hmm, I don’t really know either.”

 

“…”

 

A moment of silence fell.

 

‘Does Baron have heart failure?’

 

I thought he was just healthy since he was a child from a knight family. Plus, isn’t he the future knight commander?

 

Maybe he had hidden his symptoms alone and pretended to be strong as knight commander. Or perhaps his health improved as he grew up.

 

Now the original story would be somewhat twisted since I ended up raising him.

 

After pondering, I checked outside the window.

 

The rain was just letting up, so it seemed like it would be fine to go out and sell the clams and conch shells we had gathered over the past two days.

 

‘Then while we’re out, should I take him to the hospital? It wouldn’t hurt to check his health condition in advance.’

 

Good. Decided. Today’s earnings will be used for Baron’s medical examination fee.

 

“The rain stopped. Baron. Let’s go sell clams.”

 

Baron got up from his seat with a somewhat regretful expression, smacking his lips.

 

‘I don’t know what he’s regretting… Could it be that he’s disappointed he couldn’t properly learn rescue breathing?’

 

He was curious, so he must have really wanted to learn. I should teach him again when I get the chance later.

 

While I was briefly lost in thought, Baron, who had gathered the bucket, transferred all the clams and conch shells that had been purging in the tank.

 

“Alright, let’s go to the market, you guys.”

 

Looking at Baron’s condition, it seemed like his breathing difficulty had gotten somewhat better.

 

Baron, who had transferred all the clams and conch shells, easily lifted the tank filled with seawater.

 

“Nuna, open the door for me.”

 

“Oh, you’re going to dump it all at once again?”

 

“This much isn’t even that heavy.”

 

I quickly opened the door and followed Baron with a bucket of water. Baron walked to the beach where the tide had come in with an unconcerned expression and dumped the seawater.

 

“Wow. Baron, you’re really strong.”

 

It was natural talent, but it amazed me every time I saw it.

 

“Nuna, let’s rinse it.”

 

“Okay.”

 

I quickly went to the side and used water to wash away the remaining mud and sand purging residue from inside the tank.

 

Once the inside was clean, Baron filled the tank with fresh seawater and brought it back into the house. Since we were filling it with wave water, some sand and mud settled at the bottom of the tank, but this much was fine.

 

“Thank you. You worked hard.”

 

“This is nothing. But I think we need to prepare a large tank in a suitable place. Nuna catches so well that two tanks seem too small now.”

 

As Baron said, the volume was now a bit much for purging sand inside the house.

 

Baron lifted up the container full of clams and sea snails.

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

“Oh, again. I told you let’s carry it together.”

 

“It’s fine. I have no intention of letting Nuna carry heavy things.”

 

Baron strode out of the house first.

 

I followed behind Baron, looking around the beach and the front of the house, then made up my mind.

 

‘I should make a large tank in front of the house, and put a reservoir where the tide comes in too.’

 

If I connected the large tank and reservoir with bamboo pipes to create a circulating seawater system, it would reduce Baron’s labor too.

 

‘Should I make it with wood? Or should I try to find a suitable jar or something? If I made it with iron plates, it would rust quickly, right?’

 

I was considering various options when we reached where Ben’s Stall was located.

 

“?”

 

A simple canopy for rain protection was installed, but Ben was nowhere to be seen. On one side of the street, two or three people were quietly murmuring while looking at the unattended stall.

 

Under the canopy, the wooden box that had been used as a chair was lying on its side.

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