This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 51
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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 51
“There’s no way it’s okay! How can we live together with sea lice?”
“Sea lice aren’t harmful as long as you don’t touch them. They’re also called the ocean’s cleaners.”
“Cleaners my foot!”
Nelloa’s face turned bright red as she hurriedly climbed into the carriage.
“Good heavens! It’s so horrible that I absolutely cannot stay here! Let’s go back quickly!”
The Principal’s Wife also agreed with Nelloa and climbed into the carriage.
“The Princess is right. Really, how on earth do people live in a place like this?”
Raven chuckled and spoke to the half-dazed Lord.
“Since we’ve confirmed the facts, it wouldn’t count as insulting the Princess, would it?”
“Ugh… No, in this state, you should have spoken properly!”
“I did tell you. You didn’t believe me, so you came to confirm it yourself.”
The Lord couldn’t find anything more to say.
“If you want to see the sea lice again, please come anytime. I’ll prepare a tea setting for you.”
“Hmph! Once is enough for this kind of backwater place!”
The Lord snorted loudly and hurriedly climbed into the carriage.
Soon the carriage carrying the four people disappeared into the distance.
After confirming they were far enough away that they couldn’t eavesdrop on our conversation, I casually said to Raven.
“Wow, that’s really amazing. How did this happen?”
Raven chuckled.
“It’s nothing special. The beach is undeniably the sea lice’s habitat, and I just knew of a hole where they appear in large numbers.”
“…What?”
“I hadn’t touched it until now because the sight of them swarming was disgusting.”
Raven smiled warmly.
“I was worried because it seemed like they might try to harm you, Hailey.”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize that Raven had protected me.
Thanks to him, I avoided becoming the target of the female lead’s satisfying punishment.
“Thank you. How can I repay this kindness?”
He spoke in a casual tone while patting his stomach.
“It’s getting to be dinner time, so I’m getting hungry.”
He means to repay the kindness with food!
“I’ll prepare a meal right away! Would you like to have dinner at our house?”
But Raven gave an unexpected answer.
“But Kyle will be waiting for us.”
Ah, I forgot about Kyle.
“The suggestion to have a meal together sounds wonderful. So let’s do this.”
Raven smiled brightly and suggested to us.
“You must be tired from going back and forth to the orphanage, so let’s go to the city and have dinner together. We’ll treat you.”
“What?”
I’m already grateful for the help, and now you want to buy us food too?
“With the sea lice incident and all, I feel like I’m imposing too much.”
“Imposing? If the Lord had actively tried to solve the kidnapping case from the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened at all.”
“…”
That’s true.
“I would be happiest if you two would enjoy good food with me.”
I was at a loss for words.
‘Raven really must be an angel.’
Baron, who was on my back, swung his legs back and forth.
“I like it! Nuna!”
Kimarise also seemed to secretly welcome Raven’s suggestion.
“Th-then I’ll shamelessly accept. Thank you.”
I bowed and started walking toward the city. As we walked together, Raven, who had been watching us, carefully asked.
“Baron, shall I carry you on my back?”
“Huh?”
“I think it would be better if I carried you.”
“What?”
Baron was startled and clung even more tightly to my back.
“Are you crazy? Why would I let Raven carry me? I like it because Nuna is carrying me!”
“I know that too. But the city is farther to walk to than going home. Hailey will get tired.”
“…I’m small and light though.”
“No, you seem to have grown taller. So your weight must have increased too, right?”
“No. I haven’t grown much. And Nuna is strong, you know?”
“She’s just enduring the difficulty. No matter how strong she is, she’s still a delicate woman.”
“…”
Baron was silent for a moment, then carefully asked.
“N-Nuna. Am I heavy? Should I lose weight?”
He’d lose weight if he was heavy. I laughed at his words that didn’t even consider the option of not being carried.
Oh my, do you like it that much?
“It’s still okay. You don’t need to lose weight either. What fat does a child have to lose?”
I started walking again. Baron giggled softly and hugged my neck tightly.
“Then I’ll just ride a little longer.”
The soft texture of Baron’s hair touching the back of my neck felt quite nice, and seeing Baron happy made me feel good too.
On the other hand, Raven shook his head at my behavior.
“If you indulge all his whims, you’ll only spoil the child.”
“But Baron is still young. He’s at an age where it’s okay to be spoiled.”
“Young? Just looking at his behavior, it seems like there’s a full-grown adult inside him.”
“He’s like that because he’s smart.”
“How long are you planning to carry him like that?”
I thought for a moment and grinned.
“After he goes to the academy next year and grows a bit more, won’t he run away even if I offer to carry him first?”
As I walked with long strides, Raven also matched my pace as if he had no choice.
“I can’t stop you.”
Baron actually got down after going a little further and put his feet on the ground. At the same time, he held my hand tightly and said quietly.
“Nuna. I’ve been thinking.”
“Yeah?”
“When I grow up, I’ll be taller and stronger than Nuna, right?”
“I suppose so?”
“When that time comes.”
He paused mid-sentence, and I found myself focusing on what Baron was about to say. Soon Baron looked straight up at me and smiled cheerfully.
“I want to carry Nuna on my back every day. What do you think, Nuna?”
“Oh my!”
At the same time, Raven, who had been walking fine, stumbled greatly in panic. Thinking he was going to fall, I was startled and quickly checked on his condition.
“Ah! Raven, are you okay?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
“…Raven, I need to hear Nuna’s answer, so are you going to ruin the moment like this?”
When Baron scolded him with narrowed eyes, Raven smiled awkwardly.
“S-sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose, I just happened to slip…”
“Baron, don’t be like that. At least you didn’t get hurt.”
I gently stroked Baron’s back. Then Baron, whose mood quickly improved, turned his sparkling purple eyes toward me and asked.
“Nuna, so what’s your answer?”
“Huh?”
Baron looked like he really wanted to hear my response.
‘I guess Raven’s words about how long I’d carry him on my back kept bothering him?’
Baron was so kind, thinking about giving back as much as he received, that I felt touched all over again.
Also, imagining a grown, sturdy Baron carrying me on his back when I became a hunched old grandmother made me happy already.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t this like a preview of filial piety?’
Of course, I had no intention of depending on Baron for my old age. But I could tell why Baron was asking this question and what kind of answer he wanted to hear.
Then I should let Baron act spoiled comfortably, like the child he is.
“Alright. For now, Nuna will carry you on her back a lot. When Baron grows up, you’ll carry Nuna on your back much later, okay?”
I readily stroked Baron’s head while adding a condition.
“Of course, only if Baron wants to do that then.”
“Okay!”
Baron’s expression brightened completely at my words. Baron nodded vigorously, his large eyes sparkling brightly.
“When I say I’ll carry you on my back, will Nuna let me carry you properly?”
I laughed at Baron’s question as he held my hand with his small hands and walked, as if making me promise.
“Of course, absolutely.”
Hahaha, what a cute little guy.
* * *
The inn where Raven and Kimarise were staying was a luxury hotel with a great view of the sea. Thanks to that, the restaurant’s dining menu was absolutely excellent.
I was flustered to receive a more expensive meal than I had expected, but I was already happy before even eating because all the food, including the appetizers and steak, looked very delicious.
“Ah! Nuna!”
Kyle, who soon came to the restaurant with Kimarise, ran over and hugged me as soon as he saw me.
“Have you been doing well?”
When I asked how he was, Kyle nodded vigorously.
“Yes! Kimarise hyung even gave me sword training yesterday in the open clearing behind here.”
We sat around a round table, eating and talking about Kyle.
“When I had some free time and crossed swords with him briefly, his fundamentals were good and his natural talent was considerable.”
The story that Kimarise began was surprising.
Kyle had briefly worked as a page, but it seemed like Byeongyeongbaek just failed to recognize his talent.
“If properly taught, I think he could become an excellent knight.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“It would be good to send him to a professional academy…”
Kimarise tilted his head and continued speaking.
“But such places only accept Empire citizens with verified identities, so that’s the concern.”
However, Kyle just seemed happy with Kimarise’s praise, as if he didn’t even expect academy admission.
“Right? Nuna? I’m amazing, aren’t I?”
Kyle shrugged his shoulders proudly at us.
“Nuna, I’m going to become totally strong and become a knight commander. And if there are any bad guys bothering Nuna, I’ll beat them all up.”
In the meantime, it seemed like Kyle’s gloominess had completely disappeared and he had gained a new dream.
Whether the future corrupted knight commander would be Kyle, Baron, or someone else wasn’t clear yet. But I couldn’t help but smile that Kyle was now talking about a hopeful future instead of his sad past.
“Haha, I’m grateful just for the thought. I already feel reassured.”
“Right?”
Kyle giggled and continued speaking.
“You know what, Nuna. When I become a knight commander, I’m going to propose to you.”
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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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