This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 52

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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 52

 

Those words sounded exactly like a child’s naive imagination. The kind of imagination that could change tomorrow if he met a pretty girl his own age.

 

“How about a hundred children? Fifty daughters who look like Nuna, fifty sons who look like Nuna.”

 

“That’s a lot. But they’d all look like me?”

 

“Of course! Then I’d get to live looking at a hundred and one pretty faces, wouldn’t I?”

 

I nodded with a laugh at such an unrealistic plan.

 

“Sure, sure, let’s make your dreams come true first. I’ll cheer you on.”

 

“What? Are you crazy?”

 

Baron, irritated by my response, slammed both hands on the table and stood up.

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

Kyle pouted his lips.

 

“What do you think I mean? Exactly what you heard.”

 

“Says who?”

 

Baron frowned in displeasure, but Kyle raised his nose arrogantly without a care.

 

“Obviously I get to decide, right? Nuna is super pretty and kind. If she becomes the knight captain’s wife, she can live in luxury wearing pretty dresses for life.”

 

The blatant compliment made my face tickle and I couldn’t help but giggle.

 

“Don’t be ridiculous, Nuna is going to marry me!”

 

Baron, who had been gritting his teeth and arguing back as if flustered, spoke as if making a vow.

 

“No matter how I think about it, a hundred children would be too hard for Nuna to bear. So I’ll only have one son who looks like Nuna and one daughter who looks like Nuna! I’ll carry them on my back and raise them all so Nuna won’t have a hard time!”

 

Pfft, Baron seems to have gotten worked up in his childish heart too.

 

‘I know, I know. It’s like saying “I want to marry mommy,” right? What a cute little guy.’

 

Still, his plan for the second generation was realistic. I was also impressed that he considered my health.

 

“Whaaaat?”

 

Clang!

 

At the same time, Raven, who was shocked, had just dropped his wine glass onto his steak plate. Fortunately the glass didn’t break, but wine spilled and flowed across the table.

 

“B-Baron, sir. I doubted my ears earlier too, but… are you serious?”

 

Unlike me who was taking it lightly, he looked truly shocked by Baron’s statement.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Baron couldn’t answer right away and rolled his eyes with his face turning red.

 

He probably said it with the feeling of “I’m going to be a fire truck when I grow up,” but since Raven reacted seriously, he naturally became embarrassed.

 

As the adult, I should smooth things over.

 

“There’s nothing to be surprised about. It’s just what kids usually say.”

 

At my calm response, Kyle and Baron both became serious at the same time.

 

“No, it’s not.”

 

“No, it’s not.”

 

“Yes, it is.”

 

A laugh naturally escaped me.

 

Both of them would completely forget they ever said such things if just a little more time passed.

 

Then when their beards start growing and their voices change, if I bring up the memory saying “you two said that back then,” wouldn’t they both kick their blankets in embarrassment?

 

I didn’t pay more attention to the kids’ words and called an employee. I couldn’t continue eating like this, so I wanted to request table cleanup.

 

The employee quickly tidied up the table that had been messed up with wine so we could eat comfortably.

 

True to form as little kids, Baron and Kyle had already changed topics.

 

Kyle was showing off his strength to Baron.

 

“I’m really strong, you know? I’m strong enough that I could probably beat adults sometimes.”

 

Baron chuckled.

 

“Strong for a kid maybe.”

 

“Hey, you’re more of a kid than me!”

 

“So what? You’re still weaker than me, aren’t you?”

 

“Even so, I’m way better at swordsmanship than you!”

 

“Heh, how can you guarantee that? Our house was a knight family too.”

 

“What? Baron, you know swordsmanship?”

 

“Isn’t that obvious?”

 

“Y-you already learned it?”

 

Kyle’s surprised wide-eyed expression must have been amusing, because Baron puffed out his chest and acted smug.

 

“Swordsmanship? Why would I need to learn that? I’m a recognized genius.”

 

“Ugh, you were lying. I thought so… you’re only seven years old.”

 

“Why does age come up again?”

 

“Then want to try sparring with wooden swords? To see who’s better?”

 

Baron just snorted without answering. His expression clearly said “ridiculous,” and I could see Kyle getting worked up.

 

This was a special occasion that Raven had arranged for us, so I couldn’t let it get noisy with the kids fighting.

 

Since the table cleanup was finished, I quickly said:

 

“Hey kids, you’re going to end up fighting. Stop it and finish eating what you were eating.”

 

When I said that much, Kyle had no choice but to mutter to himself and pick up his fork properly again.

 

“Hmph, if you’re better than me, I’ll accept you as my master.”

 

Once the children quieted down, Raven lightly changed the topic. Since it was about his experiences visiting other cities, we were able to finish our meal pleasantly.

 

* * *

 

“Since it’s gotten dark, I’ll escort you home.”

 

Raven brought up his tour of the orphanage while escorting us.

 

“I had a suspicion, but it was as I thought. They registered all the children under Snoril Orphanage.”

 

They were in a state where they couldn’t be removed.

 

Moreover, the 2nd floor was in even worse condition than the 1st floor.

 

“There weren’t even proper beds. They’re all sleeping on bare floors with just old blankets spread out. They say it’s because there’s no sponsorship.”

 

A sigh escaped me naturally.

 

“That’s heartbreaking to hear.”

 

When I thought about what I could do for the children, I had my own problems to worry about.

 

‘Still, maybe I could contribute something monthly?’

 

Thanks to Raven, I saved money on furniture, so that much might be okay.

 

Then I remembered the principal’s office.

 

“Wasn’t the principal’s office facility decent? The cookies and tea were mediocre, but the desk, sofa, and furniture were definitely good quality. Come to think of it, I think there were magic stone lights too? Wait.”

 

I frowned.

 

“There were two magic stone lights in the principal’s office. With the money for those, couldn’t they have gotten beds for all the children?”

 

Magic stone lighting was very expensive.

 

It was so expensive that ordinary commoners couldn’t even use it, and they kept transaction records of who owned how many. That’s why I heard our house’s magic stone lighting is also recorded under Raven’s Guild’s name.

 

“Besides, they said there’s support from the Royal Court. Why do they only make excuses about sponsorship? Maybe the story about having no sponsors at all is also a lie?”

 

“You’re right. It’s probably false.”

 

Raven, who agreed with my words, clicked his tongue.

 

“It’s difficult for an orphanage to reach that state under normal circumstances. Support fund receipt is left to The Lord, and facility inspection is also left to The Lord.”

 

A lord who properly provided support funds wouldn’t tolerate inadequate facilities.

 

But Lord of Snorril looked around the orphanage without any concern, and even demanded sponsorship like the director couple.

 

I held my forehead.

 

“My goodness, so we’re looking at a situation where The Lord and the director are suspected of embezzlement?”

 

Raven looked around instead of answering. Understanding the meaning behind his action, I closed my mouth.

 

There was no one visible around and my voice wasn’t loud either. But since it was night, it was hard to be certain no one was there.

 

‘It would be troublesome if someone overheard and tried to report to The Lord like with Ajusshi Ben.’

 

I spoke up again only when we reached the front of the house.

 

“Isn’t there a way? Like filing a complaint higher up to get a corrective order issued?”

 

Raven slowly stroked his chin as he answered.

 

“Unless the person filing the complaint has a higher status than the Lord, they would actually be the one punished instead. Also, the Regent recognizes freedom in each domain’s management methods.”

 

So it’s up to the Lord how to manage the domain’s affairs.

 

“There is a way for the operating entity—that is, the Orphanage Director and the Lord—to voluntarily abandon the orphanage’s operation. But with Royal Court support, they’d never give it up.”

 

“What would happen if they did give it up?”

 

“In that case, the children would be sent to regions of their choice.”

 

No matter how I think about it, there’s only one answer.

 

Make the Lord and Orphanage Director voluntarily abandon the orphanage’s operation, and send the children to their desired regions.

 

‘I wonder if this is even possible though…’

 

Perhaps noticing that I didn’t look well, Raven checked his watch and said he should head back now, exchanging good night greetings with us.

 

As I stood there quietly watching Raven’s retreating figure, Baron grabbed the hem of my skirt.

 

“Nuna? Are you okay?”

 

Looking down, I could see worry dwelling in Baron’s eyes.

 

Oh dear, it seemed I had unintentionally shown a troubled expression.

 

I quickly smiled brightly and lowered myself to meet Baron’s eye level.

 

“Yes, I’m fine. I am a bit worried, but it’s not something that’ll be solved quickly just by me worrying about it alone.”

 

I needed more time to think about what to do. And once I reached a conclusion, I would need money to take action.

 

I called Serch and rolled up my sleeves.

 

“Baron, it’s gotten quite late today, so go to bed first. It’s time for the water to drain, so I’ll do what I need to do for now.”

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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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