This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 61

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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 61

 

“Phew. All done.”

 

I had obtained a sufficient amount of beans, soaked and boiled them, then mashed them together with Baron to shape the meju. The entire process leading up to the storage stage for fermentation was by no means easy.

 

However, seeing the completed meju hanging in the house warehouse filled me with immense satisfaction.

 

Returning home, I gathered the jar designs I had been sketching in my spare time and the boiled sea snails I had prepared for the orphanage children to enjoy.

 

I planned to stop by the orphanage first, then visit the workshop to commission the making of the jars.

 

“Argh! Do it again!”

 

As I stepped outside, I heard Kyle shouting angrily.

 

In front of Raven’s house, Baron and Kyle were engaged in wooden sword sparring.

 

These two boys had once argued at the restaurant about who was stronger.

 

‘Swordsmanship? Why would I learn that? I’m a recognized genius.’

 

‘Then want to spar with wooden swords? Let’s see who’s better?’

 

Back then, Kyle had said this with absolute confidence that such a thing would never happen.

 

‘Hah, if you’re better than me, I’ll accept you as my master.’

 

At the time, I thought it was just talk.

 

But after Raven finished moving, Kyle and Baron began encountering each other frequently, and taking advantage of my absence, the two finally had their wooden sword duel.

 

And it seemed Baron’s self-proclaimed genius status was true. Baron had easily overpowered Kyle.

 

Baron was such an exceptional child that even this didn’t seem strange to me anymore.

 

What was unexpected was Kyle’s behavior afterward.

 

Kyle had knelt before Baron and begged him, just as he had muttered before. He asked to be taught, saying he would accept Baron as his master.

 

However, Baron lightly refused.

 

His reason was that it would be bothersome, and since Raven and Kimarise were there, there was no need to learn from a child like himself.

 

Instead, since he had plenty of time, he agreed to occasionally serve as a sparring partner for entertainment, and it seemed they had another match today.

 

“Oh, Nuna! What are you carrying?”

 

Baron, who spotted me, quickly put away his wooden sword and ran over.

 

“Did you finish up with the meju?”

 

Unlike the exhausted Kyle who was wiping away his sweat with a towel, Baron hadn’t shed a single drop of sweat.

 

“Yeah. Now I’m going to give the sea snails to the orphanage children, then head to the workshop.”

 

“Ah, to the orphanage. But the workshop?”

 

I unfolded the jar design to show him.

 

“This thing.”

 

“Right, you said you were commissioning the making of those jar things. But the workshop is far from here, isn’t it?”

 

Baron’s gaze turned to the snack bag I was carrying.

 

“The snacks look heavy too.”

 

“It’s not so heavy I can’t carry it. And I’ll take a hired carriage when I get to the city.”

 

“Don’t do that.”

 

Baron suddenly called for Raven, who came out immediately.

 

“Ah, you’re leaving now? Baron told me about it. Just a moment. I have a carriage.”

 

“…What?”

 

“It’s a bit far to walk there.”

 

“I was going to take a hired carriage.”

 

“No. I prepared a carriage for this very reason. Just wait a moment. It’ll be ready soon.”

 

Raven really did bring a 4-seater open carriage pulled by a large draft horse. Kimarise was sitting in the seat next to the driver’s seat.

 

When the carriage stopped in front of me, Baron extended his hand to me like an escort.

 

“Let’s go together, Nuna. I’ll escort you.”

 

‘A real escort?!’

 

My heart started pounding without me realizing it, and I swallowed hard.

 

‘He’s definitely a child though.’

 

I keep feeling this, but Baron’s behavior is very elegant. On top of that, perhaps because he’s exceptionally handsome, whenever he shows manners befitting an adult man, my feelings become strange.

 

‘I’m going crazy.’

 

I took a calm breath. Then instead of taking Baron’s hand, I patted his head.

 

“Our Baron is such a gentleman.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“But Nuna can get on by herself.”

 

When I got on the carriage alone, Baron’s cheeks turned red this time. Then I extended my hand to Baron.

 

“You get on too, Nuna will help you.”

 

Baron, who had pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment before taking my hand. I put strength into pulling Baron up.

 

When Baron lightly climbed up and sat next to me, Kyle, who had been staring blankly, hurriedly squeezed in between Raven and Kimarise.

 

“Me, me too! I want to come along too!”

 

“What are you coming for? Just do your training.”

 

Despite Baron’s scolding, Kyle didn’t care and acted shamelessly.

 

“I’m just getting some fresh air.”

 

While the two boys bickered, the carriage wheels began rolling cheerfully.

 

* * *

 

The carriage that had been traveling through the city after leaving the beach stopped at the orphanage.

 

The orphanage’s main gate was still firmly locked with a padlock. Instead of pressing the bell, I looked around the clearing in the back.

 

There were no adults, only children working the field. Their tired expressions made me feel sorry for them.

 

“Kids.”

 

When I called out in a low voice, the children who turned their heads all brightened up at once.

 

“Sister.”

 

“Nuna.”

 

“Shh, have you been well?”

 

I asked after their well-being in a small voice, having told the children to keep their voices down.

 

The children said they had to come out to work in the fields from 8 AM to 6 PM, or do side jobs given by the orphanage director couple indoors.

 

Today, some were cleaning the orphanage, while others were doing fieldwork when I visited.

 

“Where are the director and his wife?”

 

One of the girls pointed toward the manor.

 

“The Princess came today with cookie snacks.”

 

Another child quickly added.

 

“The Princess who came before.”

 

They were talking about Nelloa.

 

“Did she give you cookies?”

 

“The director received them.”

 

“…”

 

It seemed unlikely that Nelloa’s snacks would reach the children.

 

“I see? So the Princess and the director are inside together now?”

 

“No. They all left a while ago.”

 

Then there was no need to worry about catching the director’s attention. I handed the children the sea snails I had brought.

 

“I stopped by on my way. Share these quietly among yourselves.”

 

The children’s expressions brightened even more. The children called their friends from inside the orphanage and shared the sea snails amicably.

 

Meanwhile, I asked about the children’s well-being. While they weren’t being fed well, it seemed much more bearable than when they were kidnapped.

 

There was also less abuse than expected. According to what I heard, Nelloa was staying at the manor, and the abuse had decreased since she started visiting the orphanage.

 

Personally, I didn’t like Nelloa, but since she was a princess, the director seemed to be mindful of outside opinions.

 

At least that was fortunate.

 

Soon, the children who had finished eating all the conch began sucking on their fingers.

 

“Wash your hands properly.”

 

Pleased by how well they had eaten, I reminded the children and stood up.

 

“I’ll come again next time.”

 

“It was delicious, sister.”

 

“Sister, see you next time.”

 

After saying goodbye to the children, I got back on the carriage and rode off.

 

* * *

 

The carriage continued for quite a while even after passing the Lord’s Manor, arriving at a pottery workshop in a remote location.

 

In front of the workshop, many clay vessels were stacked up, and white smoke was rising from behind the building.

 

A middle-aged potter who had been explaining pottery to a couple of customers greeted us warmly with a handshake as we stopped the carriage and got out.

 

“Welcome. I’m Carter. I run this workshop together with my older brother Potter.”

 

The man wearing glasses had on a neat apron and was on the thin side.

 

“Hello, Mr. Carter.”

 

“I’m Raven.”

 

“I’m Kimarise.”

 

Raven and Kimarise intercepted the handshake Carter had offered me. I naturally took a step back.

 

After greeting Carter, Raven smiled brightly and pointed to me.

 

“Our lady here would like to commission a piece.”

 

“A commission? What would you like to have made?”

 

I handed him the design.

 

“Here. It’s called a jangdok. I don’t really know about materials, but could you make this?”

 

“Jangdok? Let me see… Huh?”

 

Carter’s hands began trembling as he looked at the design. His expression was as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

 

Seeing his reaction, Baron asked me.

 

“Nuna, you didn’t draw a fox like a turtle again, did 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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