This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 93

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

Chapter 93

“Huh, what?”

Baron instinctively stepped back at Raven’s intensity.

“I feel power surging. Forget about mana recovery research or whatever—this truly seems like the pinnacle of food that aids mana recovery! Though my mouth is terribly sore and burning!”

“Huh?”

“You grew immediately after eating this, didn’t you, Your Majesty? That’s instant proof that this food is an incredibly effective mana recovery potion!”

Raven thrust the bowl of tteokbokki toward Baron with an excited expression.

“Please try eating all of this first. I’m now very curious about Hailey’s true identity and backing.”

“Ba-backing? You think Nuna has backing?”

“Yes, I suspect she might have already known Your Majesty’s identity and approached you intentionally.”

Baron’s expression grew troubled.

“You think Nuna already knows who I am?”

“It seems possible this was all meticulously planned acting from the beginning.”

At those words, Baron briefly recalled the past.

‘Nuna’s words and actions were all… acting? Could they be fake?’

Baron knew well that Raven’s words were speculation. But there were times when Hailey seemed to know things a civilian shouldn’t know.

The most recent example being that she knew not just anyone could handle monsters.

‘So she didn’t really risk her life, but knew I would stop her?’

As his thoughts flowed that way, it felt like his heart was dropping.

“So you’re saying Nuna deceived me?”

The days spent with Hailey flashed through Baron’s mind.

Her appearance when she had no money even to buy groceries, feeding him only sea snails while saying tomorrow would be better, the moment they returned home together singing happily on the street.

Her singing happily despite the leaking roof, saying she was happy because no one was dragging her into a quagmire, her attitude of working hard saying she would raise at least him well.

Recently, she had even used every means possible to earn money to send him to the academy.

Could all of that not be sincere but planned actions?

‘Those smiles and that warmth were fake? Then how am I supposed to live from now on, who can I trust?’

His head suddenly felt dizzy. It felt like the small world he had cherished was all crumbling.

Just as Baron bit his lip hard to suppress his emotions, his eyes growing hot,

“But whether this is the opponent’s plan or not, what does that matter?”

Then Raven’s serious voice shattered the shock that was consuming Baron.

“Huh?”

“If the effect is real, it’s an enormous benefit to us. Whatever the opponent’s true intentions, mana recovery is a powerful ally in itself.”

Having reached that conclusion, Raven’s face flushed.

“The solution to curse control that the House of Ilpein has sought for generations is right before our eyes now!”

His eyes shining even brighter, he seated Baron at the dining table and handed him a fork.

“Let’s confirm it quickly. Please try eating it.”

“Huh? This is hard to eat though?”

“Medicine is originally hard to take. What medicine isn’t bitter?”

At Raven’s urging, Baron picked up a piece of tteokbokki with his fork and put it in his mouth.

Soon his mouth became hot. Heat also rose strongly to his face.

Enduring the burning pain and chewing and swallowing one piece, red energy rippled through his body again. His clothes felt tight again.

Kimarise, who was watching from the side, said calmly.

“Your Majesty, you’ve grown a bit more. Thirteen years old? Fourteen? You look about that age.”

At the same time, everyone present became certain.

This food made by Hailey was a miraculous medicine that could break the chain of the curse that had tormented the House of Ilpein so terribly.

This was also a sign that Emperor Bloden’s life would no longer be swayed by Anna Beldenburo, and from now on would proceed according to his will.

Except for the tongue-burning taste.

“Your Majesty, it must be difficult, but it’s not really hell, is it? Please try eating it all.”

At Raven’s suggestion, Kimarise also nodded.

“Whew.”

Baron unbuttoned his shirt again. Then he took out a cloak from subspace, draped it over himself, and took a deep breath.

With the mindset of a monk embarking on ascetic practice, he put another piece of tteokbokki in his mouth and chewed. The more he chewed, the hotter his body became. Sweat began dripping from his flushed face.

“Huff, ah. Huff, ah.”

Unwanted rough breathing naturally flowed between his lips.

Hot. Very hot. It felt like his throat was burning.

The already small clothes squeezed his body tightly. But that was brief—as soon as Baron chewed and swallowed the last piece on the plate, he felt his body change rapidly and a strong light burst forth.

The blindingly bright light soon disappeared. Baron slowly blinked his eyes, which had been closed.

“Your Majesty.”

At Raven’s call, Baron turned his head.

“Your eyes have returned to their original color.”

Baron felt it himself too. The moment the light burst, the disguise magic was also instantly dispelled.

Bloden looked at his palms without answering.

They weren’t the delicate, small hands of a child. They were the hands of a man that looked refined yet large and strong.

Bloden stood up from his seat. The clothes he had been wearing became fabric scraps and fell with a thud under his cloak.

Standing before the mirror, he saw a sturdy man reaching 190cm in height. His shoulders were also very broad.

When he slightly lifted his cloak, a perfect body filled solidly with muscle was revealed.

“Th-this is impossible.”

His voice trembled involuntarily.

This was his real appearance, which even he had barely been able to see properly while protecting the Empire.

After looking in the mirror for a long time, Bloden thought of Hailey first.

‘Would Nuna like this face and body?’

Hailey appeared before his eyes.

In his imagination, Hailey saw him in his adult male form and shyly blushed.

The moment he imagined Hailey carefully placing her fingertips on his solid chest, he felt very good.

‘I hope she would.’

That’s when it happened.

“Your Majesty, congratulations on your recovery!”

“This is truly a joyous occasion! Your Majesty.”

Kimarise and Raven prostrated themselves and shouted in turn.

“Now there is no one who can stand in Your Majesty’s way. Please command the Empire to your heart’s content.”

At Raven’s following loyal advice, Bloden realized that he was now the Emperor of the Empire.

He was not little Baron who lived with Hailey.

He thought about the derivative gates he needed to deal with first and worked his mind.

Bloden repeatedly clenched and unclenched his right fist.

If he canceled the summoning of all the commanders he had released into the world and concentrated his mana, it seemed he could instantly close some of the gates opened throughout the Empire.

“Your Majesty.”

Then Raven added more counsel.

“How about immediately returning to the Imperial Palace and showing your healthy state to all the world?”

“Return?”

“Yes, when the nobles see Your Majesty’s majestic appearance like this, Duchess Beldenburo’s schemes won’t work at all.”

“Indeed.”

While nodding slightly, Bloden’s brow furrowed slightly.

Return to the Imperial Palace.

This was a phrase announcing the end of his vacation. If that happened, he couldn’t fathom what would become of his relationship with Hailey.

Noticing his subtle change in expression, Raven smiled broadly.

“What troubles you, Your Majesty? Hailey has become a very important talent to Your Majesty. After investigating her backing, you can elevate her status and keep her close. Of course, Hailey would be quite surprised…”

“Raven.”

Even as he called the name, Bloden momentarily felt an impulse.

Should I seal that guy away for about a year?

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Raven bowed his head very respectfully.

‘Hah.’

Bloden sighed inwardly. Raven had given sincere, well-meaning advice.

“Put your head down.”

“…Pardon?”

Raven did as Bloden instructed for now.

“If my comment about investigating the mastermind made you uncomfortable, I’ll correct….”

“I forbid you from speaking.”

Understanding the meaning implied in Bloden’s words, Raven immediately closed his mouth.

Bloden pulled out clothes that fit his body from his pocket dimension.

A shirt and pants, a vest and jacket, shoes and a cloak.

While getting dressed, Bloden thought of Hailey.

Raven’s speculation sounded plausible at first glance. But to Bloden’s intuition, it felt like complete nonsense.

Moreover, he didn’t like the solution Raven had proposed either.

‘How dare he try to do whatever he wants to Nuna.’

Earlier, Raven had clearly been ridiculed by Kimarise while bowing his head for the crime of imagining confining Hailey.

At that time, he had said he would do as Bloden instructed, but he hadn’t shown any sign of actually considering Hailey’s feelings. And this time was no different.

‘No remorse, no remorse at all.’

That’s why Bloden felt the urge to seal Raven away.

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