I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 12

“…I am still deliberating. Since both the vanished bride and the one who took her have yet to appear….”
Empress Isabel spoke as though sighing.
“However, society now believes that Ludwig, the Grand Duke’s marriage has already fallen apart.”
“….”
The bride had been abducted before she could even enter the wedding hall, and four days had passed.
Even if the bride returned now, no one could guarantee her honor.
The Emperor too had come to believe that Ludwig’s marriage was as good as finished.
Moreover, he had already witnessed something.
‘Ludwig seemed to be treating the bride roughly.’
It was true that he was considering his nephew as an alternative to his son, who might lose his mind at any moment.
But whether he would have pushed for the marriage if he had known beforehand what would happen, he could not say.
However, his thoughts could not continue any further.
There was an interruption beside him.
The Empress spoke.
“I am truly worried, Your Majesty. About Prince Arpard.”
“….”
“Could it be that he has been completely consumed by madness? If not, it makes no sense that he would commit such barbarous acts.”
This was also the Emperor’s greatest concern.
The Empress naturally lifted her teacup.
With that simple gesture, the long, voluminous sleeves fell back, revealing her bare arm.
There remained a large and vivid scar.
The Emperor knew well how it had come to be.
‘It is a mark from a wound sustained ‘back then.’ When Arpard first showed signs of madness….’
His heart grew heavy.
The consequences of a rampage by a child of merely ten years old had been so severe.
Because of that day, the Empress could not raise her right arm properly.
As the late Crown Prince’s nursemaid and a former attendant of the deceased Empress, Empress Isabel and Arpard had originally been close.
But regarding how the two had grown distant after that accident, the Emperor could not fault the Empress.
It was a symbol of the debt the Emperor owed to the Empress.
The Emperor understood the Empress’s intention in deliberately showing her disabled arm and its scar.
To remember Arpard’s madness.
‘It is only natural that the Empress, who directly experienced such madness, cannot trust Arpard….’
Just as the Emperor himself did not.
The Empress struck at the Emperor’s most vulnerable weakness once more.
“Indeed, the Crown Prince has inherited the madness of the late Empress as it was….”
“Mind your words!”
Crash!
The Emperor’s fury erupted as he slammed down the armrest.
The Empress bowed her head as though mortified.
But her purpose had already been achieved.
The Emperor’s mind had already drifted to another woman—the only woman he had ever loved in his lifetime, the mother of his son.
His former wife, who had left a terrible scar upon her own face and died in madness.
The Emperor closed his eyes as though in pain.
‘Arpard resembles her far too much.’
This was the reason he could not trust his only son.

* * *

When Empress Isabel emerged from the Emperor’s reception chamber.
Two people had been waiting for her.
Ludwig, the Grand Duke, who spoke loudly enough for all to hear.
And Evangeline, who stood beside him as though she were his wife.
Evangeline approached the Empress with a bright expression.
“Mother. What did His Majesty say?”
Evangeline is the daughter the Empress bore before marrying the Emperor.
Because of this, she had been raised receiving treatment befitting imperial blood within the Imperial Palace.
Yet she could never become a true member of the imperial family.
The Empress shook her head.
“He said nothing in particular. Since neither Arpard nor the bride have appeared, it seems he cannot yet decide what punishment to impose.”
Ludwig let out a sound of distress.
“How can this be? Whether the parties are present or not, the crime is clear, is it not! As expected, Your Majesty favors his own blood…!”
“Hold your tongue.”
The Empress silenced Ludwig coldly.
“Only His Majesty can control Arpard. Guard your words lest you incur the Emperor’s wrath.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
He clenched his teeth, consumed by a sense of defeat.
From beside him came Evangeline’s murmur.
“…Why of all people did Brother Arpard have to choose that woman….”
Empress Isabel regarded her anxious daughter with reproachful eyes.
But since Ludwig was present, she could not speak openly, so she redirected the conversation.
“What matters more is public opinion and rumor. His Majesty will be influenced by such things as well.”
Over the past four days, the Empress had devoted all her efforts to cultivating negative public sentiment toward Arpard.
‘This incident is merely a passing episode brought on by madness.’
‘Therefore, the marriage between Ludwig and Princess Delphin must proceed as planned.’
And so forth.
Ludwig’s eyes gleamed with the ferocity of a beast.
‘I will never surrender her to you willingly, Arpard!’
He was deliberately ignoring the fact that she had already been taken from him.

* * *

Only after hastily completing the wedding ceremony could I finally escape feeling like a crumpled piece of paper.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I truly looked dreadful.
‘And he kissed me looking like this. The Prince Arpard is quite something.’
The priest who conducted the ceremony was quite something too.
‘Come to think of it, this is my first wedding looking like this.’
Until now, my weddings had always been grand, ornate, and solemn in appearance.
A simple ceremony with only the bride, groom, and priest present.
Yet it felt more comfortable and brought more joy than any before.
‘That’s enough. I’ve finally taken the first step away from that man!’
Moreover, the joy of finally being able to bathe properly and change clothes after four days was immense.
As I sank into the hot water, I felt as though I was melting away entirely.
The moment the paperwork for the marriage was completed, worries bubbled up like soap bubbles.
‘I hope Count Beltane is alright.’
Since I was abducted first, I couldn’t bring him along.
It would be absurd for a bride being kidnapped to take her knight with her.
‘And he was even wounded….’
Moreover, he must be terribly worried about me.
He believes I was truly abducted by Arpard.
Given his inflexible nature, he might even take responsibility and attempt to end his own life.
‘Surely not?’
I felt I needed to take action as quickly as possible.
And my concerns about Anny as well.
‘Anny must also believe I was abducted into a forced marriage.’
She would be terribly worried.
But I couldn’t tell them the truth beforehand, as it would endanger them.
There was no time either.
‘At least Count Beltane escorted me to the Catacombs, and Anny saw me scheming something, so I can only hope they piece together the truth.’
For now, this is all I can do.
Now that the seal is stamped, I just need to return to the capital as quickly as possible and clean up the aftermath.
While my mind was occupied with worries about the two of them and concerns about the future.
The nimble-fingered handmaidens scrubbed me clean, dried me thoroughly, dressed me in fresh clothes, and led me to the bedroom.
“May you have a blessed night.”
“Sleep well.”
His words carried an oddly meaningful weight.
When I came to my senses, I found myself unceremoniously deposited in a bedroom adorned with crimson silk.
The room featured one conspicuously large bed positioned at its center.
It was nearly the size of a small room itself—I could roll across it a dozen times without falling off.
Red curtains draped around the bed in a rectangular frame, obscuring the interior from view, but the sheer size was unmistakable.
Scented candles glowed softly from every corner, releasing their fragrance, and roses arranged in a vase on the side table only added to the effect.
‘The entire atmosphere is decidedly… suggestive.’
My face flushed despite myself.
Had this marriage been a simple political arrangement, I would have entered the bedroom with great resolve.
‘But it isn’t, is it?’
My groom and I first met in the gloomy Underground Crypt of this lifetime.
Rather than exchanging sweet words, we had first traded threats and blades between us.
It was hardly a romantic relationship.
More like an alliance for survival.
‘But the servants of the Palace wouldn’t know that… so there’s nothing to be done about it.’
In any case, after four days of relentless travel, my exhaustion had reached its peak.
I cast aside all embarrassment and swept open the bed curtains.
“Soft sheets! Pillows!”
That was all that mattered… or so I thought.
The moment I looked inside the bed, I froze solid.
“What in the world is this?”
Scattered across the pristine white sheets were rose petals—far too many of them, far too romantic for comfort.
And as if answering my question, an ominous sound came from behind me.
Creak—
The bedroom door opening.
Hot steam billowed in immediately after.
I was so dumbfounded that a chill ran down my spine at what I heard.
“My bride is quite eager, I see. Unable to wait even the brief time it took me to arrive…”
“What are you talking about right now?!”
I spun around with a cry, then immediately turned my head back.
Standing in the open doorway was Prince Arpard, inexplicably damp, wearing nothing but a red robe draped loosely over his frame.
He began walking toward me, toward the bed.
Why are you doing a model walk in just a robe?
And toward me, no less?
“Why, why, why are you here?”
To my foolish question, Arpard’s eyes narrowed with amusement as he answered.
“Because tonight is our wedding night, my bride.”

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