I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 20

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

Chapter 20

The moment I heard the Emperor was calling for me, I immediately made a request of Arpard.

“Would you do me a favor?”
“You have the late Empress’s belongings, don’t you? I’d like to borrow something.”

I worried slightly that Arpard might react sensitively.
The late Empress had been a weakness not only for the Emperor but for Arpard as well.
But surprisingly, Arpard readily lent me his mother’s keepsakes that he possessed.
He even personally selected something that would suit me.

“This would be better. It matches your hair color and eyes perfectly.”

He held an amethyst tiara against my head and said so.
He even fastened the matching necklace around my neck himself.

“It suits you. Far better than I expected.”

Arpard, narrowing his eyes as he spoke, appeared to be in quite a good mood.
So I spoke with pure goodwill.

“Don’t worry.”
“About what?”
“I’ll take good care of it and return it safely.”

Then Arpard made a subtle expression.
Like finding a worm inside a chestnut you’d bitten into happily.
He shook his head.

“There’s no need for that.”
“Pardon? But these are precious keepsakes, aren’t they?”
“They are. …But if you return them, everyone will think it strange.”
“Huh?”
“It’s common for a mother-in-law to pass jewelry and dresses to her daughter-in-law. But it’s not common for a wife to return her mother-in-law’s keepsakes to her husband.”
“Ah….”

That was a fair point.
It was typically one of the procedures people went through during a divorce, after all.
I nodded and replied with casual composure.

“You’re right about that. I understand. I’ll borrow them carefully and return them in pristine condition when we divorce.”

* * *

Arpard recalled what this strange woman had said earlier.
That she would return the jewels and dress when they divorced.
Adorned in the dress and jewels left behind by his mother, the woman smiled at him through the mirror.
As Arpard fastened the necklace around her neck, he stood behind her.
Rather than meeting her eyes directly, they exchanged glances through the mirror’s reflection.
She was stealing glances at him.
And Arpard was observing her in return.
‘No matter how I think about it, she’s a strange woman.’
Everything about her irritated him.
Her manner of speech, her breathing, her habits, even a single strand of her hair.
Each detail pricked at him like a thorn beneath his fingernail, unbearable to ignore.
Arpard questioned himself.
‘Why am I like this?’
And he arrived at his own conclusion.
‘She’s simply too suspicious not to be wary of.’
Moreover, she was too much of a threat to allow to become Ludwig’s.
Arpard nodded slowly to himself.
Yes, that was it. Nothing more than that.
After all, she was now within his grasp.
By keeping her close and observing her, he would eventually uncover the source of all those strange and irritating qualities.
And once he did, he would lose interest in her, as he did with most people.
At the Palace, the woman had done little but sleep since the hastily arranged wedding.
During the brief moments she was awake, she had said something to him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get The Emperor to recognize this marriage.”
“How?”
“That’s a s─secret.”
“….”

The woman—Hillia—said so while winking at me.
Truly, an unpredictable woman.
Arpard, contrary to his usual demeanor, suppressed the smile that kept threatening to bloom at the corners of his mouth.
And as he escorted her into the Audience Chamber, he thought to himself.
‘Well then, let’s see what skills she possesses.’
Now it was time for this woman to pay the price for the forced marriage he had undertaken.

* * *

As we entered the Audience Chamber—more precisely, as the Emperor’s gaze fell upon me—it trembled as though struck by an earthquake.
Seeing that, I inwardly exulted.
‘Just as I thought! I knew he’d be shaken.’
I knew well that the Emperor’s greatest weakness was the deceased Empress, Arpard’s mother.
‘Because I heard it directly from him!’
During my three previous lives, there was a time when I lived intimately with the Emperor—confined and retired, waiting only for death.
At that time, I heard many stories directly from the Emperor himself.
Of course, the Emperor now seated upon the throne appeared utterly majestic and overflowing with power.
Even the scars upon his face seemed to emphasize his formidable strength.
He looked like a different person from the one with completely white hair and an aged face.
‘But he is the same person.’
And I already knew his true heart.
That is why I could step forward with such audacity.
“As the daughter of Delphin and the wife of Crown Prince Arpard, I dare to pay my respects to Your Majesty, the incarnation and representative of the great Arctanus.”
I spread my skirts and bowed, bending my knees.
His response was cold.
“…I have never received a daughter-in-law.”
It was exactly as I had anticipated. Because of that, I remained completely unshaken.
Arpard, meanwhile, was watching me with an utterly fascinated expression.
‘That’s right. You’re curious how I’ll persuade the Emperor. You seem to be enjoying this.’
I suddenly felt like a performing bear doing tricks alone.
In any case, I decided to ignore Arpard for now.
What mattered now was the Emperor.
The Emperor’s sharp voice continued.
“And surely, Princess of Delphin, was it not I who personally arranged the match between you and my nephew? I gave gifts, and on the very day of the wedding, I even traveled to Delphin in person to offer my congratulations…”
The Emperor, who had been composed, soon tilted his head and erupted in fury.
“How is this any different from you and Arpard showing contempt for the Emperor’s authority?!”
Boom! Crack!
Remarkably, when the Emperor struck the armrest of his throne, the end shattered into pieces.
It seems the bloodline of dragons possesses strength beyond the ordinary.
However, I remained completely unperturbed.
And The Emperor recognized it. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, as if my reaction differed from his expectations.
In that moment, I offered my response.
“No, Your Majesty. Neither I nor Prince Arpard have shown any disrespect toward your authority.”
“Then has the Crown Prince truly lost his mind and caused this chaos?!”
The Emperor looked between me and Arpard before emphasizing once more.
“Speak truthfully without deception, Princess of Delphin. If this abduction marriage occurred against your wishes, I will help restore you to your rightful place.”
In other words, he would place me back beside Ludwig.
If that happened, Arpard would be branded either as a unilateral criminal or a madman.
Arpard had truly accepted my request while bearing such considerable risk.
“Ludwig also stated he was prepared to trust and accept his betrothed.”
And hearing this revolting statement, I was so shocked that I simply…
“Ugh!”
…retched.
“…?”
“…?”
The father and son, who resembled each other perfectly, stared at me with eyes full of confusion.
I leaned heavily against Arpard, feigning dizziness.
“The fatigue from the long journey has accumulated, causing some dizziness… forgive me.”
“…”
“…”
Neither The Emperor nor the Crown Prince appeared convinced.
What else could I do? I said so myself. I’m a delicate lady, and you were the one who summoned me without giving me time to rest, Your Majesty! I’m innocent!
After a brief silence passed.
The Emperor cleared his throat before questioning me again.
“If this abduction marriage was conducted against your will, I shall annul the marriage. Therefore…”
This time I answered clearly, without retching or any other mistakes.
“I do not wish for the marriage to be annulled at present.”
“That sounds like you’re saying you didn’t want it when the abduction marriage occurred?”
No. I had desperately wanted it.
But officially, I could not admit that.
So I evaded the question very ambiguously.
“What matters is the present, Your Majesty.”
I added, my cheeks flushing.
“And the marriage between Prince Arpard and myself has already been consummated.”
The Emperor’s face contorted. He examined the marriage vow I had given to the Chamberlain, and his expression grew more grave.
“You’ve already held the marriage ceremony and received the Temple’s notarization? What on earth have you done, Arpard?!”
For a moment, The Emperor resembled a chaebold chairman from a drama scolding his wayward son.
The Emperor’s furious roar resonated thunderously through the Audience Chamber.
“What on earth possessed you to commit such an act! Speak!”
Yet Arpard said nothing.
It was I who answered.
Covering my flushed cheeks with the back of my hand, I laughed as though embarrassed.
“Why, for love, of course.”
At my words, both The Emperor and Arpard’s gazes fixed upon me.
The Emperor asked, bewildered.
“What did you just say, Lady?”
“His Majesty fell for me at first sight and committed an abduction marriage.”
Beside me, Arpard’s jaw dropped.
“….”
“….”
He was so taken aback.
The Emperor didn’t even notice his fingers slipping from the armrest of the throne.
Regardless, I continued with what I had meant to say.
I couldn’t let slip this moment when The Emperor was clearly completely off guard.
“Much as Arctanus did when he first met Princess Istrid.”
“…!”
Indeed, The Emperor’s expression stiffened slightly at this.
Arctanus is the dragon, the progenitor of The Empire.
Princess Istrid is the woman who was abducted in marriage by the dragon and bore the first Emperor, and the woman from whom The Empire took its name.
With these words, I had made a declaration before The Emperor.
‘Our abduction marriage is a reenactment of the dragon and princess’s abduction marriage.’
At least, that is the frame I intended to establish.
I added one more thing.
“…is our official position, Your Majesty.”
“Your official position?”
“Yes.”
“We intend to state it that way in all public matters going forward.”
The Emperor’s expression, which had been filled with shock and absurdity, became quite serious.
“So you’re saying the reality differs from your excuse?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
I deliberately paused, then turned the tables and posed a question to The Emperor myself.
An audacious question at that.
“Do you truly believe Ludwig is suited to be the next Emperor?”

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