I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 25

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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 25

Chapter 4. The Dragon’s Bride

Yet the tension that had momentarily seized my body vanished without a trace, concealed beneath my skin.
I was not so inexperienced as to lose control of a single emotion before others.
I laughed naturally and tilted my head in the opposite direction from Arpard.
“That’s quite an unusual palate you have. Is there perhaps some form of madness caused by dragon’s blood that manifests that way?”
At that, a crease formed between Arpard’s smooth brows.
“So you’re painting me as someone with cannibalistic tastes.”
“Well, I’m relieved if that’s not the case. Still, you’re meant to be Emperor—it would be rather problematic if you had such inclinations.”
“Am I merely someone destined to become Emperor?”
“What else could there be?”
Arpard stepped closer. So close that his boots nearly brushed my nose between my feet.
Had he come any nearer, he might have pressed between my legs entirely.
And there, Arpard brought his lips nearly to my earlobe and whispered.
“Your husband as well.”
His warm breath tickled against my ear.
Every muscle in my body drew taut with tension, and heat flooded my face.
Though I had deflected Arpard’s loaded remark by treating it as cannibalism.
Of course, I understood well enough that his words could be interpreted in another way.
‘A rather… suggestive way, at that.’
But I had intended to feign ignorance.
Yet…
I never expected him to speak so directly with his body.
Arpard whispered softly.
“I don’t understand why you keep pretending not to understand.”
“What do you mean, pretending not to understand?”
Then Arpard’s warm fingers traced down the nape of my neck, and he whispered.
“When you understand perfectly well…”
If temperature had form, he would be scorching; if touch had substance, he would be adhesive; if fragrance had taste, he would be sweet.
A hunter’s honey, gathered to lure and devour some hapless prey.
His very existence was such.
Just as my tension reached its peak.
Arpard finally broached the true matter.
“Is there truly no connection between your promise to keep me from madness and what you said earlier about Arctanus’s blessing?”
“…!”
In that instant, the tension and heat that had swelled to the point of bursting deflated with an absurd, pathetic hiss.
The fact that I had nearly been genuinely captivated felt foolishly embarrassing.
‘What foolish, idle thoughts before this man.’
‘Right, he’s just another beautiful schemer trying to extract my secrets. I nearly overstepped and made a grave mistake.’
Yes, this man was pleasant to look at, but dangerously excessive—a human like a honeycomb brimming with honey, concealing a nest of wasps.
I smiled serenely and shook my head.
“There isn’t one. As I’ve already told you, it was a fabrication to gain The Emperor’s recognition of our marriage.”
“Obtaining Artanus Hall is good enough. That alone will be accepted as The Emperor’s acknowledgment.”
He regarded me with genuine suspicion as he asked.
“Then what exactly are you planning to prove, and how?”
So he was going to press me after all.
My pre-prepared answer tumbled out immediately.
Along with a wink.
“That’s a secret.”
“….”
Now it was Arpard’s turn to deflate with that pathetic hiss.
He sighed deeply.
“Is there anything about you that isn’t a secret?”
“Of course there is.”
“What?”
Now Arpard stood before me with his arms crossed, his expression brimming with disbelief.
I answered with a radiant smile.
“The fact that I’m actually someone who lived in the future, died miserably, and regressed back in time?”
The suspicion that had filled Arpard’s expression now transformed into sheer absurdity.
“I never knew you could refuse to answer so creatively.”
“Well, I do have quite the imagination.”
People never believe you when you speak of something too preposterous without hesitation.
I knew this for a simple reason.
‘Because I’ve told others about my regression before.’
Roughly two or three times.
And each time, the results were poor.
So this time, I deliberately spoke knowing Arpard wouldn’t believe me.
‘To redirect his attention by telling him something he absolutely couldn’t believe.’
Yes, that was all.
There was absolutely no other intention, no futile hope behind it whatsoever.

* * *

Word spread swiftly through the Imperial Palace that The Emperor had granted Artanus Hall to Hillia and Arpard.
“Wait, does this mean His Majesty has already approved?”
“After meeting her just once right after she entered the palace yesterday.”
“The Crown Prince—no, the Delphin Princess’s abilities seem better than expected, don’t they?”
“Rather than that, isn’t it clear His Majesty favors his son?”
“So the Delphin Princess will truly become the Crown Princess?”
“There hasn’t even been an official state wedding.”
“I heard they’ve already held a separate marriage ceremony.”
The noblewomen gathered for the tea party at the Empress Palace were quick to turn their minds to the matter.
‘Which side should I align with?’
‘But no matter what, Prince Arpard could suffer a fit of madness at any moment—it’s unsettling.’
‘Let’s observe the situation for now. Granting him Artanus Hall does carry significant meaning.’
One of them asked tactlessly.
“It seems His Majesty has approved, so shouldn’t we stop calling her the Delphin Princess?”
It was not the noblewomen who had been whispering together who answered this tactless question.
It was Evangeline, who appeared as though the Empress Palace were her own front yard.
“Then how should we address the Delphin Princess, madam?”
“Oh, Lady Russ. Good day to you.”
“Before that, you must answer. How should we address the Delphin Princess?”
Evangeline’s voice carried barely concealed fury to anyone who heard it.
Yet this tactless woman simply spoke her thoughts aloud regardless.
“Surely we should call her Crown Princess, shouldn’t we? Since she has married Prince Arpard.”
Then Evangeline stared coldly at the foolish woman before covering her face with both hands.
“Oh, what shall I do!”
“W-why are you suddenly like this, my lady?”
“Because my brother is so pitiful and wretched.”
“…Pardon?”
At that moment, the two young ladies who always followed behind Evangeline like attendants began chattering on their own.
“Evangeline is truly so kind and thoughtful.”
“That’s right. The one suffering most and struggling hardest right now is none other than Ludwig, the Grand Duke, whose bride was stolen from him.”
“Yet calling the Delphin Princess the Crown Princess—how much more do you intend to wound Ludwig, the Grand Duke?”
Then Evangeline cried out, tears streaming from her large eyes.
“This is too much! No matter how much you wished to flatter, the victim stands right here!”
“That’s right, Evangeline. Besides, The Emperor hasn’t even publicly declared his approval yet, has he?”
“Exactly. Even if he permitted a party at Artanus Hall, that doesn’t mean he approved the marriage!”
The atmosphere was turning strange.
Evangeline and the young ladies had cast the tactless woman as ‘a vulgar creature who defamed the victim to curry favor.’
“No, that’s not what I meant—!”
Evangeline cut her off coldly.
“Mother dislikes those who fawn over power.”
Those who frequented the Empress Palace well understood what this meant.
‘This is essentially saying she’ll bar access to the Empress Palace from now on!’
Naturally, the Empress held the highest position among all women in The Empire.
Anyone cast aside by the Empress could never be accepted in High Society.
Evangeline, in particular, stood as the most influential figure in High Society—the position of the most radiant flower.
She had just cast them out.
“P-please forgive me! Just give me a chance to speak directly with the Empress…!”
But Evangeline simply turned away coldly.
As if on cue, the Empress Palace’s handmaidens approached and began dragging away the noblewoman who had been cast out.
“No! That’s not what I meant!”
Her struggles were in vain.
The noblewoman was cast out mercilessly, and she would never again receive an invitation to the Empress Palace, nor to Evangeline’s salon.
This was effectively a banishment from High Society.
Evangeline turned back to the noblewomen with a radiant smile, as if the tears from moments before had been nothing but a performance.
“Mother is indisposed today, so she has ordered me to receive the guests in her stead.”
The noblewomen immediately began showering Evangeline with flattery.
“Simply setting foot in the Empress Palace is an honor for us!”
“That’s right! And to meet the golden rose of High Society herself—what unexpected fortune!”
“How is the Grand Duke faring?”
“The Empress holds the Grand Duke in such high regard.”
Evangeline’s expression grew sorrowful.
“My brother seems to carry the deepest wounds in his heart. Mother is quite concerned about it as well.”
Her emerald eyes then gleamed with sudden intensity.
“In fact, Mother mentioned she would find it difficult to attend the reception at Artanus Hall.”
“…!”
The noblewomen grasped the hidden meaning in these words.
‘The Empress has ordered us not to attend the party at Artanus Hall!’
Such silent commands rippled throughout High Society in the Imperial Capital.
Those who defied them would be cast out from High Society.

* * *

News of the Empress and Evangeline’s countermeasures against me reached my ears swiftly, just as the reception at Artanus Hall drew near.
‘So they intend to ruin my party.’
Naturally, I had no intention of accepting this quietly.

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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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