I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 29

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

Chapter 29

Gaspard often used to say this.

“The stories of dragons kidnapping princesses from fairy tales and legends probably came about because of the existence of a bride.”
“If the madness of the Imperial Family cannot overcome dragon bloodline, there’s no more efficient solution than you.”

Gaspard, the Mad Archmage, was a terrible human being.
But there was one undeniable fact—he was a genius.
Had he been anything less, he could never have ascended to the position of Mad Archmage, nor could he have been chosen by the Possessed Evangeline.
So when I went to the Underground Crypt to find Arpard, I first observed his reaction to my blood.
If the madness had progressed, Arpard would have been unable to resist the temptation of my blood.
But when he saw my blood, he did not rush at me like a madman.
After that, I could proceed with my plan without worry.
The reason I approached him first, despite knowing he was a dangerous existence to me, was simple.
‘Because I knew my existence would be that useful to Arpard.’
At the same time, the reason I remained cautious and distrustful was the same.
‘Because he’s so useful that Arpard could become dangerous to me.’
And to be honest, I harbored another thought as well.
‘If I’m just going to be used by Ludwig and Evangeline anyway, I’d rather die having my blood drained by Arpard!’
At least then Arpard would be freed from his madness, and I could deal Ludwig a devastating blow.
But that was only a consideration if there were no other options.
I preferred to live if at all possible, so I hoped Arpard could be cured of his madness without learning about the existence of a bride.
But I couldn’t know if Arpard himself thought the same way.
‘The easiest and fastest method would be to have him drink my blood.’
Of course, that wasn’t the only way….
‘There would be that… embarrassing method too….’
In any case, regardless of which method was used, I wanted to protect my own safety.
And I wanted to maintain control of the situation.
So unless something extraordinary happened, I had no intention of being the first to mention the word “bride” to Arpard.

* * *

Yes, that’s right. But…
Faced with those ominous eyes, I found myself questioning whether my choice had been wrong.
I stared back at Arpard’s gleaming crimson gaze and thought.
‘But even now, I can’t be certain that Arpard’s madness hasn’t progressed.’
After a moment of frozen silence, I forced myself to move.
I waved my hand in front of Arpard’s face and asked.
“Excuse me? You’re still in your right mind, aren’t you?”
Despite my frantic gesturing right before him, Arpard’s gaze remained fixed on me with stubborn intensity.
“Arpard Istrid?”
“…So now you won’t even address me properly?”
“Oh, thank goodness.”
“Thank goodness for what?”
“I was worried your madness might be flaring up. I’m relieved it isn’t.”
Arpard looked at me with displeasure before asking again.
“Why are you avoiding my question?”
“Pardon? What question?”
“I asked you just now—whether I should love or hate such a being.”
My eyes widened.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“What?”
“Whether to love or hate such a being is something Your Highness must decide for yourself.”
My point was valid. Why ask me about your own feelings?
“Actually, it’s the opposite. So do you want to love them, or do you want to hate them?”
This was something I genuinely wanted to know.
As I waited for his answer with sparkling eyes, Arpard let out a long sigh.
“You certainly know how to slip away every time.”
I followed after Arpard as he ignored me and walked toward the bed.
And I asked again.
“No, that’s not an answer. Just tell me. Do you want to love them, or do you want to hate them?”
I was genuinely serious about wanting to know.
‘That being’ was me, and Arpard didn’t know that when he asked me such a question.
The very thing I continued to worry and feel anxious about.
Or more precisely, I was curious why he had paired ‘hate’ right after ‘love’.
“Usually, when such a being exists, wouldn’t you naturally come to love them? Like how Artanus loved Princess Istrid?”
At my words, Arpard’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
“You wouldn’t normally attach a word like ‘hate’ to that, would you?”
He answered without turning around.
“Because I think I might come to hate them.”
“…!”
I was startled—quite startled, actually. My heart seemed to sink beneath my ribs.
Fortunately, Arpard had his back to me, so there was no risk of him catching my expression or reading my heart.
“So if I’m destined to love upon meeting, it means even my own emotions aren’t under my control? If subjected to such a thing, I’d have no choice but to despise it.”
Well, that was certainly a response befitting him.
Arpard had already told me this several times before.
He despised anyone who attempted to manipulate him.
That was why he even scorned and rejected his own father, the Emperor.
I responded with cheerful composure, as though my heart hadn’t just sunk moments before.
“How fortunate indeed.”
Arpard turned around and asked.
“Fortunate how?”
“Because I’m not such a being, so you needn’t despise me.”
Arpard didn’t answer my words.
And he didn’t ask anything further.
He simply lay down on the bed first, gazing at me with languid eyes.
I couldn’t very well tell him to move or leave—it was my bed, after all.
We were officially husband and wife, our marriage having been solemnized.
Moreover, we were a couple engaged in a love for the ages, having conducted a bride-theft at first sight.
It hadn’t been long, and if we were already using separate bedrooms, it would only invite gossip.
Suspicions like, “Was the bride-theft merely a performance?”
I held my head high and confidently climbed into bed with Arpard.
Then I turned my back to him and pretended to fall into a deep sleep.
I thought I heard Arpard gazing at me from behind before letting out a sigh, but I ignored it.
And so, throughout that entire night.

* * *

“Ugh… Truly, he’s utterly useless….”
In the end, I had completely lost sleep.
The Palace Maids who assisted with my grooming exchanged uncertain glances and asked.
“Pardon? Did we perhaps make some mistake…?”
“No. It’s just from last night… No. It’s nothing.”
A subtle current flowed between the maids.
One Tactless Maid displayed excessive zeal.
“Could there have been someone who disturbed Your Highness’s sleep? Please tell us. We shall teach them a lesson!”
“….”
The other Senior Maids exchanged meaningful looks, though I couldn’t tell if she truly understood.
And I was too lazy to explain myself in detail.
“That’s not it, so don’t worry.”
At that moment, one of the Senior Maids led the tactless maid away.
Though she lowered her voice, I caught every word of her admonishment.
“The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have such a wonderful relationship—of course she’s tired! How can you be so oblivious!”
“Oh! I’m so sorry!”
Though it was entirely untrue, I found it awkward to interject and deny it.
‘Well, it’s a bit embarrassing… but if such rumors spread, there’s no harm in it….’
I gazed toward distant mountains, pretending to hear nothing.
The maids were doing their utmost to prepare me.
They were struggling to conceal the dark circles beneath my eyes, a consequence of my sleepless night.
Among the maids assigned to me, the most striking was Eshia, who was now diligently covering my dark circles with powder.
I found her quite capable, with nimble hands and swift movements.
Once my grooming was complete and when there were fewer eyes and ears about, I carefully asked her.
“Ah, His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to hear news of Delphin from you.”
“Ah, yes. Shall I report now?”
“Yes. Please do.”
That’s right. This maid was one of Arpard’s trusted aides who received direct orders from him.
She wasn’t high enough to gather intelligence directly, but she was positioned to relay it to me.
“Regarding the maid named Anny, there is no need for concern whatsoever. The situation in Delphin is so chaotic at present that no one would have the opportunity to trouble her.”
“That’s a relief. But if Anny is fine, does that mean Count Beltane is different?”
“Yes. Ludwig, the Grand Duke, is still in Delphin.”
That man, despite the humiliation Arpard inflicted upon him last time, still hadn’t left Delphin.
Perhaps after living there for the past three years as though it were his own home, he had come to believe it truly was his.
“Is Ludwig tormenting Count Beltane?”
“He has imprisoned him in the Underground Prison, I’m told.”
To seize another’s home and torment another’s knight—it was absurd.
But the problem was that Ludwig was precisely the sort of man who would do such a thing without hesitation.
“Has he suffered severe beatings or injuries?”
“Nothing of that sort, I’m told.”
“Was she properly treated for the injuries sustained on the wedding day?”
“…I’m afraid I don’t have detailed information on that matter, Your Highness.”
Still, this was more thorough intelligence than I had anticipated.
‘Arpard’s information network is quite impressive, after all.’
It seems he doesn’t take on his mercenary king side business for nothing.
Yet I couldn’t continue relying solely on Arpard’s capabilities and organization indefinitely.
‘I need to build my own people and my own organization.’
This would take time. But I couldn’t simply abandon the effort either.
I issued a command to Eshia.
“Send people to Delphin in my name and bring Anny and Count Beltane here.”
I was particularly anxious about those two—I couldn’t bear to leave them as they were.
Count Beltane was injured and confined to the underground, after all. I couldn’t leave them there.
I would need to thoroughly investigate the entire duchy, but first I had to extract at least those two.
At that, Eshia’s expression grew troubled, and she asked.
“Is this with Prince Arpard’s permission, Your Highness?”
“…!”
My face hardened, and I turned to look at Eshia. Anyone could see that I was furious.
Eshia gasped and immediately dropped to her knees.
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
“Whose service are you in?”
“Prince Arpard commanded me to serve you, Your Highness.”
“…So you’re saying you belong to Prince Arpard.”
“That is….”
This was something I already knew. Both Eshia and I did.
The fact that Eshia relayed information I requested from Arpard made it certain.
That she was Arpard’s person.
But Eshia questioning whether Prince Arpard’s permission was needed for my command was another matter entirely.
I responded coldly.
“Return to your master.”
“…Pardon?”
“Go back to your master. There is no reason I should need Prince Arpard’s permission to decide what to do with my own household staff.”
Eshia’s complexion turned ashen.
She had realized her mistake.
“I sincerely apologize! Please, I beg your forgiveness just this once!”
But I did not relent.
The other maids, tense with anxiety, finished my preparations.
Throughout it all, Eshia remained on her knees.
I pretended not to see her at all.
And I instructed another maid to relay my command to bring Anny and Count Beltane from Delphin.
I had no intention of engaging in a power struggle with a maid.
I’m well aware that everyone around me belongs to Arpard, of course.
But with such trivial matters constantly obstructed, there’s nothing I can accomplish.
Besides, the most significant and pressing matter before me was something else entirely.
‘The banquet at Artanus Hall in one month!’
If that banquet didn’t proceed successfully, I could never be properly recognized as the Crown Princess.
And the greatest obstacle I faced before the banquet was the conspiracy of the Empress and Evangeline.
‘The two of them have already declared war on the Imperial Capital’s social circles. They’ve warned that anyone attending the banquet at Artanus Hall should prepare for social exile.’
I had to crush this first.

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