I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 40

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

Chapter 40

The conflict between Ludwig and Hillia began with Ludwig’s humiliation.
The next day, when Delphin sent an indictment to Kielrn Manor, everyone learned of it.
The charges were embezzlement of House Delphin’s private assets and illegal occupation of territory.
Though this was merely the beginning, the evidence, witnesses, and documents were said to be flawless.
Either charge was something the nobility could not help but regard with sensitivity.
Because of this, it was difficult to expect lenient punishment simply on account of his imperial blood.
Above all, there was no guarantee that the Emperor, who had previously covered for Ludwig, would do so again this time.
In fact, everyone believed the Emperor could not possibly do so now.
His reputation had already plummeted due to the shameful conduct he displayed while thoroughly intoxicated.
Public opinion erupted like wildfire—such a man could never become Emperor.
When the indictment from House Delphin was added to this, people could not help but recognize it.
Ludwig would never obtain the throne, let alone seize House Delphin.
‘Ludwig is finished!’
And everyone believed one person was behind this affair.
‘Prince Arpard.’
Ludwig’s shameful conduct had occurred in a place and at a time where far too many eyes were watching.
The indictment followed immediately after, perfectly timed, and the preparations were flawless.
Everything unfolded so seamlessly, as if orchestrated. Anyone would have suspected there was a mastermind behind this.
Only, no one suspected that mastermind was Hillia.
This was because Hillia’s image had been precisely that until now.
They believed she lacked the ability to directly plan and execute Ludwig’s downfall.
As Arpard relayed these rumors, he asked her.
“Aren’t you frustrated?”
“About what?”
“This entire affair was entirely your doing. I merely lent a hand.”
Yet through this affair, Arpard had gained the image of a capable and formidable person who had eliminated a political rival.
Hillia was merely seen as having been used by him.
Any person would have felt indignation and anger.
But Hillia laughed quietly—or rather, meaningfully.
“I prefer it this way.”
“…Prefer it?”
“I still need time to hide in the shadow behind you.”
Hillia intended to exploit her image thoroughly.
And she made a promise.
“In just one month, even if people wanted to look down on me, they won’t be able to.”
Her smile was as sweet as cherry blossoms preserved in sugar. But only Arpard knew the poison hidden within it.
And then Hillia said something unexpected.
“Ah, and it’s not as though no one knows, is it?”
“Hmm?”
Hillia’s slender finger pointed boldly toward Arpard.
“You know.”
“…That’s true.”
Hillia laughed brightly and lifted her teacup.
“That’s enough for me.”
Watching the woman smile with such crystalline clarity, Arpard found himself hesitating for a moment.
‘Is she doing this deliberately, or is it simply her nature?’
Either way, he thought, perhaps he should fear her a little.

Chapter 6. The Skirmish

In any case, this incident had breathed new life into the Imperial Capital’s social circles after a long while.
People naturally found more joy in exchanging gossip than in sharing virtuous tales.
For the past several days, wherever one went, everyone’s lips moved first with ‘that rumor’.
“Have you heard? Ludwig, the Grand Duke…”
“Moreover, they say he used the Delphin Mansion as though it were his own. The returned luggage exceeded five carriages’ worth!”
“Goodness. But have you heard this rumor too? Apparently, Evangeline’s belongings were also sent back from the Delphin Mansion this time.”
At this news, everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
“The Grand Duke certainly stayed at the Delphin Mansion as her fiancé, but Evangeline’s belongings?”
“That’s strange. Does one normally accumulate enough personal belongings to fill a carriage at someone else’s residence?”
“Surely not. Unless she actually lived there…”
At that point, no one dared speak it aloud, yet all could imagine the same possibility.
‘Could Ludwig, the Grand Duke and Evangeline have been… intimate?’
‘If true, that would be quite the scandal?’
‘Could the real reason the Grand Duke’s marriage to the Delphin Princess fell through be…?’
Everyone was eagerly chewing over this fascinating topic, their imaginations running wild.
Evangeline’s close associates, positioned throughout the social circles, began moving with purpose.
Following Evangeline’s orders, they first attempted to separate the incidents.
“Oh, this matter and that matter are entirely separate affairs.”
“That’s right. The matter of Ludwig, the Grand Duke and Evangeline is a different case. It’s mere speculation to conflate them.”
“The Empress would surely be displeased if she heard such talk, wouldn’t she?”
They invoked the Empress’s authority to silence tongues and offered excuses of their own accord.
“Well, when you frequently visit a close friend’s home, belongings tend to accumulate, don’t they?”
“I understand completely! It shows how close you are.”
“Exactly. It’s well known that Evangeline has been taking care of the Delphin princess all this time, isn’t it?”
They arrived at their conclusion through remarkably flawed logic.
“Still, isn’t the Delphin princess being too much?”
“It’s absolutely cruel. To cast aside such a caring friend who looked after her all this time in such a humiliating manner.”
“She’s trying to abandon Evangeline now that she thinks she’s become the Crown Princess.”
“How awful! I can’t imagine how hurt Evangeline must be!”
After the late Empress passed away, the social circles centered around the Imperial Capital revolved around Empress Isabel and her daughter Evangeline.
The moment they threw their full weight behind shifting public opinion, the effects became immediately apparent.
Crafting plausible justifications, they worked to paint Evangeline as the victim and me as the perpetrator.
The highlight of this propaganda campaign was Evangeline’s appearance at a salon held in the Empress Palace.
She, who always wore vibrant and elegant gowns befitting the flower of high society, appeared in a drab ash-gray dress that resembled mourning attire.
Moreover, her complexion was so pallid that she looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
Evangeline’s followers swarmed around her like clouds.
“Are you alright, Evangeline?”
“Your beautiful face has grown so pale.”
“How deeply you must be suffering!”
Evangeline answered with a sorrowful smile.
“I’m fine. I think she must have misunderstood something. It’s all my fault.”
Evangeline referred to me as “she” in a respectful manner while deliberately refusing to call me the Crown Princess.
‘Never. I would never call her that even if it killed me.’
Though it was impossible, even if the Emperor were to approve Arpard and my marriage.
To address me as Crown Princess and bow before me in greeting…
The very thought was unbearable.
It would feel as though she had truly lost.
‘To nothing more than a novel character.’
Evangeline continued her performance as a pitiful, wounded victim with a melancholic expression.
“I thought we shared a genuine friendship, but it seems I was the only one who believed that.”
“That’s not true! Without you, Evangeline, how could that unsociable Delphin princess have found her place in society?”
“Exactly! It was all thanks to you, Evangeline!”
Crowds are naturally susceptible to popular images and rumors.
Evangeline knew how to exploit that well.
Finally, unable to restrain herself, Evangeline let a single crystalline tear fall.
And this scene, illustrated and rendered far more beautiful and pitiful than reality, appeared without exception in the next day’s social gazette of the Imperial Capital nobility.
Several times more lovely and tragic than the original.
Naturally, sympathy for Evangeline became the prevailing sentiment among the Capital’s nobility.
A single tear was sufficient to recapture the favorable atmosphere of high society that had once been hers.

* * *

I settled the affairs of the Delphin Mansion in a single night and returned to the Prince’s Palace.
Naturally, Arpard had been at the Prince’s Palace the entire time.
I moved alone to bring order to House Delphin, drove Ludwig away, and sent back all the belongings of the two adulterers.
Since I deliberately had it done when many people were watching, rumors were bound to spread.
Once I confirmed how the rumors were circulating, I could draw only one conclusion.
‘Evangeline has cut ties with Ludwig.’
At least for now, she was using Ludwig as a shield to deflect the suspicious gazes directed at herself.
And I was simply sitting here listening to that information.
“So… they say Miss Evangeline was wounded quite deeply. She was even seen with tears in the Empress Palace’s salon. Everyone is sympathizing with her.”
I had already heard that news. I’d even seen the illustrations drawn in the gazette.
‘It was truly revolting.’
Right after the incident at Delphin, the Countess of Fileren came rushing over and made her daily appearances at the Prince’s Palace like clockwork.
This predetermined traitor had absolutely not had a change of heart.
It was easy enough to imagine.
‘She must have been thoroughly scolded by Evangeline.’
Apparently, this spy attached to my side had been criticized for failing to obtain advance information about the incident at Delphin.

“Goodness! Your Highness, am I not your one and only friend? I’m so heartbroken that you didn’t tell me about something so important beforehand!”
“There was nothing I could do about it. It was a sudden order from the Prince.”

I also made sure to spread false information.
‘Let them believe it was Arpard who orchestrated this, not me.’
That way, this woman, Evangeline, and the Empress would all underestimate me.
Now was not the time to reveal my true self.
The Countess of Fileren made an absurd attempt to persuade me.
“It’s not too late even now, Your Highness. Why don’t you seek reconciliation with Miss Evangeline?”
“Reconciliation?”
What the hell kind of reconciliation was that?
Then the Countess of Fileren clapped her hands together sharply.
“Ah, that wouldn’t be quite appropriate, would it?”
And she corrected herself. For the worse.
“Your Highness should apologize!”
The Countess of Fileren smiled broadly.
‘What is this woman saying?’
My fingers tightened around the teacup I was holding.

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