I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 44

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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 44

“Rejected.”
“Pardon?”
“I said reject all of these documents.”
The papers Arpard hurled fluttered through the air before the bewildered Yulken.
“But you said there was no problem handling them this way before!”
“That was then. This is now.”
In the end, Yulken stayed up all night rewriting every document and brought them back.
And then.
“Rejected again.”
“Why? I corrected everything you pointed out yesterday!”
At that, Arpard chuckled and found a ridiculous fault.
“I don’t like the paper quality.”
“Have you finally lost your mind?!”
Anyone could see he was deliberately finding fault and tormenting him.
Arpard was eccentric and somewhat mad, but this was the first time he’d been so petty and cruel.
No matter what mistake Yulken made, this had never happened.
Even when other subordinates committed fatal errors, it hadn’t.
‘He would have just killed them cleanly instead!’
He had never found fault for the sake of fault, deliberately wearing someone down to death.
‘Yet that’s exactly what he’s doing now!’
And to Yulken, no less—universally acknowledged as the most capable of Arpard’s subordinates.
“Your Highness, if you’re having a fit of madness now, this is serious!”
“Why? Are you worried you’ll lose your job?”
Until now, whenever Yulken had deployed his “Are you out of your mind?” on Arpard, he’d always added similar words.
But this time, a completely different reaction came.
Yulken’s off-target remark poured fuel on Arpard’s spite.
“It won’t do for the Protagonist to become a widow the moment she arrives as a bride!”
“…!”
Whoosh!
Yulken’s flawless documents in Arpard’s hand burst into flames.
“Kyaaah! What are you doing?! The fruits of my blood, sweat, and tears from an all-nighter…!”
“Didn’t I say I don’t like the paper?”
“That makes no sense…!”
“Now write them again.”
“Nooooo!”
This chaos—where neither the tormentor nor the tormented understood the clear reason—continued for several more days.
Only the one who caused it all remained oblivious and untroubled.
‘Good. Now that I’ve gained Yulken’s favor, I can focus entirely on preparing the banquet. What a relief!’

* * *

Four days after returning from Delphin.
Count Beltane, who had received emergency treatment and a brief recovery period, finally entered the palace.
Naturally, it was in his capacity as my guard knight.
Though it was said to be an unusual circumstance, I went out to greet Count Beltane myself.
I took care with my appearance and brought along Anny and the other palace attendants as well.
The reason was simple.
‘Count Beltane thinks I was truly abducted, so I need to show him that I’m being treated well and can be at ease.’
That way he could truly find peace of mind.
He must have been deeply worried.
According to Anny’s account, it seemed only two people were genuinely concerned for me.

“Everyone was only worried about the Grand Duke. Count Beltane alone blamed himself for failing to protect you, and even suffered the Grand Duke’s wrath…!”

And Anny, who had entered the palace with me upon my return, adapted remarkably quickly.
In such a short time, she had already made friends among the palace staff with her natural charm.
She even relayed to me the rumors circulating among them.
‘Once I establish Count Beltane in his position as my knight, at least I won’t have to worry about these two anymore.’
I headed toward the Prince’s Palace entrance, my heart racing with anticipation and satisfaction.
But then an unexpected visitor appeared in my path.
“My, my bride is as painfully beautiful as ever today.”
It was Arpard, reciting such cloying words as though it were the most natural thing.
Arpard was dressed in formal attire of crimson silk with elaborate golden thread embroidery.
The cloak embroidered with a golden dragon was so dazzling it was almost burdensome.
‘What is this? He’s dressed as though heading to some grand banquet?’
While I paused in surprise, he approached me quite naturally and extended his hand.
“Will you grant me the honor of escorting you?”
“….”
What is this spectacle?
I was flustered, yet I could not ignore the eyes of those around us.
Unable to help myself, I extended my hand as though shy and replied.
Loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
“My hand is yours at any moment, Your Highness.”
Ah, even as I say it myself, it’s truly cloying.
While I suppressed the goosebumps rising across my entire body, Arpard quickly grasped my hand.
His grip was surprisingly firm, which caught me off guard.
‘What is this?’
I had no intention of pulling my hand away, but I could feel his resolute determination not to let go.
As I quickened my pace in confusion, Arpard whispered softly.
“Do you know what?”
“Know what?”
“You have far too many men around you.”
“…Pardon?”
It was utterly absurd nonsense.
For a moment, I doubted my own ears. I nearly let out a shriek, forgetting the place and situation entirely.
I responded in a low voice.
“What nonsense are you spouting? What baseless accusation is this…?”
Arpard pulled me closer with even greater force.
As a result, we walked nearly embraced together.
This was far beyond a simple escort arrangement.
But I had no leisure to concern myself with such positioning.
Because Arpard’s nonsense had not ended.
He opened his hand and folded his thumb.
“First, me.”
Only then did I understand what this man was saying.
‘Is he counting my men?’
The fact that he counted himself first was utterly ridiculous.
‘Well, he is my legal husband, so it’s not entirely wrong, but…?’
He folded his index finger.
“Second, that Ludwig fellow.”
“Did you forget why I hired you in the first place? I was trying to escape that man’s grasp, so why is Ludwig’s name coming up?”
But Arpard shook his head.
“When I saw him in Delphin, he was overflowing with lingering affection for you.”
“It would be lingering affection for House Delphin’s title and wealth, not for me.”
After all, I had thoroughly drained him for three years. How could he not feel the loss?
But Arpard did not readily agree.
“You simply don’t understand a man’s possessiveness and obsession.”
“Why should I need to understand that?”
At that, Arpard made a very subtle expression. Then he nodded to himself arbitrarily.
“Well, perhaps it’s better that you don’t know.”
Why has this man been spouting nothing but nonsense this whole time?
In the meantime, Arpard’s middle finger folded.
This time, I asked first.
“Why are you folding that one? There isn’t even a man to count.”
“Yulken.”
“Huh?”
Arpard asked in a low voice.
“How on earth did you manage it? In just one day, he’s become completely devoted to you.”
“Completely devoted might be a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think?”
Surprisingly, he was serious.
“Not an exaggeration at all. There aren’t many things that surprise me. To have tamed Yulken so quickly—it’s remarkable.”
I giggled with delight.
His comment about one of my men was absurd, but—
There was unmistakable admiration in Arpard’s words about how I’d tamed Yulken so swiftly.
“Why? Are you impressed by my abilities?”
“…Excessively so.”
With that, Arpard folded down his fourth finger.
Then he pointed to a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the Prince’s Palace and spoke.
“The fourth…is naturally that knight over there—the only one who has ever drawn his blade before me for your sake.”
There stood Count Beltane, leaning on crutches.

* * *

I wanted to rush toward him in surprise and joy, but I failed.
Arpard wasn’t merely holding me back—I was practically nestled against him.
I lacked the strength to break free from Arpard’s grip and run.
I had no choice but to whisper to Arpard.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“Why?”
At that, Arpard’s expression became somewhat exasperated.
“You really don’t understand?”
I tilted my head.
No matter how hard I thought, nothing came to mind.
So I deliberately pinpointed an emotion Arpard could never possibly harbor toward me and threw it out as a joke.
“Are you perhaps jealous?”
I naturally expected Arpard to scoff or laugh it off.
Then I could lighten the mood and slip free from his embrace.
But I never imagined Arpard would nod seriously.
And even less that he would answer like this.
“Don’t I have the right to be jealous? You are my legitimate consort, after all.”
“L-legitimate consort?”
For a moment, his words made me question the reliability of my own hearing.

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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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