I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 48

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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 48

What I intended to do was simple enough.
If only Arpard hadn’t interfered—a man who seemed to have left his shame in his mother’s womb.
I merely wanted to discreetly extract Princess Solenu, who had been insulted by the temperamental Evangeline.
And there in the labyrinth’s corner, I encountered the very scene I had been anticipating.

“My, what brings Princess Solenu to such a remote corner?”
“Ah, could it be you’ve finally decided to repent for your family’s transgressions and beg forgiveness?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand your meaning, Marquess Ruse’s Daughter.”

Princess Solenu answered with remarkable composure.

“I’ve simply come to the Capital after a long absence and attended a party to which I was invited.”
“How shameless. Does anyone here not know how disrespectful your parents were to Her Majesty the Empress?”

The Western territories were home to many great houses with traditions older than the Empire itself.
And among the foremost of these families stood the Solenu Countess.
Naturally, Isephin Solenu, their sole daughter, should have been welcomed when she appeared in the Central Social Circle after so long.
Yet the atmosphere surrounding her was decidedly hostile, for a simple reason.
‘The Empress and the Solenu Countess had become enemies.’
To be more precise, the Empress and House of Axion had become enemies.
And the Solenu Countess was the maternal family of House of Axion.
‘A decade ago, when the Grand Duchess and the Empress clashed, the entire Western territories united against the Empress.’
As a result, the Central Social Circle and the Western Social Circle became completely severed.
Noblewomen and noblemen from the Central territories could not participate in Western social activities.
And those from the West could not make their debuts in the Central circles.
To all appearances, it seemed the Empress, who controlled the Central Social Circle, had won—yet the situation was rather different, given how many ancient and noble families existed in the West.
In a sense, the entire West refused to acknowledge the Empress’s authority.
It was rare for the Emperor to directly intervene in matters of High Society.
Especially since the two sides of this conflict occupied a delicate position from the Emperor’s perspective, he could not afford to take sides.
The Grand Duchess of House of Axion was the Emperor’s aunt and the mother of the previous Empress—in other words, his former mother-in-law.
The current Empress Isabel was a former lady-in-waiting to the previous Empress Roxeline.
The Grand Duchess of House of Axion refused to acknowledge the Empress’s authority whatsoever.
The result was the current schism in High Society.
‘It was certainly unusual for the Solenu Countess’s daughter to appear in the Central Social Circle under these circumstances.’
That’s why Evangeline had initially tried to coax Princess Solenu gently.
She likely hoped that by persuading Princess Solenu, the Western Social Circle might acknowledge and submit to the Empress.
Especially since I had the Artanus Hall reception approaching.
‘After all, being banished from High Society for attending a banquet at Artanus Hall only applies to the Central Social Circle.’
The Western Social Circle, which had been separated for nearly a decade, operated as an entirely separate entity.
It was predictable that I could attempt to seize control of that faction, and they would have foreseen it as well.
That’s why Evangeline had made her own efforts to persuade Princess Solenu.
She failed miserably.
Because despite all her coaxing, Princess Solenu had stepped on a landmine with a calm voice.

“But isn’t it true that the current Empress was once a lady’s maid who served your great-grandmother?”
“…!”

Indeed, Empress Isabel had been a lady’s maid to the previous Empress, and before that, she had served the House of Axion.
She had merely stated facts.
But for Evangeline, the Empress’s daughter, it was an insult as cutting as a slap across the face.
As a result.
Splash—!

“Oh, how clumsy of me. My hand just slipped.”

Evangeline flung the tea she had been holding directly at Princess Solenu.
It was Sharinga petal tea, the kind noble ladies favored.
The young lady’s dress was pale yellow, and consequently, the purple stain was far too conspicuous.
No one knew better than I the look in Evangeline’s eyes when she despised and mocked someone.
And the true meaning behind it as well.
She was probably thinking something like this.

‘Nothing but a character from a book, after all!’

Evangeline clearly did not see people as people.
She would only think of them as text written in books she had read.
Or perhaps as thin dolls.
That’s why she could look down with such undisguised contempt, use them without hesitation, discard them, and kill them without a shred of guilt.
The memory of my final death surfaced anew.
The rage I felt then had frozen my mind to an icy clarity.
‘To you, this world isn’t reality at all. You think of it as nothing but a story in a book to pass the time.’
Because it was merely a game to her, she had no qualms about twisting and destroying things as she pleased.
But I was alive in this world.
Even with the memories of my past life on Earth, I was born and raised in this world.
And until now, I have lived alongside the people of this realm.
There were people who loved me, people who opposed me, but none who thought and acted like Evangeline—like the Possessed.
That, at least, I could never forgive.
‘We are living beings!’
I wanted to tell her this someday, standing before Evangeline herself.
Without fail.

* * *

At that moment, I sent Arpard out.
I needed to extract Princess Solenu without drawing the attention of others.
Since Arpard was already famous as a mad prince, I expected everyone would dismiss any eccentric behavior from him.
Arpard played his role perfectly.
His mere appearance captured every eye around him.
Naturally, even Evangeline’s gaze.
“Oh, brother?”
The way she murmured this while flushing red annoyed me slightly.
Evangeline rushed toward Arpard without sparing a glance for Princess Solenu.
Of course, her followers did the same.
Thanks to this, I was able to slip Princess Solenu away unnoticed.
I could even dress her in the prepared towel and coat.
There was one thing that deviated from my expectations.
Arpard possessed no sense of shame or embarrassment whatsoever.
This situation was an opportunity to irritate the Empress, whom he greatly despised.
And for some reason, when I merely used him for this task, he took offense again.
The result was this catastrophe.
“My baby squirrel in my heart! Where have you gone? How far have you wandered on those tiny feet? If you don’t return to my heart, your true home, I shall surely die of longing!”
…I still hadn’t fully grasped just how mad this man truly was.
‘Has the madness already begun, perhaps?’
Since that was his normal state, no one would notice.
Princess Solenu asked me as I stood frozen beside her.
“Shouldn’t you… go see him? He’s searching so desperately….”
I clutched my throbbing head and shook it.
“No. We’ll withdraw quietly.”
“But….”
In the direction Princess Solenu pointed, Arpard was searching for that damned Baby Squirrel as if performing in a theatrical production!
“…!”
My face felt like it was burning.
That man was my legal husband. Had I made a tremendous mistake?
My condition had been quite strange lately anyway.
With these thoughts, I succeeded in leading Princess Solenu out of the Empress’s Garden.
Without catching anyone’s eye.
“Ah, my Baby Squirrel! Not a single strand of pink fur can I see!”
Escaping from Arpard’s voice, which was clearly mocking me… was absolutely not what I did.
Our escape was made easy because someone consistently captured and refused to release all the surrounding attention.
Though I hate to admit it.

* * *

Though I experienced a moment where reason and composure flew far away.
I succeeded in secretly extracting Princess Solenu and bringing her to the Prince’s Palace as planned.
I had tea prepared, dried her wet hair, and lent her fresh clothes to replace her stained dress.
Thanks to that, I could finally exchange proper greetings with Princess Solenu, now presentable.
“Though it’s late, I can finally greet you properly.”
“The daughter of Solenu bows before the Crown Princess.”
Isephin Solenu observed the utmost courtesy.
It was a demeanor I rarely saw from the Central nobility, and I found myself genuinely moved.
She gazed up at me with calm composure, yet with sharp, intelligent eyes.
“But why did you save me, Your Highness?”

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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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