I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 58

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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 58

Everyone froze like ice at Hillia’s unexpected command.
Those who had been anxious about the Grand Duchess’s outburst were reassured when she laughed at Hillia’s composed response.
It had appeared to be an ideal and gentle flow of events.
‘An elderly woman of power testing her young daughter-in-law who needed support, and then laughing and graciously accepting her once she passed—that was the structure.’
But then everything reversed in an instant.
Hillia hadn’t spoken to prove her mettle; she had actually issued an order to expel guests to the Grand Duchess.
“Please return safely on your long journey. I will not see you off personally.”
“What?”
The Duchess of Axion’s fury was not something easily endured.
She was someone even the Emperor and Empress could not treat carelessly.
Yet here was Hillia—barely more than a child, her position still precarious—issuing an expulsion order.
‘Everyone could see this was supposed to be the moment when the Grand Duchess tested and took the Crown Princess under her wing!’
That was what everyone thought.
Even Anny, Hillia’s own lady-in-waiting, thought so.
But Hillia alone thought differently.
She straightened her posture and spoke with composure.
Since everyone was frozen in shock, barely remembering to breathe, Hillia’s clear voice rang out with perfect clarity.
“I have become a member of the Imperial Family and must prove my qualifications. However, I have no intention of begging for support from someone who cannot even uphold basic principles.”
Principles.
Only then could everyone recall it.
What Hillia had said when she first arrived.

“As the wife of Prince Arpard, I am the Crown Princess. The only woman to whom I must first show courtesy is Her Majesty the Empress.”

Therefore, the Grand Duchess must be the one to show courtesy to the Crown Princess first.
This was an objective fact, untouched by any political views or positions.
Hillia concluded her words calmly.
“Since I have not yet exchanged greetings with anyone, I have not met with anyone.”
A low voice flowed from between the Grand Duchess’s lips, which had remained rigid the entire time.
“So… you’re saying you don’t need my help?”
For the first time, the Grand Duchess spoke with formal respect.

I felt a thrill of electricity racing up my spine.
‘Perfect!’
But I didn’t let it show.
Even so, I answered the Grand Duchess’s question honestly.
“Yes, I do need it. Desperately, in fact.”
Everyone knew that I needed the Duchess of Axion’s help.
So lying and saying otherwise would only make me look foolish.
The Grand Duchess asked, puzzled.
“Then why are you turning me away?”
I smiled brightly and replied.
“I haven’t turned anyone away. I haven’t met with anyone since arriving here.”
The Grand Duchess still hadn’t shown me courtesy, so by that logic, we hadn’t even been introduced yet.
If I insisted on it, my claim that I hadn’t met anyone was technically correct.
Ultimately, my position had remained consistent from the beginning until now.
‘You’re not taking me under your wing—I’m taking you under mine.’
Age didn’t matter, nor did who was privately the elder.
It was a matter of power and hierarchy.
And a Crown Princess being dragged around by a collateral branch of the Imperial Family could never defeat the Empress.
The Grand Duchess sighed.
“I never thought at my age I’d be outmaneuvered by a mere child.”
I said nothing more.
I only spoke to Anny.
“Prepare to see her out….”
The Grand Duchess replied coldly.
“Very well.”
And she slowly rose from her seat.
I felt my heart pounding with anxiety.
‘Surely she’s not actually leaving? If she does, everything falls apart.’
But I didn’t let my anxiety show.
There was one certainty I held firm.
The Grand Duchess absolutely could not leave like this.
I had given Princess Solenu only one message to relay.

“Do you think there are no suspicions whatsoever regarding the death of Empress Roxellin?”

No mother who had lost her daughter could possibly ignore such words.
The very fact that the Grand Duchess, who had secluded herself all this time, had come to the Capital City—a place she had never set foot in—was answer enough.
So I was able to remain composed.
And I was not surprised when the Grand Duchess rose and did not leave the room.
Not even when she finally knelt before me and offered her respects.
Without the aid of her attendants, maintaining her dignified and upright bearing despite her age, the Grand Duchess bowed to me.
“Martine of House of Axion pays her respects to the Crown Princess.”
Only then could I smile, and truly “meet” with the Grand Duchess.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Duchess of Axion. I believe we can be of great service to one another.”
It was my victory.
And with this, the High Society of the West had essentially knelt before me.

* * *

“Sigh….”
Arpard found Yulken, who was heaving sighs as if the ground beneath him would collapse, utterly irritating.
While Yulken was prone to sharp remarks, sighing seemed entirely out of character for him.
“Sigh… The Protagonist….”
That title attached to his sigh irritated me.
‘Why is he muttering about Hillia to himself?’
It had only been recently that I had rejected every document Yulken submitted.
Yet Yulken was once again grating on my nerves.
My hand, which had been about to tear the documents Yulken handed over in half, stopped.
I had seen the title of the documents.

-Request for overall budget allocation for the Artanus Hall banquet.
-Procedures for renting transport ships for banquet supplies and required budget proposal.
-Request for budget allocation for construction of the Prince’s Palace gardens and external passages.
-…labor costs….
…and so on.

“….”
Naturally, it was Hillia who was spearheading the banquet preparations.
So this budget document must have come up for her, or at her command.
I couldn’t reject the document simply because Yulken found it disagreeable.
‘The Artanus Hall banquet is important to me as well.’
That’s right.
I had to defeat the Empress and earn the Emperor’s recognition.
‘Only then can Hillia be acknowledged as the official Crown Princess.’
After that, no one would be able to deny that she was my wife.
“?”
I paused, momentarily puzzled.
My train of thought felt strange.
‘If I think like this, it would be easy to misunderstand that Hillia being acknowledged as Crown Princess is more important than solidifying my own position.’
Soon I gathered my thoughts.
In any case, Hillia being acknowledged as Crown Princess was beneficial for me as the Crown Prince.
A married couple is one body, after all.
‘Yes. And Hillia has been doing well at checking the Empress too.’
That was it. Nothing more.
I suppressed the strange feeling and stamped the Crown Prince’s seal on the document.
It was a document redirecting all surplus budget from the Crown Prince’s Palace toward the Artanus Hall banquet preparations.
Just then, Yulken heaved another sigh so deep it seemed the ground would collapse.
“Haaaaah… Your Highness… this is too much….”
I finally couldn’t hold back.
Thud!
I slammed the office table and expressed my irritation at Yulken.
“What’s with all these muttering comments since earlier?”
Yulken looked bewildered.
“Pardon? Why do you ask? I was merely lamenting something personal to myself….”
“It’s personal, so why is Hillia involved?”
Yulken’s expression became as if he might cry.
“Ah, well… there are circumstances that warrant it.”
“Don’t be cryptic—speak plainly!”
Yulken tilted his head.
“But Your Highness, haven’t you always said you have no interest in my personal matters?”
That was true. Yulken talked a great deal. Conversation was a great pleasure for him.
Naturally, he shared plenty of personal stories, but I had consistently dismissed him coldly each time.

“Isn’t this your workplace? Talk only about work.”
“I have absolutely no interest in a retainer’s private life.”

Arpard made his assertion once more.
“That remains true even now. I have no interest in your private affairs.”
“Then why this time…?”
“Did I not already explain? You mentioned Hillia, so I’m asking.”
….
Yulken fell silent for a moment, his eyes rolling about before he spoke.
“Your Highness, haven’t you noticed something strange lately?”
“What?”
Arpard’s irritation flared. He despised subordinates who spouted nonsense instead of giving proper answers.
Especially this one, who had babbled days ago about Hillia liking him and such drivel….
That very nonsense from Yulken struck Arpard like a blow to the back of his head.
“Your Highness, lately you’ve been acting just like a young person hopelessly smitten with first love… or rather, like an inexperienced youth, if I may say so?”

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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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