I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 71

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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 71

The moment Madame Fileren trembled, attempting to stammer out some excuse.
“I, I am…!”
None other than The Emperor himself reacted first.
“What in the world is the meaning of this?”
In truth, The Emperor had only caught fragments of the conversation from behind the curtain.
But he deliberately feigned ignorance.
Regardless of how detached he had remained from High Society’s disputes until now, he was The Emperor.
His instincts for such matters had been honed razor-sharp throughout his lifetime.
The moment he pretended not to understand, Evangeline seized the opportunity and rushed forward.
Nearly collapsing to the floor, she burst into tears and cried out.
“Your Majesty! Please judge my grievance with fairness and impartiality!”
“What grievance do you speak of?”
Evangeline possessed considerable confidence.
‘Whether Hillia is acknowledged as the Crown Prince’s consort or not, I have known The Emperor far longer!’
Evangeline had frequented the Imperial Palace quite often, and among the young ladies of noble houses, she had encountered The Emperor most frequently.
‘And rather, I received more affection from The Emperor than even The Empress did!’
Watching Evangeline’s childish charms in her younger years, The Emperor had once spoken thus.

“Had I a daughter, perhaps it would have felt like this.”

At that moment, he wore a rare, faint smile.
Evangeline had been boasting about this matter to everyone around her.
Because of this, those close to Evangeline believed the Emperor was quite fond of his stepdaughter.
This rumor played a role in High Society treating Evangeline as nearly part of the Imperial Family.
And Evangeline had become convinced this rumor was true.
After insisting on it for so long, she had come to believe it herself.
She genuinely thought this way.
‘He’ll take my side over that fool!’
Evangeline repeated her accusation from moments before with the most pitiful expression in the world.
“Your Majesty, it seems someone dislikes me greatly. I received your affection despite not being of the Imperial Family, and I grew up close to Prince Arpard. It was simply unavoidable given the circumstances.”
At these words, the Emperor tilted his head.
“Someone?”
Evangeline glanced at Hillia standing beside Arpard and drooped her eyebrows.
“I cannot bring myself to name her directly.”
That was when it happened.
An observation came from the Emperor’s lips that Evangeline had never anticipated.
“Why can you not directly name the ‘Crown Princess’ standing right before your eyes? You spoke clearly enough just moments ago, did you not?”
“…Your Majesty?”
Evangeline looked up in shock.
Only then did she realize that the Emperor’s gaze upon her was far from favorable.
The Emperor was a man whose expressions and tone rarely changed, making his emotions difficult to read.
But now, his intentions and emotions were revealed with unusual clarity.
“I understand your accusation. You may well feel wronged. It is possible you wish for it to be clarified before me.”
Color gradually returned to Evangeline’s ashen face.
Just as she was beginning to feel somewhat reassured, the Emperor presented a question she had never anticipated.
“However, all matters have their proper order and etiquette.”
“Order and… etiquette?”
The Emperor’s cold voice pressed down upon Evangeline’s shoulders.
“Your use of ‘someone’ is improper. You must address her directly as the Crown Princess. Otherwise, you would be tarnishing my face, having just acknowledged the Crown Princess.”
Remarkably, the Duchess of Axion, who was known to have a terrible relationship with the Emperor, nodded in agreement.
“Quite right, Your Majesty. One must use proper titles. To restore order in the Empire and across the continent, one must observe even the smallest courtesies.”
Evangeline swallowed a curse inwardly.
‘What does the continent or order have to do with anything!’
The Duchess lifted the corners of her mouth and mocked Evangeline.
“From what I observe, there is one person present who has failed to show proper respect to the Crown Princess.”
“…!”
“Before making accusations or appealing to grievances, should there not be something else to do first?”
With that, the Duchess bowed her head toward one side and stepped back several paces.
And so, quite naturally, ‘someone’ entered Evangeline’s field of vision.
The one Evangeline had deliberately referred to as ‘someone.’
Hillia maintained an innocent and serene expression, as though she knew nothing of what was happening.
Evangeline bit her lip.
It was a situation that even the most oblivious person could not fail to understand.
Right now, the Emperor and the Duchess of Axion were sending Evangeline a clear message.
‘If you want to lodge a complaint or do whatever else you please, first show proper courtesy before the Crown Princess.’
And naturally, that courtesy meant….
‘They’re telling me to address that woman as Crown Princess Your Highness and kneel before her?’
It was a humiliation beyond imagination.
A terrible ordeal she wouldn’t wish to experience even in her nightmares.
Evangeline glanced around, as if seeking help.
But the Emperor, the Prince, and the Duchess of Axion—all formidable figures—were already standing beside Hillia.
Moreover, the justification was undeniable.
Now that she had been recognized by the Emperor, unlike before, Hillia deserved to be honored as the Crown Princess.
The Western Nobles naturally sided with Hillia and spoke ill of Evangeline.
“Her words have been strange from the start. Why does she insist on using such awkward phrasing?”
“Indeed. It’s as if she refuses to call her Crown Princess Your Highness.”
“I’ve heard the rumors. They say the young lady of Marquis Ruse acts like she’s of Imperial blood because her mother is the Empress.”
“Could it be she actually thinks she’s of Imperial Princess rank and doesn’t want to address her?”
They spoke in hushed tones, but their words carried clearly.
That itself was their intention.
Yet the Central Nobility did not come to Evangeline’s defense.
When their eyes met hers, they turned away.
None of them possessed the courage to stand against the Emperor for her sake.
‘And they were all so eager to flatter me until now!’
Everyone seemed to be demanding the same thing of her.
That she kneel before Hillia and address her as ‘Crown Princess Your Highness.’
Evangeline bit her lip.
‘Fine. To get ahead, I must. There’s no choice. I can afford to retreat one step to advance two.’
She rose slowly, her entire body trembling.
‘Yes. I’ll endure this humiliation for now and properly publicize the dress matter, raising questions about the new Crown Princess’s character and propriety!’
Hillia had not yet fully established herself as Crown Princess.
I needed to shake her foundation now, before she did.
For that purpose, I could endure a moment of humiliation.
Evangeline swallowed the bitter taste rising in her throat and reluctantly knelt before Hillia, bowing her head.
Then, in a trembling voice, she spoke.
“The daughter of Ruse greets Crown Princess Your Highness.”

* * *

I watched Evangeline bow with a peculiar sense of detachment.
And hearing her address me as “Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”
It was a strangely unfamiliar sight.
Throughout three regressions, Evangeline had never once lowered her head or knelt before me.
‘She never properly called me Crown Princess, let alone addressed me as Grand Duchess.’
By the time Ludwig became Crown Prince, I was always in a state of disgrace. Because of that, I never truly claimed the position of Crown Princess.
The Grand Duchess position was different. Whether I wanted it or not, I always had to become the Grand Duchess of Kieln.
But each time, Evangeline had cleverly evaded it with words like “we’re friends after all.”
Using the word “Highness” when addressing me.
It would be a lie to say I’d never imagined such a moment before.
But it wasn’t as exhilarating or satisfying as I’d thought it would be.
‘Rather than that… it was just like this, I suppose?’
There was less emotional impact than expected.
And surprisingly, Evangeline seemed to read my expression perfectly.
Our eyes met as she lifted her head from her bow.
“…!”
Evangeline’s pale face flushed crimson with humiliation.
It was an expression I’d never seen before.
I simply smiled back at her. There was no particular reason.
‘That would irritate her the most.’

* * *

One step back for two steps forward.
As though swallowing poison, Evangeline knelt before Hillia.
The moment our eyes met as I raised my head.
I felt a humiliation and degradation far greater than kneeling before Hillia in this moment.
It would have been better if she had gloated or mocked me instead.
Even hostility would have been preferable.
But it was neither.
She watched my humiliation with vacant eyes, as though utterly unmoved.
‘As if… as if I weren’t even worth her contempt!’
Evangeline felt a degradation more bitter than ever before engulf her entire being.
She seized the trembling hand of Madame Fileren, who knelt beside her, and yanked her to her feet.
“Your Majesty, I just heard what the Crown Princess plotted against me!”
Evangeline pointed to Anny standing behind Hillia as she spoke.
“First, the dress that maid is wearing is the evidence! How could a mere maid wear such a luxurious gown?”
Then she shoved Madame Fileren forward almost violently.
“Most importantly, the Madame confessed to me! She revealed my dress design to the Crown Princess!”
A confident smile played at Evangeline’s lips.
‘The evidence and witness are so clear! Did you really think you could escape this?’
That was when Evangeline realized, a moment too late.
Hillia’s eyes, which had been glimmering with faint, dispassionate amusement, suddenly blazed with brilliant, vivid light.
Unease began to creep up her spine.

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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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