I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 72

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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 72

The moment Evangeline, who had seemed to kneel helplessly before me, presented such a ridiculous conspiracy.
I could barely contain the joy that bubbled up from the depths of my heart.
‘Yes. This is how it should be!’
Evangeline had to walk into the trap first, in front of everyone’s eyes.
‘Only then can I serve her a far greater humiliation!’
I suppressed the urge to cheer and replied as if nothing were amiss.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing. The Countess of Fileren seems to be mistaken about something.”
Evangeline, who had stiffened for a moment, grew even more agitated and pressed the Countess of Fileren.
“Tell me everything you know, right now!”
She leaned close to the Countess of Fileren and whispered a few words in her ear—it was clearly coercion.
Meanwhile, I neither threatened nor intimidated the Countess of Fileren, and waited patiently.
For the fabricated accusations against me to spill from her lips.
The Countess of Fileren trembled with fear and repeated her words like a parrot.
“Y-yes, just as Evangeline said. The Empress commanded me to learn the design of Evangeline’s dress… and she had her maid wear it. To humiliate Evangeline.”
The trembling in her voice at the beginning gradually steadied as she continued.
It was as if she were gaining a confidence that didn’t exist.
At that very moment, Evangeline burst into tears.
“Wahhh! This is too much! I trusted you as a friend… how could you do this to me!!”

* * *

After the Countess of Fileren finished her testimony, the nobles—especially those from the central aristocracy who had attended the Empress Palace banquet—watched the Emperor’s expression carefully.
This incident itself was merely a pretext.
But how the Emperor would react when given grounds for complaint was a critical matter.
‘I need to see whether the Emperor sides with the Empress or with Evangeline, then decide our course of action accordingly.’
‘Besides, the Empress still stands behind Evangeline.’
‘I must observe carefully and judge where High Society’s power will flow from here on.’
These were people who had fluttered over like bats to this side during Lady Quinifel’s banquet at the Empress Palace.
They were deliberating which faction to align themselves with.
That was when the Emperor spoke.
“Indeed… if what she says is true, that is hardly an appropriate attitude for an Empress who should set an example and lead High Society.”
This matter had nothing to do with whether Hillia would be recognized as Empress.
But if she had conspired to humiliate a peer out of personal spite.
And if that conspiracy had been exposed to the outside world, it could become a problem.
Before her character or virtue, it was a question of her capability and dignity.
‘In other words, the Empress’s prestige would be damaged before it even began, and one could argue she lacks the qualifications to properly lead High Society.’
That was what Evangeline was aiming for.
When I witnessed the dragon eclipse earlier, I already felt it was impossible to prevent the Empress’s recognition.
So at the very least, I had to tarnish Hillia so she could never fully possess it.
That was why I pushed so hard to bring this forward.
It was easier to wound her before her authority solidified.
And the Emperor had always been a man of objective judgment.
Regardless of emotion or whether someone was close to him.
Since High Society was traditionally led by the Empress, he did not interfere with or restrict her actions.
Evangeline’s actions were currently being carried out with the Empress’s permission.
The Emperor would know this as well.
So when words that seemed to contradict the Empress came from the Emperor’s lips, a smile played at Evangeline’s mouth.
‘The Emperor has no intention of interfering with the Empress’s control of High Society this time either.’
Then the Duchess of Axion spoke sharply from beside her.
“Like a shark drawn by the scent of blood.”
Evangeline glared at the Duchess of Axion with fierce eyes.
But she soon regained her composure.
‘What does it matter if she speaks harshly! Everything I said has clear evidence and witnesses!’
And everyone connected to the dress matter had been bought by Evangeline.
Madame Fileren went without saying, and so did the designer and staff of the dressmaking studio who had created the defective gown.
It was not difficult to silence their mouths or extract the testimony I desired.
The Countess of Fileren was proof of that right now.
But Hillia was different.
How could she prove she had never done such a thing?
‘I’ve already secured all the witnesses! There’s nothing you can do!’
And finally, Hillia’s lips parted.
“I have never done such a thing.”
There was no mention of any evidence or witnesses.
“I cannot fathom why Madame Fileren insists on lying.”
Evangeline’s voice grew even sharper, her spirit undaunted.
“Then why would you dress a mere maid in such an exquisite gown?”
The Emperor nodded thoughtfully before turning to Hillia with a question.
“That is indeed peculiar. Such attire is certainly excessive for a maid to wear.”
Evangeline’s lips curled upward in a triumphant smile.
Yet Hillia remained utterly unmoved.
“Your Majesty, as I mentioned to the Countess Solenu earlier, Anny is my milk sister. I recently granted her a title and appointed her as my head lady’s maid. So she is not merely a maid.”
As the Emperor seemed to contemplate this, Evangeline cried out as though her heart would break.
“Whether she’s a maid or a lady’s maid hardly matters! What matters is that you meant to insult me!”
At this, Hillia tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
“On the contrary, it matters greatly. Anny now possesses noble status, and I simply gifted her the dress as a token of my gratitude for all she has done.”
With a radiant smile, Hillia delivered words that struck Evangeline like a devastating blow.
“Besides… the Countess Solenu is of a station that would make her suited to be my lady’s maid as well. How could two people of similar standing wearing comparable gowns possibly constitute such a grave insult?”
“…!”
Evangeline felt her reason ignite in a blinding white fury.
She did not even notice the silk lace adorning her dress tearing beneath her grip.
For Hillia had just said to her:
‘You are of a station befitting my lady’s maid.’
Then Arpard stepped in beside Hillia to support her.
“Indeed, she speaks truth. As my sole Empress and merely a countess’s daughter, it would be an honor for you to serve as her maid.”
At that moment, Isephin Solenu, who had been standing near Anny, stepped forward to speak.
“As a countess’s daughter of equal standing, I believe the Crown Prince’s words are just.”
“Oh, how kind of you.”
Hillia smiled warmly at Isephin in gratitude, then asked her this question:
“Since we are newly married, I have not yet finished organizing the household. I find myself perpetually short-handed. Would you not consider becoming one of my lady’s maids?”
Isephin Solenu was deeply moved.
“It would be the greatest honor, Your Highness.”
Hillia then posed the same question to Count Solene and his wife.
“Would the House of Solenu permit your daughter to assist me?”
Both the Count and his wife bowed their heads respectfully.
“It is an honor.”
“An incomparable honor.”
“We are grateful that you would take our inadequate daughter into your service.”
They had opposed Isephin’s work as a designer, and so they rejoiced that she would now serve as Hillia’s lady’s maid.
At last, Isephin would abandon her frivolous pursuits and undertake work befitting a noble lady.
For this reason, they felt genuine gratitude toward Hillia.
Of course, they remained entirely unaware that Hillia was Isephin’s greatest patron in her design work.
And one of the dresses at the center of this controversy had been altered by Isephin.
The beautiful periwinkle gown Hillia wore now was also Isephin’s creation.
In any case, the esteemed House of Sollenus had voluntarily proven the point.
‘For a Countess to serve as the Empress’s maid is rather an honor.’
This very fact.
Moreover, Anny was already of noble birth and served as the Empress’s maid.
The meager complaint had lost all its luster.
Evangeline’s complexion drained of color.
‘Damn it! It’s as if she knew about this beforehand and prepared for it!’
Evangeline shifted her logic in an instant.
“The real issue isn’t the status of the woman wearing the same dress as me. It’s why we’re wearing the same dress in the first place!”
And she attempted one final desperate gambit.
“The problem is that the Empress obtained my dress design through Madame Fileren!”
At last, Hillia approached Evangeline and Madame Fileren.
“I’ve said this ad nauseam, but Countess Solenu. I never did any such thing. Why would I bother stealing the design of a dress you’d wear?”
The accusation that she’d tried to humiliate her by equating her with a maid was now useless.
Hillia had just refuted it.
“It’s embarrassing to say myself, but I’ve been the one leading fashion in High Society until now. If someone wears an identical dress to a ball, I’m bound to suffer for it. Wasn’t that your aim?”
Evangeline asked, as if needling her.
“Were you truly that afraid of me? Enough to oppose me from the very start?”
Hillia shook her head with a smile.
“That can’t be. As I said before, Countess Solenu, you seem to have an excessive sense of self-importance.”
“But Madame Fileren testified herself. That Your Highness copied my dress….”
That was when it happened.
Hillia turned her head sharply.
Not toward Evangeline, but toward Madame Fileren.
And she asked.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Won’t you tell the truth?”
“That, that is…!”
As Madame Fileren began to waver, Evangeline quickly interjected.
“Don’t intimidate the witness, Your Highness!”
And she seized Madame Fileren’s arm forcefully.
With the sensation of pinching flesh beneath her sleeve, Madame Fileren could only realize the truth.
It was Evangeline who was threatening her.
‘Go ahead and die if you wish.’
Feeling the murderous intent, Madame Fileren shook her head tremulously.
“I, I spoke the truth.”
Then Hillia let out a sigh.
“What a shame. That truly was your last chance.”
“You’re disappointed because the threats didn’t work!”
That was when it happened.
Hillia clapped her hands.
Clap!
“Bring it in.”
With her command, the curtains at the far end of the hall parted, and servants began wheeling in a massive trolley bearing some kind of object.
‘What is that?’
While everyone else stared in bewilderment at the unfamiliar item, Madame Fileren alone recognized it.
‘Wait, now that I think about it… isn’t that…?’
It was definitely that peculiar ornament she had seen before in Hillia’s Drawing Room.
But why was it appearing now?

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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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