I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 79

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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 79

I knew the Empress would notice this problem and seize upon it as a pretext to attack me.
My certainty stemmed from something simple.
‘Because something similar happened in my first life, before the regression.’
Back then, it wasn’t I who used the external entrance of the Prince’s Palace and employed magic to smuggle in private soldiers—it was Arpard himself.
‘At that time, Arpard had obtained information that multiple assassins would target him, and he said he needed military forces in secret to counter them.’
As a result, Arpard managed to survive the assassins.
But the fact that he brought mercenaries into the Imperial Palace was exposed.
And the Empress branded it as treason.
It was bringing in armed forces without prior authorization from the Emperor, without body searches, and carrying weapons.
Even if the Crown Prince had done it, there was ample room to interpret it as treason.
But at that time, Arpard couldn’t trust his father the Emperor, nor the Imperial Knight Order.
His position was far more unstable than it is now.
‘His madness was already manifesting frequently back then.’
The influence of his madness likely played a role in him attempting such a reckless act.
And Arpard, branded as a traitor, made a decision true to himself.
‘He actually committed treason.’
A civil war broke out, though on a small scale.
Remarkably, Arpard emerged victorious even in that situation.
Arpard deposed his father and ascended to the throne himself.
Though he was Emperor for only a single day.
‘Once Arpard seized the throne, he went completely mad.’
I thought perhaps he had already been quite mad even before that.

“I was always afraid because I never knew when I would go mad. Especially when the Crimson Moon rose, the night my mother died.”

I happened to meet him when he had completely lost his mind during that rebellion in my first life.
It was our first true meeting, in the deepest sense.

* * *

I happened to be in the Imperial Palace when Arpard launched his rebellion.
It was a time when I, as Ludwig’s wife, was withering away day by day.
When the mercenaries led by Arpard began to sweep through the Imperial Palace.
Ludwig abandoned me as bait and fled first.

“You, your hair color is far too conspicuous! So I’m having the knight I assigned to you escape with me!”

He was right—my pink hair was indeed distinctive.
So anyone with a normal desire to protect me would have hidden it first.
But Ludwig did not.
He tore open the hood of my cloak to make my pink hair fully visible, then assigned a knight of similar build to him and had them flee in the opposite direction.
At that time, I didn’t understand why Ludwig was doing such a thing.
And I only realized that Ludwig had used me as bait when I found myself facing Arpard’s blood-stained blade.
By then, Arpard’s crimson eyes were already consumed by madness.

“Tsk. So you used your own wife as bait and fled. Ludwig. A piece of trash to that extent… though you are.”
“P-please, please spare me!”

Arpard stared silently at me for a long time as I wept and trembled.
Then he lifted his gaze.
It was night, and the Crimson Moon hung in the sky.
Looking up at the moon shining with an ominous crimson light, Arpard spoke as though utterly hollow.

“I was always afraid of not knowing when I would lose my mind. Especially on nights when the Crimson Moon rose—the very night my mother died.”

I found myself staring at Arpard standing beneath the red moonlight, my fear momentarily forgotten.
He appeared devastatingly beautiful, sorrowful, and utterly exhausted.

“And yet… it seems I was always destined to become this way… I resisted endlessly, but…”

Arpard looked at me with an expression suggesting he found me incomprehensible, then muttered a few more words.
But they were words I could not understand.
And when Arpard, who had bowed his head, lifted it once more.
I realized the truth.
The rational human who had been capable of conversation mere moments before was no longer there.
Only a beast consumed by the madness flowing through his bloodline remained.
Crimson eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight.
Golden scales that had pierced through skin as pale as porcelain were drenched in blood.
From hands that had released the sword, blade-like claws extended.
That beast lunged toward me, thirsting for my blood.

“KRRAAAAAAHHHHH―!!!”

The reason I survived that moment was simple.
Emperor Walter Istrid, who had been deposed and imprisoned, had arrived.
Only Imperial blood can kill Imperial blood.
This was a fact most citizens of the Empire knew.
But I came to understand its true meaning.
Imperial blood consumed by the madness of blood transforms into a half-human, half-dragon monstrosity.
It becomes a state similar to what I witnessed in my third life when I encountered the Archmage’s Tower’s experimental subject.
However, that subject was merely a corpse animated by necromancy, so a living state is several times more powerful.
Before the killing intent emanating from the half-dragon, humans froze in terror.
Like herbivores unable to move before a beast of prey.
I was no different then.

“Kyaaaaaahhhhh!!!”

Only those of Imperial blood carrying the same dragon’s blood could move freely within the half-dragon’s killing intent.

“Arpard―!!!”

Emperor Walter Istrid severed his completely maddened son’s neck with his own hands.
And only after meeting him in the Temple during my second life did I realize—the Emperor had been weeping tears of blood.

* * *

Unlike before, the Emperor’s expression was remarkably serene.
Arpard hadn’t lost his mind either.
‘That’s right. Such things won’t happen anymore.’
I turned my head, trying to shake off the horrific memories.
It was to focus on the satisfying present instead.
The documents prepared four days in advance crumpled in the Empress’s hands.
The Empress muttered in disbelief.
“Surely, surely…?”
Her unspoken words seemed to ring in my ears.
‘Did I set a trap?’
I nodded cheerfully in affirmation.
It was clear the Empress understood my meaning.
The Empress’s contorted expression and Evangeline’s face—like a piranha that had smelled blood and rushed in only to fail—were both delightful to behold.
I smiled with satisfaction watching the mother and daughter who had ruined my life three times over. Meanwhile, a comedy was unfolding beside me.
Yulken, the author of the documents the Empress had completely crumpled, muttered loudly with regret.
“Oh no, this won’t do. My blood, sweat, tears, and the fruits of my late-night labor being wrinkled like this…”
Then Arpard offered what he thought was consolation.
“The documents will still be valid anyway, so what’s there to regret?”
“Your Highness, you can say such things so easily because you’re not the one writing them yourself!”
Ah, was that consolation or provocation?
In any case, this foolish exchange between the two had its merits.
It helped me escape somewhat from the bloody memories of before my regression.
Thanks to that, I was able to smile as brightly as possible toward the Empress and Evangeline.
And finally, the words I had been waiting for began to emerge from the Emperor’s lips.
“To speak so carelessly of treason—no less a grave matter—over something so uncertain. How recklessly imprudent, Empress.”
“Your, Your Majesty! Wait…!”
But the Emperor did not hear the Empress’s protest further and made his declaration.
“I find myself doubting whether the Empress is properly fulfilling her duties befitting her noble station and dignity.”
“Your Majesty!”
“You shall be confined to your quarters for a time.”
And the Emperor looked at me and spoke.
“During that period, I shall entrust the management of the Palace to the Crown Princess.”
I smiled softly, bowed my head, and bent my knee. This time, toward the Emperor rather than the Empress.
“I shall obey your command, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

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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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