I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 86

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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 86

During the five days I remained unconscious, the atmosphere of the Imperial Palace and the Capital’s high society underwent a complete transformation.
This occurred despite Evangeline and Wilhelm having coordinated beforehand to distribute the newspaper Espitola throughout the various salons of the Capital on the day of the banquet.
Naturally, it contained two fabricated articles.
One claimed that I had embarrassed myself by copying Evangeline’s dress.
The other stated that the enormous quantities of food and luxury items I had purchased for the banquet had been completely wasted.
Both articles were accompanied by meticulously drawn satirical illustrations.
They ridiculed and criticized me as harshly as possible while elevating Evangeline.
It was the most elaborate artwork and writing Espitola had published all year.
However, contrary to Evangeline and Wilhelm’s expectations, the articles in Espitola failed to generate significant attention.
This was thanks to the countermeasures I had prepared in advance being executed methodically.
The moment the banquet began, meat, wine, and white bread were distributed throughout the Capital’s slums and among commoners in the name of the Prince’s Palace.
Those distributing these goods were actively promoting them.
“What on earth is happening?”
“Her Highness the Crown Princess has bestowed her grace upon us by holding a celebration banquet for her marriage to the Crown Prince.”
“Oh, may we accept some as well?”
“Of course. Her Highness the Crown Princess ordered that it be distributed equally to everyone without exception.”
“There’s never been a time to be more grateful!”
Even the children in the slums were eating the sweet pastries distributed by the Prince’s Palace.
Watching this unfold, there was no way the fabrications in Espitola could take hold.
The rumor-spreaders Evangeline had prepared in advance tried their best, but it was futile.
“Did you hear? The Crown Princess supposedly told a dying beggar to eat cake…”
“What! That makes no sense. See over there? That white bread the beggar is eating. It was distributed by the Prince’s Palace.”
“That’s right. It doesn’t make sense! Don’t insult our Crown Princess!”
Even the children sucking on candy cursed out the rumor-spreaders.
The children, tasting sweetness for the first time in ages, had completely taken my side.
This news spread rapidly from the Capital throughout the entire Empire.
What gave it wings was naturally the phenomenon witnessed on the day of the banquet.
The dragon’s eclipse.
Those who had witnessed that magnificent and sacred miracle naturally associated their reverence for the dragon with the new Crown Princess.
“Our Crown Princess has been chosen by the dragon!”
“That’s right! It’s a blessing bestowed upon the Empire by the great Artanus!”
“Wahhhhh!”
Riding on the name of Artanus, my authority soared without limit.
Moreover, at the banquet, the Empress and Evangeline had failed in their attempt to frame me.
When the Emperor grew furious and confined the Empress, then granted me authority over the inner palace, even the uninformed could not help but notice the shift in power.
Those most sensitive to such movements were naturally the court nobility.
Since I had entered the Prince’s Palace, there had been no requests for audiences or invitations except from Madame Fileren.
It was, in fact, quite unusual.
Normally, a Crown Princess who had just entered the Prince’s Palace after her marriage should be overwhelmed with requests for audiences.
It meant that Hillia had not yet been recognized as the true Crown Princess.
‘But that was only before the banquet.’
Before and after the banquet at Artanus Hall, Hillia’s status had undergone a complete reversal.

* * *

I stared in astonishment at the envelopes piled mountain-high on the trolleys that the maids had brought in.
“These are… all audience requests?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The mountain of letters was so tall it nearly touched the ceiling.
It was practically a circus act that they’d managed to bring them here without toppling the entire stack.
But Anny’s response was even more astonishing.
“We have already filtered out all the ones that Your Highness would not need to personally review.”
“And there’s still this much?”
It was truly a dramatic shift in circumstances.
I had anticipated it when I saw the nobles’ opportunistic behavior at the banquet in Artanus Hall, but this exceeded even my expectations.
Isephin, with dark circles under her eyes, sighed and added,
“The gifts that have accumulated over five days have filled three entire rooms. We had no choice but to leave them as they were until Your Highness decided what to do with them.”
Perhaps because of this, the maids and servants looked exhausted.
Yet their shoulders were held high, and their eyes sparkled with pride.
The fortunes of subordinates rise and fall depending on how much their master is recognized.
How much resentment and anger must they have harbored watching me be treated poorly all this time.
They must have been the first to feel the change in my circumstances and taken pride in it.
My own feelings were naturally not displeased.
But that didn’t mean I was particularly pleased either.
I had no interest in the precariously stacked audience requests or the avalanche of gifts overflowing from three rooms.
‘They’re all chaff anyway.’
Those who belatedly grasped the situation and tried to curry favor were contemptible creatures who had to rely on others’ authority and power.
Such people were not what I needed.
‘There’s something more urgent I need to attend to.’
I asked the maids,
“Where is the Head Maid of the Empress’ Palace?”
The maids’ expressions hardened at once.
“She remains secluded in the Empress Palace with Her Majesty the Empress.”
I spoke coldly,
“His Majesty the Emperor already issued his command at the banquet. Has she not come to the Prince’s Palace even once since then?”
“Yes.”
Anny’s eyes blazed with intensity.
My reason for seeking out the Head Maid of the Empress’ Palace was straightforward.
‘The Head Maid is the one who manages the platinum key that symbolizes authority over the Palace’s internal affairs.’
I had taken over the management of the Imperial Palace’s internal affairs on behalf of the Empress.
Therefore, the platinum key naturally had to be transferred to me as well.
Neither the Empress nor her Head Maid would voluntarily come forward to hand over the symbol of internal authority.
“I’ve waited five days, but this won’t do.”
In truth, I hadn’t been waiting—I’d been unconscious the entire time.
But let’s just leave it at that.
Everyone already knew perfectly well that I hadn’t been waiting for the Head Maid.
The official reason for my five days of seclusion was something else entirely.

“I kept you confined because I wanted you to enjoy our honeymoon. Do you understand?”
“What? Are you insane?!”

I nearly spat out the medicine I’d been swallowing at that moment.
Arpard remained utterly composed.

“Isn’t it better for rumors to spread that I’m obsessed with you, rather than word getting out that the newly recognized Crown Princess has health problems?”
“Well, that’s… I suppose that’s true, but…!”

What would become of my social standing?
But then I remembered.
The time I’d driven out Madame Fileren, and all those instances when I’d boasted of my harmony with Arpard.
Thanks to that, there would be hardly anyone who harbored suspicion or felt any discord.
‘I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or dismayed by this.’
Right—this was no time to feel embarrassed or confused.
It was time to act.
Five days had given me the justification I needed.
The Empress’s failure to hand over the platinum key first, despite the Emperor’s command, could be interpreted as defiance of the imperial decree.
I issued my command to the maids.
“Go and bring the Head Maid of the Empress’ Palace to me.”
The maids answered in unison with vigor.
“Yes, Your Highness!”

* * *

Five days had passed since the banquet at Artanus Hall.
Throughout those days, Evangeline had remained secluded within Roux Mansion.
By now, rumors of her disgrace had spread far and wide.
Ever since that night, Evangeline had been living through what felt like hell itself.
‘Damn it! Everyone will mock me!’
Having reigned as the flower of high society for so long, Evangeline could not bear her downfall.
She was terrified to step outside.
‘Why? Why is this happening? I’m supposed to be the true heroine!’
For the first time, such a doubt had taken root within her.
‘Could it be… that I am not the heroine of this world after all?’
It was a terrifyingly dreadful question.

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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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