I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 89

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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 89

Countess Epial, stripped of the platinum key without resistance, heard only the dismissal as though her business was concluded.

“Now return to the Empress’s Palace.”

The Young Crown Princess gazed upon the platinum key presented by the Grand Duchess, offering the Countess not even a glance.
In the end, the Maid had no choice but to return to the Empress’s Palace bearing only the wounds to her heart and cheek.
And before the pallid-faced woman, she could only kneel with tears streaming down her face.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress. My incompetence has——”
“Enough. Once the Imperial decree was issued, matters had already progressed beyond what you could influence.”
The Empress observed the Maid’s reddened cheek and asked.
“Did the Crown Princess lay hands upon you?”
“No, Your Majesty. It was the Duchess of Axion.”
“That woman——!”
Empress Isabel gnashed her teeth.
That old woman had never acknowledged her as Empress until the very end.
And now that old woman had taken it upon herself to serve the young one?
It was absurd.
‘She means to humiliate me.’
The Duchess of Axion had struck the Empress’s Maid across the cheek under the pretext of disrespect, wielding her station as justification.
Under normal circumstances, she could have seized upon this as cause for confrontation.
But now, having suffered a grave blow and placed under confinement, the situation was dire.
‘This is a time to exercise restraint.’
She had to remain as quiet as possible, biding her time.
“Withdraw. I am fatigued.”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
She had no intention of sitting idle, merely waiting foolishly.
Her mind churned with fierce calculation.
In the Emperor’s gaze toward Hillia and Prince Arpard at the banquet, hope had flickered to life.
It was obvious who had rekindled that spark.
‘It must be her.’
Few knew that the Emperor, contrary to his reputation, harbored concern and affection for his son.
Empress Isabel was among that small number.
She had seized the Empress’s throne by exploiting precisely that knowledge.

“I am not worthy of such honor, Your Majesty.”
“You once saved the Empress’s life. And you remained loyal to her until the end. I trust you as much as Roxellin relied upon you.”
“….”
“I have no intention of fathering another child besides Arpard. He will be my sole heir. Now and forevermore.”

This surely meant the Emperor had no desire to bear children with any woman other than his deceased wife.

“Therefore, the next Empress need not be a woman to bear my grandchildren—she must be someone to protect and care for Arpard.”
“I shall accept your command.”

I had always known it.
From the beginning, the Emperor harbored not even a shred of affection for me.
He chose me as a reward for saving the late Empress Roxellin.
It was trust born of my loyalty.
The Emperor, forced to acknowledge Ludwig as imperial blood due to Arpard’s madness, had changed.
He no longer tolerated my opposition to Arpard and had taken action.
That wretched girl Hillia had surely given him hope in his son.
Yet there remained something the Emperor had yet to discover.
‘He believes Arpard’s rampage is a natural occurrence. That is your mistake.’
Empress Isabel whispered to herself, sharpening the blade of malice within her heart.
“Once again… you have made the wrong choice… Walter.”
Then, from the darkness, a mocking voice echoed.
“It’s always so ugly to witness. This twisted affection of yours.”
“…!”
The Empress was startled.
But she did not reveal it outwardly.
Turning her head with composure, she found a familiar face.
“It has been a long time. …Gaspard.”
The man, his hood pulled deep over his head, smiled faintly.

* * *

I slowly lifted the platinum key nestled within the ornamental box attached to my belt.
The key the Duchess of Axion had allowed me to keep for just one night seemed endlessly beautiful and satisfying.
Just then, Arpard, who had just entered the bedroom, asked.
“You’re that pleased?”
“Of course! This is one of my greatest spoils of war!”
I had pretended otherwise in front of the maids, but it was difficult to hide my excitement and joy.
Before my regression, this platinum key had always passed from the Empress’s hands to Evangeline.
And I had taken it from her.
Arpard reached out and lifted the platinum key.
It jingled softly.
“Well, considering the symbolism, I suppose I can understand it….”
I removed the key from Arpard’s hand and carefully placed it back in the box.
“Will it wear down if I touch it?”
“It will.”
This is my treasure, after all!
As I grinned, Arpard’s expression turned slightly pouty.
Pouty….
‘I came up with the word myself, but it really doesn’t suit Arpard at all.’
Yet truthfully, there was no other fitting expression to apply.
He grabbed my shoulder and grumbled about something else.
“How sad,”
“What is it now?”
He spoke absurdities with a serious expression.
“To have my position as your greatest spoil of war stolen away—how disappointing.”
“…What?”
What kind of creative nonsense is this?
But while I was bewildered, Arpard was sincere.
“I, as the Crown Prince and Mercenary King, am a far more useful spoil of war than some platinum key—in status, in power, and in martial might.”
“…Do you really want to demean yourself like that?”
“Why would that be demeaning? I’m merely stating facts.”
I was about to dismiss it as nonsense, but suddenly I understood.
‘Hmm, wait? It’s not… entirely unreasonable?’
A spoil of war, after all, is something seized through conflict with another.
By that logic, Arpard was my first spoil of war.
Whom had I fought?
‘Well, it could be said I fought Evangeline, or perhaps the Empress.’
Or perhaps… Arpard himself.
In any case, it wasn’t an unpleasant thought.
So I decided to nod in agreement.
“Fine. I’ll acknowledge it. The Crown Princess’s greatest spoil of war should indeed be the Crown Prince.”
Arpard’s eyes widened in surprise.
He hadn’t expected me to react this way.
“Why are you surprised? Does it bother you that I’m actually treating you as spoils of war? Should I take it back?”
Arpard shook his head vigorously.
“No. It’s just unexpected.”
“What’s unexpected about it?”
“I thought you’d hold back again.”
Hold back? Me?
“I assumed you’d sarcastically protest that I was treating the Crown Prince like an object and then withdraw.”
“Are you disappointed that I didn’t?”
Arpard shook his head and broke into a boyish smile.
“No, I’m pleased.”
“….”
Why? Why would he be pleased?
When I just treated him like an object?
I regarded Arpard with suspicious eyes.
‘Surely he doesn’t have those kinds of tastes(?)’
If he did, I didn’t know who she was, but I felt sorry for whatever woman might become Arpard’s lover.
Arpard tilted his head.
“Why do you have that expression?”
His behavior had been strange lately.
Perhaps my eyes were deceiving me….
‘Somehow… he’s become more playful?’
Following his earlier sullenness, another expression entirely unbecoming of Arpard had attached itself to him.
Playfulness, no less.
What alarmed me most was that this wasn’t the first time I’d felt this way.
I answered him honestly, surprising even myself.
“Because I feel sorry for whoever becomes your lover later.”
“…What?”
I must have truly lost my mind to have recalled those words like “sullen” and “playful” just moments ago.
The Arpard before me now wore an expression of unmistakable menace.
“Why would I have a lover?”
“…The future is unpredictable, isn’t it?”
The Crown Prince I knew well—the expression befitting Gerald, the Mercenary King.
The expression of a man who had pressed a blade to my throat the moment we met in the Underground Crypt.
Without thinking, I touched my neck.
At that, Arpard’s shoulders visibly trembled.
‘What is this? Why is he reacting like that?’

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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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