The Kidnapped Prince is Mine Now - Chapter 1

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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 1
Has anyone ever kidnapped someone in their lifetime?
Not me. Though I’ve been kidnapped before.
Still, it should be fine. What’s the worst that could happen—death?
I lay prone in the tall grass, binoculars raised to my eyes. Below the hill, a procession approached in a cloud of dust, the Empire’s flag fluttering above them in the wind.
The target: the Second Prince’s arrival.
“Holy Maiden. You’re showing your rear end like that.”
“Are you looking?”
“Yes.”
Damn it, I was concentrating.
Five carriages in total were heading toward the monastery.
I lowered the binoculars and rose to my feet, turning around only to lock eyes with Wolfgang Lichtenbrun.
The sight of him grinning like a fox made my blood pressure spike.
“Did your ears hear that command as gibberish?”
“If I look away from here, you’ll really only show your rear end.”
“Then gouge out your eyes.”
Wolfgang Lichtenbrun—the commander of the Holy Knight Order—was remarkably irreverent. Usually, I’d expect someone of his rank to be principled and taciturn, wouldn’t you?
What good is a handsome face if the man’s a complete fool? He’d be the type to drown with only his mouth above water. Then again, the fact that I’m the Holy Maiden is proof enough that this order is cursed from the start.
“Ready?”
“Yep.”
At Wolfgang’s response, I turned and moved toward him. He was already holding the carriage door open, waiting for me.
Unable to resist, I kicked his shin at the sight of that perpetual grin.
“Ow.”
He wasn’t even hurt, just being dramatic.
“Why do you keep picking on me?”
“Since joining, this is the first time I’ve done something so wicked.”
“Wicked? This is all the Goddess’s plan, you fool.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
Within seconds, Wolfgang dropped the act of pain and offered his arm with that practiced smile, escorting me to the carriage.
Just you wait until this is over, you bastard. I shot him a glare as I climbed aboard.
It was not long after that the mad Holy Maiden’s forces intercepted the Second Prince’s procession.
***
Neigh!
The desperate cries of horses that had suddenly halted their gallop echoed across the desolate northern wasteland.
“Who dares obstruct the journey of the Second Prince!”
The captain of the knight order escorting the Second Prince bellowed with authority.
What was his name again? To, Tobi… I can’t remember. I’ll ask Wolfgang about it later.
Wolfgang opened the carriage door at just the right moment. Our eyes met, yet his expression remained unsmiling—a coldness that felt oddly unfamiliar.
Ah, so when there are many eyes watching, one must manage one’s image. How professional.
‘Quite the professional.’
Not to be outdone, I straightened my posture rigidly and extended my hand toward him. And the moment I stepped down from the carriage—
“Gasp!”
“Is that… is that the Holy Maiden?”
Whispers of astonishment erupted from all directions. The reaction was excellent.
I lifted my head with an artificial smile, the kind worn by politicians on campaign trails. I almost waved, but thought better of it.
Instead, keeping my lips sealed, I spoke to Wolfgang using ventriloquism.
“Whut’s hiz nyme?”
“Pardon? Ah, it’s Tobias.”
Ah, Tobias. Yes, that was indeed his name.
I walked toward the captain of the Imperial Third Knight Order, Tobias, wearing the most benevolent expression I could muster.
His startled face—as though struck by lightning—was amusing, but this was not the moment to smirk.
His shock was brief. Tobias dismounted and knelt on one knee to show his respect before speaking.
“Holy Maiden, what brings you to this place?”
“I’ve come to personally escort His Highness Rotar.”
“…!”
At my straightforward reply, Tobias’s eyes widened in astonishment. Another commotion rippled through the Second Prince’s escort.
It was understandable. The Second Prince had suffered a complete defeat in court politics and was forced into the priesthood—a failure, in every sense.
For the Holy Maiden herself to personally escort such a castaway… there could be no warmer welcome than this.
Was the Archbishop backing the Second Prince? Was light finally breaking through into his tumultuous life? I imagined such thoughts flooding their minds.
“Silence!”
Tobias shouted at the murmuring knights, then turned. He walked toward the middle of the five carriages.
‘Ah, there it is.’
The carriage window was draped with curtains. Tobias leaned his head through the gap and murmured something. Soon, he turned to address me.
“His Highness expresses his gratitude for this magnificent welcome.”
Of course he would. I maintained my smile.
In the increasingly softened atmosphere, Tobias continued with his confirmation.
“You intend to travel together to the monastery from here, correct?”
What would happen then? I’m sorry, but the twist begins here.
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I replied.
“No.”
“…?!”
In that instant, the atmosphere around us shifted. More precisely, only among the Second Prince’s escort.
I continued without hesitation.
“The protection of the Holy Knight Order is more than sufficient. From now on, Your Highness will become a member of the Church.”
It was a clear message for them to leave this place. Every last one of them.
Tobias’s sharp gaze immediately fixed on me from behind. He seemed to be assessing the forces of the Holy Knight Order. The atmosphere suggested he might draw his sword from his belt at any moment.
“That cannot be allowed.”
At his firm refusal, I barely suppressed a smirk threatening to escape. It was the reaction I had anticipated.
I deliberately raised my eyebrows and produced a parchment from my breast pocket.
“Why not?”
It was a document bearing the seal of the Archbishop, granting permission for the Saint and the Prince to accompany me as a guide of the Holy Temple.
“The Archbishop himself has approved this matter. Surely the Imperial Court doesn’t doubt the capabilities of the Holy Knight Order?”
For the record, it was a forged document. The old Archbishop still had no idea this chaos had erupted.
“….”
Tobias’s face, ignorant of this fact, contorted with frustration. Mishandling this could escalate into conflict between the Empire and the Church, between politics and religion.
‘Well then, what will you do, Tobias?’
This was not a problem a knight commander could simply brush aside.
I waited for his response with keen interest.
“Cease this unnecessary standoff.”
A voice resonated without inflection.
At the familiar tone, my head turned instinctively. A tall silhouette immediately came into view.
Hair the color of ash-brown rippling in the wind. Eyes of a dark, heavy green rather than transparent.
A man of exquisite beauty, carved like a sculpture from solid wood, was opening the carriage door and stepping out.
‘Wow.’
I wanted to whistle but restrained myself.
After his otherworldly appearance, what struck me most was the man’s height.
Taller than his escort knights by a full head, and even without armor, his broad shoulders radiated an oppressive presence.
There was no reason to question that overwhelming aura. He was the Second Prince of the Empire, simultaneously known as the ‘Sword of the Empire.’
Rotar Eisenrit. No one had anticipated he would be forced down the path of priesthood.
But what could be done?
‘I’ve already lost in the power struggle. At least I should save my life.’
Rotar approached me with an economical gait.
His indifferent gaze lingered on my face longer than expected.
Just as everyone was about to voice their confusion at the prolonging silence.
The Prince continued in a measured tone.
“Do not worry, Holy Maiden. How could I possibly defy the Archbishop’s orders?”
Look at that. My eyebrows nearly twitched involuntarily.
On the surface, it seemed like a compliant response, but the nuance was one of acknowledging the Archbishop’s authority, not the Saint’s.
Well, it wasn’t really an important matter anyway. The Saint’s authority in this Empire had been worthless for ages.
So I smiled brightly and replied.
“You speak truly. Please come this way.”
Rotar moved forward without response.
What remained behind him was an honor guard that had lost someone to protect in a single moment. The bewildered knights’ gazes fixed upon Tobias.
“…Return.”
I followed Rotar Eisenrit, leaving behind the prince’s complicated voice.
Wolfgang Lichtenbrun, who had been standing there like a dignified Holy Knight Order commander, winked at me as our eyes met. It seemed to mean something like operation complete.
‘If only it were that simple.’
The real game was just beginning.
Click.
After the carriage door closed, I sat across from the large man observing the carriage’s interior and studied him intently.
Unkempt hair and a scab above his lips.
Even the traces of grueling times could not mar the refined atmosphere unique to the man.
‘But what lies beneath?’
I cast out my bait immediately.
“Your Highness. Do you know where we’re headed?”
“To Lumen Monastery, I presume.”
A terse reply, yet the correct answer. Or rather, the ‘original’ answer.
Then Rotar Eisenrit’s gaze turned forward.
Toward me, who sat facing him.
‘…Again?’
I reflexively offered a smile.
But perhaps it wasn’t the reaction he wanted.
The prince quietly turned his head away and closed his eyes.
‘…What….’
How much time had passed after that?
Rotar Eisenrit opened his eyes slightly and gazed out the window.
After a brief silence, a chilling question spilled from his lips.
“What is this?”
Then a gaze so savage it made my spine tingle fixed upon me.
“We’ve changed direction. What’s your scheme?”
I was almost relieved to finally see emotion cross his face.
‘What scheme indeed.’
I slowly rose in the jolting carriage, then climbed onto Rotar Eisenrit’s lap and seized his jaw.
“Rotar Eisenrit.”
The ripples in his pupils were worth seeing.
“I’m going to kidnap you and drag you all the way to marriage.”
“…Pardon?”
For some reason, my blood was boiling. It felt like I was doing something truly wicked.
I continued, pressing my thumb against the prince’s frozen cheek.
“If you don’t want to die, cooperate. Before I scar that pretty face.”
Goddess. I think I’ve found my calling.

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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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