The Kidnapped Prince is Mine Now - Chapter 58

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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 58
I traveled by carriage behind Rotar Eisenrit, accompanied by my escort knights.
We would arrive at the Imperial Palace within a few days’ difference. Even this was a forced march, omitting supply wagons.
‘Under normal circumstances, I would have arranged for a month’s leisure with Rotar Eisenrit.’
The Southern Region war had twisted the situation.
Maintaining the slow pace of a typical Imperial Palace procession?
That would only benefit Maximilian. He would devour the souls of the Southern Region’s people in an instant, drawing forth even greater demonic power.
Inside the carriage that lurched nauseously, I recalled my conversation with the messenger.
‘The Pirate Alliance in the Southern Region is invading the Coastal Cities. The people are either dying or being enslaved, and trade with foreign nations has completely collapsed.’
‘An alliance, you say? Does that mean a leader has emerged to command the scattered pirate bands?’
‘Circumstantially, it appears so, but we cannot be certain.’
The scattered pirate bands had consolidated. The military strength they gained was at a level that even the Southern Region lords, pooling their power, would struggle to contain.
Why had a war that had never occurred in the past suddenly erupted? The only change from before was my marriage to Rotar Eisenrit.
Rather than an enormous butterfly effect, the only conclusion I could draw was that Maximilian had made his move.
‘By sacrificing the souls of the Empire’s people to strengthen the demon’s power, he can simultaneously summon Rotar Eisenrit.’
For Maximilian, it was a two-for-one opportunity. It was also the perfect chance to finally eliminate Rotar Eisenrit, who could not refuse to mobilize.
And.
‘He can lure me in as well.’
Perhaps this was his greatest objective. I was prey that had escaped from his grasp. Maximilian could not have abandoned his desire to possess me.
I had even had a brief argument with Rotar Eisenrit over this matter.
‘I have no intention of being separated from Elise and traveling apart.’
‘Then what, you’ll ride on horseback with me? Rumors will spread throughout the Capital about how the Imperial Princess Consort, of common birth, is vulgar and lacks refinement.’
‘Bearing rumors is preferable to risking my life.’
‘I’m not entering the Imperial Palace before you, and what’s the problem with you going ahead? Besides, I have the Knight Order with me.’
I wasn’t sure if my persuasion had worked. It seemed he relented because he could enter the Imperial Palace first and assess the atmosphere.
After the decision to journey to the Imperial Capital was made, there was one task to accomplish in Graupels.
‘I need lady’s maids to enter the palace with me. At least two for now.’
If I entered without maids, the Imperial Palace would assign me a dozen or so. I would then need to select one or two trusted maids from among them.
That would be nothing short of suicide. It would be like standing before Maximilian with my arms spread wide, saying ‘please take me.’
In the Imperial Palace, controlled by the First Prince Faction, I needed loyal retainers who would not waver and become my hands and feet. I could only find such people in Graupels.
Thus, the two I hired as maids were Clara Erenfels and Hilda.
The criteria for selection were simple.
‘Those capable of quickly reading the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace, where only demonic creatures gather.’
‘Those with outstanding combat prowess, capable of buying time in moments of danger.’
Perceptiveness and martial strength—objectively, both were areas where I fell short.
I would always carry a gun. Even so, the Imperial Palace was a place where unforeseen situations could arise at any moment.
Of course, the most important factor was trustworthiness. When even Tobias, Rotar Eisenrit’s longtime right hand, had betrayed his own lord, one could not easily trust anyone.
Why else would the term ‘palace intrigue’ exist? Endless threats and inducements that shook the hearts of weak humans would constantly torment the maids.
There was a method that nobles frequently employed in such cases.
‘Indeed, those with young dependents would be ideal.’
A hostage.
Hostages were a common control mechanism employed by the Imperial Family and nobility to prevent the betrayal of their trusted subordinates.
The Rotar of the past must have trusted Tobias so deeply that he saw no need to bind him with such chains.
‘Yet even that magnificent trust shattered the moment Frederike became pregnant.’
Under any circumstance, my betrayal would be deemed a betrayal of my brother and child bound to Graupels.
The inner circle of Graupels could hardly voice their discontent with such a standard.
But as they say, there is always someone above those who leap. When Konrad heard my proposal, he suggested something even more severe.
‘We should also stipulate that if any act of betrayal is discovered, all distant cousins of that household shall be executed.’
‘…At this rate, won’t people simply refuse the position of lady’s maid?’
‘Do not worry, Your Highness the Second Prince’s Consort. The retainers of Graupels are far more resentful of Tobias’s betrayal than you might imagine.’
The results proved Konrad’s words correct.
The moment word spread that we were recruiting maids to serve the Second Prince’s Consort—that is, Rotar’s wife—dozens of noble daughters and wealthy merchants’ children applied for the position.
All of them were residents of Graupels territory or its vicinity, people who had endured the cold and desolate environment of the Northern Region under the protection and support of House Staufen for generations.
‘They believed from the start that the Margrave would never betray His Highness Rotar.’
As I listened to Konrad’s account, I recalled the edelweiss flower path I had seen when I first arrived at Graupels. It was a trust so profound it felt foreign in this world.
They would never forgive Tobias for shattering the fence of that faith and stepping beyond it.
‘The Falkenberg Family—that is, Lord Tobias’s household—won’t even dare approach Graupels. They’ll be terrified of being stoned the moment they come near the checkpoint.’
Thanks to this, I was able to select relatively trustworthy talent from among the candidates.
First, there was Clara Erenfels, who would observe the atmosphere and gather information in the jungle-like Imperial Palace—the wife of Rotar’s deputy knight commander.
She was also the daughter of the chief administrator responsible for the affairs and laws of Graupels territory. At a glance, she exuded an intellectual atmosphere.
‘If I make a terrible judgment, will you offer counsel without reservation?’
‘I shall do my utmost to serve you, Your Highness.’
The second maid, Hilda Staufen, was an entirely different type of person.
She was a female knight of the Staufen cadet branch, and her fate was inseparable from Graupels—betrayal was simply not in her nature.
Staufen blood could not be helped, and though her towering frame and muscular build were striking, her sincere and gentle demeanor seemed to provide adequate concealment.
And as for her temperament.
‘I shall cut down anyone who threatens Your Highness!’
She was the spitting image of the Margrave. I thought my ears would fall off.
And so, now.
“Frederike… I shall see that contemptible woman’s face again.”
The maids sharing the carriage to the Imperial Capital paid little attention to the discourteous Holy Knight commander.
“I fear she may be wielding absolute power within the Imperial Palace, using the First Prince’s seed as a shield.”
“Of course she is, Miss Clara! Where would her vicious nature from childhood have gone?”
For they had someone else they wished to tear to pieces on the spot.
“Since childhood, she always claimed the best of everything for herself.”
“Even when playing with dolls, she cast herself as the Empress and relegated the other young ladies to the role of maids, didn’t she? And she made His Highness Rotar—who wasn’t even present—her husband…!”
“Miss Hilda, let us not dwell on that matter…”
The two were spending the entire afternoon tearing apart, gnawing on, and chewing over Frederike Falkenberg, the Empire’s presumptive First Prince’s Consort.
Listening to them, it seemed emotions had accumulated since childhood. The moment they entered the Imperial Palace, they would have to bow their heads and grovel before her, so they seemed to be venting their anger in advance.
Indeed, until Frederike became pregnant with Maximilian’s child, they had all been on friendly terms at tea parties.
I did not miss the topic that an indignant Hilda had begun to broach but held back—namely, the relationship between Rotar Eisenrit and Frederike.
“No, Hilda. Continue. What did that woman do by taking His Highness Rotar Eisenrit as her consort?”

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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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