The Kidnapped Prince is Mine Now - Chapter 63

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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 63
‘If it were me, I would have told him to follow the Emperor’s will.’
It wasn’t a difficult matter. After all, the Emperor wasn’t demanding that I take in a concubine immediately.
Rotar and I were going to leave the Imperial Palace again anyway to resolve the war in the Southern Region. Until then, all I needed to do was appease the Emperor and keep Maximilian in check.
But then.
“His Highness Rotar does not wish to take a concubine?”
“Has the Second Princess Consort’s ears fallen off? If you wish, I shall repeat myself. ‘Would not the sorrowful lady be sufficiently consoled by the departed Empress and her own mother?’ Does this sound like something fit to spout before the Emperor!”
“….”
Ah, such an infuriatingly stubborn man.
It seemed Rotar had chosen imprisonment over appeasing the Emperor at the final moment.
Yet why did I feel only a hollow emptiness rather than anger?
‘Would not the sorrowful lady be sufficiently consoled by the departed Empress and her own mother?’
It was exactly the sort of thing Rotar would say.
Or rather, to be honest, my heart was stirring with such turbulent emotion.
‘Foolish idiot.’
Yes. I had fallen in love with such a man.
Another wife for Rotar?
I too could not bear to imagine such a future. Yet on the other hand, I knew I had to accept it.
Because….
‘I can never be the wife who stands by Rotar’s side for all his days.’
Rotar does not know my lies. Yet he stood in opposition to the Emperor himself, all to spare me pain.
What was he, some legendary martyr? A tragic heroine?
Only now did I understand. I was utterly defenseless against a man of such steadfast integrity and honor.
‘…Well, he must have his reasons.’
Of course, Rotar would not have recklessly provoked the Emperor and ended up dragged to prison without cause.
Having already spent time in prison once, this being his second visit, I hoped he at least knew the tricks of surviving imprisonment.
In the meantime, I had to endure without making matters worse.
“I humbly beg your pardon on behalf of His Highness Rotar for his disloyalty in defying Your Majesty’s command, Your Majesty.”
First and foremost, I needed to soothe the Emperor’s thoroughly ruffled temper.
I had to escape the Audience Chamber safely and return to the Princess Consort’s Palace. By now, Clara should have arrived there and be assessing the situation.
“I deeply appreciate Your Majesty’s wisdom in recognizing that His Highness requires a consort who can compensate for the imperial dignity and family prestige that I cannot provide.”
“….”
“I shall endeavor to change His Highness’s mind through sincere persuasion. Please grant me the mercy of allowing me to visit my husband.”
An oppressive silence pressed down upon my bowed head.
I stared at the spotless carpet, waiting for the Emperor’s response.
I could have remained in this position for an hour if necessary. Compared to Maximilian’s torture, this minor annoyance was nothing.
How much time had passed? A hoarse voice echoed through the Audience Chamber.
“I grant you permission to visit. You are dismissed.”
It was a far more concise dismissal than when he was tormenting someone. Yet it was enough to make me want to cry out in triumph.
I rose slowly from my position and bowed deeply once more.
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s gracious mercy.”
I had grown weary of this aristocratic manner of speech. It felt like wearing ill-fitting garments layered one upon another.
I wished to escape this place quickly, yet I could not afford to show haste. I straightened slowly and took one final survey of the Audience Chamber.
‘Ah.’
My eyes met Frederike’s.
Unlike before, her head was tilted to one side. Her hair cascaded in that direction like a profusion of blooming roses—vivid crimson and luscious.
She was breathtakingly beautiful whenever I beheld her. That overwhelming beauty made the arrogance Hilda had spoken of entirely comprehensible.
If one’s taste ran toward splendid and bewitching beauty, no one could help but pale in Frederike’s presence.
The very fact that Rotar had never yielded his side to her seemed almost frightening in its steadfastness.
Then Frederike’s lips began to move.
‘What?’
Soundlessly, her lips parted and closed, parted and closed.
Without thinking, I sharpened my focus entirely upon her mouth. Yet if I stood motionless and staring, the Emperor and Maximilian would surely notice something amiss.
I turned naturally and departed the Audience Chamber, replaying the movement of her lips in my mind again and again.
And as the door to the Audience Chamber closed with a soft thud.
“Ah.”
I understood.
‘Under the bed.’
The word Frederike had conveyed to me.
What could it mean?
What was its significance? Or rather, what did Frederike want from me?
In the past, there had been no such overtures. Naturally, I had possessed no power to change anything then.
If this Frederike of this life desired something from me, would the price be fatal, or would it not?
“….”
With a troubled heart, I left the Throne Hall alongside Hilda. Wolfgang, who had been waiting outside with the Holy Knight Order, approached me at once.
“Holy Maiden. The chamberlain guided us to the knights’ quarters.”
“And?”
One corner of Wolfgang’s mouth lifted.
“It is designated for foreign dignitaries only. He said that the only armed forces permitted to remain in the Inner Palace are the Emperor’s direct Imperial Guard or the Imperial Family’s knights.”
“….”
True enough. The Holy Knight Order was more accurately described as belonging to the Pelmira Order rather than being subordinate to me.
Even so, considering my position as Princess Consort, the Emperor could have offered the knights’ quarters in the annex of the Princess Consort’s Palace. Yet he showed no inclination to accommodate me.
“Which direction is the quarters?”
“The far end of the Western Outer Palace. It is quite distant. Even at full gallop on horseback, it would take ten minutes to reach the Princess Consort’s Palace.”
“….”
With this, it had become difficult to expect the Holy Knight Order’s protection.
“I understand. For now, do as instructed.”
“Will you be all right?”
“I suppose. Though I doubt Hilda will be.”
So saying, I glanced toward Hilda. In essence, she had assumed the duty of protecting the Princess Consort alone.
Hilda, whose eyes had been widening in real-time as she listened to Wolfgang and my conversation, suddenly flinched and her shoulders trembled.
But her alarm was short-lived. With a resolute expression, Hilda cried out toward me.
“Do not worry, Your Highness! I will protect your safety even if it costs me my life!”
“Yes, very well.”
I hoped such a situation would never arise. Suppressing my unease, I sent the Holy Knight Order away.
As we moved toward the Second Prince Consort’s Palace, Hilda remained at my side, vigilant against the Imperial Guard following behind us.
She was like a puppy with separation anxiety—both endearing and pitiable.
The problem arose just before we entered the main residence of the Princess Consort’s Palace.
“Welcome, Your Highness, the Second Prince Consort.”
The Head Maidservant, who had come to greet us at the entrance of the main residence, offered a formal bow and welcomed us.
“I apologize, but the direct attendants of Your Highness the Prince Consort must undergo a brief period of instruction.”
No—she welcomed only me.
“What? What instruction are you referring to?” Hilda stepped forward, her face flushed with indignation.
However, the Head Maidservant’s expression remained unchanged as she continued in a measured tone.
“It is instruction to preserve the security and traditions of the Imperial Family. It is merely a time to impart knowledge that must be known to serve Your Highness the Prince Consort in the Princess Consort’s Palace. Please do not take offense.”
Now that I thought about it, Clara, who should have arrived at the Princess Consort’s Palace first, was nowhere to be seen. She too appeared to be detained under the guise of an “instruction period,” attending lessons in Imperial etiquette.
‘Nothing ever goes the way I want it to.’
Yes. This is how the Imperial Palace should be.
I gazed steadily at the composed Head Maidservant and asked.
“Did the attendants of the prospective First Prince Consort—that is, Lady Frederike—also receive the same instruction as soon as they entered the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Lady Frederike entered her bedchamber without a single attendant of her own?”
“That is not the case, Your Highness. The other attendants of the First Prince Consort’s Palace served the Lady. Your Highness the Prince Consort will likewise be able to rely on sufficiently skilled attendants, so there is no need for great concern.”
I wanted to tell her to stop spouting nonsense, take Hilda’s hand, and enter together.
But with the Emperor’s favor toward me at its lowest, I could not afford to make a scene.
“I see. How long will this instruction take?”
“It will not take long. In two or three hours, all of Your Highness’s attendants will return.”
Two or three hours.
A perfect window of time to harm a Prince Consort without attendants.

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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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