Ch#16

Episode 16

Ludwig was leading the Imperial Knight Order, filled with elation.

The fact that he, a mere collateral relative, was leading the Imperial Knight Order at the forefront was symbolic in many ways.

It felt as if he had become the true Crown Prince.

Moreover, he was chasing after the man and woman who had driven him mad for the past week.

'This time, I absolutely won't let you be, Arpad!'

He harbored a great inferiority complex towards his exceptionally talented cousin.

And then that cousin had stolen his bride on his wedding day.

This was more than enough to shatter Ludwig's high but fragile, glass-like self-esteem.

Leading the elite knight order right now was a good opportunity to heal his wounded pride.

'This time, I am the pure victim! Even if Arpad dies by my hand, he has no right to complain!'

Filled with inferiority and murderous intent, he chased after them following the information Evangeline had brought.

After riding for a long time, he finally saw a long trail of dust in the distance.

Arpad's party was brazenly passing along the main road through the Artanoa Plains, the continent's largest granary.

And at a leisurely pace at that.

To the point they looked not like a party of scoundrels who had kidnapped a bride, but a dignified wedding procession.

Ludwig spurred his horse at the head of the knight order.

Naturally, he didn't follow the winding road exactly. That would have been a waste of time.

*Clatter clatter—!!*

The horses trampled through the newly sprouted wheat fields of the Artanoa Plains as they charged.

The area the knight order led by Ludwig passed through became a veritable wasteland.

But neither Ludwig nor any of the knights paid any mind to this.

Not long after, Ludwig managed to catch up with Hilia's party.

The few guards escorting the carriages could not stop the Imperial Knight Order.

The Imperial Knight Order blocked the front of the white carriage emblazoned with the imperial family's crest.

Ludwig approached the carriage that had been forced to stop, drew his sword, and flung open the carriage door.

"Got you, Hilia...!"

Ludwig's eyes widened in astonishment.

* * *

Sitting face-to-face with her mother in the Empress's palace, Evangeline chewed her lip anxiously.

'Will Ludwig succeed?'

She knew well why she was uneasy.

Because such an event had never occurred in the 'original work'.

Arpad and Hilia were characters who had almost no points of contact.

'Marriage-by-abduction!'

Hilia was supposed to marry Ludwig, hand over everything of the Delphin Ducal Family to him, and die.

If things continued like this, Ludwig inheriting the Delphin Ducal Family would become impossible.

And her plan to possess everything by taking Ludwig would also become impossible.

Her plan, based on the original work, had been completely derailed!

'And of all people, why Arpad?'

When she had skimmed the original work before possessing it, cursed at it, and then forgotten it, she hadn't given much thought to the character Arpad.

Although his appearances were few, he was a character most readers got angry about, asking why he wasn't the male lead.

But he was just a character in a novel anyway. She had no particular interest in a character who died without even becoming a sub-male lead, let alone the male lead.

'I was already angry while reading it, asking why both the female and male leads were so lacking in charm...'

Of course, she disliked the female lead Hilia, who was submissive and could do nothing but cry.

The male lead Ludwig's charm was also lacking.

Readers held onto the single keyword 'regret story' and endured to see the male lead regret, but she wasn't one of them.

Even when she read novels out of habit without much thought.

And even when she, unbelievably, possessed that novel's world, she hadn't realized it.

'Arpad...'

The man named Arpad, whom she had seen with her own eyes, heard his voice with her own ears, and smelled his scent in this actual world...

Could be this captivating...

But even for her, the possessor, Arpad was like an unattainable picture from a book.

'He'll just go mad and die anyway. Even in the original, a method to delay the Madness appeared, but there was no way to eliminate it.'

Even she, the possessor, couldn't prevent Arpad from going mad.

Knowing that, she couldn't desire him.

Especially since she knew Ludwig was the original male lead and would become Emperor.

But, nevertheless...

Thinking that Arpad might become someone's husband made her feel as if her chest was blocked tight.

No, it felt like swallowing burning charcoal, her chest burning up.

Evangeline didn't even notice the blood on her own lips.

Only when Empress Isabel reached out to stop her did she realize.

"Stop that, Eva. Your pretty lips will get ruined."

"...Mother. Will it be alright?"

Unlike Evangeline, the Empress was composed.

"Why are you so worried? They're people we have to kill anyway, both Delphin's daughter and Arpad."

The Empress was utterly composed.

"Moreover, thanks to the rumors we've spread so far, the two's reputation is already at rock bottom. No one will recognize them as a married couple. His Majesty won't permit it either."

"...Yes, Mother."

"Don't forget, Eva. I will definitely make you this mother's true Empress of the Empire."

Evangeline, the possessor within her, laughed at the Empress.

'You're just a book character who doesn't even notice your precious daughter's soul has changed.'

And soon, Evangeline's anxiety took shape and assaulted her.

"Your Majesty! Her Majesty the Empress! They say His Highness Arpad and Duchess Delphine have entered the palace!"

It was news they absolutely did not want.

* * *

"Wh-what the?"

Ludwig, who had opened the carriage door with a sword in hand and a fierce look, was bewildered.

The carriage was empty.

He shouted angrily and ran to the coachman's seat.

"Hilia? Arpad? Why is the carriage empty?!"

According to the information the Empress had provided, this carriage was heading from the northern villa to the Imperial Palace.

Moreover, there was also information that both Arpad and Hilia had been seen boarding this carriage.

Ludwig pressed the blade against the poor coachman's neck and shouted.

"What on earth happened?"

The coachman trembled as he answered.

"They left our party a long time ago, in the Noel region!"

Noel was a distance that would take a full day even at full speed. It was too late to chase now. And who could know where they might be by now.

The testimonies of the few other knights were similar.

This party had been a decoy from the start.

"Damn it!!"

And although it was meaningless to realize now, there was never any possibility from the beginning that he could prevent Hilia and Arpad's entry into the Capital.

Because the decoy parties Arpad had prepared on Hilia's advice were not just one or two.

* * *

I was standing in the square before the Imperial Palace I had left about a week ago.

No, to be precise, I was looking up at the main gate of the Imperial Palace while on horseback with Arpad.

This place was always crowded with people, so we were surrounded by those who recognized us.

Whispers from all directions buzzed like a swarm of bees.

"Could that really be the missing Crown Prince and Duchess?"

"The bride from that wedding ceremony that was canceled a week ago?"

"They say it was a marriage-by-abduction, but already..."

I ignored the voices.

And looked up at the Imperial Palace's main gate, the 'Gate of Glory', with a complicated expression.

This gate was the largest entrance to the Imperial Palace, opened only for special occasions.

For processions of direct imperial family members, and for parades honoring heroes who saved the nation.

Right now, Arpad was boldly demanding the Gate of Glory be opened while on horseback with me.

"Open the gate now."

The captain of the Imperial 2nd Knight Order guarding the Gate of Glory seemed flustered.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Yes. Fortunately, your eyesight is normal, so I don't need to waste words. Open it."

"Where on earth have you been all this time? And the person beside you...!"

He was sweating profusely with a sense of defeat.

'Come to think of it, that guy was the one who had ties to the Empress and Ludwig.'

I leaned against Arpad provocatively.

Then, through the touching skin, I felt a vibration as if he was growling like a satisfied beast.

I unknowingly tensed up so much that all the fine hairs on my body stood on end.

But I couldn't show an awkward appearance.

'After all, we're already a married couple.'

I needed to prove that fact before everyone's eyes.

So that no one could deny this marriage.

As if to blow away my worries, Arpad naturally wrapped his arm around my waist.

And burying his head in my shoulder, he glared at the knight captain with sharp eyes and spoke again.

"Don't make me say it three times. Step aside. How long do you intend to obstruct the procession of the Crown Prince and his consort?"

The captain must have known.

If he blocked the way any further, Arpad's blade might fly towards his neck.

He eventually stepped aside helplessly.

And Arpad's large white horse passed proudly through the Imperial Palace's main gate and entered the palace.

Though there were only two of us, it was clearly a parade.

* * *

"How is it? Satisfied?"

"Very much."

At my answer, Arpad laughed refreshingly.

Truly a man whose laugh is also extraordinary.

I asked softly.

"How long are you going to keep moving on horseback?"

No one rides horses inside the Imperial Palace.

For imperial family members, riding in carriages is permitted.

Victory parade heroes are sometimes granted the privilege of riding horses all the way before the Emperor.

Right now, we belong to neither category.

But Arpad seemed to have no intention of dismounting on purpose, as if to show off.

"Hmm. Until we arrive at the Crown Prince's palace? There's a need to show off to all sides as you wish. That's why you're not asking me to dismount, right?"

His perception is truly ghostly.

Just as I was thinking, 'What an annoying man who gives nothing real'.

I felt a very passionate gaze stabbing us from a corner of the Imperial Palace.

A gaze that seemed to want to burn me alive if possible.

A familiar, and expected, person.

'Evangeline!'

Translator: Nox