Ch#18

Episode 18

This wasn't my first time becoming the Crown Princess.

I was always driven out soon after, but nominally, I always reached the position of Crown Princess.

'Of course, not being the real Crown Princess was the same back then as it is now.'

It's just a contractual marriage-by-abduction relationship, after all. Expressing it like this felt very strange, but that was the truth.

Before divorcing me, Ludwig became Crown Prince twice.

But back then, I was either in prison or locked in a tower, so I received no treatment as Crown Princess at all. I was just a criminal.

Naturally, I never set foot in the bedroom meant for the Crown Princess.

Every time, the Ivory Room was Evangeline's possession.

Even before my formal divorce from Ludwig was finalized.

How did I know that?

She came and told me herself.

"Today, Ludwig took me to the Ivory Room. And now that place will be my room. Soon, the Empress's palace will also be mine."

Because of that, the Ivory Room was a very symbolic place for me.

It felt like it symbolized everything that was taken from me by Evangeline every time.

My family.

My life.

My people.

And the position of husband and Crown Princess.

That's why. I looked around the room, somewhat lost in sentiment.

The entire room was filled with ivory color, just like its name.

When I touched the small white table with my fingertips, surprisingly, there was no coldness of metal, stone, or wood.

'Could this also be made of ivory?'

I didn't know the furniture was also made of real ivory.

Surprised, I touched various white furniture pieces myself.

'Oh my god! They're all really ivory!'

Surely they didn't do the extravagant act of covering the walls with ivory too?

With a mix of expectation and anxiety, I touched the white wall.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the wall was covered with ivory-colored silk wallpaper.

Though the wall-mounted candlesticks were insane luxury, gilded ivory.

Then, I felt a hot breath blowing against my ear from behind.

"What, are you dissatisfied because the walls aren't decorated with ivory?"

"Eek!"

I flapped like a freshly caught fish.

My whole body flushed red.

What on earth are you doing all of a sudden, you mad Crown Prince?

"What nonsense is that?"

"Well, you were feeling the wall so passionately. For a moment, I thought you had married the bedroom wall, not me."

"Don't be sarcastic! I was just curious and observing!"

"I wasn't being sarcastic?"

His mouth said that, but his expression and tone were absolutely not.

It was blatantly obvious he was being more twisted than a pretzel.

"What are you so angry about now?"

Arpad did an unfittingly cute gesture, raising both index fingers on his head.

"No matter how thick my dragon bloodline is, I haven't grown horns yet."

"Don't talk nonsense."

After grumbling for a moment, Arpad soon relaxed his expression and asked me.

"What were you thinking to make you caress the furniture and wall so passionately? While leaving your husband aside."

"Could you stop saying strange things?"

Arpad was still smiling with mischief.

I replied plainly. While caressing the smooth, warm-to-the-touch ivory ornaments.

"I felt a bit regretful and sorry."

"About what?"

"Such a pretty room, but it welcomed a fake owner before the real one."

I don't know who the woman Arpad will come to love in the future.

But she would be the real owner of this pretty room.

I'm just a temporary guest passing through before that.

When I turned my head after answering, a very strange sight unfolded before my eyes.

Arpad's expression had hardened. Wrinkles formed on his smooth brow, and the corners of his mouth were turned down. Clearly an expression of dissatisfaction and displeasure.

Why is he like that all of a sudden?

Anyway, I finished what I was going to say.

"...But!"

"But?"

If I don't interfere, this room will eventually become Evangeline's, not Arpad's lover's.

I absolutely hated that.

So.

"While I'm staying here, it's mine, so I have to cherish it as much as possible!"

For some reason, Arpad's hardened expression loosened a little at my words.

And then a question I never expected popped out.

"Then what about me?"

"...Huh?"

"Will you cherish me too while you're staying here?"

No, why are you talking as if you're an option attached to the Crown Princess's room?

"......?"

Has this guy already gone mad?

I cautiously approached and placed my hand on Arpad's forehead.

Fortunately, I didn't feel any serious fever or chills. Very calm.

When I suddenly touched him, Arpad also seemed quite surprised.

The mouth that had been spouting incomprehensible words suddenly stopped.

The annoyingly narrowed eyes widened.

'Why does he look cute and adorable, so unfittingly?'

I pushed aside such pointless thoughts and asked what was really important.

"Has the Madness risen?"

"......"

Arpad made an expression that openly showed his steam had run out.

* * *

Now that I was done observing the Ivory Room, which would be my room for a while.

And since Arpad's nonsense had somehow, for some reason, run out of steam and quieted down on its own.

I thought it was time to rest a bit and organize things.

But the Imperial Palace was the core of power within the Empire.

Naturally, it was the eye of a storm where all sorts of conspiracies and incidents never ceased for a moment.

Before my conversation with Arpad could even end, the next event found us first.

The chief chamberlain of the main palace came in person to deliver the Emperor's command.

"His Majesty the Emperor has ordered Crown Prince Arpad and Duchess Delphine beside him to appear together."

The chamberlain's words briefly showed the Emperor's current position.

'As expected, the Emperor still doesn't recognize my and Arpad's marriage.'

Just as I expected.

'I thought that once we entered the palace, getting this marriage recognized by the Emperor would be the first and biggest task.'

This was a natural recognition of reality.

But.

There was a person next to me who couldn't accept that obvious fact and was impulsively reacting.

"Chamberlain, you've aged. Your address is wrong. Not Duchess Delphine, but Crown Princess."

A voice so low it seemed to growl, chillingly ominous.

It was an atmosphere where anyone would be frightened and have no choice but to obey the command.

However, the chamberlain, thick-skinned from long years in the Imperial Palace, didn't yield in the slightest.

"His Majesty the Emperor referred to her as Duchess Delphine. I merely conveyed it."

"Don't make me say it three times. Crown Princess."

The chamberlain adjusted his monocle and replied coldly.

"Crown Prince Arpad and Duchess Delphine, please prepare for the audience."

Simultaneously, a sword was drawn from Arpad's scabbard.

*Shing!*

'Aah! You madman! What are you doing drawing a sword before the Emperor's chamberlain!'

I ran with all my might.

Fortunately, the distance was close, so I could squeeze between Arpad and the chamberlain.

Thanks to that, the blade flying toward the chamberlain's neck stopped abruptly.

It was almost touching the tip of my nose.

'Ah, my liver is really going to drop.'

I reached out to grab the blade.

Then Arpad frowned and pulled the sword back.

Once I was confident Arpad wouldn't dance with his sword as he pleased, I turned my head.

And bowed to the chamberlain as calmly and elegantly as possible.

"Please forgive my husband's mistake. The blind blade certainly wasn't aimed at you, Chamberlain."

Because I intervened, it was aimed at me.

Then, a gleam appeared in the chamberlain's eyes.

Nevertheless, his reply was cold.

"I have not been permitted to address you as Crown Princess."

"It doesn't matter."

"...Pardon?"

"You just referred to Crown Prince Arpad as my husband, didn't you."

"Whether recognized as Crown Princess or not, the fact that I am Arpad's wife is true."

"......"

"And I fully understand your position of not being able to call me Crown Princess."

When the superior says jump, you jump—what else can you do? Especially when that superior is the Emperor.

Screw the class-based society.

Without showing such thoughts, I quietly declared.

"Above all, following His Majesty the Emperor's summons comes first. And after we have an audience with His Majesty, you will be able to address me with the correct title."

Interpreting my words, it meant this.

'Even the Emperor will recognize me as Crown Princess after meeting and talking with me directly, so it doesn't matter.'

The chamberlain seemed genuinely surprised.

For the first time, his own pure impression came out.

"You are a bold person. The Crown Prince's wife."

He even took a step back. Meaning he would call me the Crown Prince's wife, even if not Crown Princess.

Good.

I barely managed to resolve the situation and turned around.

'Now I have to take care of Arpad and go meet the Emperor.'

But, the expression on Arpad's face when I turned around was a bit微妙.

Translator: Nox