Ch#20

Episode 20

That's why, as soon as I heard the Emperor was summoning us, I immediately asked Arpad for a favor.

"Can you grant me one request?"

"You have keepsakes of the late Empress, right? I'd like to borrow some."

I was a bit worried Arpad might react sensitively.

Because the late Empress was a weak spot not just for the Emperor, but for Arpad as well.

But surprisingly, Arpad readily lent me the keepsakes of his mother that he had in his possession.

He even personally picked out ones that would suit me.

"This one would be better than that. It goes well with your hair and eye color."

After holding an amethyst tiara up to my head, he said that.

He even personally put on the matching necklace for me.

"It suits you well. Much better than I expected."

Saying that with narrowed eyes, Arpad seemed quite pleased.

So I said this with pure goodwill.

"Don't worry."

"About what?"

"I'll use it well and return it safely."

Then Arpad made another subtle expression.

An expression as if he'd found a worm in a nicely bitten apple.

He shook his head.

"No need."

"Huh? But it's an important keepsake?"

"That's right. ...But if you return this, everyone will think it's strange."

"Huh?"

"Passing down jewelry and dresses to a daughter-in-law is common. But a wife returning her mother-in-law's keepsakes to her husband isn't common."

"Ah..."

He had a point.

That's usually one of the procedures followed during a divorce.

I nodded and replied nonchalantly.

"That's true. Alright. I'll borrow it and use it well, and return it properly when we divorce."

* * *

Arpad recalled what this strange woman had said earlier.

The words about returning the jewels and dress when they divorced.

Adorned with the dress and jewels that were his mother's keepsakes, the woman was smiling in the mirror.

Arpad was standing behind her, having personally put the necklace on her.

They hadn't made direct eye contact, but exchanged glances through the mirror.

She was sneaking glances at Arpad.

Arpad was also observing her.

'No matter how you look at it, she's a strange woman.'

Everything about her was irritating.

Her way of speaking, her breathing, her habits, every single strand of her hair.

Each one was like a thorn pricking under his fingernails, unbearably annoying.

Arpad asked himself.

'Why am I like this?'

And he reached his own conclusion.

'She's too suspicious, so I can't help but be wary.'

Moreover, she's too threatening to be left to become Ludwig's.

Arpad slowly nodded.

Yes, that's it. That's all.

Anyway, she was now a woman in his grasp.

If he kept her close and observed, he'd be able to learn the cause of those strange, irritating things.

Then he'd lose interest again. As he did with most people.

At the villa, the woman had mostly slept after the hastily conducted wedding ceremony.

Among the things she said to him during the brief time she was awake was this.

"Don't worry. I'll get the Emperor to recognize this marriage."

"How?"

"That's a se─cret."

"......"

The woman, Hilia, had said that while winking.

Truly, an incomprehensible woman.

Arpad suppressed the smile that kept trying to form on his lips, unlike usual.

And as he escorted her into the audience hall, he thought.

'Well then, shall we see your skills?'

Now was the time for this woman to pay the price for the marriage-by-abduction he'd recklessly carried out.

* * *

The Emperor's gaze upon seeing us enter the audience hall—more precisely, upon seeing me—trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

Seeing that, I cheered inwardly.

'As expected! I knew he'd be shaken.'

I know well that the Emperor's greatest weakness is the deceased Empress, Arpad's mother.

'Because I heard it directly from him!'

During my three past lives, while I was confined, I had been close to the retired Emperor who was waiting for death.

At that time, I heard many stories from the Emperor himself.

Of course, the Emperor sitting on the throne now looked supremely dignified and powerful.

Even the scar on his face seemed to emphasize his strength.

He looked like a completely different person from the one with completely white hair and an aged face.

'But it's the same person.'

And I already knew his true feelings.

That's why I could step forward so boldly.

"The daughter of Delphin and wife of Crown Prince Arpad humbly greets His Majesty the Emperor, the great manifestation and agent of Artanus."

I spread my skirt, knelt, and bowed.

The response was cold.

"...I have never welcomed a daughter-in-law."

As expected. Thanks to that, I wasn't shaken at all.

And Arpad... was looking at me with a very interesting expression.

'Right. You're wondering how I'll persuade the Emperor. You even seem to be enjoying it?'

Suddenly I felt like a bear doing acrobatics alone.

Anyway, I decided to ignore Arpad.

Because the Emperor is important right now.

The Emperor's sharp voice continued.

"And clearly, Duchess Delphine, did I not personally arrange the match between my nephew and you? I even gave gifts, and on the wedding day, I even visited Delphin Residence to give my blessings..."

The Emperor, who had been calm, soon tilted his head and exploded in anger.

"How is this any different from you and Arpad disregarding the Emperor's authority?!"

*Bang! Crash!*

Surprisingly, when the Emperor struck the armrest of the throne, the end of it shattered.

The dragon's bloodline apparently gives extraordinary strength too.

But I wasn't shaken at all.

And the Emperor noticed that. Perhaps the reaction was different from his expectations, as a strange light appeared in the Emperor's eyes.

At that moment, I gave my answer.

"No, Your Majesty. Neither His Highness the Crown Prince nor I have disregarded Your Majesty's authority."

"Then did the Crown Prince truly go mad and cause this incident?!"

The Emperor looked alternately at me and Arpad and emphasized once more.

"Speak truthfully without hiding anything, Duchess Delphine. If this marriage-by-abduction occurred against your will, I will help you return to where you should originally be."

In other words, he would put me back beside Ludwig.

If that happened, Arpad would become either a unilateral criminal or be branded as a Madness patient.

Arpad had actually taken that risk and accepted my request.

"Ludwig also said he is prepared to trust and accept his fiancée back."

And, hearing this disgusting statement, I was so shocked that I couldn't help but...

"Ugh!"

...gag.

"......?"

"......?"

The father and son, who looked so alike, were looking at me with eyes full of question marks.

I pretended to be dizzy and clung tightly to Arpad.

"Fatigue has built up from the long journey, so I felt dizzy... that's all."

"......"

"......"

Neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince seemed convinced.

But what can you do? I said that's what it is. I'm a delicate Lady, and you're the one who summoned me without giving me time to rest! I'm innocent!

After a brief silence passed.

The Emperor cleared his throat and asked me again.

"If this marriage-by-abduction occurred against your will, I will annul this marriage. So..."

This time, I answered straight without gagging or making any other mistake.

"I do not wish for the annulment of this marriage now."

"That sounds like you're saying you didn't want it when the marriage-by-abduction occurred?"

No. I really wanted it.

But officially, that shouldn't be the case.

So I evaded very ambiguously.

"What matters is now, Your Majesty."

I added with blushing cheeks.

"And the holy marriage between His Highness Arpad and me has already been completed."

The Emperor's face contorted. After checking the marriage vows I had given to the chamberlain, it became even more serious.

"You've already held the wedding ceremony and even received temple notarization? What on earth is this, Arpad?!"

For a moment, the Emperor looked like a chaebol family chairman from a drama scolding his son who caused trouble.

The Emperor's angry roar echoed loudly through the audience hall.

"What on earth made you do such a thing! Tell me!"

But Arpad said nothing.

The one who answered was me.

Covering my flushed cheeks with the back of my hand, I smiled as if shy.

"Of course, it's because of love."

At those words, the gazes of both the Emperor and Arpad focused on me.

The Emperor asked again as if dumbfounded.

"What did you just say, Duchess?"

"His Highness fell for me at first sight and ended up committing marriage-by-abduction."

Beside me, Arpad's mouth fell open.

"......"

"......"

How absurd it was.

The Emperor didn't even realize his fingers had slipped from the throne's armrest.

Regardless, I continued with what I had to say.

I couldn't miss this moment when the Emperor was clearly completely off guard.

"Just as Lord Artanus did when he first met Princess Istride."

"......!"

Indeed, the Emperor's expression stiffened slightly here.

Artanus is the founding dragon of the Empire.

Princess Istride is the woman abducted by the dragon who gave birth to the first Emperor, and the person after whom the Empire is named.

With these words, I had declared before the Emperor.

'Our marriage-by-abduction recreates the marriage-by-abduction of the dragon and the princess.'

At least I said we would frame it that way.

I added one more sentence.

"...that is our official position."

"Official position?"

"Yes."

"From now on, we plan to say that in all official settings."

The Emperor's expression, which had been filled with shock and absurdity, became quite serious.

"So you're saying the reality is different from the excuse?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

I deliberately paused, then rather threw a question at the Emperor from my side.

A question that was utterly bold.

"Does Your Majesty truly believe Ludwig is suitable for the next Emperor's position?"

Translator: Nox