Chapter 3. My First Time as a Crown Princess

Ludwig was filled with ecstasy as he led the Imperial Knights.

For someone who was merely a collateral relative, leading the Imperial Knights from the front was symbolic in many ways.

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

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

‘This time, I definitely won’t let you get away with this, Arpad!’

He harbored a deep inferiority complex toward his cousin, who excelled in every aspect.

And then, his bride had been plundered by that very cousin on their wedding day.

This was enough to shatter Ludwig’s high but fragile, glass-like pride.

Leading the elite knights now was a perfect opportunity to heal his wounded ego.

‘This time, I am the pure victim! Even if he dies by my hand, Arpad will have no room for excuses!’

Filled with inferiority and murderous intent, he followed the information Evangeline had brought.

After riding for a long time, a cloud of dust trailing in the distance finally came into view.

Arpad’s party was shamelessly passing along the main road of the Artanuoa Plains, the continent’s largest granary.

And they were doing so leisurely.

Rather than a group of outlaws who had kidnapped a bride, they looked like a dignified wedding procession.

Ludwig galloped at the head of the knights.

Naturally, he didn't follow the winding curves of the road. It was a waste of time.

Thud, thud, thud—!!

Horse hooves trampled through the wheat fields of the Artanuoa Plains, where sprouts had just begun to bud.

The path the knights led by Ludwig passed through became a literal wasteland.

However, neither Ludwig nor the knights cared.

Before long, Ludwig was able to catch up with Hilia’s group.

The few escort troops for the carriage could not stop the Imperial Knights.

The Imperial Knights blocked the path of the white carriage engraved with the imperial crest.

Approaching the carriage that was forced to a halt, Ludwig drew his sword and flung the door open.

“Caught you, Hilia...!”

Ludwig’s eyes widened in shock.

* * *

Sitting across from her mother in the Empress’s palace, Evangeline bit her lip in anxiety and unease.

‘Will Ludwig do a good job?’

She knew exactly why she was anxious.

It was because something like this had never happened in the ‘original story.’

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

‘A predatory marriage!’

Hilia was supposed to marry Ludwig, hand over everything from the Delphin Duchy to him, and then die.

At this rate, it would be impossible for Ludwig to inherit the Delphin Duchy.

And it would also become impossible for her to have everything by claiming Ludwig.

Her plan, built upon the original story, had gone terribly awry!

‘Besides, why of all people does it have to be Arpad?’

When she had briefly read the original before transmigrating, cursed at it, and then forgotten it, she hadn't thought much of the character Arpad.

Even though he had few appearances, he was a character that most readers were angry about, questioning 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 wasn't even the second male lead and died anyway.

‘In the first place, I watched it while getting angry about why the female and male leads were so lacking in charm...’

She naturally disliked the female lead, Hilia, who was submissive and knew how to do nothing but cry.

And the charm of the male lead, Ludwig, was also lackluster.

Readers would hold onto the single keyword of 'regret' and endure just to see the male lead regret his actions, but even that wasn't for her.

Even when she read the novel out of habit without thinking.

And even when she unexpectedly transmigrated into that novel, she hadn't realized.

‘Arpad...’

The man named Arpad, whom she had now seen with her own eyes, heard with her own ears, and smelled in person in this world...

To think he would be this captivating...

However, even to her, a transmigrator, Arpad was like a picture in a book that she could not have.

‘He’s going to go mad and die anyway. Even in the original, while there were ways to delay the Madness, there was no way to eliminate it.’

Even as a transmigrator, it was impossible for her to keep Arpad from going insane.

Knowing that, she couldn't bring herself to want him.

Especially knowing that Ludwig was the original male lead and would become the Emperor.

But still...

The thought that Arpad might become someone else’s husband felt like her chest was tightening.

No, it felt as if she had swallowed burning coals, and her insides were scorching.

Evangeline didn't even notice that her own lip was bleeding.

She only realized it when Empress Isabel reached out to stop her.

“Stop it, Eva. You’re ruining your pretty lips.”

“...Mother. It’ll be okay, right?”

Unlike Evangeline, the Empress was calm.

“What are you so worried about? Both the Delphin girl and Arpad are people who must be killed anyway.”

The Empress was exceedingly composed.

“Besides, thanks to the rumors we’ve spread, their reputations are already at rock bottom. No one will recognize them as a married couple. The Emperor won’t permit it either.”

“...Yes, Mother.”

“Don’t forget, Eva. This mother will make sure you become the true Empress of the Empire.”

Evangeline—the transmigrator inside her—sneered at the Empress.

‘Look at this mere novel character who doesn't even notice that her precious daughter’s soul has been swapped.’

And Evangeline’s anxiety soon took shape and ambushed her.

“Your Majesty! Empress! It is reported that Crown Prince Arpad and the Delphin Duchess have entered the palace!”

It was news they hadn't wanted to hear at all.

* * *

“What...?”

Ludwig, who had opened the carriage door with a sword and a murderous gaze, was bewildered.

The inside of the carriage was empty.

He shouted and rushed toward the driver’s seat.

“Where are Hilia and Arpad? Why is the carriage empty?!”

According to the information the Empress had given him, this carriage was supposed to be heading from the northern Separate Palace to the Imperial Palace.

Furthermore, there was information that both Arpad and Hilia had been seen riding in this carriage.

Ludwig held his blade to the poor driver’s throat and shouted.

“What happened?”

The driver replied while trembling.

“They separated from our group long ago in the Noel region!”

Noel was at a distance that would take a full day even at full speed. It was too late to chase them now. Besides, who knew where they would be by now?

The testimonies of the few other knights were similar.

This group had been a decoy from the beginning.

“Dammit!!”

And although knowing now was meaningless, there had never been a chance for him to block Hilia and Arpad’s entry into the Imperial Capital in the first place.

This was because, following Hilia’s advice, the decoy groups Arpad had prepared were more than one or two.

* * *

I was standing in the square in front of the Imperial Palace, which I had left about a week ago.

No, to be precise, I was looking up at the Gate of Glory while mounted on a horse with Arpad.

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

The sound of whispering from all directions hummed and buzzed like a swarm of bees.

“Is that really the Crown Prince and Duchess who disappeared?”

“The bride from that wedding that was stopped a week ago?”

“I heard it was a predatory marriage, and already...”

I ignored those sounds.

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

This gate was the Imperial Palace’s largest entrance and was opened only for special people.

Such as the procession of a direct member of the imperial family or a parade for a hero who saved the country.

Now, Arpad was boldly demanding the opening of the Gate of Glory while seated on the horse with me.

“Open the gate at once.”

The commander of the 2nd Imperial Knights, who was under the direct command of the Emperor and guarding the Gate of Glory, seemed flustered.

“Crown Prince?”

“Yes. Fortunately, your eyesight is normal, so I won’t need to waste my words. Open it.”

“Where, where on earth have you been? Furthermore, the person beside you is...!”

He was sweating profusely from a sense of failure.

‘Come to think of it, that man was one who sided with the Empress and Ludwig.’

I leaned against Arpad for all to see.

When I did, I could feel a vibration through our touching skin, as if he were growling like a satisfied beast.

I unintentionally became so tense that the fine hairs all over my body stood up.

However, I couldn't afford to look awkward with him.

‘In any case, we are already a married couple.’

I needed to prove that fact in front of everyone.

So that no one could deny this marriage.

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

And with his head buried near my shoulder, he glared at the knight commander with sharp eyes and spoke again.

“Don’t make me say it three times. Move. How long do you intend to obstruct the procession of the Crown Prince and his consort?”

The commander must have known.

If he blocked the way any further, Arpad’s blade might fly toward his throat.

He eventually stepped aside feebly.

Arpad’s large white horse passed through the Gate of Glory and entered the Imperial Palace with dignity.

Though it was only the two of them, it was a clear parade.

* * *

“Well? Are you satisfied?”

“Very much so.”

At my answer, Arpad laughed heartily.

The sound of his laughter was truly extraordinary.

I asked in a small voice.

“How long are you going to keep moving on the horse?”

No one rode horses inside the Imperial Palace.

In the case of the imperial family, riding a carriage was permitted.

In the case of the hero of a victory parade, the privilege of riding a horse right up to the front of the Emperor was often granted.

Right now, we didn't fall into either category.

However, Arpad seemed to have no intention of getting off the horse, as if to show off on purpose.

“Well. Until we arrive at the Crown Prince’s palace? As you wish, it’s necessary to show everyone. Isn't that why you aren't asking me to let you down?”

His intuition is like a ghost’s.

While I was thinking he was a truly detestable man who offered nothing, I felt an intense gaze piercing us from a corner of the Imperial Palace.

A gaze that looked as if it wanted to burn me if it could.

It was someone familiar, and someone I had expected.

‘Evangeline!’

Translator: Nox