Chapter 16

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 16

Chapter Title: Chapter 3. First Time as Crown Princess

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Ludwig was leading the Imperial Knights, practically swimming in euphoria.

For a mere collateral branch like him to take the vanguard of the Imperial Knights was symbolic in every way.

It felt just like he was the real Crown Prince.

And on top of that, he was chasing the man and woman who had driven him mad for the past week.

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

He harbored a massive inferiority complex toward his cousin, who excelled in every way.

Yet that very cousin had his bride stolen from him on his wedding day.

It was more than enough to shatter Ludwig's lofty yet fragile glass ego.

Leading the elite knights at his back was the perfect chance to heal that wounded pride.

'This time, I'm the pure victim! Even if I kill you with my own hands, Arpad won't have a word to say!'

Seething with inferiority and murderous intent, he pursued them based on the information Evangeline had provided.

After galloping for a long while, he finally spotted a long trail of dust far ahead.

Arpad's group was brazenly traveling the main road through the Artanus Plains, the continent's largest granary.

And at a leisurely pace, no less.

They looked less like a band of bride-thieving scoundrels and more like a proper wedding procession.

Ludwig spurred his horse at the head of the knights.

Of course, he didn't follow the winding road. That would be a waste of time.

Thud-thud-thud—!!

The horses' hooves trampled the young wheat sprouts of the Artanus Plains as they charged ahead.

Where Ludwig's knights passed, it was utter devastation.

But neither Ludwig nor any of the knights paid it any mind.

Soon enough, Ludwig caught up to Hilia's group.

The scant escort around the carriages couldn't stop the Imperial Knights.

The knights blocked the white carriage emblazoned with the imperial crest.

The carriage had no choice but to halt. Ludwig approached, drew his sword, and flung the door open.

"Got 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 pull it off?'

She knew exactly why she felt so uneasy.

Nothing like this had ever happened in the "original story."

Arpad and Hilia were characters with almost no connection.

'Bride abduction marriage, of all things!'

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

If things stayed like this, Ludwig inheriting the Delphin Ducal House would be impossible.

And her own plans to claim everything by taking Ludwig would crumble too.

Her carefully laid plans based on the original story had gone badly awry!

'And why of all people did it have to be Arpad?'

Before possessing this body, she'd skimmed the novel, cursed it out, and forgotten it. Back then, Arpad hadn't meant much to her.

He had few appearances, yet most readers raged that he should've been the male lead.

But he was just a novel character. Far from male lead or even sub-male lead material—she had no interest in a guy who died.

'From the start, I read it fuming about how the heroine and hero were so utterly charmless...'

The obedient, always-crying heroine Hilia was naturally unlikeable.

And the male lead Ludwig's appeal fell flat too.

Readers stuck it out for the "regret" trope to see him suffer, but even that didn't hook her.

She'd read it out of mindless habit anyway.

And when she possessed the story, she hadn't realized it fully.

'Arpad...'

Seeing him with her own eyes in this world, hearing his voice, smelling his scent... that man Arpad was...

Far more captivating than she'd imagined.

But even as the possessor, Arpad was like an untouchable picture in a book to her.

'He's doomed to go mad and die anyway. The original mentioned ways to delay the madness, but never cure it.'

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

She couldn't want him knowing that.

Especially since Ludwig was the original male lead who became Emperor.

But even so...

The thought of that Arpad becoming someone else's husband made her chest tighten like it was clogged.

No—like she'd swallowed burning coals and they were scorching her from inside.

Evangeline didn't even notice the blood from her lip.

Empress Isabel reached out to stop her before she realized.

"Enough, Eva. You'll ruin those pretty lips."

"...Mother. It'll be fine, right?"

Unlike Evangeline, the Empress was utterly calm.

"What are you so worried about? The Delphin girl and Arpad both need to die anyway."

The Empress was the picture of composure.

"Besides, thanks to the rumors we've spread, their reputations are already in the gutter. No one will accept them as husband and wife. His Majesty won't allow it either."

"...Yes, Mother."

"Don't forget, Eva. I'll make you the true Empress of this empire."

Evangeline—or rather, the possessor inside her—scoffed inwardly at the Empress.

'You book character couldn't even notice your precious daughter's soul had changed.'

And then, her anxiety took shape and struck her down.

"Your Majesty! Empress! Crown Prince Arpad and Duchess Delphin have entered the palace!"

It was news they least wanted to hear.

"Wh-what?"

Ludwig, sword in hand and eyes fierce, flung open the carriage door—and froze in confusion.

The carriage was empty.

He bellowed and rushed to the driver's seat.

"Where's Hilia? Arpad? Why is the carriage empty?!"

According to the info from the Empress, this carriage was heading from the northern annex to the palace.

And reliable reports had confirmed both Arpad and Hilia were inside.

Ludwig pressed his blade to the poor driver's throat and shouted.

"What the hell happened?!"

The driver trembled as he answered.

"They parted from our group way back in the Noel region!"

Noel was a full day's hard ride away. Too late to catch them now. And who knew where they'd be by this point?

The handful of other knights gave similar accounts.

This group had been bait from the start.

"Damn it!!"

And though it was pointless now, Ludwig had never had a real shot at blocking Hilia and Arpad from entering the capital anyway.

Arpad had prepared multiple decoy groups on Hilia's advice.

I stood in the square before the palace, about a week after we'd set out.

More precisely, I was on horseback with Arpad, gazing up at the palace's main gate.

The place was always bustling, and now we were surrounded by people who recognized us.

Murmurs buzzed around us like a swarm of bees.

"No way, the missing Crown Prince and the Duchess?"

"The bride from that wedding that got halted a week ago?"

"Bride abduction marriage, and already...?"

I ignored the whispers.

And with a complicated expression, I looked up at the palace's main gate: the Gate of Glory.

This gate, the palace's grandest entrance, opened only for the special few.

For direct imperial family processions or parades for heroes who'd saved the nation.

Right now, Arpad was boldly demanding it open for us, side by side on horseback.

"Open the gate."

The captain of the Emperor's direct Imperial Second Knights, guarding the Gate of Glory, looked flustered.

"Crown Prince?"

"Yes. Good thing your eyesight's fine—I won't waste breath. Open it."

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

Cold sweat poured down his face in dismay.

'Come to think of it, this guy's aligned with the Empress and Ludwig.'

I leaned into Arpad blatantly.

His skin against mine vibrated with a satisfied growl, like a beast content.

It tensed me up so much my arm hairs stood on end.

But I couldn't afford to look distant from him.

'We're already married, after all.'

We needed to prove it before all these eyes.

So no one could deny our marriage.

As if brushing away my worries, Arpad naturally wrapped an arm around my waist.

Head buried in my shoulder, he glared sharply at the knight captain and spoke again.

"Don't make me say it thrice. Move. How long do you intend to block the Crown Prince and his Princess Consort?"

The captain knew.

Any more obstruction, and Arpad's blade might fly for his neck.

He stepped aside powerlessly.

And Arpad's massive white steed proudly passed through the palace gate.

Just the two of us, but a clear parade.

"How was it? Satisfied?"

"Very."

Arpad laughed heartily at my reply.

Even his laugh was extraordinary.

I asked quietly.

"How long are we riding?"

No one rode horses inside the palace.

Imperial family could use carriages.

Triumphant parade heroes got the privilege of riding to the Emperor.

We qualified for neither.

But Arpad showed no intention of dismounting—making a show of it.

"Who knows. Until we reach the Crown Prince Palace? We need to show ourselves everywhere, as you wish. That's why you haven't asked to get down, right?"

His perceptiveness was uncanny.

What a guy—gives nothing but headaches, I was thinking.

When I felt an intensely passionate gaze piercing us from a corner of the palace.

Eyes that seemed ready to devour me if they could.

Familiar. And exactly who I'd expected.

'Evangeline!'