Chapter 18

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: This Isn't My First Time as Crown Princess

-----------------------------------------------------------------

This wasn't the first time I'd become the Crown Princess.

Sure, I got chased out soon enough, but nominally, I'd always made it to the Crown Princess seat.

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

It was nothing more than a contractual bride abduction marriage, after all. Putting it that way felt utterly bizarre, but it was the truth.

Before divorcing me, Ludwig had ascended to Crown Prince twice.

But at those times, I was either rotting in a prison cell or locked away in a tower, so I never got any Crown Princess treatment. I was nothing but a criminal.

Naturally, I'd never set foot even once in the bedroom meant for the Crown Princess.

The Ivory Bedroom always fell to Evangeline.

Even before Ludwig and I had our official divorce.

How did I know?

She came and told me herself.

"Today, Ludwig brought me to the Ivory Bedroom. And from now on, it'll be my room. Soon, the Empress's Palace will be mine too."

That made the Ivory Bedroom a deeply symbolic place for me.

It felt like it represented everything Evangeline had stolen from me, time and again.

My family.

My life.

My people.

And my husband... along with the Crown Princess position.

That's why I wandered the room, lost in sentiment.

True to its name, the entire space was awash in ivory tones.

When I brushed my fingertip over a small white table, there was no chill of metal, stone, or wood.

'No way... is this real ivory too?'

I hadn't expected the furniture itself to be crafted from genuine ivory.

Amazed, I touched the white furnishings here and there.

'Heavens! It's all real ivory!'

Surely they hadn't gone so far as to lavish the walls with ivory too?

With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, I ran my hand over the white wall.

Thankfully—or perhaps disappointingly—it was just ivory-colored silk wallpaper.

The candelabras mounted on the walls were insanely opulent, gilded ivory, though.

Right then, a hot puff of breath ghosted over my ear from behind.

"What, dissatisfied that they didn't plate the walls in ivory too?"

"Eek!"

I flailed like a fish fresh from the net.

My whole body burned red.

What the hell was that, you lunatic Crown Prince?

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Well, you were caressing the wall with such passion. For a second, I thought you'd married the bedroom wall instead of me."

"Don't you dare mock me! I was just checking it out because it's fascinating!"

"I'm not mocking you."

His words said one thing, but his expression and tone screamed otherwise.

He was twisted up tighter than a braided roll.

"What are you so pissed about this time?"

Arpad made an adorably mismatched gesture, raising his index fingers like bunny ears above his head.

"No matter how thick my dragon blood runs, I don't have horns."

"Cut the crap."

After some half-hearted grumbling, Arpad eased his expression and asked,

"What had you so engrossed, stroking the furniture and walls like that? Ignoring your husband."

"Can you not make it sound so weird?"

Arpad just wore that same playful smile.

I answered matter-of-factly, my fingers tracing the glossy ivory ornaments that warmed at my touch.

"I felt a bit wasteful... and sorry about it."

"About what?"

"A room this beautiful, welcoming a fake owner before the real one."

I had no idea who the woman Arpad would fall for in the future.

But she'd be the true mistress of this lovely room.

I was just a fleeting guest beforehand.

When I turned after replying, a bizarre scene met my eyes.

Arpad's face was frozen. Creases furrowed his smooth brow, and the corners of his mouth tugged downward. Unmistakably displeased.

What the hell brought that on?

Anyway, I finished my thought.

"...But!"

"But?"

If I didn't step in, this room would end up with Evangeline, not whatever lover Arpad might have.

I couldn't stand that.

So.

"While I'm crashing here, it's mine—so treat it pretty as can be!"

For whatever reason, my words softened Arpad's rigid expression.

Then came a question I never saw coming.

"What about me, then?"

"...Pardon?"

"Will you treat me pretty too, while you're crashing?"

No, why are you talking like you're some accessory that comes with the Crown Princess suite?

"......?"

Has this guy lost it already?

I crept closer and pressed my hand to Arpad's forehead.

Good—no raging fever or icy chill. Perfectly temperate.

He startled at my sudden touch.

His nonstop babble snapped shut.

Those sly, slitted eyes went wide and round.

'Why does he have to look so damn cute when it doesn't suit him.'

Shoving the stray thought aside, I got to the real point.

"You having a manic episode or something?"

"......"

Arpad's face deflated like a punctured steam valve.

Having finished inspecting what would be my room for the time being—the Ivory Bedroom.

And whatever nonsense Arpad was spouting had mysteriously fizzled out on its own.

Now seemed like a good time to rest and sort my thoughts.

But the imperial palace was the empire's power nexus.

The eye of a perpetual storm of schemes and scandals, never pausing for breath.

Before our chat wrapped up, the next event crashed in.

The chief steward of the main palace arrived in person to relay the Emperor's command.

"His Imperial Majesty summons Crown Prince Arpad and the Delphin Duchess at his side to attend him together."

The steward's words neatly captured the Emperor's stance.

'As expected. He hasn't recognized our marriage yet.'

Right on cue.

'I figured securing the Emperor's blessing on this marriage would be priority one—and a huge hurdle—once we entered the palace.'

Pure pragmatism.

But.

Right beside me was a guy who couldn't swallow that reality and was charging ahead blindly.

"The steward's getting senile. Wrong form of address. Not Delphin Duchess—Crown Princess."

His voice rumbled low like a growl, chilling the air.

An vibe that'd make anyone quail and comply.

But the palace-hardened chief steward didn't flinch.

"His Majesty addressed her as Delphin Duchess. I merely relayed his words."

"I won't repeat myself three times. Crown Princess."

The steward adjusted his monocle and shot back coolly.

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

With that, a sword hissed from Arpad's scabbard.

Ching!

'Aaaah! You madman! Drawing steel in front of the Emperor's own steward?!'

I bolted with everything I had.

Luckily, the distance was short—I wedged myself between Arpad and the steward.

The blade hurtling for the steward's throat halted midway.

It hovered a hairbreadth from my nose.

'God, my heart's in my throat.'

I reached to grab the edge.

Arpad scowled and yanked the sword back.

Once I was sure he wouldn't go full sword dance on a whim, I turned.

And offered the steward my calmest, most elegant courtesy.

"Please overlook my husband's lapse. That blind blade was never meant for you, Sir Steward."

Thanks to me jumping in, it nearly got me instead.

A glint sparked in the steward's eyes.

His tone stayed frosty, though.

"I lack permission to address the Duchess as Crown Princess."

"It doesn't matter."

"...Pardon?"

"You just called Crown Prince Arpad my husband."

"Acknowledged as Crown Princess or not, I am Crown Prince Arpad's wife. Fact."

"......"

"And I get your position—you can't call me Crown Princess."

Your boss says jump, you jump. Especially when the boss is the Emperor.

Screw this stratified hellhole.

Keeping such mutterings internal, I declared quietly,

"Above all, His Majesty's summons takes precedence. And once we've had our audience, you'll be free to use the proper title for me."

Translation: 'Talk to the Emperor face-to-face, and he'll recognize me as Crown Princess. No sweat.'

The steward looked genuinely taken aback.

For once, raw feeling slipped through.

"Such boldness from Crown Prince Arpad's wife."

He even conceded a step—couldn't grant "Crown Princess," but "Crown Prince's wife" was fine.

Progress.

I'd salvaged the mess and turned back.

'Now to wrangle Arpad and head to the Emperor.'

But the look on Arpad's face as I spun around... it was oddly complicated.