Chapter 19

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Audience with the Emperor

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Reading Arpad's emotions wasn't an easy task.

He had been the Crown Prince since birth, mastering political maneuvers as naturally as breathing.

But for some reason, in front of me, he often acted like a child who had no idea how to hide his feelings.

'Is it because we spent a few days alone in the detached palace, and he developed some sense of familiarity?'

Or maybe there was another reason.

Either way, it wasn't a bad thing.

Until Arpad found a woman he loved and demanded a divorce, we were bound together by fate.

A relationship called husband and wife, but in truth, more like client and mercenary.

Anyway, his expression right now... it somehow looked pleased, yet he was trying not to show it.

Really, he was an unpredictable man—not some moody teenage boy.

Well, how could a sane person ever understand a madman?

If you could understand one, that just meant you were mad too.

I swallowed all my inner retorts and approached Arpad with one request.

"Will you grant me a small favor?"

"Why so sudden?"

I winked and whispered.

"It's something I need for the audience with His Majesty."

The undisputed center of gossip in the Imperial Palace right now was the Crown Prince's Palace.

And for good reason—it was the site of the Bride Abduction Marriage that hadn't occurred in 300 years.

No one had expected them to brazenly enter the palace together in broad daylight, heads held high.

Opinions on the matter were overwhelmingly negative.

"Isn't that just too shameless?"

"Grand Duke Ludwig is the only pitiful one here. His bride was stolen, his honor dragged through the mud..."

"It's really too much."

But no one dared mention it openly in front of the Crown Prince.

Everyone valued their own lives too much for that.

All they could do was whisper behind his back.

This had been the case ever since Arpad, not even ten years old, first showed signs of mania.

Aside from a few fanatical loyalists, no one openly opposed him.

No one wanted to become a victim of his mania outbreaks.

Even the current Empress had been gravely injured during one of the Crown Prince's episodes, leaving her arm impaired.

Yet they couldn't punish him for it.

Signs of mania were proof of a strong dragon bloodline in the imperial family.

A testament to bearing Artanus's blessing in full.

Arpad's vertically slit pupils, far from human, were the very mark of it.

The eyes of the dragon.

In the Estrid Imperial Family, dragon blood was more important than anything.

Even the Emperor couldn't easily strip Arpad of his position as Crown Prince.

As a result, Arpad was treated like an untouchable bomb.

Don't touch it—who knows when it might explode? That was the common thought of everyone around him.

Even his only blood relative, the Emperor.

When Arpad stepped out of the Crown Prince's Palace with his scandalous new wife, gazes filled with fear and curiosity converged from all sides.

But no one dared approach or speak to them.

They merely observed from afar, like watching something ominous.

"......"

"......"

It felt as if thorns of silence were scattered along their path.

Hilia hid a bitter smile as she trampled those uncomfortable thorns of silence.

'Let them talk all they want. It's not like it'll guarantee my life.'

Piercing stares stabbed at Hilia walking beside Arpad.

If those gazes were arrows, she would have been turned into a pincushion in an instant.

She snorted and ignored the stinging, unwelcome attention.

Thanks to that, Hilia stood out more brightly than anyone amid the silence, smiling radiantly on her own.

Free from the stress sources named Ludwig and Evangeline Ruth, her skin was flawless, like a peeled eggshell.

Not a single pore was visible on her glossy complexion, and a faint cherry blossom blush tinted her cheeks.

Each blink of her large eyes hid and revealed her deep violet irises beneath long, pink lashes.

Her shy coral lips curved in a slightly tense smile.

Her profusely flowing cherry blossom-hued updo looked utterly sweet.

A tiara woven in the shape of Acanthus flowers from amethysts, clear crystals, pink diamonds, and lavender diamonds made her pink hair stand out even more.

Layers upon layers of milky thin silk and cherry blossom lace formed a voluminous, frothy dress that enhanced her pure image.

It even seemed designed to accentuate the deep amethyst tones of her tiara.

To top it off, spring had brought the central palace garden—through which Arpad and Hilia passed—into full cherry blossom bloom.

A timely breeze blew, showering countless petals over their heads.

As if nature itself were blessing the pair.

Someone murmured unconsciously, lost in a daze.

"She really does look... like a cherry blossom fairy."

The speaker startled themselves. They hadn't meant to say it out loud, and with everyone silent, it rang out too clearly.

Feeling the stinging glares from all sides, the "fairy" commenter bowed their head deeply.

No one openly agreed or cheered, but inwardly, they all thought much the same.

'Now I get why His Highness went through with the abduction marriage.'

'She's impressive, alright.'

'No wonder Grand Duke Ludwig lost his mind—having a bride like that stolen.'

'And she's bringing the Delphin Duchess's dowry to boot...'

While everyone was overwhelmed by Hilia's meticulously perfected appearance—her finest in four lifetimes...

...she casually slipped her arm through Arpad's and leaned into him, affectionate and natural as could be.

Gasps of shock erupted from all around.

"Gasp!"

"So bold!"

"Even if she's the abducted bride, will His Highness really tolerate that?"

"He's not the type to allow it..."

Tuning out the surroundings, Hilia spoke as if for all to hear, her voice pitifully anxious and worried.

"What if His Majesty doesn't take a liking to me?"

And then, plunging the onlookers into even greater shock...

Arpad responded with utmost tenderness.

"That won't happen, so rest easy."

This time, the collective gasp of astonishment was even louder.

"Gah!"

"His Highness is smiling! Oh my god! I've never seen anything like this!"

"He looks so handsome smiling like that... If only he'd smile at me... I mean, no!"

Considering Arpad's beauty and status, women should have been swarming him.

But no one dared, thanks to the vicious rumors surrounding him and his own sharp aura.

Now, seeing him smile so warmly at his new bride, those rumors and his mania seemed all but forgotten.

The crowd looked at the Crown Prince anew.

At just how breathtakingly beautiful he was.

It was enough to make even those who had never lusted after Arpad before envy Hilia at his side.

'She's lucky. Even if abducted, if her captor is him...'

'But the Crown Prince's mania is infamous. Who knows what'll happen to her.'

'More importantly, will the Emperor even acknowledge it?'

That was the hottest topic right now.

Arpad's Bride Abduction Marriage.

And whether the Emperor would approve it or not.

Everyone knew he had summoned the Crown Prince and Hilia to decide just that.

The masses watched them enter the main palace—some with curiosity, others cheering like they were entranced, and many with negative stares.

I hid my tension and walked to the main palace practically leaning on Arpad.

No matter how nonchalant I tried to act, the negative stares pouring from all sides were suffocating.

Walking through the center of it was harder than I'd imagined.

At least Arpad seemed unfazed, giving me something to lean on—small mercies.

We finally entered the main palace, passed through the corridors, and arrived at the waiting area for the imperial audience.

Once the chamberlain went ahead to notify the Emperor, we were left alone.

"Phew..."

I let out a sigh of relief and tried to unlink our arms.

"...?"

What? Why won't it come loose?

Looking up in confusion, I saw Arpad whispering with a serious expression.

"Keep it linked."

"No one's watching now..."

His murmur tickled my ear.

"No. There are. The Emperor's eyes are watching us."

"......"

He was right.

The Emperor was the type to suspect even his own son—and himself.

To earn his recognition of our marriage, we couldn't let our guard down for a second.

"Got it."

I felt extra strength in Arpad's grip on my arm.

'Is he nervous about facing his estranged father?'

In my previous life, it had been the Emperor who killed the fully deranged Arpad, after all.

Their relationship looked as precarious as walking a blade's edge.

I gave a sly smile and whispered to him.

"Worried? Don't be—just trust me."

Arpad's face twisted in absurdity.

But before he could retort, the chamberlain emerged and announced,

"His Majesty summons you both."

No time for chit-chat now.

We entered the audience chamber arm-in-arm, making a show of it.

And upon seeing us—or rather, seeing me—the corners of the Emperor's eyes trembled faintly but unmistakably.

I knew exactly why.

'Because the dress, tiara, and necklace I'm wearing are all relics of the late Empress!'

And I knew the late Empress was the Emperor's greatest weakness.