Chapter 20

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 20

Chapter Title: An Audience with His Majesty

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The moment I heard that the Emperor had summoned me, I immediately turned to Arpad with a request.

"Could you do me just one favor?"

"You have the late Empress's relics, right? Mind lending me something?"

I was a little worried Arpad might react sensitively.

After all, the former Empress was a weakness not just for the Emperor, but for Arpad as well.

But unexpectedly, Arpad readily lent me an item from his personal collection of his mother's belongings.

He even personally selected one that would suit me.

"This one would suit you better than that. It matches your hair and eye color perfectly."

He held an amethyst tiara up to my head and said as much.

He even fastened the matching necklace around my neck himself.

"It suits you. Even better than I imagined."

As he narrowed his eyes with those words, Arpad looked genuinely pleased.

And so, out of pure goodwill, I said,

"Don't worry."

"About what?"

"I'll take good care of it and return it safely."

At that, Arpad's expression turned subtly strange.

Like he'd found a bug in what had seemed like a perfect night.

He shook his head.

"No need for that."

"Pardon? But it's an important heirloom."

"It is... But if you return it, everyone will think it's odd."

"Huh?"

"It's common for a mother-in-law to pass down jewels and dresses to her daughter-in-law. But it's not common for a wife to return her mother-in-law's heirlooms to her husband."

"Oh..."

He had a point.

That was usually one of the steps in a divorce.

I nodded casually and replied,

"Fair enough. Got it. I'll borrow it nicely, use it well, and return it properly when we divorce."

Arpad recalled what this peculiar woman had said earlier.

That she'd return the jewels and dress when they divorced.

Adorned in the dress and jewels left by his mother, the woman smiled into the mirror.

Having fastened the necklace himself, Arpad stood behind her.

They didn't meet eyes directly, but exchanged glances through the reflection.

She was stealing glances at Arpad.

And Arpad was observing her in turn.

'She's strange no matter how I look at her.'

Everything about her grated on him.

Her speech, her breath, her habits, even a single strand of her hair.

Each one pricked at him like a thorn under his nail, impossible to ignore.

Arpad asked himself,

'Why am I like this?'

And he came to his own conclusion.

'She's so suspicious I can't help but stay on guard.'

Besides, she was threatening enough that he couldn't just let her become Ludwig's.

Arpad nodded slowly.

Yes, that was it. Nothing more.

She was in his grasp now, anyway.

By keeping her close and watching her, he'd uncover the root of all these odd, irritating quirks.

Then he'd lose interest, just as he did with most people.

Ever since their hasty wedding in the annex—steaming hot from all the passion—she'd mostly slept.

In the brief moments she was awake around him, she'd said things like,

"Don't worry. I'll make sure His Majesty recognizes this marriage."

"How?"

"That's a se—cret."

"..."

The woman—Hilia—had winked as she said it.

She was truly impossible to pin down.

Unlike his usual self, Arpad suppressed the smile tugging at his lips more often than not.

As he escorted her into the audience chamber, he thought,

'Alright then. Let's see what you've got.'

It was time for this woman to pay the price for the bride abduction marriage he'd gone to such lengths for.

As we entered the audience chamber—more precisely, as the Emperor laid eyes on me—his gaze trembled like an earthquake.

I inwardly cheered at the sight.

'Yes! I knew it'd shake him.'

I knew the Emperor's greatest weakness was his late wife, Arpad's mother.

'Because he told me himself!'

In one of my past three lives, while I was under house arrest, I'd grown close to the Emperor as he awaited only death in retirement.

He'd shared many stories with me personally.

Of course, the man on the throne now exuded unmatched dignity and power.

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

He looked nothing like the white-haired, withered old man from back then.

'But it's the same person.'

And I already knew his true heart.

That's why I could step forward so boldly.

"Your daughter-in-law, wed to Crown Prince Arpad and daughter of House Delphin, humbly greets His Majesty the Emperor, incarnation and proxy of the great Artanus."

I curtsied gracefully, spreading my skirts.

His response was icy.

"...I have no daughter-in-law."

Just as expected. I wasn't fazed at all.

Arpad... was watching me with keen interest.

'Right. He's curious how I'll convince the Emperor. Looks like he's even enjoying it?'

I felt like a lone bear jumping through hoops.

Anyway, I decided to ignore Arpad.

The Emperor was what mattered now.

His sharp voice pressed on.

"And didn't I personally arrange your match with my nephew, Duchess Delphin? I even gave an engagement gift and visited Delphin Manor myself on your wedding day to offer congratulations..."

The Emperor, who had been speaking flatly, soon tilted his head and erupted in fury.

"How is this any different from you and Arpad defying my authority?!"

Bam! Crack!

Shockingly, when the Emperor slammed the throne's armrest, its end shattered.

The blood of dragons truly packed a punch.

But I remained utterly composed.

The Emperor noticed. His eyes gleamed, surprised by my unexpected reaction.

Seizing the moment, I replied,

"No, Your Majesty. Neither I nor Crown Prince Arpad have defied your authority."

"Then did the Crown Prince truly lose his mind and start this madness?!"

The Emperor glanced between Arpad and me, emphasizing once more,

"Speak the truth without hiding anything, Duchess Delphin. If this bride abduction marriage happened against your will, I will help you return to your rightful place."

In other words, he'd shove me back to Ludwig's side.

Arpad would then be branded a one-sided criminal or a madman.

Arpad had taken that risk when he accepted my request.

"Ludwig himself said he's ready to welcome his fiancée."

Hearing that repulsive line, I was so shocked that I...

"Urk!"

...ended up retching.

"...?"

"...?"

The eerily similar father and son stared at me with question marks in their eyes.

Pretending to feel dizzy, I leaned heavily against Arpad.

"The long journey must have worn me out... I'm just a bit dizzy."

"..."

"..."

Neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince looked convinced.

But what could they do? I said so myself. I'm a delicate lady, and you summoned me without rest, Your Majesty! I'm innocent!

After a brief silence,

The Emperor cleared his throat awkwardly and questioned me again.

"If this bride abduction marriage went against your will, I will nullify it. So..."

This time, I answered straight without retching or mistakes.

"I do not wish for annulment now."

"That sounds like you didn't want it back then, but do now?"

No. I'd wanted it desperately.

But officially, that couldn't be the case.

So I glossed over it ambiguously.

"What matters is now, Your Majesty."

I added, blushing my cheeks,

"And the union between Crown Prince Arpad and me has already been consummated."

The Emperor's face twisted. He checked the marriage vow document I'd handed to the chamberlain earlier and grew even graver.

"You've already held the ceremony and received temple certification? What in the world is this, Arpad?!"

For a split second, the Emperor looked like a chaebol chairman from a drama scolding his wayward son.

His fury-filled roar echoed through the audience chamber.

"What possessed you to pull this stunt?! Speak!"

But Arpad said nothing.

I was the one who answered.

Covering my flushed cheek with the back of my hand, I smiled shyly.

"Love, naturally."

At my words, the gazes of the Emperor and Arpad turned to me.

The Emperor asked incredulously,

"What did you just say, Duchess?"

"His Highness fell for me at first sight and couldn't help himself."

Arpad's jaw dropped beside me.

"..."

"..."

It was so absurd.

The Emperor didn't even notice his fingers slipping off the armrest.

Regardless, I pressed on with what I meant to say.

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

"Just like Artanus when he first met Princess Estrid."

"...!"

Sure enough, the Emperor's expression stiffened here.

Artanus was the Empire's founder, a dragon.

Princess Estrid was the woman abducted in marriage by the dragon, who bore the first Emperor—and the namesake of the Empire.

With those words, I'd declared before the Emperor:

'Our bride abduction marriage reenacts the dragon and princess's own.'

That we'd frame it that way, at least.

I added one more line.

"...That's our official stance."

"Official stance?"

"Yes."

"We'll say so at all public occasions going forward."

The Emperor's face, filled with shock and disbelief, turned somewhat serious.

"So reality differs from the excuse?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

I paused deliberately, then turned the question on him instead.

The boldest question imaginable.

"Do you truly believe Ludwig is fit to be the next Emperor?"