Chapter 25

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 25

Chapter Title: Chapter 4. Dragon's Bride

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But the tension that had momentarily stiffened my body soon vanished without a trace beneath my skin.

I'm not so immature that I can't properly control my emotions in front of others.

I smiled innocently and tilted my head in the opposite direction from Arpad.

"You have quite the unique taste in food, don't you? Is there a form of frenzy caused by dragon blood that includes something like that?"

Arpad's smooth brow furrowed.

"You're treating me like some human with cannibalistic hobbies."

"Well, if that's not the case, then that's a relief. Still, for someone who's going to become emperor, having a taste for human flesh would be a bit much, don't you think?"

"Is that all—just someone who's going to become emperor?"

"What else is there?"

Arpad stepped forward boldly. He came so close that his boot nudged right between my feet.

A little closer, and he might have pushed right between my legs.

And then Arpad whispered practically into my earlobe, his lips brushing against it.

"I'm also your husband."

His hot breath tickled my ear.

Every muscle in my body tensed up taut, and heat rushed to my face.

I had brushed off Arpad's loaded remark by treating it as cannibalism.

Of course, I knew full well it could be interpreted another way.

'In a rather... naughty sense.'

But I was trying to play dumb.

Except...

I hadn't expected him to make it so physically clear.

Arpad whispered softly.

"I can't figure out why you keep pretending not to understand."

"When did I pretend not to understand anything?"

Then his hot fingers trailed down the nape of my neck as he whispered.

"When you understood perfectly well..."

If it had a temperature, it would be scorching; if a texture, sticky; if a scent, sweet.

He was like a hunter gathering honey to lure in and devour his pitiful prey.

His very presence was like that.

The moment my tension peaked.

Arpad finally got to the point.

"Are those words about not driving me mad and that bit about Artanus's blessing really unrelated?"

"...!"

The tension and heat that had swelled up ready to burst deflated pathetically in an instant.

It felt foolish that I'd almost been taken in seriously for a moment.

What kind of idiotic, idle thoughts was I entertaining in front of 'this man'?

'He's just a handsome trickster trying to pry out my secrets, after all. Good thing I didn't overreact or fall for it.'

Yes. This man might be easy on the eyes, but he's far too dangerous. He's like a honeycomb brimming with honey, but swarming with bees.

I shook my head calmly with a smile.

"No connection at all. I already told you, didn't I? It was just something I made up to get the emperor's approval for our marriage."

"Securing Artanus Hall is fine. That alone can be taken as the emperor's recognition."

He eyed me with real suspicion.

"But what exactly do you plan to prove, and how?"

So that's what he was after—interrogating me.

My prepared response popped out immediately.

Complete with a wink.

"That's a secret."

"... ."

This time, it was Arpad's turn to deflate.

He sighed lowly.

"Is there anything about you that isn't a secret?"

"Of course there is."

"What?"

Now Arpad was glaring at me, arms crossed, his face full of distrust.

I answered with a bright smile.

"The fact that I lived in the future, died miserably, and regressed?"

The suspicion on Arpad's face morphed into utter bewilderment.

"I didn't know you could dodge a question so creatively."

"Who knows. I do have a good imagination, after all."

People never believe stories that sound too outlandish when told casually.

And I knew that from experience.

'Because I've tried telling others about my regression before.'

A couple of times, roughly.

And the results were never good.

So this time, I said it on purpose, knowing Arpad wouldn't believe it.

'To deflect his attention with something utterly unbelievable.'

Yes. That was all.

There was absolutely no other intention or futile hope involved.

The news that the emperor had granted Artanus Hall to Hilia and Arpad spread quickly through the palace.

"Wait, so does that mean His Majesty has already acknowledged it?"

"Just one meeting right after she entered the palace yesterday."

"Doesn't that mean the Delphin Duchess has more pull than we thought?"

"Or maybe it's just a father's bias toward his son."

"Either way, is the Delphin Duchess really going to become the Crown Princess?"

"Without even a formal state wedding."

"I heard they've already held a private marriage ceremony."

The noblewomen gathered for afternoon tea at the empress's palace were racking their brains.

'Which side should I align with?'

'Still, Crown Prince Arpad's frenzy could strike at any moment—it's too risky.'

'Let's watch and see for now. Handing over Artanus Hall is a big deal.'

One of them blurted out thoughtlessly.

"If His Majesty has acknowledged it, shouldn't we stop calling her the Delphin Duchess?"

It wasn't the chattering noblewomen who answered her blunder.

It was Evangeline Ruth, who appeared as if the empress's palace were her own front yard.

"Then what should we call the Delphin Duchess, madam?"

"Ah, Ruth Marquis's Daughter. Hello."

"You should answer first. What should we call the Delphin Duchess?"

Evangeline's voice seethed with barely contained fury, plain for anyone to hear.

Yet the oblivious noblewoman voiced her thoughts anyway.

"Well, obviously Crown Princess, Your Highness? Since she's married to Crown Prince Arpad."

Evangeline glared at the short-sighted woman before covering her face with both hands.

"Boo-hoo, what am I to do?!"

"Wh-what's wrong all of a sudden, miss?"

"My brother is just so pitiful and heartbreaking."

"...Pardon?"

At that moment, the two young ladies who always trailed Evangeline like maids began chattering on cue.

"Lady Evangeline is so kind and considerate."

"Exactly. The one suffering the most right now is none other than Grand Duke Ludwig, whose bride was stolen."

"And calling the Delphin Duchess 'Crown Princess'? How much more does she plan to hurt Grand Duke Ludwig?"

Evangeline cried out, tears streaming from her large eyes.

"It's too much! Even if you wanted to flatter, with the victim right there unharmed!"

"You're right, Lady Evangeline. And His Majesty hasn't publicly declared permission yet."

"Exactly. Allowing a party at Artanus Hall doesn't mean he approved the marriage!"

The mood was shifting strangely.

Evangeline and her allies painted the one oblivious noblewoman as a 'sycophantic vulgarian mocking the victim.'

"No, that's not what I meant...!"

Evangeline cut her off coldly.

"Her Majesty doesn't care for those who fawn over power."

Everyone frequenting the empress's palace knew what that meant.

'She's barred from the empress's palace from now on!'

The highest position among the empire's women was, naturally, the empress.

Being shunned by her meant total exclusion from high society.

Especially since Evangeline held the top spot in society, dubbed the finest flower.

She had been ousted.

"Pl-please forgive me! At least let me speak to Her Majesty directly...!"

But Evangeline merely turned away coldly.

As if waiting, the empress's palace maids approached and began dragging out the ousted noblewoman.

"No! That's not what I meant!"

Her struggles were futile.

She was mercilessly ejected, never to be invited to the empress's palace—or Evangeline's salon—again.

It was tantamount to a banishment from high society.

Evangeline turned back to the noblewomen with a radiant smile, as if her tears had been fake.

"Mother isn't feeling well today, so she ordered me to greet the guests in her place."

The noblewomen swiftly began flattering Evangeline.

"Just stepping into the empress's palace is an honor for us!"

"Yes! And to see Lady Evangeline, the golden rose of society—it's an unexpected stroke of luck."

"How is Grand Duke Ludwig faring?"

"Her Majesty holds him dear."

Evangeline put on a wistful expression.

"My brother seems to have the deepest emotional scars. It's weighing on Mother too."

Her green eyes flashed sharply.

"That's why Mother said she probably won't attend the banquet at Artanus Hall."

"...!"

The noblewomen grasped the implication.

'The empress has ordered us not to attend the Artanus Hall party!'

This silent command rippled through the capital's high society.

Defiers would soon face banishment.

Ahead of the Artanus Hall banquet, news of the empress and Evangeline's countermeasures against me reached my ears swiftly.

'They plan to ruin my party.'

Of course, I had no intention of taking it lying down.