Chapter 40

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 40

Chapter Title: The Opening Skirmish

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The conflict between Ludwig and Hilia began with Ludwig's humiliation.

And the next day, when the Delphin estate sent a formal complaint to the Kielern Grand Duke's residence, everyone found out.

The charges were embezzlement of the Delphin family's private assets and illegal occupation of the territory.

It was just the beginning, but they said the evidence, witnesses, and documents were airtight.

Either charge was the kind that nobles couldn't help but take seriously.

Because of that, it was hard to expect lenient punishment just for being royalty.

Above all, there was no guarantee the emperor, who had backed Ludwig all this time, would do so again.

No, everyone thought the emperor couldn't this time.

His reputation had already plummeted to rock bottom after the disgraceful drunken antics he'd pulled.

Public opinion was raging like wildfire: such a man could never become emperor.

With the Delphin Duke's family filing the suit on top of that, people had no choice but to realize it.

Ludwig wasn't just out of the running for the throne—he'd never get his hands on the Delphin Duke's family either.

'Ludwig is finished!'

And everyone figured there was one person behind it all.

'Crown Prince Arpad.'

The place and timing of Ludwig's disgrace had been far too public.

Then the lawsuit hit right on cue, perfectly prepared.

Everything clicked into place too neatly. Anyone would suspect a mastermind at work.

The only thing was, not a single soul suspected it might be Hilia.

And who could blame them? That was Hilia's image up until now.

No one thought she had it in her to personally plot and execute Ludwig's downfall.

As he passed on the rumors, Arpad asked,

"Aren't you pissed?"

"About what?"

"This whole thing was entirely your doing. I just lent a hand."

But thanks to this, Arpad came off as a capable and ruthless figure who'd taken out a rival.

Hilia, meanwhile, was seen as little more than a tool he'd used.

Anyone would feel angry, humiliated.

But Hilia smiled quietly—no, meaningfully.

"Actually, I like it."

"...You like it?"

"I still need time to lurk in your shadow."

Hilia planned to exploit her image to the fullest.

And she made a bold promise.

"Besides, in just a month, no one will be able to underestimate me even if they want to."

It was a smile as sweet as cherry blossoms preserved in sugar. But Arpad alone knew the poison hidden within.

And then Hilia said something unexpected.

"Oh, and it's not like no one knows."

"Huh?"

Hilia's slender finger pointed boldly at Arpad.

"You know."

"...Yeah."

Hilia beamed radiantly as she lifted her teacup.

"That's enough for me."

Watching the woman's smile—so pure and bright—Arpad pondered for a moment.

'Is she doing this on purpose, or is she just built this way?'

Either way, he thought maybe he should start feeling a little afraid.

Chapter 6. Opening Skirmish

In any case, this incident breathed new life into the capital's social scene after a long lull.

People always enjoy trading scandals far more than sharing heartwarming tales.

For the past few days, everywhere you went, "that rumor" was the first thing on everyone's lips.

"Did you hear? About Grand Duke Ludwig..."

"And they say he treated the Delphin estate like it was his own. The stuff they sent back filled more than five carriages!"

"Heavens. Oh, and did you hear that one too? They returned Miss Evangeline Ruth's belongings from the Delphin estate as well."

Everyone tilted their heads at that.

"The grand duke might've been staying there as her fiancé, but Miss Evangeline's things?"

"That's odd. Who leaves that much luggage behind at someone else's house, enough to fill carriages?"

"No way. Unless she was actually living there..."

At that point, no one said it outright, but one possibility hung in the air.

'Could Grand Duke Ludwig and Miss Evangeline have been involved like that?'

'If it's true, that's one hell of a scandal.'

'Maybe that's the real reason the grand duke and Duchess Delphin's marriage fell apart...?'

Everyone was chewing over the juicy topic, imaginations running wild.

That's when Evangeline's allies—ladies scattered throughout high society—sprang into action.

On her orders, they moved first to separate the incidents.

"Oh, come on, those are two totally different things."

"Exactly. Whatever happened between Grand Duke Ludwig and Miss Evangeline is a separate matter. Assuming otherwise is just speculation."

"The empress would be most displeased if she heard that."

They even invoked the empress's authority to silence tongues and supplied excuses preemptively.

"You know how it is—when you visit a close friend often, your things just pile up."

"Same here! It just means you're that close."

"Right? And everyone knows how Miss Evangeline looked after Duchess Delphin all this time."

With bizarre leaps in logic, they reached their conclusion.

"But isn't Duchess Delphin being too much?"

"Way too harsh. To cast out a kind friend who'd cared for her like that, and so humiliatingly."

"She thinks she's Crown Princess now, so she's ditching Miss Evangeline."

"So unfair! I bet Miss Evangeline is heartbroken."

After the late empress passed, the capital's social world had revolved around Empress Isabel and her daughter Evangeline.

With them throwing their full weight into swaying opinion, the effects showed immediately.

They spun plausible excuses, painting Evangeline as the victim and Hilia as the villain.

The highlight of this opinion war was Evangeline's appearance at the salon in the empress's palace.

True to her status as high society's flower, she always wore dazzling, elegant gowns. This time, she showed up in a drab ash-gray dress that might as well have been mourning wear.

Her face was deathly pale, as if she might collapse any moment.

Her followers swarmed around her like clouds.

"Are you all right, Miss Evangeline?"

"Your beautiful face looks half-ruined."

"You must be so heartbroken."

Evangeline smiled wistfully.

"I'm fine. She must have misunderstood something. It's all my fault."

She referred to Hilia as "her," acting deferential while pointedly avoiding "Crown Princess."

'Never. Not even if it kills me.'

Not that it would happen, but even if the emperor approved Arpad and Hilia's marriage.

Calling her "Crown Princess" and kneeling before her...

The thought alone was horrific.

It would feel like she'd truly lost.

'To some novel character, no less.'

Evangeline kept up her pitiful, wounded victim act with a mournful expression.

"I thought we shared a true friendship, but I guess that was just me."

"No! Without you, Miss Evangeline, how could that antisocial Duchess Delphin have ever made a place for herself in society?"

"Exactly! It was all thanks to you!"

Crowds are easily swayed by popular images and rumors.

Evangeline knew exactly how to play them.

Finally, as if she couldn't hold back any longer, she let a single crystal-clear tear fall.

And that scene was illustrated and published in every society gazette the very next day.

Rendered several times more beautiful and pitiable than in real life.

Naturally, sympathy for Evangeline became the prevailing sentiment among the capital's nobles.

A single tear was all it took to reclaim the society that had once favored her.

I tidied up the Delphin Duke's estate overnight and returned to the Crown Prince Palace.

Of course, on paper, Arpad had been at the palace the whole time.

I'd handled the Delphin family crackdown alone, chased out Ludwig, and sent back all the belongings of those two adulterers.

I'd done it when plenty of eyes were watching, so rumors were inevitable.

Once I observed how they spread, I could draw only one conclusion.

'Evangeline's cut Ludwig loose.'

At least, she was using him as a shield against the suspicious eyes turning her way.

And I just sat back and listened to the reports.

"So... they say Miss Evangeline was deeply hurt. She even shed tears at the empress's salon. Everyone's sympathizing with her."

I'd already heard. I'd seen the illustration in the gazette too.

'Truly revolting.'

Right after the Delphin estate business, Viscountess Pilern had come rushing over and started showing up at the Crown Prince Palace daily.

It wasn't like this scheduled traitor had suddenly repented or anything.

I could imagine it well enough.

'She must've gotten an earful from Evangeline.'

Probably chewed out for failing to report the Delphin estate intel beforehand, spy or no.

"Heavens! Your Highness, aren't I your one and only friend? How could you keep something this important from me? I'm so sad!"

"I had no choice. It was a sudden order from His Highness the Crown Prince."

I didn't forget to leak some misinformation.

'Make her believe this was Arpad's doing, not mine.'

That way, she'd underestimate me—along with Evangeline and the empress.

It wasn't time to show my true colors yet.

Viscountess Pilern tried to persuade me, of all the ridiculous things.

"It's not too late, Your Highness. Why not seek reconciliation with Miss Evangeline?"

"Reconciliation?"

What the hell kind of reconciliation?

She clapped her hands with a snap.

"Oh, that wouldn't do."

And she corrected herself—for the worse.

"Your Highness should apologize!"

Viscountess Pilern beamed brightly.

'What the hell is this bitch saying?'

My fingers tightened around the teacup.