Chapter 46

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: Sealing the Deception

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With a shy expression, I looked not at Sir Beltein, but at Arpad as I spoke.

"Thank you so much for always looking out for me and being so considerate, Your Highness."

Sir Beltein looked ready to whisk me away and help me escape by any means necessary if this had been a real abduction marriage.

'But I can't tell Sir Beltein the truth—that it was a fake abduction marriage!'

Considering his personality, there's no way he could act without giving it away.

'Even at the wedding last time, he thought it was real and resisted with his life on the line.'

Thanks to that, it made for an incredibly realistic abduction scene.

I felt truly sorry for Sir Beltein, but for his own sake, I couldn't tell him the truth.

He'd keep quiet if I asked him to, but this man simply couldn't lie.

Sharp people might figure it out right away.

So, there was only one conclusion.

'The abduction was real, but I'm head over heels for Arpad and blissfully happy!'

This was our official(?) story, after all.

I had to make Sir Beltein believe it too.

I clung tightly to Arpad, putting on the performance of the world's happiest bride.

And then I landed the finishing blow.

"Oh, not Your Highness. Ye, yes, darling."

My tongue nearly twisted in disgust as I said it.

But I had to endure!

This was for everyone's sake!

To save myself and Sir Beltein too!

Fortunately, the effect was tremendous!

From behind me, I heard the maids squealing.

"Kyaa, so romantic!"

"They must be truly in love!"

Glancing at Sir Beltein, he looked genuinely flustered.

He probably never imagined I'd actually fallen for Arpad.

At that moment, Arpad did something completely unexpected, defying my predictions.

He leaned in so close that our noses were almost touching.

Now, anyone looking would think we were about to kiss.

The people around us were sparkling with anticipation, fully expecting it.

'This jerk is deliberately trying to put me in a tough spot!'

I was used to Arpad's personality crumbling like this, but his constant provocations were starting to annoy me.

That's why I moved first.

I pressed my lips to his with a smack and smiled brightly on purpose.

'How's that? Think I'll back down just because of you?'

That's roughly what my expression conveyed.

Arpad, of course, got the message completely. The guy's perceptive enough.

But there was one thing I hadn't anticipated.

Arpad was smiling for real.

'What's this? Why does he look so... genuinely pleased?'

Was it my imagination?

No?

While I was momentarily confused, Arpad cupped my cheek, adjusted the angle, and kissed me again, our lips locking once more.

Unlike my clumsy provocation—a light peck—this was deep... and intensely passionate.

"…!"

It was so steamy that even the squealing maids blushed and turned their heads away.

I was shocked, but I couldn't back down here.

'I can't lose(?)!'

Looking back later when I was in my right mind, I had no idea what I thought I couldn't lose at.

But in the moment, I was dead serious.

I wrapped my arms fervently around Arpad's shoulders and kissed back fiercely.

It absolutely wasn't because Arpad was such a good kisser that I got swept away.

'Still, like last time, why is he so good at this? He definitely has a girlfriend, right?'

Thanks to that, the entrance to the Crown Prince's Palace was utterly silent for quite a while.

Even though a crowd had gathered.

Finally, when we pulled apart, I could feel everyone sighing in relief.

They started acting like they hadn't seen the embarrassing spectacle at all.

And Sir Beltein—the target of our brilliant acting showdown(?—was completely dumbfounded.

'Ah, was it too much stimulation for someone as pure as Sir Beltein?'

His knightly honor was so extreme that even in my previous life, when we ran away together, he wouldn't hold my hand carelessly.

Our antics must have been way too much for him.

To check if his soul had returned, I called out to him.

"Sir Beltein?"

Are you okay? Has your soul come back?

Sir Beltein snapped to his senses.

Then he made a complicated, subtle expression that was hard to describe. Just for a moment.

Then he asked me.

"Do you... truly love him?"

"Yes."

I answered without hesitation.

Of course it was a lie, but I'd slathered on plenty of sincerity, so it should be fine.

And this was all to let everyone live peacefully!

Sir Beltein bowed his head deeply.

Then he whispered softly.

"I'm glad. Crown Princess."

Hearing "Crown Princess" from Sir Beltein's lips nearly made my own emotions complicated for a moment.

But oblivious as ever, Arpad—wondering what was up with him today—butted in sentimentally.

"Finally, my Crown Princess's knight has the right form of address. Good."

It seemed less like the triumphant declaration of a schemer who'd fooled everyone and more like a kid bragging after winning a street fight.

And then, as if bestowing a great favor, he declared.

"I bestow upon Sir Renus Beltein, knight of the Crown Princess, the rank of knight in the Imperial Knight Order. Serve her with all your heart."

"…Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Sir Beltein was still on one knee, having been in the middle of swearing his knight's oath to me.

And Arpad, with his arms around me, looked down at Sir Beltein smiling as if to say he'd won.

I was just utterly bewildered.

'He's not suddenly rejuvenated or anything—why is he acting so childish? What a sight.'

In any case, Sir Beltein was smoothly accepted as a member of the Crown Prince's Palace without any major issues.

Yulken was, as expected, incredibly competent.

Less than three days after I asked, he brought back information on the 'people' I'd requested.

But Yulken's face, clutching the report, looked half-dead.

His complexion was ashen.

"Why has your face deteriorated so much in just a few days?"

Yulken replied with a bitterly wry expression.

"I accidentally stirred up a hornet's nest."

"Pardon?"

There were no hornets in the imperial palace, and he looked far too intact to have been stung.

So it was a metaphor.

I first had the maids bring tea and desserts, stuffing him full as I asked.

Yulken devoured them in a daze but gratefully.

The way he scarfed them down... surely his boss wasn't starving him and just working him to death?

"Did Arpad take a disliking to you?"

No one else in the palace could reduce Yulken to this state.

Yulken let out a deep sigh.

"Something like that. Haha."

"What can you do? He's not subtly petty—he's blatantly narrow-minded and spiteful."

Yulken's face brightened, responding eagerly. A bit of food seemed to restore his color.

"Right? As expected, only the Crown Princess takes my side."

Yulken murmured with tears of gratitude.

"With such overflowing talent, and being this kind and gentle too— the Crown Princess is too good for His Highness the Crown Prince."

I suddenly felt certain he'd been thoroughly chewed out by Arpad for saying something like that.

But Yulken chattered on without pause, never letting me interrupt.

"If there's one thing His Highness the Crown Prince did right, it's bringing our Crown Princess here. Otherwise, I'd have submitted my resignation two days ago."

"You didn't already submit it and have Arpad reject it, did you?"

"How did you know?! As expected of our Crown Princess! You see through everything without even trying!"

Everyone in the Crown Prince's Palace knew that.

Whenever Yulken was displeased with something, he'd submit a resignation to Arpad, only for it to be rejected—that was routine.

Annie had told me.

We shared a brief chat that could be read as gossip but written as badmouthing Arpad.

Then Yulken asked me.

"It's the same with the magic tool artisans and such, but why do you want information on 'that person' in particular? She's Grand Duchess Axion's grandniece, but people from the west rarely debut in the central social circles."

I knew that well.

At the top of the documents was the name of the person I'd asked Yulken to investigate.

Isepin Solenu.

The lady of the great western house, the Solenu Marquis family.

A so-called spinster in her mid-twenties, not even engaged, let alone married.

Moreover, someone who lived quietly without much activity in the western social scene.

Her family was prestigious, but with her being like that, few took interest.

'Just like I used to be.'

But I already knew.

This Isepin Solenu could be a tremendous asset to me.

Especially for preparations at Artanus Hall, of course.

And one more thing besides that.

'It's about time to start preparing various things.'

Evangeline wasn't just perched haughtily on the flower of high society.

As a possessor, she used her special knowledge to gather and manipulate people from all walks of life, leading her faction.

To fight her, I naturally needed people on my side too.

Lady Solenu could help with connections, funds, and the social world.

In other words.

'A surefire lottery winner. Or a guaranteed rising coin or stock.'

So I absolutely couldn't miss out.

'In any world, more money is always better!'

Gazing at today's tea time treat—shaling flower petal tea—I gulped it all down in one go.

It was sweet and refreshingly tart, perfect for my taste.