Chapter 47

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: Hunting My Baby Squirrel

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Three days after obtaining the information I wanted from Yulken.

I found myself in a rather awkward situation.

Today was an extremely important day.

I had devised the best possible plan, making full use of the information I'd secured in advance, my memories from the regression, and every resource at my disposal.

If it succeeded, it would be like killing two birds with one stone.

But.

But this was something I hadn't anticipated at all.

"Why are you running into me here?"

Someone had suddenly blocked my path as I hurried toward the Empress's Palace.

His platinum hair, swept up stylishly, gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, and his red eyes, striking even in broad daylight, were more beautiful than the finest rubies.

The perfectly sculpted features of his marble-like face twisted into a mischievous smile.

"I was wondering where my princess was heading without me."

"Well... just out for a stroll?"

And "leaving me behind"? What an odd way to put it.

"Then, might you grant me the mercy of joining you on that stroll?"

He extended his hand with theatrical exaggeration, the picture of exaggerated courtesy. It was a request for an escort.

I didn't take it right away.

"......"

By now, I had a good grasp of Arpad's manner of speaking.

This was him sarcasm at full throttle.

Why was he offended again? He was utterly unpredictable.

Not wanting to introduce another uncontrollable variable, I tried to dodge.

"But don't you have a full schedule, Your Highness? Shouldn't you be at an audience right about now?"

"Did Yulken tell you?"

Arpad was a master at steering the conversation in weird directions.

"Well......"

It wasn't wrong.

Once I'd broken down his wariness, Yulken had spilled every little detail without me even needing to ask.

That's how I knew Arpad's schedule, too.

He tilted his head slightly, creasing his smooth brow as he bowed to me.

"I still can't figure out how you tamed that prickly bastard. It's downright bizarre no matter how I look at it."

"I just proved my capabilities, that's all."

Arpad's sharp gaze flicked past me toward my attendants.

I knew exactly who he was glaring at.

'Sir Beltein again.'

He spoke in a tone still laced with lingering discomfort, like a burr under his saddle.

"Taming my ill-tempered retainer in one go, and now keeping your lover glued to your side."

"He's not my lover; he's my knight. You saw the oath yourself."

"Ah, right. I was a witness when that guy swore his life to you."

"......"

Why did those words come to mind?

'You can't win against someone who doesn't play by the rules.'

Arpad grinned wickedly and asked,

"Do you remember what I said last time?"

"What?"

"That no matter how many men you have, I'm your one and only official husband."

"...Hard to forget a line like that."

It was too creatively absurd.

"As your one and only legal husband, I request to accompany you on your stroll. Surely I qualify for that much?"

"......"

...So, was he throwing a tantrum because I didn't immediately say yes to going for a walk together?

Suspecting as much, I placed my hand atop his outstretched one.

His long fingers promptly clamped down on mine.

At the same time, the sulky expression clouding his face cleared right up.

...For real?

It felt like watching a lion act all cute like a housecat.

In the end, I had no choice but to drag Arpad along like a trailing goldfish poop toward my destination.

'Whatever, fine. Might as well use Arpad while he's here. Can't help it if he sticks to me like glue.'

The Empress's Palace boasted numerous gardens, but the most renowned was the one called the Rose Maze.

True to its name, it was planted with every variety of rose imaginable, a showcase of the empire's might that spanned the entire continent.

As such an important and exclusive place, it wasn't often opened to guests.

But today was a special day, so this famous and precious garden had been made accessible.

It was the anniversary of the Empress's ascension to her current position.

In other words, her wedding anniversary.

Empress Isabel handled much of high society's affairs through her daughter Evangeline Ruth, but today was different.

Adorned in a lavish gown and wearing the Empress's tiara, she had personally proceeded to the Rose Maze.

Even though she'd sent an invitation to the Emperor—who never replied and wouldn't show up this year either—the Empress couldn't give up on this one day.

She clung to the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, he would grace her with his presence one time.

On this special day in this special place, the Empress encountered an utterly unexpected sight.

She was appalled. Then a wave of profound humiliation furrowed her brow.

"Ahaha. Where are you, my love?"

It was a voice she knew all too well.

Coming from someone it absolutely did not suit.

The blatant mockery was crystal clear.

The Empress struggled to compose her contorted face and demanded,

"What is the meaning of this, Arpad?"

Yes, unbelievably, the one spouting those cringe-worthy lines while bursting from the maze was Arpad.

He twirled around with a grin and replied,

"I was looking for my beloved wife."

"I fail to see why you'd search for your wife in my garden—unless you're trying to ruin my garden party."

Arpad flashed a brilliant smile in response.

The Empress was nearly blinded by rage and humiliation, but Arpad's dazzling looks served their purpose.

Every lady at the garden party blushed in unison.

Even those loyal to the Empress couldn't resist the allure of a handsome face.

"How could I possibly ruin Your Majesty's party? I didn't even know one was happening."

The Empress bit her lip.

Arpad had just openly mocked her.

'I didn't even remember your trivial wedding anniversary because it means nothing.'

And now, her stepson had crashed her modest anniversary event—sans husband—to search for his own wife.

"I'll ask again: why are you looking for your wife in my garden?"

"As you know, this place holds fond memories for me too."

"...!"

The Empress paled.

Those in the know reacted similarly.

And as if to enlighten the oblivious, Arpad kindly explained.

"Originally, this garden was a wedding gift from Father to my birth mother. It holds many memories for me."

"......"

Empress Isabel, formerly a lady-in-waiting to the late Empress, had entered as a second wife.

Her own wedding had been a hasty affair.

The contrast was inevitable.

No wonder the atmosphere froze, as if the blooming roses had iced over in an instant.

"So I came to stroll through these memory-laden grounds with my beloved wife... and we got lost and separated."

Arpad asked innocently,

"By any chance, have you seen my adorable little baby squirrel?"

The Empress momentarily forgot her rage and humiliation.

"Baby... squirrel...?"

At her halting echo, Arpad nodded with a boyish smile.

"Yes. She's so precious I keep her tucked in my pocket, not wanting to show her off to anyone—my wife."

And the one who suffered the greatest blow from this bombshell was someone hiding a short distance away.

It was Hilia, looking after a young lady who had fallen into an embarrassing predicament in the corner of the maze, away from prying eyes.

'Have my ears gone mad? There's no way I heard that... there shouldn't be...'

But her hearing was perfectly fine, forcing her to endure hearing things she desperately didn't want to.

Though Arpad had latched onto me out of nowhere, I pressed on with my plan.

His presence actually made things a bit easier.

This man was a walking black hole, drawing every eye in the vicinity just by existing.

Wherever you dropped him in the world, he'd command all attention around him.

So I put him to use in the most crucial spot, in the role I needed most.

Operation: "You're It, Go Wild, Crown Prince!"

"Draw the garden's attention for a bit."

"Draw attention? Method doesn't matter?"

"Yeah. Do whatever."

Even if Arpad just wandered around with his mouth shut, eyes would flock to him.

And that's when I regretted not specifying exactly how to do it.

While I hid behind the maze, Arpad bounded out energetically and dropped a bombshell.

"Ahaha. Where are you, my love?"

The instant I heard it, I nearly bit my tongue in shock.

'Has madness truly struck him?'

But unfortunately(?), Arpad wasn't crazy.

He was systematically and effectively grating on the Empress's nerves.

And mine, too.

'He's doing this on purpose! 100% sure! To rile me up!'

Suddenly, Arpad and I became the nuisance couple playing hide-and-seek in someone else's palace garden.

Complete with the mentally devastating "baby squirrel."

The effect was tremendous!

'Too... tremendous. It's almost scary.'

Baby squirrel! Baby squirrel!

As I stood there dazed, Lady Solenu—who'd had her dress ruined by a teacup flung by Evangeline—looked at me, draped in the cloak I'd lent her, and asked,

"He's... looking for you right now, isn't he, Your Highness?"

"......"

She seemed at a loss for words, shoulders wrapped in my cloak.

What followed was painfully awkward.

"You two seem... even more lovey-dovey than the rumors suggest."

"......"

I bit my lip.

Then Arpad's unhinged voice rang out again.

"Haha! My baby squirrel! Where are you hiding?"

...Why was the embarrassment all mine?