Chapter 89

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 89

Chapter Title: The Best Spoils

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Countess Epial, who had helplessly lost the platinum key, received only a dismissal order, as if her business was now concluded.

"Return to the Empress's Palace now."

The young Crown Princess stared at the platinum key offered by the Grand Duchess, not sparing her a single glance.

In the end, the chief lady-in-waiting had no choice but to return to the Empress's Palace bearing only wounds to her heart and cheek.

And there, before her mistress's pale face, she could do nothing but kneel and shed tears.

"I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. My efforts fell short..."

"Enough. The imperial decree was already issued by then—it was long beyond what you could manage."

The Empress eyed her chief lady-in-waiting's reddened cheek and asked,

"Did the Crown Princess strike you?"

"No. It was Grand Duchess Aksion."

"That woman...!"

Empress Isabel ground her teeth.

It was that old woman who had never acknowledged her as Empress until the very end.

And now, that same woman was claiming to serve the child as her chief lady-in-waiting?

Absurd.

'She's deliberately trying to humiliate me.'

The Grand Duchess Aksion had cited rudeness backed by status as the reason for slapping the Empress's chief lady-in-waiting.

Under normal circumstances, she could have used that as an excuse to fight back.

But right now, with such a devastating blow and even confinement imposed, that wasn't possible.

'This is a time to hold back.'

She needed to stay as quiet and subdued as possible.

"Withdraw. I'm tired."

"Sob... Yes, Your Majesty."

She had no intention of doing nothing and just waiting around like a fool.

Her mind raced furiously.

In the Emperor's gaze toward Hilia and Arpad at the banquet hall, hope had flickered.

It was obvious who had rekindled that spark.

'That wench, no doubt.'

Few knew that, contrary to his reputation, the Emperor truly worried about and loved his son.

Empress Isabel was one of the rare few.

She had used that very fact to seize the position of Empress.

"I have no qualifications for this, Your Majesty."

"You saved the life of the Empress. And you remained loyal to her until the end. I trust you just as much as Roxelin did."

"......"

"I have no intention of fathering any child besides Arpad. That boy will be my sole heir, now and forever."

This meant the Emperor had no plans to sire children with any woman other than his late wife.

"Thus, the next Empress need not be one who will bear an imperial grandchild. She must be someone to protect and care for Arpad."

"...I accept your command."

She had known it all along.

From the beginning, the Emperor had never held even the slightest affection for her.

He had chosen her as recompense for saving the previous Empress, Roxelin.

As trust in her loyalty.

But the Emperor, who had reluctantly recognized Ludwig as imperial kin due to Arpad's mania, had changed.

He no longer tolerated her enmity toward Arpad and had taken action.

It was surely because of Hilia that he now held hope for his son.

But there was something the Emperor didn't yet know.

'You'll believe Arpad's rampages are natural. That's your mistake.'

Isabel muttered to herself, sharpening the venomous blade in her heart.

"This time as well... you've made the wrong choice... Walter."

At that moment, a mocking voice echoed from the darkness.

"No matter when I see it, it's so pathetic. This twisted affection of yours."

"...!"

The Empress was stunned.

But she didn't let it show on her face.

Turning her head with composed features, she saw a familiar face there.

"It's been a while... Gaspal."

The man, his hood pulled low, gave a sly smile.

I slowly lifted the platinum key from the hidden compartment in my belt ornament.

The key, which Grand Duchess Aksion had agreed to let me keep just for the night, felt endlessly beautiful and gratifying.

Arpad, who had just entered the bedroom, asked,

"Is it that good?"

"Of course! This is one of the ultimate spoils of war!"

I'd pretended otherwise in front of the maids, but it was hard to hide my excitement and joy.

Before my regression, this platinum key had always passed from the Empress's hands straight to Evangeline.

And now, I had snatched it away.

Arpad reached out and picked up the platinum key.

Jingle jingle.

"Well, considering the symbolism, I can't say I don't get it..."

I snatched the key from Arpad's hand and carefully placed it back in its box.

"Does it wear out just from me touching it?"

"It does."

This was my treasure!

As I grinned, Arpad's expression turned just a touch pouty again.

Pouty...

'I thought of it, but it's such an ill-fitting expression for the real Arpad.'

Yet truthfully, no better word came to mind.

Not sure what was bothering him now, he grabbed my shoulder and grumbled,

"I'm sad."

"What now?"

With a serious face, he said something utterly ridiculous.

"To think that trinket has taken the spot as your ultimate spoil... I'm jealous."

"...Pardon?"

What kind of creative nonsense was this?

I was the only one baffled, though—Arpad was dead serious.

"Compared to some platinum key, I'm far superior spoils—as Crown Prince and Mercenary King—in status, power, and even martial prowess."

"...Do you want to downplay yourself like that?"

"Why downplay? I'm just stating facts."

I was about to dismiss it as nonsense when I suddenly realized something.

'Wait... it doesn't actually sound wrong...?'

Spoils of war were things seized from battle, right?

In that sense, Arpad was my first trophy.

Who did I fight?

'Well, you could say Evangeline... or the Empress.'

Or... even Arpad himself.

Either way, it wasn't a bad way to put it.

So I decided to nod along.

"Fine. I'll acknowledge it. The Crown Princess's ultimate spoils should be the Crown Prince, after all."

Arpad's eyes went wide.

A reaction like he hadn't expected this from me.

"Why the surprise? Does it hurt your feelings that I called you real spoils? Should I take it back?"

Arpad shook his head vigorously.

"No. It's just... unexpected."

"What's so unexpected?"

"I figured you'd dodge it again."

Dodge it?

"Like, sneering something along the lines of 'How dare I treat His Highness the Crown Prince as mere spoils' and backing off."

"And you're disappointed I didn't?"

Arpad shook his head, then smiled brightly like a boy.

"No. It feels good."

"......"

Why? How could it feel good?

Being treated like an object?

I eyed Arpad with deep suspicion.

'No way he has that kind of taste...?'

If so, whoever ended up as his lover would have my pity, whoever she was.

Arpad tilted his head.

"Why that look?"

Lately, his behavior had been a bit off.

Maybe my eyes were playing tricks, but...

'He's gotten... oddly coquettish?'

Following that poutiness, another utterly mismatched expression attached itself to Arpad.

Coquettish, of all things.

And it wasn't the first time I'd felt this way lately, which made it all the more shocking.

I answered him honestly amid my own surprise.

"I pity whoever becomes your lover someday."

"...What?"

I must have been crazy to think of words like 'pouty' or 'coquettish' moments ago.

Because right now, Arpad's face was the picture of ferocity.

"Why would I ever have a lover?"

"...You never know about the future?"

It was the face of the Crown Prince and Mercenary King Gerald that I knew so well.

The kind of expression the man who'd pressed a blade to my nape the instant we met in that underground tomb would wear.

Unconsciously, I touched my nape.

Arpad's shoulders trembled noticeably.

'What? Why's he doing that?'