I'm Going to Change my Husband with a Predatory Marriage

That’s why, as soon as she heard that the emperor was calling, she immediately asked Arpad.

 

“Can you do me a favor? You have a memento of Her Majesty the late Empress, right? I want you to lend me some.”

 

She was a little worried that Arpad might be a bit sensitive. This was because the former empress was a weak point not only for the emperor but also for Arpad. But surprisingly, Arpad was kind enough to lend his mother’s belongings that he had in his possession. He even personally picked out something that would suit her.

 

“I guess this is better than that. It goes well with your hair color and eye color.”

 

He put the amethyst tiara on her head and said this. Arpad even hung the set of necklaces himself.

 

“It matches well. Much more than I expected.”

 

Arpad, who said that and narrowed his eyes, seemed to be in quite a good mood. So she said this out of pure kindness.

 

“Do not worry.”

 

“What?”

 

“I will use it well and return it safely.”

 

Then Arpad made a strange expression again. The expression on his face as if he saw a bug in the chestnut he had bitten into.

 

He shook his head.

 

“There’s no need for that.”

 

“Yes? But it’s an important keepsake, right?”

 

“Yes… But if you give it back, everyone will think it’s strange.”

 

“Eh?”

 

“It is common for an Empress to pass down her jewels and dresses to her daughter-in-law. But it is not common for a wife to return her mother-in-law’s belongings to her husband.”

 

“Ah…”

 

That was correct. That’s one of the procedures usually followed when getting a divorce. She nodded and responded calmly.

 

“That’s right, all right. I will borrow it well, use it well, and give it back to you handsomely when we get divorced.”

 

* * *

 

Arpad recalled what this strange woman had said earlier. She said she would give back the jewelry and dress when they divorced. The woman was smiling in the mirror, adorned with a dress and jewels, a keepsake left behind by his mother.

 

Arpad stood behind her as he personally put on the necklace. Instead of making direct eye contact, they exchanged glances in the mirror.

 

She was spying on Arpad. Arpad was also observing her.

 

‘No matter how much I think about it, she’s a strange woman.’

 

Everything about her was annoying. Everything from the way she spoke, her breathing, her mannerisms, even a single strand of hair. He couldn’t bear it because each one was like a thorn prickling under his fingernails.

 

Arpad asked himself a question.

 

‘Why am I doing this?’

 

And he came to his own conclusion.

 

‘It’s so suspicious that I have no choice but to be cautious.’

 

Moreover, it was so threatening that it was impossible to let her become Ludwig’s.

 

Arpad slowly nodded his head. Yes, it was. That’s it. She was a woman who was now in his hands anyway. If he observed her closely, he would be able to figure out the cause of those strange and disturbing things. Then he would lose interest again. Just like he did with most people.

 

Despite the steam leaking out of the villa, the woman had barely slept since her hastily held wedding. Among the things she said to him during his little waking hours were these:

 

“Do not worry. I will have this marriage recognized by His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“How?”

 

“That’s secret.”

 

“…”

 

The woman, Hylia said, squinted her eyes.

 

She really was, she was an irresistible woman. Arpad gently suppressed the smile that appeared on his lips, unlike usual. And he thought as he escorted her into the throne room.

 

‘Then, let’s take a look at her skills.’

 

Now, it was time for this woman to pay the price for her predatory marriage that he had unreasonably paid.

 

* * *

 

As they entered the throne room, the emperor’s gaze trembled as if an earthquake occurred when he saw them, or more specifically, her.

 

She cried with joy when she saw that.

 

‘That’s it! I thought you would be agitated.’

 

She knew very well that the Emperor’s greatest weakness was the dead Empress, Arpad’s mother.

 

‘Because I heard it from myself!’

 

During her three previous lives, she had been intimate with an emperor who had retired and was waiting for death while he was in captivity. At that time, she heard many stories from the emperor himself. Of course, the emperor who was currently sitting on the throne looked infinitely more majestic and powerful. Even the scars on his face seem to emphasize his strength. He looked like a different person, with white hair and a completely aged face.

 

‘But it’s the same person.’

 

And she already knew his sincerity. So, she was able to step forward with such courage.

 

“The daughter of Delphine and the wife of Crown Prince Arpad dares to meet His Majesty the Emperor, the incarnation and representative of the great Artanus.”

 

She spread her skirt and bent down to greet him. The answer to that was cold.

 

“…I have never met a daughter-in-law.”

 

It was as expected. Thanks to that, she wasn’t shaken at all. Arpad… He was looking at her with a very interested expression.

 

‘Okay. You wonder how I can convince the emperor. It looks like you’re enjoying it at all?’

 

She suddenly felt like a bear doing some tricks alone. Anyway, she decided to get Arpad off her nerves. What matters now was the emperor.

 

The emperor’s sharp voice continued.

 

“And surely, Princess Delphine, I personally made a match for my nephew? I even gave you a gift and even visited Delphine to congratulate you on your wedding day…”

 

The emperor, who had been calm, soon cocked his head and burst into anger.

 

“How is this different from you and Arpad ignoring the emperor’s authority?!”

 

Thud! Simplicity and honesty!

 

To everyone’s surprise, the Emperor struck the armrest of his throne, shattering its tip. As expected, the dragon bloodline seems to have extraordinary strength. But she wasn’t shaken at all. And the emperor recognized it. Perhaps because the reaction was different from what he expected.

 

At that moment, she came up with an answer.

 

“No, your majesty. Neither I nor His Highness the Crown Prince have ever disregarded Your Majesty’s authority.”

 

“Otherwise, did the crown prince really go crazy and do something?!”

 

The emperor looked at her and Arpad in turn and emphasized once again.

 

“Tell the truth without hiding anything, Princess Delphine. If this predatory marriage happened against your will, I will help you return to where you belong.”

 

So, what he was saying was that he would place her next to Ludwig again. If that happened, Arpad would either become a one-sided criminal or be labeled as a maniac. Arpad actually took a risk and accepted her request.

 

“Ludwig also said that he was ready to trust and accept his fiancé.”

 

And, after hearing these disgusting words, she was so shocked that she stopped…

 

“Wook!”

 

She was disgusted.

 

“…?”

 

“…?”

 

A rich man who looked exactly like him was looking at her with eyes full of question marks. She pretended to feel dizzy and leaned close to Arpad.

 

“I felt dizzy due to fatigue from the long journey… sorry.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Neither the emperor nor the crown prince seemed to believe it. But what could she do? They say she was like that. She was a delicate lady, and he was the emperor who called her without any time to rest! She was not guilty!

 

After a moment of silence passed.

 

The emperor cleared his throat and asked me again.

 

“If this predatory marriage took place against your will, I will annul your marriage, so…”

 

This time she answered straight without gagging or making any other mistakes.

 

“Right now, I don’t want my marriage to be annulled.”

 

“It sounds like you didn’t want it when the predatory marriage took place?”

 

No. She wanted it very much. But officially it wasn’t supposed to be that way. So she just gave it a very vague look and moved on.

 

“The important thing is now, your majesty.”

 

She added with blushing cheeks.

 

“And the marriage between myself and His Highness Arpad has already been concluded.”

 

The emperor’s face distorted. After checking the marriage vow she gave to the chamberlain, things got even more serious.

 

“Have you already completed the sacrament of marriage and notarized it from the temple? What on earth are you doing, Arpad?!”

 

For a moment, the emperor looked like the chairman of a chaebol family in a drama scolding his son who had caused an accident. The emperor’s angry bellow rang loudly throughout the throne room.

 

“Why on earth did you do something like this? Speak up!”

 

But Arpad said nothing. It was her who answered. Covering her red cheeks with the back of her hand, she smiled shyly.

 

“Of course it’s because of love.”

 

The emperor and Arpad’s gaze focused on her with no words. The emperor asked back as if it were absurd.

 

“What did you just say, princess?”

 

“Your Majesty fell in love with me at first sight and committed a predatory marriage.”

 

Next to her, Arpad’s mouth dropped open.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

It was so absurd.  The Emperor was not even aware that his fingers were slipping on the armrests of his throne. Either way, she continued with what she was trying to say. It was impossible to miss this moment when it was clear that the emperor was completely off guard.

 

“Just like Artanus said when he first met Princess Istrid.”

 

“…!”

 

As expected, the emperor’s expression hardened slightly here. Artanus was a dragon who was the founder of the empire. Princess Istrid was marauded by a dragon and gave birth to the first emperor, and that was the name of the empire. With these words, she had declared before the emperor.

 

‘Our predatory marriage is a reproduction of the predatory marriage of the dragon and the princess.’

 

At least it would be framed that way. She added one thing.

 

“…This is our official position.”

 

“Official position?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I plan to say that in all public places from now on.”

 

The emperor’s expression, which had been filled with shock and absurdity, became quite serious.

 

“So you’re saying that the reality is different from the excuse?”

 

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

 

She deliberately paused and instead asked the emperor a question from her side. The most bold question.

 

“Your Majesty, do you really think that Ludwig is suitable to be the next emperor?”

 

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Translator Note: