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

I smiled softly and comforted Viscountess Philern.

“Her Majesty will soon relent and accept the Viscountess again.”

“I just hope she does. Ugh!”

Viscountess Philern cried even more sadly. Perhaps because I had already been through it, she was able to read her behavior patterns like the palm of her hand. I told her what she was most hoping for.

“I may not be enough to be called a substitute, but if you don’t mind, I will be your friend.”

Just like when we first met in the last life.

“If it’s okay with you, won’t you please be my friend?”

“Oh my, I am so grateful. Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

Edith Philern was once again filled with tears of emotion. It was the same as the expression I saw last time. But I didn’t forget. How did that same face change later when she made up and accused me of a crime that was not mine?

“Did you really believe that a fool like you would have a sincere friend? Just like Evangeline said, you are foolish and greedy.”

Viscountess Philern was a spy who had been by my side from the beginning, at Evangeline’s instigation.

‘It will be the same this time too.’

There was a high probability that this woman’s expulsion from the empress’ palace itself was staged. They kicked her out as if she was showing off too much, but the person who was kicked out snooped around the crown prince’s palace as if asking him to please look after her. It was impossible not to suspect this.

I smiled innocently and hid my true feelings.

“I didn’t have any friends before because I didn’t socialize, but I’m so happy!”

Friends were close. And the enemy must be kept closer. Especially if this enemy was bait to catch a bigger enemy.

* * *

After sending Viscountess Philern away I returned to the Ivony’s bedroom feeling somewhat calm. There, an unexpected person was sitting and waiting.

In the first place, there was only one person other than me who could enter that bedroom at will.

Arpad.

And the reason he said he was unexpected was simple. Because it really was like that. I was absent-minded for a moment, admiring Arpad’s brilliant and unlucky appearance, and then asked.

“By any chance, did you hear a rumor somewhere that my tastes are scholars?”

Then Arpad raised his bespectacled eyes and frowned at me.

“What kind of strange noise is that again?”

Yes. Right now, Arpad was sitting wearing glasses and reading a thick book. If you like scholars or intellectual men who wear glasses, you’ll probably pass over him. Of course, I’m not that kind of person. But… I admit that seeing him like this is quite refreshing.

I answered by approaching at a brisk pace.

“Well, there’s no way you have bad eyesight and need to wear glasses to read.”

The blood of a dragon was so great that even Ludwig, who has light blood, has never suffered from a minor illness. His wounds healed incredibly quickly, and unless there was a major accident, his eyesight wouldn’t get worse. Needless to say, Arpad had the richest bloodline.

“Ah, so you were joking that I should wear glasses to suit your taste.”

“You are trying to find out my secrets using your handsomeness.”

Arpad wasn’t particularly angry. He just chuckled and took off his glasses.

“Rather, I’m just trying to check the eyesight of the general public. Because I don’t know much about that normal sense.”

A heartfelt exclamation erupted.

“Liar!”

“Why do I have to be criticized again this time?”

“Your eyes are so good that you wear glasses that don’t fit the prescription just because you want to experience the vision of an ordinary person? It’s like a rich person living in a poor person’s house for a day just to be curious about how the poor live!”

I added one observation there.

“You’re jealous!”

“What? There’s nothing wrong with your eyesight, right?”

Well, that’s the case now. My whole body was very vivid and my eyesight was fine. Because it was before I was attacked by Ludwig and Evangeline.

‘But before my return, I suffered a lot in temples and prisons and how uncomfortable it was when my eyesight deteriorated!’

So, one of the reasons why I immediately realized the regression was because of my clearer vision. I promised myself again.

‘This time, I will eat a lot of food that is good for my eyes, take care of my body, and live a long and healthy life until I am 100 years old!’

Having experienced three premature deaths, this was my top priority. Knowing how a person with bad eyesight feels, Arpad’s actions were even more strange. Perhaps sensing my sincere injustice, Arpad spoke as if making an excuse.

“It’s not good to have good eyesight if it goes too far.”

I shouted with 100% sincerity.

“The taller a man is, the better, and the better a person’s vision is, the better!”

Then the one who had it said something deceptive.

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“No way!”

“If it’s too big, my head keeps hitting the door frame and it’s uncomfortable.”

“But the imperial palace doors are all very tall and wide, right?”

Arpad shrugged his shoulders.

“The facilities used by commoners are not that high or wide.”

Because of their nutritional status, the average height of commoners would be shorter, and it would cost more to raise ceilings and make doors bigger. It’s a place that Crown Prince Arpad wouldn’t have been to many times, but it’s not strange that Mercenary King Gerald has been to many such places.

“But since my eyesight is poor, there’s no way there’s anything better!”

Do you know how sad it is when you frown because you can’t see clearly and then get cursed at for why you’re always frowning? Arpad stroked his smooth chin and spoke quite seriously.

“I get to see things I don’t necessarily want to see.”

“A sight you don’t want to see?”

“Yes. For example… Acne marks, like the black pore marks of good-natured boys.”

“…!”

“Or the image of a man and woman busy with productive work in a corner of the garden.”

“That… It’s recognition.”

If I saw something like that, I would feel like stabbing myself in the eye. It was the conclusion of a very trivial and absurd conversation, but surprisingly, Arpad seemed to be in a good mood. A smile without twists or sharpness appeared on his lips.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“I think this is the first time I’ve had an argument with you and won so easily.”

“If anyone hears me, they will think that I am always trying to win by force.”

“…”

I ignored Arpad’s silence and glanced over the book he was reading.

“What were you looking at… Ah, the founding history of the Istrid Empire? Were you watching this?”

Because it was a high-quality book, a red silk strap hung over the page he was reading. This was a story that everyone in the Istrid Empire knew.

“The dragon said. ‘My only flower and bride. The moment I saw you, I knew that you could complete me. That’s why I couldn’t resist the instinct to get you’.”

“…”

I pretended like nothing had happened, closed the book again, and gave it back to Arpad. And when we made eye contact, I noticed.

‘Are you observing me?’

He was clearly watching my reaction closely now. His gaze was so sharp that it’s hard to believe it’s the same man who was exchanging playful words with him just moments ago.

The tension grew. Then, Arpad reached out his hand and grabbed my wrist. Then he grabbed the book and opened it again.

“I’ve loved this part since I was young. I was thinking about it after hearing you talk about Artanus and Istrid in front of the emperor.”

“I did… Okay… Why do you like that part?”

Arpad chuckled and looked slightly distant.

“I wish I had it too. A being like this.”

His fingertips tap the letters engraved in the book.

“A fateful partner.”

It was a romantic statement. But the eyes of the man who recited those romantic words like poetry said something completely different.

“The one who will make me complete… Because I wanted there to be something like that.” Arpad added further.

‘It’s like he is telling me not to pretend like I didn’t understand.’

“I so desperately hoped that there was someone who could save me from my madness.”

The blood-red eyes, so alien to humans, glowed dangerously.

“And I was always curious. If such a being really exists, would I be able to recognize it at a glance like Artanus?”

The long pupils became unusually narrow. Just like a needle. It looked like he was going to stab me at any moment.

“How lovely is that existence? Or maybe I hate you even more for showing up so late.”

So which side was he on? Arpad asked like a snake releasing cheese in front of a mouse.

“What do you think? Should I love or hate such a being?”

It feels like all the hair on my body stands on end at once. I couldn’t help but think of this question.

‘Could it be that Arpad has already noticed?’

What?

‘I am a ‘bride’ who has the power to stabilize the madness that comes down through dragon blood.’

 

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Translator Note: