Chapter 89 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 89

Having been helplessly stripped of the platinum key, Countess Ephial heard only a command to leave, as if her business there was now concluded.

“Now, you may return to the Empress’s Palace.”

The young Crown Princess, looking at the platinum key the Grand Duchess had presented, did not even grant her a glance.

In the end, the Head Lady-in-Waiting had to return to the Empress’s Palace, nursing only the wounds to her heart and her cheek.

And before her pale, haggard-faced mistress, she could only kneel and shed tears.

“I am sorry, Your Imperial Majesty. I was powerless……”

“Enough. Once the Imperial Decree was issued, the point where you could have done anything had already passed.”

The Empress, looking at the Head Lady-in-Waiting’s reddened cheek, asked.

“Did the Crown Princess lay a hand on you?”

“No. It was Grand Duchess Axion.”

“That woman……!”

Empress Isabelle gnashed her teeth.

It was that old woman who had refused to acknowledge her as Empress until the very end.

And now, that old woman had taken it upon herself to act as the little one’s Head Lady-in-Waiting?

It was preposterous.

‘She’s determined to insult me.’

It was the same when Grand Duchess Axion had slapped the Empress’s Head Lady-in-Waiting on the cheek, citing rudeness based on her own status.

Under normal circumstances, she could have used that as a pretext to fight.

But now, she had suffered a major blow and was even under house arrest.

‘It’s a time for restraint.’

She had to lie low and hold her breath as much as possible.

“You may withdraw now. I am tired.”

“Sniff, yes… Your Majesty.”

She had no intention of doing nothing, of just waiting around foolishly.

She racked her brain fiercely.

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

It was obvious who had rekindled that spark.

‘That wench, no doubt.’

Few know that the Emperor, contrary to what is known, worries for and loves his son.

Empress Isabelle was one of those few.

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

“I am not qualified, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“You once saved the Empress’s life. And you remained loyal to her to the end. Just as Roxelline trusted and relied on you, so do I.”

“…….”

“I have no intention of having a child with any woman other than Arpad. That child will be the sole successor. As he has been until now, so shall he be in the future.”

This meant the Emperor had no intention of seeing a child from any woman other than his deceased wife.

“Therefore, the next Empress need not be a woman who will bear an Imperial grandchild, but rather someone who will protect and care for Arpad.”

“…I humbly accept the command.”

She knew.

From the very beginning, the Emperor had not a shred of affection for her.

He chose me as a reward for my past merit in saving Empress Roxelline.

It was trust in my loyalty.

The Emperor, who had been forced to recognize Ludwig as Imperial family due to Arpad’s madness, was different now.

He no longer tolerated my hostility toward Arpad and had taken action.

It was clear that because of that wench Hilia, he had gained hope for his son.

But there was something the Emperor still did not realize.

‘You must believe Arpad’s rampages are a natural occurrence. That is your mistake.’

Isabelle, sharpening the blade of malice in her heart, muttered.

“This time too… you have made the wrong choice… Walter.”

Then, from the darkness, a mocking voice was heard.

“It’s always so ugly to see. This twisted affection of yours.”

“…!”

The Empress was shocked.

But she did not show it outwardly.

Turning her head with a composed face, there stood a familiar figure.

“It’s been a long time. …Gaspar.”

Then the man with his hood pulled deep grinned.

* * *

I slowly lifted the platinum key contained within the locket of my belt ornament.

The key I had asked Grand Duchess Axion to let me keep for just one night felt endlessly beautiful and satisfying.

Then Arpad, who had just entered the bedroom, asked.

“Is it that pleasing?”

“Of course! This is one of the finest trophies!”

Though I pretended otherwise in front of the ladies-in-waiting, it was hard to hide my excitement and joy.

Before the regression, this platinum key was always passed from the Empress’s hand to Evangeline.

I had taken it from them.

Arpad reached out and lifted the platinum key.

Jingle, jingle.

“Well, considering its symbolism, I suppose it’s not incomprehensible……”

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

“Will it wear out if I touch it?”

“It will.”

This is my treasure!

As I grinned, Arpad’s expression became slightly pouty again.

Pouty……

‘I thought of it, but it’s really an expression that doesn’t suit the real Arpad.’

But the truth is, there’s no other suitable expression to attach to him.

For some reason, he grabbed my shoulder and grumbled again.

“How sad,”

“What now?”

He said something absurd with a serious face.

“To have the position of your finest trophy taken from me, I feel disappointed.”

“…Huh?”

What kind of creative nonsense is this now?

But while I found it absurd, Arpad was sincere.

“I am a more useful trophy than a mere platinum key, both in status and power, and even in martial prowess, as the Crown Prince and Mercenary King.”

“…You wish to degrade yourself like that?”

“Why is it degrading? I am merely stating a fact.”

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

‘Hmm, wait? It’s not… entirely nonsensical?’

A trophy, after all, refers to something won by fighting someone, doesn’t it?

Looked at that way, Arpad was essentially my first trophy.

Who did I fight?

‘Well, it could be seen as Evangeline, or it could be seen as the Empress.’

Or… perhaps Arpad himself.

Anyway, it wasn’t a bad thing to say.

So I decided to nod in agreement.

“Alright. I’ll acknowledge it. The Crown Princess’s finest trophy should be the Crown Prince.”

Then Arpad’s eyes widened.

A reaction as if he hadn’t expected me to respond like this.

“Why are you surprised? Are you upset because I called you a real trophy? Should I take it back?”

Arpad shook his head vigorously.

“No. It’s just a bit unexpected.”

“What’s unexpected?”

“I thought you would shrink back again.”

I would shrink back?

“I thought you’d retreat with a sarcastic remark about how dare I treat His Highness the Crown Prince as a trophy.”

“Are you disappointed that I didn’t?”

Then Arpad shook his head and smiled brightly, like a boy.

“No, I feel good.”

“…….”

Why? Why does it feel good?

I treated him like an object.

I looked at Arpad with eyes full of suspicion.

‘Surely it’s not that kind (?) of preference, is it?’

If it were true, I don’t know who, but I’d feel a bit sorry for the woman who becomes Arpad’s lover.

Arpad tilted his head.

“Why that expression?”

Lately, this man’s behavior has been a bit strange.

Maybe my eyes are going mad and that’s why it seems that way……

‘Strangely… has he become more affectionate?’

Following the earlier ‘pouty,’ another expression that really doesn’t suit Arpad has been attached.

Affectionate.

Moreover, since this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way, it’s even more shocking.

I answered him honestly, surprised at myself.

“I feel sorry for the person who will become your lover later.”

“…What?”

The fact that I thought of expressions like ‘pouty’ and ‘affectionate’ earlier must indeed mean I’ve gone mad.

Because the Arpad before me now wore an exceedingly fierce expression.

“Why would I have a lover?”

“…Because the future is unpredictable?”

It was the expression fitting of the Crown Prince and Mercenary King Gerald that I know well.

The expression one might expect from the man who pressed a blade to my neck the moment we met in the underground tomb.

I unconsciously touched my own neck.

Then, Arpad’s shoulders noticeably trembled.

‘What is it? Why is he like that?’

Romance, Fantasy,