Chapter 103 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 103

Arpad had said he would return within a week.

And today was precisely that seventh day.

Yet, not a single hair of this man was to be seen even as night fell.

I was still sitting alone on the bed.

‘What on earth could be keeping him away for so long? Could it be he won’t come today either?’

It is common for schedules to be off by a day or two.

Perhaps the roads were blocked, or some accident occurred…

‘Or, though the probability is exceedingly low, could he be injured?’

Merely considering the possibility made my heart lurch unpleasantly.

Then, my thoughts veered off in a completely different direction.

‘Could it be he finally met that “lover” of his?’

In my past three lives, there had never been a time when rumors of Arpad’s secret lover were absent.

“The Crown Prince lost his lover and fell into a mad frenzy.”

This was quite a dramatic and romantic affair, long circulated among the people.

Even his father, the Emperor, believed it so.

Yet, not long ago, Arpad himself had vehemently denied it in front of me.

“I have no intention of keeping a separate lover.”

Thinking back, his tone at that time was not that of a liar.

Nor did he have any reason to lie.

Had I not told him several times that he could have lovers, that I would grant a divorce whenever he wished?

There was no need for him to hide such a thing before me.

If I asked Arpad upon his return whether he had been meeting his lover…

‘He would undoubtedly be angry.’

But then this thought occurred to me.

What if he did not get angry and instead affirmed it?

And then demanded that I keep the promise I had made?

“……”

I suddenly felt a stifling tightness in my chest and a surge of fury.

I had felt a similar emotion before.

‘It was right after I learned that Evangeline was Ludwig’s lover.’

Though I did not love Ludwig, I had trusted him as my husband, and I had considered Evangeline a friend.

The feeling of betrayal by both of them was indescribably devastating.

Now, it is only anger and a desire for revenge, but there was a time I was genuinely wounded.

‘Why does that memory resurface now?’

Along with the sorrow and rage of that time.

Even though this is merely imagination, not reality.

I felt it would be even more infuriating and sorrowful than the betrayal by Ludwig and Evangeline.

I was taken aback, feeling myself on the verge of sinking into gloom.

To think that sleeping alone for a week in this vast bed could dampen my spirits so.

It seems the sense of stability provided by human warmth was several times greater than I had anticipated.

‘And Arpad hasn’t even returned with a lover in tow…!’

In this era when thoughts of revenge alone are insufficient!

I shook my head from side to side to dispel the negative thoughts and decided to check today’s gains instead.

Rising from the bed, I lifted the ornate jewel box on the table.

It was presented to me by the Duchess of Müzen and the young Duke.

A token of gratitude for saving the Duchess’s life.

And a clear signal of their intent to pledge their support to me.

Opening the box revealed a sparkling amethyst tiara, necklace, earrings, and brooch.

The purple-obsessed Duchess of Müzen had gifted me with radiant amethysts.

She said they were pieces she had worn herself in her youth, and the quality of the gems and the craftsmanship were superb.

This single set would suffice for adorning myself to appear at official functions.

Of course, saving her life alone did not decide their support for me.

The information I subsequently provided was what decisively moved them.

“Do you truly believe her presence there with the antidote was mere coincidence?”

When the Duchess suffered her Lupis flower allergic attack, Evangeline was right there with the medicine.

The young Duke, understanding my implication, asked with a hardened expression.

“Does Your Highness believe it was a planned event?”

I naturally voiced the very question they must have harbored.

“Had Lady Ruth been there alone, it would have been difficult to dismiss as coincidence. But I appeared there with medicine as well. Does that seem like something possible by chance?”

“If what you say is true, it can only be understood that either Your Highness the Crown Princess or Lady Ruth intended harm to my mother.”

Smiling, I asked Ani to bring a potted plant.

“A gift for the Duchess.”

It was a pot overflowing with blooming red Lupis flowers.

Even as the pot was brought in, the Duchess and the young Duke did not show horror or rage.

They were merely puzzled.

‘As expected, they don’t know the cause of the allergy.’

They must have called a physician upon returning to the ducal residence and learned it was an allergic reaction.

But they likely did not know the specific cause, as allergens are inherently diverse.

Placing this pot before the Duchess, I began my explanation.

“Your collapse that day was due to a reaction to this flower. Do you recall? The terrace where Lady Ruth appeared had vines of this flower.”

At this, the Duchess rose in shock, and the young Duke stepped protectively in front of his mother, eyeing me warily.

“What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to… my mother again…!”

“Do not worry. You are fine, are you not, Duchess?”

“…Huh? Ah, indeed. I feel neither itchiness nor difficulty breathing.”

“Did you not say this flower was the cause of my mother’s collapse?”

Yet the Duchess was perfectly fine now. Naturally, they found it strange.

I tapped the pot and said.

“This pot has been magically treated. Pollen, fragrance, and the like are completely contained. It should be safe as long as you do not touch it directly.”

“…!”

“The medicine I gave you last time should still have plenty left, and with this flower, you can return to your residence and verify safely. That this was indeed the cause of the Duchess’s collapse.”

Then the Duchess, who had turned pale, regained her composure before her son did.

“If I may be so bold, Your Highness. That alone does not prove that Your Highness was not the one who orchestrated the day’s events.”

“Naturally. I am merely informing you of this so that you may avoid experiencing the same thing again.”

A look of admiration crossed the Duchess’s face.

She immediately grasped what I was implying.

“I heard that when I collapsed, Lady Ruth vanished without a word. Yet Your Highness is telling me everything.”

She asked, as if probing me.

“Might I ask the reason?”

“Could it simply be out of pure goodwill…? Hardly, I suppose?”

“…!”

“While I do wish for you to know the cause and avoid danger, it would also be greatly troublesome for me if the Duchess were deceived by Lady Ruth and the House of Müzen were to fall into her hands.”

Even though I stated I helped because it benefited me as well, the smile that appeared at the corner of the Duchess’s lips grew deeper.

I added a few more words. A bit of information to lend more credibility to my statements.

“If you wish to confirm the truth, investigating the title deed of the building where Lady Ruth appeared may be helpful.”

“…Thank you. Even so, a question remains. How could Lady Ruth have known about my allergy, which even I was unaware of?”

“I wonder. I only learned of it by monitoring Lady Ruth’s movements.”

This, I could not answer.

That Evangeline, being a possessor, would know from having read the original work.

The Duchess would likely tighten internal security within the capital and the main ducal residence.

The Duchess and the young Duke seemed to have reached the judgment I desired.

That ‘the Empress and Evangeline attempted to draw the Ducal House of Müzen to their side, even toying with the Duchess’s life.’

Which was, in fact, the truth.

In the end, the Duchess also accepted the offer of the position of Head Lady-in-Waiting.

“It is an honor to be able to serve the Imperial Family, Your Highness. And please, accept this as a gift from one whose life you saved.”

She also presented this set of amethyst jewelry.

I looked down at the box with a satisfied expression.

‘Good. Now I have one more thing to boast about when Arpad returns.’

I plan to host a tea party soon, where I will adorn myself with this set and have the Duchess attend as my Head Lady-in-Waiting.

There was no more effective way to announce that the Ducal House of Müzen had come into my hands.

‘Now that I think of it, what ring should I wear with this?’

I pulled the bell rope and called for Ani.

“Bring me all the rings that would match this amethyst.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Ani brought the ring box, beaming with a bright smile.

Amidst the flood of sparkling gems, I searched for a ring that would complement the amethyst.

“A ring of the same amethyst material might be fine, or since the tiara incorporates pink diamonds, something pink or red would also be nice.”

Then, something familiar caught my eye among the rings.

A gold ring set with three purple diamonds like petals.

That wedding ring, which lost one light with each regression and now shone like an ordinary gemstone.

The one that was on my finger every time I awoke after a regression.

Ani gasped and apologized to me.

“F-forgive me, Your Highness! I should have put it away earlier…!”

Well, this was my wedding ring with Ludwig. It’s not unreasonable for Ani to despise it.

“No. Ani.”

Come to think of it, wasn’t this originally one of the Imperial treasures?

Lifting the ring, I thought anew.

‘Right, I should look into this as well. I had forgotten about it until now…’

It was then. The bedroom door swung open without any warning.

“Who is it?! Ah, …Y-Your Highness!”

Ani, who had been about to rebuke in shock, let her words trail off.

The sudden intruder was Arpad, making his appearance after a week’s absence.

“Hilia!”

“Ah, welcome back. Arpad.”

Ani swiftly made herself scarce.

“…….”

“…….”

After the brief greetings, only an awkward silence lingered.

The reason was simple. Arpad’s gaze was fixed on one thing alone.

The wedding ring from Ludwig that I was holding.

“You… still had that?”

His tone was grating, as if chewing on a pinecone whole.

Thanks to that, I could discern that Arpad knew what this ring was.

I pondered how a woman holding her former fiancé’s wedding ring in front of her current husband must look.

Well, it’s a good thing we aren’t a real married couple.

At that moment, Arpad reached out and snatched away the wedding ring from Ludwig as if seizing it.

“Huh?!”

Then his other hand firmly grasped my left hand. As if to prevent my escape.

Immediately after, something glittering sprang from within Arpad’s embrace.

Without a word, he slid that garishly sparkling object onto the ring finger of my left hand.

I knew this item.

‘Why is this here?!’