Chapter 117 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 117

I was genuinely flustered.

Arpad did not press me. He merely waited for my words with an exceedingly tender gaze.

My heart began to lose its composure and pound once more.

Surprisingly, it was Ludwig who caught me when I nearly lost my senses to Arpad.

“Hil… Hilia!”

To think there would come a day when Ludwig would be of help. Astonishing.

The knights who had followed Arpad began to drag Ludwig away.

Thanks to that, I regained my senses and could continue my act.

So that the being-dragged-away Ludwig could hear clearly.

“…I can tell you as many times as you need. No matter what happens, it is you I will fall in love with. Arpad.”

I cannot describe the smile that bloomed on Arpad’s face in that instant.

He knew. That my words were all an act.

Yet he… was genuinely pleased.

As if hearing these words, even if false, was a joy in itself.

'This is absurd. Then, then… it almost seems as if Arpad… actually likes me.'

Shaking my head at the thought I had conjured myself, I found it ridiculous.

That couldn't be. Arpad would soon have a lover……….

At that moment, a question arose.

'Was it truly real that Arpad had a lover before the regression?'

Though I had experienced three regressions, I had never once seen the actual existence of someone who was Arpad's lover.

I had only heard rumors.

The Emperor had also mentioned it, so I had simply accepted it as fact.

I also recalled what Arpad had said when I had mentioned the possibility of a lover several times.

"A lover? As I've said many times, I have no lover. Only a wife."

Back then, Arpad had even seemed a little hurt.

As if asking if I didn't trust him.

If it wasn't true that Arpad had a lover before the regression…….

No, even if he did, where is the guarantee that connection would form again?

At the very least, Arpad himself said he had no such intention.

And the Arpad I know is not one to speak empty words.

Truthfully, until now, I had deliberately pretended not to notice some of the overt signals Arpad had been showing.

Because he would have another lover. To avoid getting hurt when that time came.

While repeating regressions several times, I had fought fiercely and resisted.

Yet, it seems a certain degree of resignation and acceptance had underpinned my attitude.

The evidence was that I had pretended not to notice all the overt displays of affection he showed, using the reason that Arpad would have a lover someday.

For the first time, this thought occurred to me.

'What if, truly, if this man is sincere, then……?'

Wouldn't it be alright to muster a little courage?

* * *

After Ludwig was dragged away.

The Crown Prince's Palace court physician was summoned to tend to the injured Lord Beltain.

Though incomparable to Arpad, Ludwig also possessed strength on a different level from ordinary people.

Enough to crumple armor with his bare hands.

Lord Beltain was newly reminded of that fact.

What deepened his self-reproach was a single remark Arpad left behind after first sending Hilia away.

"If you swore a knight's oath without knowing your place, you should have prevented scum like Ludwig from approaching your charge. Useless."

While receiving treatment, Lord Beltain shifted his posture and knelt on the floor. Because it was a rightful rebuke.

“…I have nothing to say.”

Arpad's sarcasm continued.

"Don't worry my soft-hearted wife further and just receive proper treatment."

As he turned and strode out, Lord Beltain couldn't help but hear Arpad mutter under his breath.

"Better to have that whelp from the Müzen house. At least he wouldn't have let Ludwig scum get right in front of Hilia."

The young knight who had recently reached the realm of Sword Master.

He too was one who had sworn a knight's oath to Hilia.

Arpad had openly shown his dislike for both knights.

Yet he said it would be better to have the more skilled Aaron Müzen.

Knight Renus Beltain gritted his teeth. Strength entered his grip, aggravating his wound, but he felt no pain at all.

He did not move an inch, remaining kneeling just as he was until Arpad had completely disappeared.

* * *

Ludwig, who had returned brooding over nothing but misery, was not in good shape.

His arm was swollen and covered in livid bruises.

Evangeline asked in a cold voice.

"Why did you ignore my order to absolutely not move until the day and go to the imperial palace? And in that state……."

The regenerative power of the dragon's bloodline was also effective for Ludwig.

Thanks to that, his broken bones were mending quickly, and Ludwig waved his injured arm to stop Evangeline.

"It's none of your concern, Eva."

"How can it not be my concern! I heard you went scurrying off to the Crown Prince's Palace!"

Ludwig flared up in anger.

"You, were you watching me?!"

"There are still many of mine and Mother's people within the imperial palace. You should know that if you cause trouble in the palace, it will naturally reach my ears."

Evangeline asked hysterically.

"What did you do when you met Hilia?"

Then Ludwig asked with a slippery smile.

"Ah, are you worried? That I might go back to Hilia?"

Evangeline's brow furrowed.

"Don't be so jealous. I was just trying to seduce her to drive a wedge between her and that Arpad bastard, it wasn't serious."

Effectively confessing with his own mouth that he had gone to cling to Hilia again.

Evangeline was once again swept up in anger and disgust.

'Why on earth is this kind of scum the original male lead? If not for that, I wouldn't have had any reason to waste years on this man.'

If that were the case, if I could have acted according to my feelings from the start.

Then Arpad would be…….

She couldn't help but think this.

'I almost feel like I want a regression myself.'

But of course, there was no such thing as time actually rewinding.

"Never mind that, you didn't tell Hilia about our plan in advance, did you?"

"…Of course not. Why would I?"

He was never a very trustworthy man to begin with.

But at this moment, she didn't trust him even a fingernail's worth.

"Do you really think I have lingering feelings for a woman who went to that Arpad bastard? Don't be so anxious, okay?"

Letting Ludwig's presumptuous chatter go in one ear, Evangeline reiterated only one thing before leaving the grand ducal residence.

"Don't forget. Next week. Until then, stay as quiet as possible."

* * *

Archbishop Bio of the Temple of the Lord received an unexpected guest.

"My, I had no idea the Marchioness of Ruth's daughter would wish to see me."

Evangeline turned and greeted him with a bright smile.

"May the Lord's light shine upon you, Archbishop. It's been a long time, Your Grace."

"A few years ago you were a girl, but now anyone can see you are an elegant lady."

"Your Grace seems not to have aged a day even after several years."

Evangeline smiled softly while muttering to herself.

'If Hilia really is a transmigrator too, I must prepare more thoroughly. I must prepare in advance even for the possibility of this plan failing.'

Especially after seeing Ludwig's state, she couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

Evangeline took out the gift she had prepared and presented it before the Archbishop.

"I am well aware of the ultimate goal Your Grace desires."

A look of wariness crossed Archbishop Bio's face.

Evangeline opened the box she had brought, showed it to the Archbishop, and said.

"This, you've been looking for it, haven't you? One of the five goddesses' sacred relics, the Fruit of Despoina."

A round green gem encased in delicate metalwork of vine patterns captured the Archbishop's gaze.

"How did you obtain this…?"

The Archbishop glared at Evangeline with even stronger wariness.

"And how do you know I was looking for this?"

Evangeline smiled confidently.

"I already told you. Not only this, but I also know the true purpose Your Grace desires."

Evangeline lowered her voice to a whisper.

"Don't you wish to change the reality where divine authority scrapes the bottom and the dragon's bloodline, creatures of the gods, hold even stronger authority?"

"…!"

Evangeline knew the Archbishop could not refuse the proposal.

Now was the time for the transmigrator to begin acting in earnest.

And the following week, Ludwig filed a complaint with the Imperial Tribunal.

The defendant was none other than Hilia Delphin.

Romance, Fantasy,