Chapter 141 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 141

Then, Ani, glancing at me, elaborated further.

“Well… There’s a rumor… starting to circulate a little these days. That His Highness the Crown Prince is frequently absent from his duties because he has a lover outside the palace.”

The longer the explanation went on, the more anger began to cloud her face.

Because she is a loyal Ani, she gets angry as if it were her own affair.

“Moreover, there’s also talk that recently, Secretary Yulken visited a jeweler to order a piece of women’s jewelry… and that he was doing so on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince!”

The report in my hand crumpled with a *crunch*.

Unconsciously, my tone and gaze sharpened.

“Credibility?”

Ani answered urgently.

“They say it’s still nothing more than a baseless rumor.”

I felt a slight relief. But the flames blazing in my chest were not fully extinguished.

I burned the crumpled report in a candle flame and gave an additional order.

“Tell them to investigate in more detail.”

I almost said, ‘Find evidence that it’s not true.’

Ani, quietly suppressing her anger, asked me seriously.

“If, by any chance, it is true… what will you do?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

I steadied my voice.

“I won’t leave either of them be.”

I’ve already been through it three times. I have no intention of being fooled again.

* * *

I said that, but I didn’t really think Arpad had gotten a lover.

After all, Arpad’s recent behavior had been quite touching to me.

“I want you to reach out your hand to me purely because you desire me.”

Several days had passed, but Arpad’s actions and attitude toward me remained unchanged.

I could keenly feel that he desired me intensely.

And yet, he was taking care of me with all his might.

The thought that there was even a hint of falsehood in that attitude… did not cross my mind.

Moreover, I had my own suspicions.

‘There are slight differences, but even before the regression, rumors about Arpad having a lover circulated around similar times every time.’

Without a single exception.

And yet, in this life where I am married to him, the rumor is circulating again?

This was clearly strange.

It was one of two things.

Either the rumor was true…….

Or, someone was behind the rumor.

Just then, Arpad asked in a bewildered voice.

“Hilia? What’s wrong? The cookie…….”

“Hmm? Ah!”

Only then did I realize that from the moment I thought ‘the rumor might be true,’ I had applied excessive force with my hand.

The crispy cookie had crumbled to pieces in my palm with a *crunch*.

‘Hmm. I really… am quite angry…….’

While rationally thinking it couldn’t be, that there were suspicious aspects…….

I realized I was also quite shocked.

The already shock-sensitive *langue de chat* cookie crumbled with a *crunch* in my hand for the second time.

*Crunch!*

The cookie shattered for the third time. Hilia still seemed deeply lost in thought.

Arpad temporarily set aside his sorrow over the sudden calamity that had befallen what should have been a happy teatime with his wife.

Because Hilia’s demeanor was unusually grave.

Arpad left Hilia to concentrate on her thoughts and summoned an attendant to give an order.

“From now on, do not serve *langue de chat* in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“If that cookie ever catches the Crown Princess’s eye again, I will not let it slide.”

The delicious but fragile cookies were swiftly cleared away.

In their place, chocolate was hastily arranged.

Arpad meticulously removed the cookie crumbs that had fallen on his wife’s hand and skirt hem.

The reason it wasn’t described as ‘wiping’ was simple.

Because he physically made them disappear.

Using magical power, he burned them down to the powder, erasing even the traces.

Hilia was still deeply engrossed in thought, and Arpad decided to enjoy a hobby he had recently acquired while waiting.

He picked up a piece of chocolate and placed it on Hilia’s small, cute lips.

Even while pondering, she obediently accepted whatever entered her mouth, melting it.

It was a habit Arpad had recently instilled in Hilia.

Because he kept feeding her this and that, it became a habit, and she would unconsciously accept it readily.

It was a trivial matter, but Arpad felt a small joy.

Meanwhile, Hilia was reining in her surging emotions while also making complex judgments.

Emotion and reason did not mix like water and oil; they remained separate.

While flames blazed in her chest, her mind was as cold as a glacier.

Regardless of her anger, her mind was racing fiercely.

In fact, she had already sufficiently responded to the rumor and achieved modest results.

A report came immediately after ordering the intelligence agency to collect information ‘very’ thoroughly.

It was only two or three days after Ani’s initial report. Faster than expected.

‘First, they said Yulken’s jewelry was a gift for his mother.’

It was close to a trivial incident, so light it could evaporate.

And there was information about the most important thing: the source of the rumor.

“Aside from the jewelry matter, they say the rumor started to circulate little by little mainly among people connected to Espitola, or among those who frequently visit the temple.”

When she heard this, Hilia unconsciously felt the tension leave her shoulders.

Ani, who was reporting, felt similarly.

“Evangeline.”

“That seems highly likely, Your Highness.”

During the process of collecting related information, there were minor clashes with the underworld elements who control the back alleys—hoodlums, petty thieves, the pleasure quarters, and such.

Of course, it didn’t escalate into a major incident.

‘It’s still tricky to mess with that side recklessly. Unless it’s a big deal, they won’t move from the north, like glaciers.’

Hilia’s consciousness briefly went off on a tangent before returning to the main point.

‘Both Espitola and the temple are deeply connected to Evangeline. Then… the source of the rumor must be Evangeline after all.’

The obvious conclusion came attached like a sweet potato vine.

‘Could it be that the rumor before the regression was also started by Evangeline?’

This was the first time she had thought of this.

Before, she had only thought that Arpad’s lover naturally existed, and she hadn’t known that Evangeline liked Arpad.

‘Why would she start such a rumor? Both before the regression and now.’

Ludwig, the man Evangeline had taken, was now gone.

Apart from his political downfall, his whereabouts had also become obscure.

Then, regardless of Evangeline’s feelings, the only target a woman who desires the Empress’s seat would aim for is one.

Hilia finally looked at the man sitting before her.

And she immediately voiced her thought.

“Arpad.”

Arpad had sensitively noticed her turning her gaze to him even before she called his name.

Because he was focusing all his senses entirely on Hilia.

He wasn’t angry that she had been ignoring him.

“Finally looking at me. I’m glad.”

It wasn’t sarcasm. Just pure sincerity.

He was simply waiting with a flower-like smile.

It was a sight that would astonish anyone who knew Arpad even a little.

But it had also become a common sight in the Crown Prince’s Palace recently.

Arpad finally put into words the question he had harbored for the past two or three days.

“Why are you so angry?”

Hilia didn’t specify, nor did she show her anger.

She thought she hadn’t shown any signs until she became overly engrossed in thought.

‘He noticed. As expected.’

Then came the natural question.

“If you knew, why haven’t you asked until now?”

“Hmm. Because you’re expressing annoyance with your whole body, telling me not to ask right now?”

“…You know you’re excessively sharp, right?”

“And you are overly obtuse when it comes to emotional matters with me. It’s a good balance.”

That’s right.

Arpad’s words were correct.

Hilia was very angry. From the moment she heard the rumor until now.

Frankly, to the point where no other thought could enter her head, only one thing filled her mind and chest.

‘How dare she aim for my man?’

This anger was unfamiliar. It was bewildering.

It was the first time she had experienced such an intense emotion, including her three lives before the regression and her life as the Korean ‘Yushina’ before that.

This was an extremely private displeasure and anger.

It was a vicious anger incomparable to the past when Ludwig had been taken from her, and also…….

It was jealousy!

Hilia finally admitted it.

She turned her head to look at Arpad and added in a slightly softened voice.

“I’m not angry at you.”

“I wouldn’t mind even if you were angry at me. It might even be better. I could just ask the reason right away and fix it.”

Hilia chuckled softly.

“It’s not that, so there’s nothing to fix.”

“Still, if you think of anything at any time, tell me right away. I want to settle any karmic debts as much as possible.”

She still didn’t know what karmic debts he was talking about.

Anyway, Hilia broached the main subject.

“I heard a rumor. That you’ve taken a lover.”

“…What?!”

*Crack!*

A little while ago, Hilia had broken a few cookies, but Arpad shattered the armrest of his chair.

“Hilia! I absolutely did not do that! I have never looked at anyone but you.”

“I know. I didn’t suspect you.”

Surprisingly, Arpad let out a sigh of relief.

Hilia felt better.

It was so satisfying that this man was elated and despondent over her every single action and word.

So she felt a little anticipation. How would this man react when he heard this?

“I know it’s not true, but I still feel bad and angry. But that… seems to be because I’m jealous.”

“What?”

“Even if it’s a false rumor, I get jealous because you’re being linked with another woman.”

Holding her pounding heart, she uttered the decisive words.

“I think I like you.”

*Clatter!*

The teacup in Arpad’s hand fell straight to the floor.