CHAPTER 16
Ludwig rode at the head of the Imperial Knights, filled with triumph.
For someone like him—a mere cadet branch of the royal family—to be leading the Imperial Knights was symbolic in many ways.
It almost made him feel like he truly was the Crown Prince.
And more than that, he was now chasing the man and woman who had driven him mad for the past week.
“This time, Arpad, I won’t let you off so easily!”
He had always harbored deep inferiority toward his cousin, who was superior to him in every way.
And that cousin had stolen his bride on his wedding day.
It was enough to shatter Ludwig’s lofty yet fragile ego.
Now, leading the empire’s finest knights behind him, he had a chance to heal that wound.
“This time, I’m the clear victim! Even if I kill Arpad with my own hands, no one will blame me!”
Fueled by inferiority and murderous intent, he followed the trail from the intel Evangeline had provided.
After a long pursuit, a long plume of dust came into view in the distance.
Arpad’s group was brazenly riding along the grand road that cut through the Artanoa Plains—the largest grain belt on the continent.
And at a leisurely pace, no less.
They didn’t look like a band of rogues who had kidnapped a bride. It looked more like a noble wedding procession.
Furious, Ludwig rode hard at the head of the knights.
Naturally, he didn’t follow the winding road. That would’ve wasted time.
Dudududu—!
The horses trampled the newly sprouting wheat fields of the Artanoa Plain.
Wherever Ludwig’s knights rode, they left chaos and destruction behind.
But neither he nor the knights cared in the slightest.
Before long, Ludwig caught up with Hylia’s entourage.
The handful of guards around the carriages were no match for the Imperial Knights.
They surrounded a white carriage bearing the royal crest.
Ludwig approached, drew his sword, and flung the door open.
“Got you, Hylia—!”
His eyes widened in shock.
In the Empress’s palace, Evangeline sat facing her mother, biting her lip in anxiety.
“Will Ludwig succeed?”
She knew very well why she was so anxious.
Because this never happened in the original story.
Arpad and Hylia had barely interacted in the original narrative.
A bride abduction? Seriously?
Hylia was supposed to marry Ludwig, hand over the entire Delphine estate to him—and die.
At this rate, Ludwig couldn’t inherit the Delphine duchy.
And she, Evangeline, wouldn’t be able to seize everything by possessing Ludwig.
Her entire plan, built on the original plot, was now unraveling.
“And of all people, why did it have to be Arpad?”
Back before she had transmigrated into this world, when she skimmed the story and cursed it, she hadn’t given Arpad much thought.
Despite his limited appearances, readers had raged that he should’ve been the male lead.
But to her, he was just another fictional character. He wasn’t even a second male lead—just someone who eventually died.
“I remember complaining that neither the female nor male lead had any appeal…”
Hylia, the doormat heroine who did nothing but cry and submit, was utterly frustrating.
And Ludwig as the male lead? Not exactly compelling.
Readers had clung to the story’s “regret” theme and endured just to see Ludwig beg for forgiveness. But not her.
Even when she’d read the novel out of habit, she hadn’t cared.
And certainly not when she realized she had become a part of that very story.
Arpad…
Now, having seen him with her own eyes, heard his voice, smelled his scent…
She never imagined the man called Arpad could be this captivating.
But even to her, a transmigrator, Arpad was like a beautiful painting in a book—something she could never have.
“He’s going to go insane anyway. Even in the original story, they found ways to delay the madness, but never to cure it.”
Even she couldn’t save him from that fate.
Knowing that, how could she possibly want him?
Especially knowing Ludwig was the original male lead—and destined to be emperor.
But still…
The thought of Arpad becoming someone else’s husband made her chest tighten unbearably.
As if she’d swallowed burning coals.
She didn’t even notice her lips were bleeding.
Until Empress Isabel gently reached out and stopped her.
“Stop that, Eva. You’ll ruin your pretty lips.”
“…Mother. He’ll be okay, right?”
Unlike Evangeline, the Empress was calm.
“What’s there to worry about? Both the Delphine girl and Arpad must die eventually anyway.”
She remained composed.
“And thanks to the rumors we’ve spread, their reputations are already at rock bottom. No one will recognize them as a married couple. His Majesty will never allow it.”
“…Yes, Mother.”
“Don’t forget, Eva. I will make sure you become the true Empress of this Empire.”
Evangeline—the soul inside her—silently scoffed at the Empress.
“You’re just a character in a book, and you don’t even realize your precious daughter’s soul has been replaced.”
And Evangeline’s anxiety soon took a solid form and struck.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty the Empress! Prince Arpad and Lady Delphine have entered the Imperial Palace!”
It was the last thing they wanted to hear.
“What the hell?!”
Ludwig yanked open the carriage door with a blade in hand and murder in his eyes—only to find it empty.
Startled, he shouted and rushed to the driver’s seat.
“Where’s Hylia?! Where’s Arpad?! Why is the carriage empty?!”
According to the intel from the Empress, this carriage had left the northern villa and was headed straight for the palace.
They had even confirmed that both Arpad and Hylia were seen riding in it.
Ludwig pressed his blade to the terrified coachman’s neck and roared.
“What happened?!”
The coachman trembled and replied,
“T-they separated from our group back in the Noel region!”
Noel was a full day’s ride away, even at top speed. Chasing them now was pointless. Who knew where they were by now?
The handful of remaining knights all gave similar reports.
This group had been a decoy from the start.
“Damn it!!”
And while it was useless to realize it now, Ludwig never had a chance to intercept Hylia and Arpad before they entered the capital.
Thanks to Hylia’s advice, Arpad had prepared several decoy parties.
I stood in the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, where we had departed nearly a week ago.
No, to be exact—I was still mounted on horseback, beside Arpad, staring up at the palace gates.
This place was always crowded, and we were quickly surrounded by people who recognized us.
Murmurs buzzed around us like bees.
“Is that really the missing prince and the lady?”
“That’s the bride from the canceled wedding, isn’t it?”
“I heard it was a bride abduction… and now…”
I ignored the whispers.
Instead, I stared at the main gate of the palace—the Gate of Glory—with a complex expression.
This was the grandest entrance to the palace, opened only for the most special occasions.
The parades of royal heirs, or heroes who had saved the nation.
Now, Arpad, still mounted beside me, was boldly demanding that it be opened.
“Open the gate.”
The captain of the Imperial 2nd Knights, who guarded the Gate of Glory, looked stunned.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. I’m glad your eyesight’s intact so I don’t have to waste words. Open it.”
“W-where have you been all this time? And who is the woman beside you…?!”
Sweat trickled down his face.
‘Come to think of it, this guy’s in the Empress and Ludwig’s camp.’
I leaned closer against Arpad, deliberately.
Through our touching skin, I felt a deep rumble, like a satisfied beast.
My whole body tensed involuntarily.
But I couldn’t show any discomfort.
After all, we’re already a married couple now.
We needed to prove that—right here, in front of everyone.
So no one could deny this marriage.
As if reading my thoughts, Arpad wrapped an arm around my waist.
Then he rested his head on my shoulder, eyes sharp as he growled at the knight captain.
“Don’t make me repeat myself a third time. Step aside. How long do you plan to delay the procession of the Crown Prince and his Princess?”
The captain must have realized—
If he stood in our way any longer, Arpad’s blade might find his neck.
Eventually, he stepped aside in defeat.
And Arpad’s great white horse carried us proudly through the main gates of the Imperial Palace.
Just the two of us—but it was unmistakably a parade.
“How was that? Satisfied?”
“Very much so.”
At my answer, Arpad laughed heartily.
Even his laughter was exceptional.
I asked quietly,
“How long are we going to stay on horseback?”
No one rode horses inside the palace grounds.
Royalty used carriages, and even the victors of war were only allowed to ride before the Emperor as a special honor.
We were neither of those.
But Arpad showed no signs of dismounting. Quite the opposite.
“Who knows. Until we reach the Crown Prince’s residence? We need to make sure everyone sees this, just as you wanted. Isn’t that why you’re not asking to get down either?”
Ugh. The man’s instincts were too sharp.
Just as I was cursing how annoyingly perceptive he was—
I felt a blazing stare from one corner of the palace courtyard.
A glare so intense, it felt like she wanted to burn me alive.
It was a familiar face.
The very one I expected.
Evangeline.
Ewww.. what do you mean you smelled him ???