IGCHPM 19

CHAPTER 19

Truth be told, reading Arpad’s emotions wasn’t an easy task.

He had been born the Crown Prince, and political maneuvering came as naturally to him as breathing.

Yet somehow, in front of me, he often behaved like a child who didn’t know how to hide his feelings.

“Did spending a few days alone at the villa create some sense of closeness between us?”

Or maybe there was another reason.

Either way, it wasn’t a bad thing.

Until the day Arpad fell in love with someone else and demanded a divorce, we were in this together—a shared destiny.

We were called husband and wife, but in truth, we were more like client and mercenary.

In any case, his expression right now… it looked like he was in a good mood, though he was trying not to show it.

Really, he was like a moody teenager—impossible to read.

Then again, how could a sane person possibly understand someone insane?

And if I could understand him, wouldn’t that make me crazy too?

Swallowing all kinds of snide comments internally, I approached Arpad and made a request.

“Could you do me a favor?”

“Out of nowhere?”

I winked and whispered, “I need something for the audience with His Majesty.”

Right now, the hottest topic in the imperial palace was none other than the Crown Prince’s residence.

Of course it was—he had just carried out the first bride abduction in 300 years.

No one had expected them to brazenly walk into the palace in broad daylight, heads held high.

Naturally, public opinion wasn’t kind.

“Isn’t that just shameless?”

“I feel bad for Grand Duke Ludwig. He lost his bride and his honor…”

“It’s just too much.”

But no one dared to mention it in front of the Crown Prince.

Everyone valued their lives, after all.

So the gossip only happened in hushed tones behind closed doors.

This dynamic had persisted ever since Arpad began showing signs of madness before he was even ten years old.

Except for a few fanatically loyal retainers, no one dared to oppose him outright.

No one wanted to become a casualty of one of his violent episodes.

Even the current Empress had been severely injured during one of Arpad’s breakdowns and now had limited use of one arm.

But no punishment had ever been given.

Signs of madness were also a mark of strong dragon blood in the imperial family.

Proof that one had received the full blessing of Artanus.

And Arpad’s elongated, vertical pupils—eyes like a dragon—were that very proof.

One who bore the dragon’s eyes.

In the Istrid Empire, dragon lineage was more important than anything else.

Even the Emperor couldn’t easily remove Arpad from his position as Crown Prince.

As a result, Arpad was treated like a live bomb no one dared touch.

Everyone shared the same thought: Don’t poke him—you never know when he’ll explode.

Even his own father, the Emperor.

When Arpad left the Crown Prince’s palace with his scandalous bride at his side, fearful and curious eyes followed them everywhere.

But no one approached, and no one dared to speak.

People only watched from a distance, as if witnessing a bad omen.

“……”

“……”

It was as though thorns of silence were scattered along their path.

Hilia, suppressing a bitter smile, walked right through those thorny silences.

“Let them say what they want. It’s not like their words can protect my life.”

The scornful stares pierced Hilia as she walked beside Arpad.

If looks could kill, she would have been riddled with arrows by now.

But she laughed them off with a scoff.

And so, while everyone else stayed silent, Hilia stood out—radiant and smiling.

Now free from the stress of Ludwig and Evangeline, her skin looked like freshly peeled eggs—glossy and flawless.

Her glowing complexion had no visible pores, and a soft cherry blossom blush dusted her cheeks.

Her large eyes blinked slowly, with long pink lashes fluttering over deep violet irises.

Her coral-colored lips were curved into a slightly nervous smile.

Her wavy hair, the color of cherry blossom petals, cascaded sweetly around her.

A tiara adorned her head, shaped like acanthus flowers made of amethyst, clear crystal, pink diamond, and lavender diamond, making her pink hair stand out even more.

Her dress, made of milk-colored silk and cherry blossom lace layered like fluffy bubbles, further enhanced her pure and elegant image.

The amethyst-centered tiara added a dramatic contrast.

As it happened to be spring, the cherry blossoms in the central imperial garden were in full bloom as Arpad and Hilia passed through.

And just then, the wind blew.

Countless petals rained down over the two of them, as if nature itself was blessing their union.

Someone, unable to help themselves, murmured absentmindedly.

“She really does look like… a cherry blossom fairy.”

Realizing what they’d said, the speaker’s eyes widened in shock. They hadn’t meant to say it aloud, and the silence made it echo too loudly.

Feeling the heat of everyone’s gaze, the person bowed their head deeply.

No one openly agreed—but silently, they all thought the same.

“Now I get why His Highness went so far as to abduct her.”

“She really is breathtaking.”

“No wonder Grand Duke Ludwig lost his mind after losing a bride like that.”

“And she even brought the dowry of House Delphine with her…”

While everyone was overwhelmed by the most glamorous version of Hilia they’d seen across all her lifetimes—

She casually wrapped her arm around Arpad’s and leaned on him. Naturally, affectionately.

And then came the collective gasp.

“Gasp!”

“How bold!”

“Even if she’s his abducted bride, will His Highness really allow that?”

“He’s never tolerated that kind of thing…”

Unbothered by the commotion, Hilia opened her mouth loud enough for all to hear. Her voice was delicate and sorrowful, like someone barely hiding their anxiety.

“What if His Majesty doesn’t like me…?”

And then, what happened next shocked the crowd even more.

Arpad responded tenderly.

“That won’t happen. You have nothing to worry about.”

The sound of everyone gasping grew louder.

“What?!”

“His Highness is smiling! Oh my god! I’ve never seen this before!”

“He looks so charming when he smiles… I wish he’d smile at me—I mean, no!”

Given Arpad’s looks and status, it was strange that no women had ever tried to get close.

But of course, that was due to the rumors and his fearsome aura.

Now, seeing him smile so sweetly at his new bride, people nearly forgot all those dark rumors and tales of madness.

They looked at the Crown Prince anew.

He was incredibly handsome.

Even those who had never once desired him now burned with jealousy toward the woman beside him.

“She’s lucky. Even if she got abducted—if her abductor looks like that…”

“But still, his madness is well known. Who knows what might happen to her later?”

“And will the Emperor even accept her?”

That was the hottest issue now.

Arpad’s bride abduction.

And whether the Emperor would accept it—or reject it.

Everyone knew that was why the Emperor had summoned both Arpad and Hilia today.

Some watched with curiosity, some with fascination, others with disdain, as the couple entered the main palace.

Leaning on Arpad, I walked toward the main palace, hiding my nerves.

No matter how composed I tried to seem, the suffocating gazes of the crowd weighed down on me.

Walking through them was harder than expected.

At least Arpad looked calm. That was a relief.

We entered the main palace, walked through the corridor, and arrived at the audience chamber’s waiting room.

The chamberlain went in first to inform the Emperor of our arrival, leaving just the two of us alone.

“Whew…”

I finally let out a quiet sigh of relief and started to pull my arm away—

“…?”

What the? It won’t come loose?

I looked up in confusion, and Arpad whispered seriously.

“We have to keep it like this.”

“But there’s no one watching now…”

His voice tickled my ear.

“No. There are watchers. The Emperor’s eyes are always on us.”

“…”

He was right.

The Emperor doubted everyone, including his own son—and even himself.

To earn his approval of our marriage, we couldn’t afford to relax for a second.

“Okay.”

I felt the grip of Arpad’s hand around my arm tighten noticeably.

“Is he nervous about seeing his father again?”

After all, in my past life, it was the Emperor who killed the mad Arpad.

Their relationship had always been a dangerous one—like a blade’s edge.

I smiled slightly and whispered to him.

“Are you worried? Don’t be. Just trust me.”

Arpad’s face twisted in disbelief.

But before he could reply, the chamberlain returned and opened the door.

“His Majesty will see you now.”

No more time for small talk.

Arm-in-arm, we proudly entered the audience chamber.

And when the Emperor saw us—more precisely, saw me—a barely perceptible tremble flickered across his eyes.

I knew exactly why.

Because the dress, tiara, and necklace I’m wearing right now all belonged to the late Empress.

And I also knew—
that the Emperor’s greatest weakness… was the former Empress.