IGCHPM 29

CHAPTER 29

Gaspard used to say this often:

“The stories of dragons kidnapping princesses in fairy tales or legends probably originated because of the existence of a bride.”

“If royal madness stems from being unable to overcome dragon blood, then there’s no more efficient solution than you.”

The Tower Master, Gaspard, was a terrible human being.

But if there was one fact that couldn’t be denied, it was that he was a genius.

Otherwise, he couldn’t have become the Tower Master, nor would he have been chosen by the possessor, Evangeline.

That’s why, when I went to find Arpad in the underground tomb, the first thing I checked was his reaction to my blood.

If the madness had progressed, Arpad wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation of my blood.

But he didn’t pounce like a madman when he saw it.

So I was able to proceed with my plans in peace.

The reason I approached him first, even though I knew he was dangerous, was simple:

‘Because I know how useful I am to Arpad.’

And the reason I was wary of him and couldn’t fully trust him was the same:

‘I’m too useful, so Arpad could be dangerous to me.’

And honestly, I also thought this:

‘If I’m going to keep getting used by Ludwig and Evangeline like this, I’d rather just let Arpad suck my blood and kill me!’

At least then, Arpad would be freed from his madness, and Ludwig would get a nice slap in the face.

But that was only if there were no other options.

I still wanted to live, if at all possible. So I hoped Arpad could be healed without ever realizing I was his “bride.”

But who knew what Arpad himself would think?

‘The easiest and fastest way would be sucking my blood dry.’

Well, that’s not the only method, but…

‘T-There’s also that… embarrassing method…’

Either way, whatever method he used, I wanted to protect myself.

And I wanted to hold the reins in this situation.

So unless something major happened, I had no intention of being the one to say the word “bride” to Arpad.

Yes. That was the plan…

But faced with these ominous eyes, I started to wonder if I’d made the wrong choice.

Looking straight into Arpad’s gleaming red eyes, I thought:

‘Even now, I still can’t be certain that Arpad’s madness hasn’t progressed.’

I froze for a moment, then forced myself to move.

I waved my hand in front of Arpad’s eyes and asked:

“Um, hello? Are you in your right mind?”

Even though I was flailing my hand right in front of him, Arpad’s gaze stayed stubbornly fixed on me.

“Mister Arpad Istrid?”

“…So now you’re not even using proper titles?”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

“What exactly is so fortunate?”

“Well, I was worried your madness had flared up. But it didn’t, so that’s good.”

Arpad looked at me with a displeased expression and asked again:

“Why are you avoiding the question?”

“Huh? What question?”

“I asked you earlier. Whether I should love or hate such an existence.”

I opened my eyes wide.

“Why are you asking me that?”

“What?”

“You’re the one who has to decide whether to love or hate that existence.”

I mean, it’s your own feelings. Why ask me?

“In fact, I should be the one asking. So, do you want to love them or hate them?”

I was honestly very curious.

I sparkled my eyes at him, waiting for an answer. Arpad let out a long sigh.

“You really have a knack for dodging things, don’t you?”

He turned and walked to the bed, ignoring me. I followed him.

And I asked again:

“Wait, that’s not an answer. Tell me. Do you want to love them or hate them?”

I was genuinely curious.

‘That existence’ he referred to was me, and though Arpad didn’t know that, he still asked me that question.

About the part that kept bothering and worrying me.

No, more precisely, I was curious why he had to mention “hate” right after “love.”

“Usually, when someone like that exists, wouldn’t you just naturally fall in love with them? Like how Artanus loved Princess Istrid?”

At my words, Arpad’s steps halted.

“People don’t usually say things like ‘hate’ in that context, do they?”

He answered without turning around.

“Because I think I might end up wanting to hate them.”

“…!”

I was a little—no, quite—surprised. It felt like my heart dropped beneath my ribs.

Thankfully, Arpad still had his back to me, so he didn’t see my expression or feel my emotional turmoil.

“To say you can’t help but love someone just by meeting them—that’s like saying even your emotions aren’t yours to control. If someone forced that on me, I don’t think I could help but hate it.”

Well… that was a very Arpad-like response.

He had said it before, right in front of me:

He despised being controlled.

Even his own father was rejected and scorned for trying to control him.

I pretended I hadn’t just had a heart-dropping moment and replied cheerfully.

“Then that’s a relief.”

Arpad turned around and asked:

“What is?”

“Because I’m not that kind of existence. You don’t need to hate me.”

He didn’t reply.

Nor did he ask anything further.

He simply lay languidly across the bed—my bed—and stared at me.

I couldn’t exactly tell him to move or leave.

We were officially a married couple.

Not only that, we were supposedly madly in love—so much so that he kidnapped me at first sight.

If we were already sleeping in separate rooms this soon, it would spark rumors.

Like, “Was the abduction just for show?”

So I held my head high and got into the same bed as Arpad.

Then turned my back to him and pretended to fall into a deep sleep.

I think I heard Arpad sigh behind me while staring, but I ignored it.

And so, the whole night passed.

“Ugh… He really is completely useless…”

In the end, I barely slept at all.

The palace maids helping me dress looked at me nervously and asked:

“Huh? Did we do something wrong, Your Highness…?”

“No. It’s just last night… never mind.”

A strange atmosphere passed between the maids.

One clueless maid, trying too hard, blurted out:

“Were there intruders who disturbed Your Highness’s sleep? Just say the word! We’ll deal with them!”

“……”

The senior maids gave her frantic looks, but she clearly didn’t catch on.

I didn’t feel like explaining everything either.

“It’s not that, so don’t worry.”

At that, one of the senior maids pulled the clueless one aside and scolded her in hushed tones, which I could still hear:

“It’s because Their Highnesses are such a loving couple! That’s why she’s tired! How can you be so dense?”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry!”

…That wasn’t it at all, but I didn’t bother correcting them.

‘It’s a bit embarrassing… but if those kinds of rumors spread, it might actually help…’

I stared off into the distance, pretending not to have heard anything.

The maids were working hard to cover up the dark circles under my eyes.

The one in charge of that now was Eshia, the most capable of my assigned maids.

She was good with her hands and moved briskly. I liked that.

Once the dressing was done and there were fewer ears around, I cautiously asked:

“Oh, His Highness the Crown Prince said to ask you about Delphinger.”

“Yes, that’s correct. Would you like the report now?”

“Yes, please.”

Indeed, this maid was one of Arpad’s personal agents.

Not someone high enough to gather the information herself, but high enough to deliver it to me.

“There’s no need to worry about the maid Annie. Delphinger is so chaotic right now, no one would bother picking on her.”

“That’s a relief. But if Annie’s fine, does that mean things are different for Sir Beltaine?”

“Yes. Since Duke Ludwig is still in Delphinger.”

That bastard was still there, even after the humiliation Arpad had given him.

Maybe after treating the place like his own for the past three years, he really thought it was his.

“Is Ludwig tormenting Sir Beltaine?”

“He’s been thrown in the dungeon.”

Claiming someone else’s house and locking up their knight—how absurd.

But knowing Ludwig, it wasn’t surprising.

“He hasn’t been beaten or injured, has he?”

“They say not.”

“Did he at least get proper treatment for the injuries from the wedding day?”

“…I don’t know that much, Your Highness.”

Still, even this level of detail exceeded my expectations.

‘Arpad’s intel network really is decent.’

He wasn’t moonlighting as a mercenary king for nothing.

But I couldn’t rely on Arpad’s people forever.

‘I need to build my own people. My own organization.’

That would take time. But I couldn’t just sit back and wait.

So I ordered Eshia:

“Send someone in my name to Delphinger. Bring back both Annie and Sir Beltaine.”

I was especially worried about those two.

Sir Beltaine was injured and locked in a dungeon. I couldn’t leave him like that.

We could sweep the entire ducal residence later—but for now, we had to extract them first.

But then Eshia hesitated and asked cautiously:

“Is this something you’ve received His Highness’s permission for?”

“…!”

My expression hardened as I turned to her. Anyone could see I was furious.

Eshia immediately dropped to her knees.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Whose orders do you follow?”

“His Highness told me to serve you, Your Highness.”

“…So you’re saying you belong to the Crown Prince.”

“That is…”

This wasn’t news to either of us.

It was already clear from how she delivered intel I had asked Arpad for.

She was Arpad’s agent.

But the fact she was asking for Arpad’s permission regarding my command was a whole different issue.

I replied coldly:

“Go back.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said, go back to your master. I shouldn’t need His Highness’s permission just to handle matters concerning my own people.”

Eshia’s face turned pale.

She realized her mistake.

“I’m so sorry! Please, forgive me just this once!”

But I didn’t change my mind.

The other maids quietly finished my dressing, tense.

Eshia remained kneeling the whole time.

I ignored her completely.

Then gave the same order to another maid—to go to Delphinger and retrieve Annie and Beltaine.

It wasn’t about power struggles with a maid.

I knew everyone around me was Arpad’s person. That was expected.

But if I couldn’t even act freely in such trivial matters, I’d never get anything done.

And more importantly—there was something much bigger ahead of me:

“The banquet at Artanus Hall—just one month away!”

If it failed, I’d never be acknowledged properly as crown princess.

And the biggest threat before the banquet?

The Empress and Evangeline’s scheme.

“They’ve already declared war on the capital’s social circles: anyone who attends my banquet will be ostracized.”

That had to be crushed—first and completely.