CHAPTER 39………
Brimming with confidence, I waited for Arpad’s response.
Standing beside me, overlooking the chaos unfolding on the street below, he wore only the faintest smile.
A smile that looked… satisfied.
Ludwig making a disgrace of himself outside.
The planted “whisperers” in the mercenary band spreading news of his shame far and wide.
‘Once word spreads about this, everyone will realize Ludwig isn’t fit to be emperor.’
And that was exactly what Arpad wanted.
He should have been pleased.
And yet—
His expression was strangely off.
‘What now? Why the sudden change?’
Just earlier, when Ludwig had been crawling on all fours like a dog, Arpad had laughed aloud.
But now he had turned his head to stare straight at me.
And his expression—certainly not the look of satisfaction I expected.
‘What could possibly be bothering him this time?’
The man was impossible to read.
He jerked his chin toward the scene below.
“He’s calling your name so desperately.”
“Huh? What is?”
At that moment Ludwig let out another scream, almost a shriek.
“Hilaria―! Come out! Hilaria! Hilaria―!”
I had to strain my ears to catch it, but yes—
Ah. He was calling my name.
I nodded.
“So he is.”
“How does it feel?”
“What does?”
Why was he suddenly saying such nonsensical things?
“Your former fiancé is crying out for you and nothing else. Does it not shake you in the slightest?”
Finally, I understood his expression.
Right now… Arpad was deeply displeased.
And then it hit me.
‘Ah… well, yes. Ludwig’s behavior really is going too far.’
Even I hadn’t expected him to wet himself.
But that was entirely Arpad’s fault.
Who told him to radiate such overwhelming killing intent yesterday?
Even for a rival, Arpad clearly had immense pride as a royal.
So to see Ludwig abandon even bipedal dignity—it must have been humiliating to him as a fellow prince.
‘So what, he wants Ludwig cast aside while still keeping up the dignity of the royal family? Talk about greedy.’
I answered bluntly, unable to hide my annoyance.
“It’s very unfortunate that the dignity of royalty has been tarnished.”
Arpad tilted his head slowly.
“That’s all you have to say?”
“What else do you expect? Is there some ‘right’ answer you want to hear?”
He gave a short, dry laugh, then shook his head.
Without another word, he slipped his mask back on and left the office in Gerald’s guise.
‘Honestly, what nonsense!’
The sun had risen high, stabbing down its sharp rays.
Ludwig woke with his skull splitting apart in pain.
“Ugh… my head…!”
A servant, apparently waiting at his side, quickly handed him cool water.
As he gulped it down and sat up, Ludwig realized something was strange.
“What? Where am I?”
This wasn’t the familiar bedroom at Delphine’s estate.
The servant stammered nervously:
“You’re at the ducal residence, Your Grace.”
Only then did Ludwig recognize it.
Yes, he often visited the ducal house—but since he rarely stayed overnight, it had taken him a moment.
Clutching his aching head, he muttered:
“Why am I here…?”
The answer came sharply, bristling with anger.
“Finally awake? Did you sleep well?”
The words could have sounded tender… considering the voice belonged to his lover.
But it was ice-cold, dripping with irritation.
Frowning, Ludwig looked up.
“Eva? Why are you here?”
Evangeline stared at him for a long moment—then marched over and slapped him.
Smack—!
The sound was sharp enough to make one think his skin had split. Ludwig stared at her in disbelief.
“Y-you dare?!”
Evangeline, who usually smoothed over his anger with coyness and distractions, was now glaring at him as though he were a disgusting insect.
“Don’t you remember? What you did this morning?”
“What are you talking about—!”
But the color drained from Ludwig’s face.
Along with the bitter bile rising in his throat came blurry fragments of memory.
Last night, Hilaria had come to the Delphine estate.
And then…
“Hilaria—! You’re mine! Hilaria!”
Himself crawling on all fours like an animal.
Crowds of onlookers gawking.
Not knights, but lowly mercenaries daring to block his way.
Ludwig muttered like a madman:
“No… that can’t be… It’s not real, is it? Right?”
Forgetting even the sting of the slap, he clung desperately to Evangeline.
But she looked down at him with contempt, delivering a verdict close to a death sentence.
“It’s all true. The disgrace you made of yourself has already spread through the entire capital.”
“N-no… impossible! No!”
Ludwig screamed like a dying beast.
And yet, their humiliation had barely begun.
Evangeline, even as her rage burned, was already calculating how to salvage the situation.
‘Should I just cut ties with him altogether? This is catastrophic.’
Ludwig was already a collateral prince with very weak legitimacy.
Inspiring fear could be acceptable—it suited a ruler. Arpad himself thrived that way.
But to be mocked and scorned? That was fatal.
Lifting that man onto the throne now would be nearly impossible.
Even for her, a reincarnator.
Especially when she had just witnessed Hilaria standing beside Arpad, which had already gnawed at her heart.
And now this debacle. She truly didn’t want to be entangled any further.
How could she not compare him unfavorably to Arpad—always beautiful, always dignified?
‘Arpad has never debased himself drunk like this.’
Even so, she couldn’t make a clean break.
The reason was simple.
‘Ludwig is the original male lead.’
She intended to replace the heroine with herself.
That alone introduced endless complications, throwing the story into chaos.
Just like now.
‘But could the male lead and female lead both be replaced? Is that even possible?’
If she abandoned Ludwig, the risk might be too great.
“Do you know how people are talking about you now?”
“H-how… how?”
“That you’re a wretch who clung to your ex-fiancée’s home, drunkenly soiling yourself while calling her name over and over!”
That was why, even as she berated and despised him, she couldn’t discard him entirely.
Because Ludwig was the story’s original protagonist.
Ludwig clung to her in a near-delirium.
“P-please, save me, Eva!”
Pathetically groveling.
“If His Majesty and Her Majesty learn of this, I’m finished!”
Clutching his head, he screamed—then stumbled, still not free of his hangover.
He grabbed at Evangeline’s dress—
And vomited.
“Please, I beg y—uurghhh!”
“Kyaaaa!!!”
Their shrieks shook the Kielrn ducal mansion.
The nightmare of this day had only just begun.
That afternoon, massive wagons from Delphine estate arrived at the gates of Kielrn.
The duke’s servants were bewildered.
“What is all this?”
“It’s His Grace the Duke’s belongings that were left at Delphine’s residence.”
“What?”
“Since the betrothal has been annulled, Lady Vea graciously ordered everything returned.”
From the third-floor window, Evangeline saw it and went cold.
‘Wait. I had so many of my own things at Delphine’s… Could it be?’
She rushed out through the back door and ran to her family’s Marquisate of Luse.
And there—she nearly collapsed at the sight.
Much the same scene as at the ducal mansion.
“Ah, just in time, my lady. Here are all your belongings that were at Delphine’s, delivered in full. Please sign the receipt.”
Evangeline’s face went pale as she looked around.
Everywhere, curious eyes were watching. Ears straining to catch every word.
By tonight, this spectacle would be the talk of the entire capital—nobles and commoners alike.
‘No! I can’t suffer such humiliation—!’
Her vision swam.
Yessssss