I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 6.6 - Invitation

*** 

“…So suddenly?”

“Indeed.”

Marchioness Kalzavas said with a sigh.
(T/n: I think I translated in an older chapter her title as Countess but she is a marchioness. Sorry for that.)

It was such an absurd situation that even Marchioness Kalzavas, who usually behaved like a knife and rarely showed her emotions, was acting this way.

Before she had even opened her eyes, the Second Prince Consort’s attendant had come to deliver an invitation.

To come to the Second Prince Consort’s palace today, right away.

It was an invitation in name only, more like an order saying, “I’m your superior, so come obediently when called.”

“Usually, invitations aren’t given like this, on the same day, as if it’s a notification.”

Even Iona, who was unfamiliar with social etiquette, knew that much.

Marchioness Kalzavas nodded silently.

If Carvain had been present, he would have refused somehow, but Carvain was absent at the moment.

The Second Prince Consort’s attendant, as if knowing the Grand Duke wasn’t there, had stubbornly waited in front of the mansion until he received Iona’s definite answer.

“Please help her as much as you can by her side.”

“……”

“And try to keep her from taking any dangerous paths.”

Under Marchioness Kalzavas’s eyelids, the image of Carvain asking her to take good care of Iona appeared.

“Your Grace. At the last party, Her Highness……”

“It was merely Duke Hardin’s doing. It’s been well resolved.”

“……”

“Please look after her even when I’m not around. I’m asking you, Marchioness.”

Marchioness Kalzavas took a brush from the maid and began to brush Iona’s hair herself.

While brushing down the fine golden hair, the Marchioness spoke.

“You know there are currently five heirs to the throne, right?”

“Yes. The Second Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Princess, Crown Prince, and Carvain, correct?”

“That’s right. Among them, the Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Princess support the Crown Prince. They stick close to the Second Empress. Like leeches.”

Iona listened silently to Marchioness Kalzavas’s words.

If she were to roughly recite the content of the original story that she had completely forgotten, Carvain had steadily stepped on his competitors on his way to the throne.

It seemed to be still the early part of the novel, with three successors other than the Crown Prince still alive. Before Carvain started to cause a real bloodbath.

‘Well… I wonder if the original story even matters anymore since things have changed so much.’

She had married Carvain, and Titia Alonbran, who was originally Carvain’s fiancée, had been cast aside.

That alone had already set the current situation on a different course from the original story.

“Your Highness. The Second Prince Consort is dangerous.”

Marchioness Kalzavas suddenly lowered her voice and said.

“She will certainly try to harm you today.”

The Marchioness’s eyes were filled with certainty.

In the carriage heading to the Second Prince’s palace.

Iona was pondering over Marchioness Kalzavas’s words.

After His Grace, the Grand Duke left for the battlefield. No one thought His Grace would return alive.

“I heard.”

“While His Grace was away on the battlefield, the Second Empress wanted to solidify the succession plan with the Crown Prince, so she held the mothers of the other princes and princesses hostage to keep them in check.”

“But if he’s already been appointed as Crown Prince, isn’t it over?”

“It’s because the current Crown Prince is incompetent. He has no qualities of a ruler. He’s more suited to the life of a commoner.”

“Ah, I see…”

“That’s why the Second Empress is so wary of His Grace the Grand Duke. Because His Grace is shaking up the succession plan she thought she had secured. On the other hand, the other princes and princesses are targeting His Grace, separate from the Second Empress’s wariness.”

“Is it because they think they can take the Grand Duke title if Carvain is pushed out?”

“Precisely. So you must be cautious of the Second Prince Consort. Whatever her intentions, she’s not a friendly figure to us.”

Marchioness Kalzavas’s voice buzzed in her ear.

“The Second Prince Consort is from a commonwealth, so her thinking is different from the Empire’s people. She has quite an impulsive side. You must be especially careful.”

“Nothing seems to be easy. Nothing at all.”

While Iona was pondering over Marchioness Kalzavas’s words, the carriage arrived at the Second Prince’s palace.

Unlike other palaces, the Second Prince’s palace was decorated in the commonwealth style.

The palace, which added a commonwealth feel to the Empire’s architectural style, created an exotic atmosphere.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess. This way, please.”

Iona followed the attendant’s guidance inside.

*** 

“I will certainly get rid of that today.”

“Of course, Your Highness. You can do it.”

The Second Prince Consort’s maid whispered while massaging her shoulders.

The Second Prince Consort, Lee Rayeong Goldark, was seething with anger.

Lee Rayeong Goldark

“My goodness. What is this!”

“Ugh…! Ughh, that damned Carvain…!”

Recently, the Grand Duke had shattered every joint in the Second Prince’s hand.

It was fortunate that they were able to restore it barely with the help of the Magic Tower.

The Second Prince’s screams of pain while his bones were being set were still vivid in her ears.

It didn’t matter that it was the Grand Duke’s retaliation for the Second Prince interfering with his work.

What mattered was that the Grand Duke had hurt her husband!

“The Grand Duke’s position has already been revived in imperial law. So… even if the current occupant disappears, would that position disappear with him?”

Someone new would rise to it.

The image of the Second Empress whispering like a snake flickered before her eyes.

“If we just remove Grand Duke Thanatos… the Second Prince could sit in that position, you know.”

Lee Rayeong was a pure person, unbecoming of a noble.

She had lived her entire life in the shadow of her wealthy father before being married off as a Prince Consort.

She lacked the ability to discern the calculations hidden beneath the surface, to understand why the Second Empress had made such a proposal to her, or what the Second Empress’s true intentions were.

“If you can just accomplish this task, the Second Prince will become the Grand Duke.”

The Second Empress whispered to deal with the Grand Duchess.

Lee Rayeong, without even trying to fathom the Second Empress’s intentions, was simply entranced by her words.

Eliminating the Grand Duchess.

That thought alone occupied Lee Rayeong’s mind.

The teacup placed opposite her, thoroughly coated with poison, glinted under the light.

Following the exotic corridor, she arrived at the Second Prince Consort’s drawing room.

“Grand Duchess Thanatos. Welcome.”

The Second Prince Consort greeted Iona, her fine black hair fluttering.

The Second Prince Consort approached with a bright smile, grasping both of Iona’s hands and shaking them.

“I am Lee Rayeong Goldark Tenebres, the Second Prince Consort.”

“I’m Iona Thanatos Tenebres. Thank you for inviting me.”

“It’s an honor to meet the famous Grand Duchess, Your Highness. Please, sit here.”

More normal than I expected?

Iona muttered inwardly.

Unlike Marchioness Kalzavas’s warning, the Second Prince Consort didn’t seem particularly hostile towards Iona.

In fact, she seemed kinder than any of the nobles Iona had met as the Grand Duchess of Thanatos.

…No. That’s not it.