The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 106

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 106

* * *

‘Good grief, just how far does that fellow wander around Valdina?’

Seeing Chezare, Medeia frowned. 

Never thinking that he had come all this way looking for her, Medeia thought this was another chance encounter.

She was about to ask how he got here when suddenly the mercenary’s expression twisted as he walked toward her.

His usually leisurely lips that boasted of composure were distorted, and his sharp jaw was set as if clenched tight.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

“Medeia.”

And his solid embrace filled her vision with darkness.

Medeia was so surprised that she forgot he had rudely called her name without proper courtesy. 

While she was momentarily dazed, the mercenary’s vivid anger poured down on her.

“Why are you being so foolish? Why do you move alone? Don’t you know it’s barbaric to hold a tool and not use it?”

Medeia couldn’t understand at all why the mercenary was shouting at her in anger. 

She looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

“Akaress, have you gone mad?”

“There was no need to go this far. Your precious maid, your chancellor, the Queen Mother – where did you leave them all, and why are you alone, always sacrificing yourself when you don’t have to!”

Chezare’s reason told him to stop, but his instincts wouldn’t be halted. 

Damn it, who am I seeing in this woman? 

Do I want to help the Princess, or do I want to save that childhood self who was left alone? 

He wanted to make her understand that she wasn’t alone. 

He wanted to tell her that someone understood her, that someone could take the hand she extended.

At the same time, Chezare knew.

That just as he had been, the Princess wouldn’t believe or accept those words either.

“Why should I?”

As he expected, the Princess asked with clear eyes. Her calm expression was as still as an undisturbed water surface. 

“If you don’t think of me as a woman, you’d better let go of that arm quickly. Otherwise, this poison needle you gave me might pierce through your throat.”

Only then did Chezare notice the small metal needle placed beneath his chin.

With a soft laugh, the arms that had been constraining Medeia slowly loosened.

“….” 

A short intake of breath. It was enough time for Chezare’s reason to return.

“…I made a fool of myself.”

“Good that you know.”

“…Ha.”

Her blunt answer that didn’t even deny it left a scratch on his lofty pride.

Silence flowed between them.

“How is the situation at the royal palace?”

Medeia asked casually. Chezare replied as if dumbfounded. 

“Princess, are you treating me like a messenger right now?”

Without answering, she glanced over Chezare.

Moonlight shone into the cave, and Akaress’s appearance came clearly into view.

Hair damp with sweat, dust and leaves scattered on his arms and legs, a pale face.

Even his hands darkened with blood beneath his sleeve cuffs.

Though Medeia couldn’t understand everything he had said, she could at least tell that this mercenary had come looking for her. 

He had jumped off a cliff and tracked down the hidden traces to find her, yet strangely, she felt no wariness.

Perhaps it was because she had read the concern for her that flickered in his vivid golden eyes.

Chezare seemed to come to his senses and belatedly stepped back from Medeia. 

“Sit. I was just about to have dinner.”

Medeia withdrew her gaze and made room for him. 

“I’ll do it.”

Chezare, who had been staring at the small scratch on her white, delicate hands, took the dagger from her.

Medeia just watched him quietly, as if observing. A hint of interest briefly crossed her green eyes.

Soon a delicious smell wafted through the cave. 

“I thought you were only skilled with a sword, but you cook quite well too.”

Medeia praised with an indifferent expression. 

Perhaps from traveling to various places as a mercenary, he had a talent for creating decent dishes with few ingredients. 

“Just eat.”

Contrary to his cold reply, he broke off the sharp end of the wooden skewer holding the rabbit meat so her hands wouldn’t get pricked, then handed it to Medeia. 

“….”

Seeing the Princess’s small face, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the camping life outside the royal palace, Chezare felt inexplicably spiteful.

“Seasoning is always important.”

“You came very well prepared indeed.”

Seeing Medeia take out salt to sprinkle, Chezare said helplessly.

“Want some?”

“No thanks.”

A cold refusal came back. 

Medeia shrugged and bit into the meat. 

It wasn’t bad.

* * *

Valdina Palace.

“Did you hear the news? At the hunting grounds, Her Highness the Princess-“

“Ha! Of course! I even know the culprit. Prince Claudio killed Her Highness!”

The unfortunate accident at the hunting grounds soon reached the royal palace as well.

“Evil bastard! Bring back our Princess!”

“What have you people done for our Valdina!”

The rumors spread instantly, and even the common people in the streets came to know of Medeia’s disappearance. 

The 4th Princess clicked her nails together.

The situation had grown beyond control. 

‘What should I do? I didn’t expect the Queen Mother to regain her composure so quickly.’

The Queen Mother even seemed to suspect her as well. Her eyes watching the Kazen delegation were extremely sharp.

‘If they find out I released wolves at the hunting grounds, I’m finished.’

A diplomatic mission member attempting to assassinate a direct royal family member of the host country? Even if Valdina was a small nation, they wouldn’t let it slide.

‘I shouldn’t have trusted that fool Samon. How could he fail to handle even one task properly!’

The 4th Princess’s nerves were wearing thin as she paced somewhere between anger and worry. 

‘Father won’t let me off. What if they discover what I did? But there’s no evidence. How could they possibly know-‘

“Your Highness.”

Just then, the 4th Princess was startled by a voice calling her. Kensington was staring at her intently. 

“…Surely not, right?”

“Wh-what?”

“This incident. You’re certainly not connected to it at all-“

“Wh-what! That’s ridiculous!”

The 4th Princess, feeling guilty, burst into anger.

“Count Kensington, don’t falsely accuse innocent people. What does the Princess’s disappearance have to do with me?” 

She stormed out of her seat in a huff.

“Danzu, the 4th Princess’s reaction is strange. I’ll look into it.”

“Never mind. Just leave it.”

At Umberto’s words, Kensington sighed and waved her hand.

“Even if it was the 4th Princess’s doing, what could we do? If I try to clean it up, in this situation, is there any choice but to bear the Princess’s sins together?”

She lamented.

“I’ve always done my absolute best when it came to Kazen, setting everything else aside. But that didn’t mean I could be used however they pleased.”

The 4th Princess, the Duke, and even the Emperor who is my lord.

Deep doubt appeared on her face. 

“Danzu…?”

“If you have such leisure, you’d better learn more about the Princess’s situation instead.”

Kensington gazed down intently at the map of the forest where she had disappeared. 

His gaze lingered long on the parts densely painted in green.

“The Princess wouldn’t be taken down so easily. She must have another plan this time too.”

“What do you mean….”

“The problem is, I don’t know who she’s targeting.”

Prince Claudio, the Regent? The 4th Princess? Duke Castulo?

Or all three of them? 

He could only hope it wouldn’t result in sweeping them all away with a single wingbeat. 

Kensington sighed as he looked at the Princess’s Palace visible in the distance through the window. 

* * *

Deep in the night, the forest temperature was cool. 

Crackle crackle. The warmth of the campfire heated the air.

“When are you planning to return?”

“Well.”

A brief answer. Chezare, who had been facing Medeia, hesitated.

Crackle crackle, because he discovered the darkness that had settled in those green eyes staring blankly at the crimson flames of the firewood.

“So, what’s your plan going forward?”

Medeia looked at Chezare with an expression that said, why would I tell you that?

“You know you can’t stay here too long anyway, right?”

The mercenary was right.

As time passes, both memories and emotions fade. 

Medeia’s appearance had to be when suspicions toward the Regent were at their peak.

Chezare, reading her intentions, made a suggestion.

“Let’s say the Mage Tower discovered you. It’ll make your return much easier.”

The Mage Tower was strict about verification. It was a closed group that rarely intervened or participated in political affairs. 

However, their reputation and influence on the continent were undeniable.

‘It’s already been several days since I disappeared. When I return, I won’t be able to avoid various rumors.’

Especially House of Claudio would try to tear her down, claiming that Medeia deliberately hid herself to trap Samon, just to survive.

‘But if the Mage Tower gets involved,’

The Regent would lose any room to make unreasonable demands. 

Medeia nodded. There was no reason to refuse when he offered a better card.

But a question arose.

“Akaress, why do you keep helping me?”

There’s no favor without a price. The mercenary before her didn’t seem naive enough to let such things be exploited.

Chezare, who had been staring at Medeia’s face with sunken eyes for a while, opened his mouth.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————