The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111

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The square in front of the Royal Palace.

“Samon Claudio! You wicked fool! How dare you try to harm Princess!”

“A measly twenty lashes! It should be a hundred for that villain to be reformed!”

Amid the people’s condemnation, the Regent’s only son was shamefully flogged.

Perhaps the humiliation was greater than the pain, as Samon rolled his eyes back and fainted before the punishment was even finished.

However, the strict official in charge of the punishment showed no mercy and delivered exactly twenty lashes before releasing Samon.

“Sob sob, Samon! My poor son!”

Catherine collapsed over the unconscious Samon and burst into tears.

“To make my son like this, I will never forgive that wench Medeia. I’ll break her limbs and make her suffer worse than Samon!”

Catherine scattered tears as she examined her unconscious son’s wounds.

“Are you satisfied now? Your son ended up like this to save your face?”

Catherine glared resentfully at her husband.

Being a good son who listens to his mother is one thing, but how could he not refuse even once and meekly accept the order when his own child was to be flogged?

“Then would you have preferred I oppose mother right there and let everyone know I covet the throne? Why are you acting so foolishly when you should know better?”

The Regent made no effort to hide his displeasure.

“Take care of Samon. I must go see my retainers.”

As if he would be pleased to see his son receive such brutal punishment.

His insides were burning with even greater fury. Samon was his only son to inherit his legacy.

“Please calm yourself, Duchess. I’ve ordered Kazen’s Divine Healer to examine the young Duke, so he’ll be up and about before long.”

Count Roberto Laju comforted Catherine.

“Duke, leave this place to me and go ahead.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Count Raju.”

The Regent was so busy swallowing his surging rage that he failed to notice Count Raju stroking Catherine’s shoulders rather intimately while comforting her.

And as soon as he left the room, he exploded with the anger he had been suppressing.

“Damn it!”

He kicked the door as if venting his frustration.

In his office, members of the Regent’s faction who had been summoned were gathered.

“Duke, you’ve arrived. We were waiting. …Is the young Duke alright?”

The Regent glared fiercely at the people in the room. Both their numbers and momentum had diminished incomparably from before.

“I told everyone to come without exception.”

“…Well, Marquis Anjou’s chronic illness flared up, and Baron Salamia said his elderly mother was sick today…”

The Regent didn’t believe the pathetic excuses sent by the absentees at all.

‘Hyena-like bastards. Now that things have turned out this way, they’re looking for ways to distance themselves.’

Though his niece Medeia, who had gone missing at the hunting grounds, returned safely, the Regent’s position had actually narrowed.

Public opinion condemning him simply wouldn’t die down.

Going out on the streets, it was common for people to curse the Regent and throw filth at the Prince’s carriages, and he had even appeared in third-rate newspapers as the nation’s public enemy.

No matter how many people he sent to silence them, within a day or two, rumors that Prince Claudio had tried to kill Princess of Valdina would rise again like the sun.

Even the petty sycophants who used to flatter him were now quietly avoiding him, fearing the backlash might reach them.

Of course, their words weren’t false. He had certainly targeted Medeia.

‘This won’t do. At this rate, even if the grand plan succeeds, I’ll become a tyrant who killed his niece to ascend the throne.’

But there are times when truth strikes someone more painfully than ever before.

‘Wherever I go, those persistent stares accusing me of trying to assassinate Princess won’t leave me alone. The people’s perception is changing.’

Hoakin Claudio, who once received respect and trust from many people, was now nothing but a cruel and greedy uncle who tried to kill his niece.

The Regent exploded with frustration at the completely reversed positions of the two, like a seesaw.

‘I need to create a crisis. So that Valdinians can physically realize the importance of this Claudio!’

The way for him to regain his former honor and respect was for Valdina to become endangered.

If he appeared as a savior from the blue flames of rebellion covering the Royal Palace, people’s perceptions would reverse again.

“…Duke?”

The retainers watched anxiously as the Regent, who had summoned them but remained silent with a cold expression, lost in thought.

Finally, his tightly closed lips opened.

“We must advance the coup.”

Cornered from all sides, the Regent finally made his decision.

“Your Grace, that’s…!”

“A coup? It’s still too early.”

The nobles under his influence tried to dissuade the Regent.

“Besides, Kazens are still staying in Valdina. Count Raju won’t agree to us advancing the grand plan either.”

Count Raju was Duke Castulo’s man. He would insist it should be after he left Valdina, not wanting to get involved.

The Regent’s eyes grew cold.

“Gentlemen, you haven’t forgotten whose orders take priority in this country, have you?”

“…”

The Regent was also fed up with Jason.

People can only see the real truth when they face hardship.

The Duke, who had boasted of a solid alliance, distanced himself from him just because his son had tried to side with someone else.

“What an arrogant fellow. While he too is lowering himself to avoid Kazen’s Emperor, does he expect me to bow and scrape to him? Frankly, what does he have that’s better than me right now?”

They were both coveting the throne they shouldn’t desire.

In fact, if it had been the former Duke Castulo, the Regent would have been quite cautious too.

But after the duel at the banquet, the Regent could see the Duke’s noticeably weakened power.

He had also fallen out with the 4th Princess, losing influence within the delegation, and General Jared had also separated from him.

However, Jason’s continued arrogance in trying to maintain superiority left scratches on the Regent’s proud self-esteem.

“I too must verify whether the Duke is truly worthy material to inherit the imperial throne.”

Dissatisfaction with Jason rose like wisps of mist.

“Once the rebels come, I can confirm whether they are truly my allies. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

The Regent faction’s forces exchanged glances with each other.

Following the death of Minister Etienne, with Duke Castulo and Count Raju also absent, could this rebellion with no one backing it really succeed?

A thread of anxiety arose in their uncertain hearts.

“Gentlemen, do you think you can withdraw now that the written agreements have been burned?”

The Regent, noticing his subjects’ hesitation, snorted and glared at them.

“Do you think you’ll be safe if this Claudio falls? When Peleus returns, will that blockhead leave alone you bastards who embezzled from the people and filled your own bellies? Who exactly would step forward to save you!”

The subjects snapped to attention.

For the past 10 years, they had been immersed in sweet indulgence for too long.

The young and righteous king would surely make them pay for the corruption and decadence they had enjoyed.

Wasn’t that why they had joined hands with the Regent in the first place?

“The opportunity is only now. We must finish everything before Peleus returns.”

“…Understood.”

At the Regent’s words, determination finally settled in their eyes too.

The only end for a failed traitor is death.

“We’ll follow your words, Duke. Only by putting you on the throne by any means necessary will we have a chance to survive.”

After the determined nobles left, the Regent gave his orders.

“Send word to the rebels too. Tell them the time has come to rise.”

“However, Your Grace. Even if this coup succeeds, what will you do when the King and Agema return?”

Suha couldn’t hide his concern.

Agema’s excellent military power was well known throughout the continent. Could the palace youngsters really handle them?

“Agema? Heh heh. That won’t happen. I’ve made arrangements.”

By now, his orders would have been delivered to Ganza too.

In the brutal battlefield, in the final battle, Peleus’s great elites would lose their lives.

Peleus, returning alone and barely alive, would have no choice but to acknowledge him sitting on the throne, not knowing what to do.

The Regent swallowed his vile laughter.

Thinking of my nephew who would be looking up at the same sky as me with a tear-stained face by now.

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