The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 119

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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 119

 

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Valdina Palace.

 

“There’s nothing here! Are you sure His Grace the Duke dropped his belongings here?”

 

In the empty delegation quarters, Virna burst out in irritation.

 

“Damn it, this vulgar girl. She never does anything right!”

 

When I return to the estate, I’ll give her a good beating. Virna grumbled sullenly.

 

Not long ago, Duke Castulo had secretly visited Prince Claudio’s estate again.

 

However, perhaps ashamed of being chased away from Valdina Palace like a fugitive, he only nodded in greeting when he saw Virna before passing by.

 

“Um, miss… I overheard what His Grace was saying to the servants… It seemed like it could give you a reason to visit His Grace…”

 

In the midst of this, a new maid had secretly come to the palace after hearing that Duke Castulo was looking for something he had forgotten and left behind in his quarters.

 

“Hmph, that Shila girl was utterly stupid, but you seem to have some brains? Keep it up like this. I’ll promote you to a proper maid soon.”

 

Unaware that a cold glint flashed in the maid’s eyes at her patronizing words.

 

‘If it’s a relic of the deceased former queen, this is no ordinary matter. The Duke will be very grateful to me.’

 

She was confident she could use this as leverage to break through the blocked conversation, but his quarters were completely empty with nothing left behind.

 

Virna, who had been storming out of the quarters in frustration, suddenly stopped. She had sensed the unsettled atmosphere within the palace.

 

“What? What’s happening?”

 

The clanking sounds like metal clashing and black smoke rising in the distance from the Administrative Palace and Queen Mother’s Palace.

 

She instinctively felt that something was dangerous.

 

“Virna!”

 

Just then, someone came running toward Virna.

 

“Your, Your Highness?”

 

Flowing silver hair, beautiful green eyes. She blinked in bewilderment.

 

“My goodness, you were here! Thank God. I searched for you so desperately. I thought you had already been captured.”

 

Medeia placed her hand on her chest and panted heavily.

 

‘Why is this girl looking for me? And what does she mean by captured?’

 

Virna was completely puzzled by what she was saying.

 

“Let’s go quickly, we need to get away from here.”

 

“What’s happening, exactly?”

 

“A rebellion has broken out! They’ll storm the palace soon. Hurry!”

 

Medeia grabbed Virna’s wrist and pulled her along. Her face was filled with urgency.

 

Perhaps terrified, the hand gripping her wrist was damp with sweat.

 

“A, a rebellion?”

 

Virna’s eyes widened.

 

“Uncle told me about a passage we can escape through. Come with me quickly.”

 

Medeia hurriedly moved toward the garden with Virna, as if there was no time to say more.

 

Virna hesitated and tried to shake off her hand, but when she saw the Claudio family crest engraved on the armor of the knight beside Medeia, she obediently followed her.

 

‘If father sent even a family knight, then this must be real.’

 

If there were any dangerous elements where they were going, the knight would have already stopped Medeia from taking her along.

 

After walking for some time, they cleared away the ivy densely covering the wall behind the Royal Garden, revealing a small side door.

 

Thud. The knight inserted his sword sheath between the gaps and twisted it, and the door creaked open.

 

The interior leading to a long passage was cold and pitch black. It was a darkness where no one could tell what might be lurking.

 

“I, I don’t want to. Your Highness, you go in first.”

 

Virna stepped back and pushed Medeia’s back.

 

“Alright.”

 

The knight lit a torch as if to say not to worry.

 

Only after confirming that the knight and Medeia entered and nothing happened did Virna finally enter the secret passage.

 

The passage smelled of earth and fishy grass. Virna covered her nose.

 

‘This is the worst.’

 

The floor was damp from moisture, and the air was stale.

 

Cough, cough. Just the thought of breathing in this filthy air made her throat feel like it was rotting.

 

“This path is connected to the outside of the palace. Someone to help our escape should be waiting, so just bear with it a little, Virna.”

 

The Princess maturely comforted Virna.

 

Just then.

 

“Run awaaay!”

 

“Aaaahhhhh!”

 

Chilling, distant screams could be heard from far away. The palace seemed to have become a scene of carnage.

 

‘Have the rebels already arrived?’

 

Virna bit her lip. She could tell that the palace had been turned upside down, just as Medeia had said.

 

‘A rebellion. Why didn’t mom and dad tell me about such a big event?’

 

She realized that the Duke’s visit, and their prohibition of her access for the past few days while they talked among themselves in the office, was all because of this incident.

 

Virna trembled with a sense of betrayal.

 

‘They went to rescue Medeia directly, but they didn’t even look for me, their own daughter, and just left me behind?’

 

How long had they walked through the passage?

 

As they gradually moved away from the palace and the urgency subsided, the resentment she had pushed aside began to rear its head in Virna’s chest.

 

That’s why she was slow to notice Medeia’s movements gradually slowing beside her.

 

When she came to her senses, she could no longer hear the Princess’s footsteps beside her.

 

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

 

Virna quickly turned around.

 

About five steps away, Medeia stood still under the dim torchlight.

 

“I can’t do this. I have to go back.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“I’m the Princess of Valdina. How can I run away like this just to save myself when the palace is in grief? Even if I escape the palace, I won’t be at peace.”

 

That’s your problem! Virna’s face contorted.

 

‘No matter how soft-hearted you are, there should be limits. Do you want to act virtuous even in this situation?!’

 

“It’ll be fine. Even if we go back, what could we possibly do anyway?”

 

She tried hard to persuade her cousin to just continue on their way, but Medeia was stubborn.

 

“They might kill all my maids and palace servants.”

 

“…”

 

“What about grandmother? Is Her Majesty the Queen Mother safe? She’s elderly, so she must have been greatly shocked…”

 

“Fine. Then Your Highness can go back. I’ll go all the way to the end.”

 

Finally, Virna’s patience reached its limit.

 

“But this knight must come with me. Since I’m accommodating Your Highness’s stubbornness.”

 

“Virna, Uncle said there would be guards waiting at the end of the passage. Just keep going straight down this path. But I…”

 

So you want me to give you the knight? That was absolutely out of the question.

 

Why should I go through this dark passage alone for Medeia’s sake? Why should I show such kindness?

 

‘I’d rather you go back alone and die, captured by the rebels remaining in the palace!’

 

If blind sword blades were to pierce through that girl… A cruel yet pleasant imagination flashed through Virna’s mind.

 

‘Then all the more reason I can’t give him up.’

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but he’s from our family. You’re not thinking of taking him from me just because you’re royalty, are you?”

 

“Virna…”

 

“The armor he’s wearing, his sword, they’re all Claudio property. His salary also comes from our family’s coffers. So protecting me, Princess Claudia, is also his responsibility.”

 

If it weren’t for Medeia in the first place, Virna wouldn’t have been able to escape like this.

 

But rather than feeling grateful for that, she was bent on sending Medeia back defenseless.

 

Virna glanced triumphantly at the knight holding the torch.

 

Though his face wasn’t visible due to his helmet, from the way he remained quietly silent, he seemed to properly understand who his master was.

 

“Instead, I’ll share some of the torch with you. The way back is quite dark, after all.”

 

Her tone suggested she was doing a great favor.

 

“Alright, Virna. Then… please be safe.”

 

Medeia approached and firmly grasped Virna’s hand. A faint trembling could be felt, as if she was shaking with fear.

 

Virna momentarily thought she might have gone too far, but she soon eased her guilt by throwing out empty words.

 

“…Please wait just a little, Your Highness. I’ll go out first and send the knight order to the Royal Palace. Don’t lose hope.”

 

“Please wait just a little, sister. I’ll get Lea to safety and send people to rescue you. You must hold on firmly until then.”

 

The hollow promise she didn’t mean was sweet and gentle. Just like when she once held Medeia’s daughter and made promises.

 

“I’m glad, Virna. That you haven’t changed.”

 

Medeia nodded.

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll wait.”

 

Medeia, holding the torch, turned and walked away.

 

In the dark passage, as the torch grew smaller and smaller, her figure seemed to be swallowed by the darkness.

 

“Hmph, who’s going to stop someone heading toward death?”

 

Once Medeia’s figure disappeared, Virna pouted her lips.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“….”

 

They walked through the passage again.

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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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