The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 122

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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 122

 

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I must decline both offers again.”

 

Regarding the downfall of Claudio, Medeia had no intention of allowing any third party intervention except herself.

 

As if he had expected Medeia’s refusal, he raised both hands.

 

“Understood.”

 

Medeia stared at the mercenary. She hid her rising suspicion beneath a faint smile.

 

‘Zeta definitely said this man had left Valdina. But why has he come back here now?’

 

That day, the small peace she had felt with him in the forest was like a mirage that disappears upon opening one’s eyes.

 

Though she had grown quite close to Akaress through various shared experiences, Medeia had never once forgotten that he was the leader of Facade.

 

‘He must be here to search the palace, taking advantage of the chaos from the Regent’s rebellion. Looking for the antidote for the 1st Prince that the Mage Tower mentioned.’

 

The Dawn’s Tears.

 

It seemed the Mage Tower and Facade had figured out that it was somewhere in this Valdina Palace.

 

Medeia glanced over Chezare’s shoulder.

 

Her gaze lingered briefly on the unchanged scenery. A faint light flickered through her green eyes.

 

‘He didn’t come alone.’

 

She had sensed the presence of those who had hidden themselves and infiltrated the palace.

 

She had no intention of stopping Facade’s shadows.

 

Not only could Medeia not handle them all by herself right now, but she had a bigger and more important task of tightening the noose around Claudio.

 

‘It was wise to make a replica and hide it.’

 

Anyway, they wouldn’t find what they were looking for today.

 

Because the Dawn’s Tears was in Medeia’s hands.

 

‘This belongs to Valdina. The price for saving the 1st Prince should rightfully be given to Valdina. Not to the Mage Tower.’

 

The Dawn’s Tears would be given to the person she wanted, when she wanted.

 

There would be no exceptions.

 

So Medeia slightly narrowed her eyes, pretending not to notice their presence or intentions.

 

“Akaress, then return safely.”

 

Leaving behind a polite farewell, she turned around without hesitation.

 

Her steps leaving him behind showed no wavering.

 

“Your Highness, I’ve brought the horses—. But who is that man…?”

 

“Let’s go quickly, Neryl. We don’t have much time. Hyah!”

 

Medeia, having finished her preparations, mounted her horse.

 

Her movement turning the horse’s head toward the city walls was without any unnecessary motion.

 

In an instant, the three people escaped the palace.

 

“Boss!”

 

Chezare couldn’t take his eyes off the departing Princess’s back.

 

The small back heading toward the city walls without even a moment’s hesitation.

 

Could even death stop that girl?

 

“Speak.”

 

Chezare commanded while keeping his gaze fixed on the direction where the Princess had disappeared.

 

“We’re searching the palace. But I think I have prophetic abilities. A rebellion really broke out just like I hoped.”

 

Garo’s face was full of satisfaction.

 

Whether his words had come true, an opportunity to sneak into the chaotic palace had arisen. Moreover, everyone had rushed to the city walls, making the search somewhat easier.

 

“Garo, you hopeless fool. What were you thinking bringing Chezare here too? His treatment isn’t finished yet—”

 

Terrence scolded him.

 

Chezare’s condition was poor enough that the Mage Tower Master had been amazed he was maintaining his sanity.

 

The curse-consumed chest showed black marks coiled throughout, visible to the naked eye.

 

Garo bit his lip and glanced at Chezare cautiously.

 

“It can’t be helped. Even the Mage Tower gave up, so what other options are there?”

 

While moving to the Mage Tower to treat Chezare’s worsening condition, he had another seizure.

 

Chezare, who had reached his limit, had barely regained consciousness just a few days ago.

 

“I thought a great star unparalleled on the continent was rising, but it’s regrettable to see it fall like this.”

 

The Mage Tower Master’s muttering as he shook his head and clicked his tongue.

 

Garo’s thick hand gripped the parchment. It was news from Valdina.

 

“Boss, a rebellion broke out in central Valdina. The rebels are currently advancing toward the royal palace.”

 

“…”

 

“The leader is a man named Horolls, of peasant origin, but after digging deeper, his real name is Bakaro. Until about five years ago, he was a mercenary from the Repalia pirates.”

 

Despite Terrence’s opposition, Garo informed Chezare of this news.

 

He had a premonition that if Chezare heard this story, he would somehow force himself up and head to Valdina, whether for the Dawn’s Tears or any other reason.

 

And Chezare really did just that.

 

“When the Regent is emptying the palace directly with his money-bought army, why would we refuse such a good opportunity? Right, Boss?”

 

Glancing at the dark blue veins bulging on Chezare’s forearm, Garo spoke as if steeling his resolve.

 

“This time I’ll thoroughly ransack even the places we haven’t been to.”

 

“…”

 

“…Boss, are you listening?”

 

Garo asked Chezare while hiding his anxiety, but he still gave no answer.

 

Then Alpha came and reported.

 

“My lord, it seems we’ve found it.”

 

“What? Really?”

 

Garo interrupted first, asking with delight.

 

“Yes, we discovered a secret chamber behind the King’s Study. It appears to be connected to the royal treasury where the Sage’s Tome was stored.”

 

“Good, let’s go see it. Quickly!”

 

He exclaimed.

 

The Sage’s Tome. Treasury. Secret chamber. Didn’t it create the perfect atmosphere for where the tears might be?

 

Garo, who had been about to run off excitedly, stopped and turned around.

 

“Boss, aren’t you coming?”

 

“…”

 

Chezare, who had been persistently staring at one spot, finally moved his feet.

 

The Mercenaries of Facade quickly subdued the knights guarding the King’s quarters.

 

Unlike the usual strict security, only minimal personnel remained, allowing them to move without much commotion.

 

“Don’t hurt them.”

 

The shadows nodded at Garo’s request.

 

The secret chamber discovered in the King’s Study was connected by spiral stairs.

 

The entire tower-like space seemed to be used as the Valdina Royal Family’s treasury.

 

Swish. Swish. With soundless footsteps, the sturdy men stepped inside.

 

They examined various decorations and treasures placed between the walls of the stairs one by one.

 

However, no object containing liquid that could be the tears was visible.

 

And finally they reached the end of the stairs.

 

The space entered through a small door was a circular room located at the top of the tower.

 

On a platform in the center, a huge chest where the Sage’s Tome had once been stored was placed.

 

Garo carefully examined the chest.

 

And discovering nothing inside or out, he sighed.

 

“It’s not here. Nothing.”

 

He lamented.

 

Truly, did the tears not exist? Had they been trying to catch an invisible mirage?

 

“Wait.”

 

Then Chezare lightly pressed the bottom of the chest.

 

With a creaking sound, a small drawer popped out.

 

It was a double mechanism.

 

The moment they discovered the small cylinder with water drop patterns engraved on it, placed on the velvet of the drawer, everyone held their breath.

 

“…”

 

Chezare bent down and picked it up. The liquid in the small cylinder sloshed gently.

 

“…Dawn’s Tears.”

 

The goddess statue carved on the cylinder sparkled in the sunlight as if welcoming him.

 

“We found it, Chezare! We found it! Finally!”

 

Even Terrence, who had never raised his voice in his lifetime due to his noble disposition, forgot his manners and cheered.

 

Unlike his bright bursting laughter, his eyes were tinged red.

 

“It, it really, really existed. We searched the entire continent and only now in this Valdina….”

 

Garo collapsed to his knees before the cylinder. Soon after, he bent his waist and pressed his lips to the ground several times.

 

In fact, he seemed so overwhelmed with emotion that he didn’t know what he was doing.

 

“Thank you, gods and ancestors of Valdina, royalty, just everyone who lives here…. I will never forget this grace. Facade will repay this country for a lifetime…. Damn it, why are tears coming out….”

 

There must have been too many days of anxiety.

 

Even while wondering why he was like this, Garo couldn’t control the tears of emotion welling up.

 

Chezare’s shadows also couldn’t hide their joy. Even Alpha, who would be hurt to be called second in stoicism, trembled with ecstasy.

 

“Now we can return to Kazen. We can reclaim Your Highness’s position.”

 

The return of First Prince Chezare that everyone feared and tried to prevent.

 

How long had they waited for that moment.

 

The Empire was still full of people desperately trying to erase his name.

 

Now they would have to be satisfied with having dreamed a brief sweet dream.

 

“…My lord?”

 

However, the face of Chezare, the person in question, was enigmatic.

 

Whether he was happy or sad wasn’t revealed due to the half-mask he wore on his face.

 

Since he was originally someone who didn’t show emotions, his subordinates couldn’t be certain what he was thinking.

 

“…Yes.”

 

Chezare gripped the cylinder. The cold touch of the carving seemed to stick to his palm.

 

It was the moment when the primordial curse that had tormented his life terribly for three years and filled it with despair finally knelt before his obsession.

 

Chezare raised his head.

 

In the distance, he could see the White Walls.

 

Even though the time he had searched for so fervently had arrived, he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t fully feel that joy.

 

Even Chezare himself couldn’t be certain where this desire to run to those walls rather than stay here came from. In fact, he didn’t even understand it.

 

His golden eyes holding the cylinder sank deeply for a moment.

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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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