The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 123

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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 123

 

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Valdina Palace.

 

The fortress made of solid white stone walls served as a gatekeeper, protecting the royal palace without a single gap.

 

On the walls, soldiers were still busily and grimly looking down at the outside.

 

“The traitors are retreating.”

 

The guards breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the rebel forces’ battle line retreating step by step.

 

“If it weren’t for you all, this place would have been breached before today ended.”

 

The Guard Captain wiped his flowing sweat and expressed gratitude to the retired soldiers who stood on the walls with weapons alongside them.

 

When they first came looking for him, the Guard Captain couldn’t believe it.

 

Neither the news that a rebellion had broken out, nor that they would soon arrive at the royal palace to attack.

 

Due to the long war, most of the troops had left the royal palace empty.

 

If they had faced them without any preparation, the flags of those rebels would have been hanging on these walls.

 

The old soldier shook his head.

 

“It’s still too early to jump to conclusions. Look, they haven’t completely given up.”

 

Even though they were hastily assembled rebels, there were so many that the horizon looked black.

 

From the rebel forces maintaining a long battle line as if confronting the walls, one could even feel the determination to definitely bring down this royal palace.

 

The Guard Captain sighed.

 

“How many people in this small country harbored such anger…”

 

The flames that seemed like they would eventually burst out had finally erupted.

 

However, he thought Princess Medeia had somewhat calmed that anger, but perhaps it wasn’t enough.

 

The Guard Captain swallowed his bitter feelings while gripping his sword more firmly.

 

“Queen Mother!”

 

At that moment, an old woman being supported as she climbed the stairs of the wall came into view. The Valdinian court officials following her were also present.

 

“Good heavens, to think it’s already reached this place!”

 

“Look over there. You can’t see the end. Just how many have gathered…”

 

On the walls, in a position where they could see the enemy.

 

Most of the court officials who directly confirmed with their own eyes the rebel forces that filled the horizon black couldn’t hide their shock and fear.

 

However, not everyone was like that.

 

Count Montega, who had been trained in dealing with monsters at the border, quickly surveyed the battlefield, and Sisear stayed by the Queen Mother’s side.

 

“Queen Mother, this place is dangerous. Why don’t you take shelter?”

 

Despite the Guard Captain’s dissuasion, the Queen Mother was adamant.

 

“What would this old woman do by living longer? Are there no people, no wounded? How is the situation progressing?”

 

The Queen Mother turned around and looked at the city below the walls.

 

From high on the walls, she could look down at the panicked citizens hurriedly moving through the streets.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. Fortunately, Lord Gillipos prevented their entry into the city, avoiding the fall of the royal palace, and we’ve now entered a standoff. Here on the walls too, with support from the retired soldiers, we were able to easily block their attacks.”

 

The Queen Mother turned her head toward where the Guard Captain was pointing.

 

“We, we are honored to meet such a noble person.”

 

“Queen Mother, Your, Your Majesty? Your Highness?”

 

The retired soldiers who had been standing awkwardly, not knowing what to do, bent their waists clumsily.

 

Most of them were poorly educated people who didn’t even know how to properly address the current king’s grandmother.

 

The Queen Mother’s eyes swept over them.

 

She soon realized that their bodies, holding faded armor and weapons, were not intact.

 

They couldn’t even properly treat the retired soldiers who were wounded on the battlefield, yet they stepped forward again to defend the royal palace.

 

Emotion welled up in her wrinkled eyes.

 

“Really, really thank you. On behalf of my royal family, I express gratitude to you all. When this national crisis ends, I will give you rewards.”

 

She didn’t hesitate to clasp their rough hands.

 

“Though I don’t fail to understand the resentment of those exhausted by hunger and hardship, I still cannot let them recklessly attack the royal palace and harm innocent people.”

 

“Also, we only wanted to repay the grace we received from Princess, who took us in and created a place where we could make a living again.”

 

The retired soldiers bowed clumsily while feeling honored.

 

“Medeia?”

 

The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows.

 

Then Sisear whispered to the Queen Mother.

 

It was about how Medeia had used her private funds to provide relief for the retired soldiers who were wandering and abandoned outside.

 

‘While that child was comforting even these soldiers’ pain, I was trapped in my own sorrow in the back room.’

 

The Queen Mother hesitated, suppressing the regret and self-reproach that rose once again.

 

“Where is Medeia now?”

 

She was too tense during the fierce battle to notice.

 

That her granddaughter’s figure was nowhere to be seen here now.

 

‘Isn’t this taking too long!’

 

Before hurrying to this place, she had sent someone to the Princess’s Palace to bring Medeia.

 

But to think she still hadn’t arrived, the Queen Mother’s heart sank.

 

“Could something have happened to that child?”

 

People only then looked around. But the Princess’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

 

“You were all too busy saving your own lives to even look after the Princess! You worthless fools!”

 

The Queen Mother burst with indignation.

 

“Mother! Hoakin has come!”

 

At that moment, a resounding shout rang out. The Regent’s group had arrived at the walls.

 

The Regent, who had dismounted from his horse wearing splendid armor, came running with his knights.

 

The silver armor he wore reflected the sunlight, painfully piercing the eyes of those who looked at it. It seemed more suited for a triumph ceremony than for battle.

 

“Are you alright! How did you come to such a dangerous place! I went to the palace and heard that Mother had headed here, and you can’t imagine how surprised I was.”

 

The Regent continued speaking calmly.

 

“Ah, a rebellion. And to think that mere traitors would dare attack the royal palace. This is a shameful event that has never happened once in a thousand years of history. When did our Valdina’s situation reach this point…”

 

His voice, mixed with surprise and regret, sounded even mournful.

 

“You went to the palace? Then, Hoakin. Didn’t you see Medeia?”

 

But the Queen Mother had no time to worry about that.

 

“Did you go to the Princess’s Palace? I had my knights bring Dea to safety, but why hasn’t she arrived yet?”

 

Perhaps the traitors had infiltrated the palace and harmed her granddaughter. The Queen Mother’s worry was beyond measure.

 

The staff she held was shaking aimlessly.

 

“…Mother, please don’t be shocked.”

 

The Regent shook his head back and forth.

 

His eyes filled with grief and his sighing mouth were extremely natural.

 

“It seems that Medeia has… fled.”

 

“What?”

 

The Queen Mother doubted her ears.

 

“I too went to the Princess’s Palace to confirm Medeia’s safety. But no one was there. Unable to bear my worry, I searched for the Princess’s Palace maids wherever I could find them and barely managed to question them, and they said Medeia had left the royal palace through a secret passage.”

 

Instantly, the crowd stirred.

 

When the Queen Mother hesitated, the Regent inwardly rejoiced.

 

“It seems the King must have told her about the secret passage. In preparation for when the royal palace would fall. I don’t know if it’s fortunate or unfortunate. In any case, Medeia, that child will surely survive… When this matter ends safely, we’ll be able to bring her back safely.”

 

His words sounded as if King Peleus had abandoned the other Valdinians and only looked after his sister’s safety.

 

The Queen Mother’s complexion turned pale.

 

“Fled! That’s nonsense. Medeia wouldn’t do such a thing.”

 

She didn’t believe her son’s words.

 

‘This is a child who stood against even the Empire for the honor of the royal family. Knowing that the people would waver if she left like this, would she flee so irresponsibly?’

 

Though they hadn’t spent much time together, she had personally learned that her granddaughter was unrivaled when it came to responsibility.

 

“Recently, Medeia’s activities have been remarkable. But she’s still a naive and innocent girl, isn’t she.”

 

However, the Regent shook his head as if his mother’s expectations were regrettable.

 

“Rumors have spread that rebel forces have gathered in front of the royal palace. They’re shouting slogans that this country has become impoverished because of the fallen princess, that they’ll burn the witch at the stake. In such a situation, how could Medeia overcome her fear.”

 

“…”

 

“Mother, please don’t look for Medeia. If the fact that the Princess fled spreads, the soldiers’ morale will be greatly broken.”

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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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