The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 128
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 128
“How remarkably coincidental that those present here are also included. Lark Etienne, Afrius Edain, Salier Packen, Aksim Razoma-”
The roll call from the pledge document seemed endless.
The faces of those whose names were called turned blue as if struck by ice.
‘Why is that thing there!’
‘How did the pledge document end up in the Princess’s hands!’
They had no idea why the pledge document that should have been burned to ashes was now present at this gathering.
People began to murmur.
The clear seal of House Claudio stamped on the pledge document was clearly visible to their eyes as well.
There could be no more obvious evidence of treason.
“Medeia, you…”
The Regent, pale as a blank sheet of paper, looked at Medeia in disbelief.
His niece before him seemed utterly unfamiliar.
The pledge document in her hands, her cold voice denouncing his and his faction’s crimes, her indifferent expression.
In truth, there was nothing left of the foolish niece Medeia he had known.
“You, you don’t tell me… you’ve been hiding your true nature like a little mouse all this time? You’ve been deceiving me?”
“Deceiving? That’s hardly something an uncle who has been concealing treasonous intentions should say to me.”
Samon, trembling with rage, glared alternately at Medeia and the pledge document in her hands as he shouted.
“It was you! You’ve been sabotaging our family all along!”
Only now did Samon’s mind become clear as if a veil had been lifted.
The downfall of the Maid Supervisor and Etienne, the duel and rescue with the diplomatic mission, the hunting competition and rebellion.
He realized that Medeia had been present at every moment when House Claudio’s plans went awry.
Samon ground his molars.
He should not have ignored his rising intuition, nor should he have looked down on the Princess as a foolish and dull-witted wretch.
If only he had known she was wearing such a thick mask and had been toying with his family all this time…
“Hoakin, I had hoped it was merely a mother’s needless worry… You truly sought to grasp what should not be coveted.”
The Queen Mother, suppressing the heart-wrenching despair and sorrow for now, gazed at him with eyes that saw not a son but a complete enemy.
“Imprison them all. Including the Regent, everyone listed in this pledge document. On charges of rebellion.”
“Mother!”
“Do not call me that. I have never had a traitor as a son!”
The Queen Mother’s aged voice sounded painfully strained.
“Claudio, you hypocrite! You fraud! You staged a rebellion and claim you came to save Valdina?”
“What regent! Does such a villain who would ruin the country deserve such a title!”
The enraged ministers and people pressed House Claudio further into a corner. His faction involved in the pledge document panicked, not knowing what to do.
‘How, how did it come to this!’
The Regent’s face contorted with rage.
No further excuses were possible. With the pledge document revealed, there was no escape route.
His grand ambition to soar to the heavens came crashing down, all exposed before the world.
Like Icarus’s melting wings, the reputation he had built over a lifetime was crumbling. So too was his throne.
‘I cannot fall like this. Not I, Hoakin Claudio!’
Realizing he was cornered, the Regent’s face transformed into that of a demon. The man’s grip tightened on his sword.
“Aah, Your Majesty the Queen Mother!”
Suddenly, Lady Pinatelli’s scream rang out.
The Regent had kicked the lady aside and pressed his sword to the Queen Mother’s throat.
No matter how cornered he was, no one had expected him to threaten his own mother, so the Queen Mother was subdued in an instant.
“Since Mother has turned away from me, this son has no choice.”
Following his lead, the knights of House Claudio subdued the Queen Mother’s guards and soldiers.
Simultaneously, the Regent’s hidden private soldiers appeared and aimed at the people from behind.
“Regent! What is the meaning of this?!”
“Hoakin, how could you truly, wearing human skin, do such…”
The Queen Mother could not believe that her own son was pointing a sword at her throat.
Her vision spun. If she hadn’t desperately held onto consciousness, she would have already fainted.
However, the Regent paid no attention to his suffering mother.
His bloodshot eyes glared at the assembly as he barked at his faction.
“What are you all doing! Do you intend to end it like this?”
The nobles of the Regent’s faction came to their senses and drew their swords to threaten those around them.
“Move one more step and we’ll cut your throats. Stay still as mice.”
“You bastards…!”
Count Montega tried to rise from his seat but was stopped by the Regent’s knights.
“Move a single finger, and not only the Queen Mother but all of you will die here.”
The Regent spoke while pressing his sharp blade against his mother’s throat.
“Do you think it will end once those rebels out there disappear? My private soldiers are waiting everywhere. With one gesture from me, this royal palace will be reduced to ashes.”
Yes, what did it matter to wear the mask of a hero.
As long as he could sit on the throne, the process could be covered up and suppressed.
Why should he give up? Why should he fall here?
The sky was so clear, and his ambition still blazed brilliantly. He could not let it fade without even having a chance to shine.
‘If it won’t come to me, I’ll just seize it myself!’
The Regent pulled out a scroll from his chest and threw it to Medeia.
“Stamp your seal, Medeia.”
“What is this?”
Medeia remained calm even amid the gleaming blade.
“Your nature is truly sinister, asking for an answer when you already know.”
Detestable thing. Just thinking about being fooled by that innocent face made his blood boil.
The Regent ground his teeth.
“It’s an abdication document transferring Valdina’s throne to me, Hoakin Claudio. Since the royal palace faces national crisis from the rebels, you’re asking for my help.”
According to the original plan, it was a document he intended to have her stamp after rescuing the kidnapped Medeia from the rebels’ hands.
“No, Medeia. You must not yield to this bastard’s threats. I don’t have long to live anyway!”
The Queen Mother screamed.
Even if forced, once Hoakin ascended to the throne with that abdication document, where would all the resentment go?
He intended to make Medeia bear all the blame for his rebellion. She trembled with rage at her son’s petty scheme.
“Mother, please…!”
The Regent ground his teeth as he threatened his own mother.
“Keep your mouth shut. Can’t you see I’m barely… holding back?”
Now the Regent’s patience had run out. He had no intention of hesitating any longer.
“Now, Medeia. Take out your seal.”
The moment Medeia stamped the royal seal on the abdication document as the King’s representative, she would become the Regent’s accomplice.
Even if Peleus returned later to reclaim the throne, he would have to punish Medeia as well.
She would ascend the execution platform with him as a collaborator in rebellion – could that boy who cherished his sister so dearly really do such a thing?
‘Absolutely not. As long as Medeia lives, that bastard’s leash will forever be in my hands.’
Medeia nonchalantly bent down and picked up the scroll.
No trace of panic could be read on her indifferent face. She simply uttered one calm statement.
“You’ve finally shown your true colors, Uncle. What wasted years. Only now do I recognize your real face.”
“Shut up and just stamp it!”
The Regent shouted furiously.
The face of that girl who still didn’t bat an eye filled him with resentment.
Samon wiped the pallor from his face and approached Medeia.
He knelt down, pretending to be an affectionate brother as he unrolled the abdication document.
If this girl had pretended to be an idiot, he too could put on any amount of pretense.
“Medeia, the truth is we only need your hand with the seal on it. If you keep being stubborn like this, we’ll have no choice but to cut off your hand and take it.”
Though he spoke soothingly, the content was cruel.
“We’re family, so let’s not spill each other’s blood. Aren’t you worried about how heartbroken Peleus would be to see your hands stained?”
Medeia’s lips curved up slightly.
“Samon, do you have time to worry about me? Shouldn’t you be more concerned about your sister who’s been abandoned all alone over there?”
And she looked down at Samon’s petty eyes.
“Why are you still here instead of saving poor Virna?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
