The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 142

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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 142

 

“Princess, I am merely conveying the facts as they are, without any personal opinion.”

 

“Your Highness, please give us guidance. What should we do?”

 

The Princess had prepared and responded to both the war on the plains and the Regent’s rebellion one step ahead.

 

While outsiders praised Peleus’s governance and valor, the leadership present here knew that without the Princess, neither today’s victory nor stability would exist.

 

Therefore, they felt no awkwardness at all seeing Sisear and Diangel asking the young Princess for answers.

 

Medeia knew that Peleus asking for her opinion meant he would support his sister’s decision.

 

“…”

 

Everyone waited for the Princess to speak.

 

“Count Sisear, how long would it take for us to match Kazen’s national power?”

 

However, instead of giving an answer, Medeia asked Sisear.

 

“In the current situation…”

 

Though puzzled, Sisear reflexively gave a faithful answer.

 

“To reorganize national affairs and advance into the plains to stabilize the territory would take at least ten years. This assumes things go well, so including variables, it could take longer.”

 

Ten years. Even considering the current state, it was a short time as a preparation period for Valdina’s new leap forward.

 

But Medeia was not satisfied.

 

She walked to the continental map spread on the table. Everyone held their breath and waited for the Princess’s next move.

 

Her small hand placed a flag piece somewhere on the map.

 

“Your Highness, isn’t this… the Elamuze Strait?”

 

It was a strait with Valdina to the east, Kazen to the west, and connected to the Adean Sea to the south.

 

“What if this came into our hands?”

 

The strait was narrow and small in scale, usually used only as a passage into bays.

 

“…We could advance through the Adean Sea to the open ocean.”

 

But Sisear immediately recognized its value at a glance.

 

Valdina, located in the barren north, would gain a sea route for maritime trade without having to go through the Kazen Empire.

 

Sisear’s eyes widened greatly then immediately grew contemplative.

 

“But the Empire would never give up this strait. They know it would be geographically advantageous to Valdina…”

 

“At the same time, for Kazen’s Emperor, it’s troublesome land he can’t just leave alone. It’s still a disputed region fighting with the strait’s indigenous people.”

 

Originally, the Elamuze Strait was not Kazen’s land.

 

It was a region forcibly annexed after victory in a conquest war, so the indigenous people of the Elamuze Strait still refused to acknowledge Kazen.

 

“It will just take time, but they will naturally submit to Kazen. What’s important is that the current Emperor doesn’t have that luxury of time.”

 

Medeia pointed out calmly.

 

“The Emperor’s insistence on saving Claudio isn’t just because of his daughter’s pregnancy. It’s because of the symbolism of Claudio’s bloodline. Except for my brother, they are the closest bloodline to Valdina’s throne.”

 

“But Princess, the Regent has already been expelled from the royal family-”

 

“That doesn’t make the symbolism of blood disappear. If he disappears like this, the very possibility of stopping my brother’s royal authority will vanish. As Emperor, he wants to leave some spark behind.”

 

“…”

 

Medeia had accurately read Perdickas II’s inner thoughts.

 

“Then shouldn’t we take this opportunity to eliminate the Regent’s family?”

 

Diangel pointed out with a puzzled face.

 

“Fortunately, we only have two sparks left: Uncle and Samon. Uncle lost his eyes, so even that leaves only Samon.”

 

Medeia had no intention of ending the Regent’s family with the simple result of execution.

 

Her revenge had to be slow, deliberate, and thorough.

 

‘Instant death is too simple. You need to experience the same betrayal and despair I felt.’

 

Having crushed their ambitions, now it was time to break their firm beliefs.

 

“So Kazen’s Emperor will also try to keep him alive somehow.”

 

Medeia knew well of Perdickas II’s obsession with the Philosopher’s Stone.

 

‘His madness began in earnest when the First Prince died. It won’t be different now.’

 

The Emperor’s obsession with Valdina would not fade. Then Valdina had only two choices.

 

‘Submit or resist.’

 

She had no intention of destroying the Empire.

 

But it was necessary to cut off Perdickas II’s hand reaching for the Philosopher’s Stone.

 

‘By releasing the poison called Claudio.’

 

The Emperor would think what he left behind was a spark to burn down Valdina.

 

“We need to exploit that gap. If we can temporarily spare that bastard’s life in exchange for the strait and gain the ability to resist Kazen, it’s an excellent deal for Valdina.”

 

Medeia turned to Sisear.

 

He still looked worried.

 

“But still, to resist Kazen, we’re still lacking-”

 

“What if this was included too?”

 

Medeia placed another flag on the map.

 

“Sardinia…?”

 

Everyone’s eyes widened.

 

“I obtained it from the 4th Princess.”

 

Among the murmuring people, Sisear looked at the Princess.

 

“Please focus all your efforts on getting Duke Castulo out of the royal palace.”

 

So that was what the agreement between the 4th Princess and Medeia was about.

 

‘The Princess never let even the smallest thing slip by carelessly.’

 

At first glance it seemed she had generously let it pass, but over time and looking at the results, she had tenaciously collected every price.

 

He felt both admiration and chills at the Princess’s flawless arrangements.

 

“And most importantly, this is buried here.”

 

Clatter. A small, crude lump of platinum rolled across the table.

 

“This is mith— Mmph!”

 

Diangel was the first to recognize it and started to shout, then hastily covered his mouth with his hand.

 

“Isn’t this mithril?”

 

As if afraid his voice might leak out, muffled sounds came from behind his covered mouth.

 

Medeia nodded.

 

The room instantly fell silent, not even the sound of swallowing could be heard.

 

Even Peleus was speechless, looking down at his sister and the mithril lump that had fallen from her hand.

 

“I already sent people to Sardinia to confirm. Large amounts of mithril are buried beneath the iron mines. Since it’s close to the strait…”

 

Sardinia was located not far from the strait. By boat, it was less than half a day’s journey.

 

“It could be used as a base to control the strait’s indigenous people.”

 

Peleus completed the thought for Medeia. When their eyes met, Medeia smiled softly.

 

“Yes. We could also trade mithril without Kazen knowing.”

 

Medeia asked Sisear once more.

 

“Count Sisear, if we add this mithril? How much time would we need?”

 

Sisear’s eyes trembled with shock as he looked down at the table.

 

His straight fingers continuously wrote something in the air as if calculating invisible numbers.

 

“Three years.”

 

Finally he spoke. His voice was overwhelmingly moved.

 

“Three years will do. It might be a bit challenging, but we can sufficiently build the strength to not fall behind when facing Kazen.”

 

“Good.”

 

Medeia gave her order as if satisfied with that timeframe.

 

“Send a reply to the Emperor. Tell him that if he gives us the strait, we will fully preserve Claudio and the others’ lives.”

 

Medeia’s voice was calm.

 

“And we should also demand reparations from Duke Castulo. Since his crimes are not light, how about reparations equivalent to twenty years of tax revenue from his territory?”

 

“That would be an enormous amount. Would the Emperor really pay it?”

 

Castulo’s territory was large and fertile, even within the Kazen Empire.

 

It was a prime territory the Emperor had reluctantly given, unable to ignore public opinion after usurping his nephew’s throne.

 

‘The Emperor always coveted Jason’s territory, so he won’t miss this opportunity. He’ll try to seize the territory using reparations as an excuse.’

 

“Yes, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to raise it. He’ll soon arrange a method.”

 

Medeia intended to also take away the foundation for Jason’s comeback when he returned to the Empire.

 

The Castulo Estate housed the remnants of the Former Emperor’s forces. Those behind the veil who had supported him and secretly encouraged his dreams of the throne.

 

Once the estate is seized, Jason won’t be able to hide them from the Emperor’s sight forever either.

 

Just how far will Jason be able to climb?

 

“What we need is time. If we can buy three years for Valdina to stand on its own, this won’t be a losing deal.”

 

Medeia looked at Peleus.

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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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