The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 158

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Part 2, Chapter 5

 

As if unaware of the cooled atmosphere, Medeia continued speaking leisurely.

 

“But don’t worry. If you’re His Majesty’s benefactor regardless of your origins, then you’re my benefactor too. Until word comes from the Holy Kingdom, think of this palace as your home and stay comfortably. Neryl.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“Please assign this woman to the Cottage House.”

 

The Cottage House was a splendid annex where Prince Claudio and his mother had once stayed. But it wasn’t a palace.

 

Diangel blinked. This meant the Princess would clearly treat the Saint as a foreigner.

 

It even meant she didn’t trust the Saint. The Cottage House had been the space of traitors who had turned the kingdom upside down.

 

“Ah, Your Highness. His Majesty’s purification treatment isn’t finished yet. To completely drive out the dark magic, I need to be close by…”

 

Then, Rachel suddenly spoke up. She drooped her eyebrows and looked at Diangel with a troubled expression.

 

“Your Majesty, Miss Rachel is right. The purification must be completely finished before Your Majesty can move around without strain.”

 

Diangel supported her words. Rachel’s point seemed very reasonable. Her eyes held only pure concern for Peleus.

 

However, Medeia immediately saw through her purpose. How long had she competed back and forth with Rachel when she became Empress?

 

If someone saw the hatred Medeia held for this woman, they might ridiculously call it affection. She knew Rachel almost intimately, like a lover.

 

Her thoughts and attitudes, even the goals that Rachel’s every move subtly revealed.

 

‘You… you’re targeting Peleus.’

 

For whatever reason, her trajectory that had been aimed at Jason in her past life was now directed at Peleus. The Central Palace where he stayed was also the Emperor’s personal space.

 

“The purification is done. I’ll leave the rest to the priests in the palace.”

 

Peleus answered indifferently. The reunion with his sister whom he hadn’t seen for months was more important to him.

 

There was no reason to waste more time on such trivial matters as the Saint’s arrangements.

 

“B-but-”

 

“Saya, escort our benefactor. Make sure she lacks nothing.”

 

Medeia nodded like a benevolent host. But the essence was clearly a command.

 

“Yes, Your Highness! I’ll do my best!”

 

Saya clenched her small fists beside her and shouted spiritedly. The Princess’s young maid, who had grown about a span in three years, radiated vigor and sincerity. The Agemas burst into laughter.

 

“The Cottage House is close to the court physician, so Miss Rachel will be able to see His Majesty comfortably.”

 

With this, Rachel had no choice but to nod, unable to find any more room for argument.

 

“Thank… you.”

 

“…”

 

Medeia quietly looked down at her.

 

A silent pressure was felt, as if waiting for something. The maid standing beside Rachel also remained motionless.

 

‘What are they waiting for?’

 

Soon, Rachel realized the Princess was waiting for a greeting. Her smiling lips stiffened as they were.

 

I have certainly awakened holy power. But that doesn’t change my commoner status right now.

 

Since the priests from the Holy Kingdom haven’t arrived yet, I must certainly show respect to the Princess as a Valdinian. Even if it’s just a superficial courtesy.

 

Rachel slowly bent at the waist and offered another greeting.

 

While imagining the indifferent and arrogant Princess’s face gradually crumbling.

 

“Once again, thank you for Your Highness’s kind consideration…”

 

“By all means.”

 

Only then did an answer close to a dismissal fall.

 

Pretending not to know the rising humiliation, Rachel smiled. So when she raised her head, only the face of a completely gentle and graceful woman remained.

 

“Dea, let’s go. I have something to show you.”

 

Peleus took his sister and left first.

 

Rachel watched his departing back resentfully as he turned away without lingering, then was led away by Saya’s hand.

 

“Miss Rachel, please come this way.”

 

“Then Sir Diangel, see you again.”

 

Two people remained in the courtyard: Neryl and Diangel. Diangel scratched his head.

 

“Her Highness the Princess seems a bit sharp today.”

 

He was a little surprised to see the Princess deliberately pressure the Saint to make her bow earlier.

 

“She’s always been generous to the people, but this is the first time I’ve seen her like this. She seems to dislike Miss Rachel.”

 

“…”

 

“Why is that? Neryl, what do you think?”

 

“Captain, aren’t you being overly favorable toward that woman?”

 

Neryl pointed out.

 

“Neryl, you should have seen that scene then. How desperate she was, not caring that she was being poisoned herself.”

 

“Is that really all there is to it? From what I see, you seem to keep trying to pair the Saint with His Majesty.”

 

Struck to the core by Neryl’s sharp observation, Diangel ended up confessing.

 

“No, I just… along with the treatment, I wondered if Miss Rachel and His Majesty might make a good match. What a fateful meeting this is? Besides, we could receive aid from the Holy Kingdom through the Saint.”

 

Thinking about it, Diangel protested in a slightly louder voice as if feeling a bit wronged.

 

“His Majesty is at the prime age to enjoy his youth, isn’t he? He can’t remain alone like that forever.”

 

Moreover, once Valdina is elevated to an empire, Peleus will become not a king but an emperor. His position beside him, the Empress’s seat, cannot remain vacant forever.

 

Diangel scratched his head.

 

“But Her Highness the Princess doesn’t seem to like the Saint at all, so this is problematic in its own way…”

 

“You’re worrying about useless things. Is judgment necessary?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“His Majesty will make the judgment, and we’ll simply accept it. He’s a rational person, so there must be a reason, and even if there isn’t.”

 

Neryl answered indifferently.

 

“I support His Majesty’s intentions.”

 

If there’s no reason, she’ll create one. That attitude was almost like blind worship toward a god.

 

She looked at Rachel’s retreating figure in the distance. The golden hair swaying in the wind behind her slender shoulders sparkled even more in the sunlight, looking like a pile of gold.

 

She now knew that beautiful and luscious things sometimes harbor incomparable stench within.

 

“Captain, did that woman really drive away the ghoul pack?”

 

A strange woman who suddenly fell before the King, manifesting as a Saint and driving away the demonic beasts.

 

“I saw it with my own eyes. Why, does it seem fake?”

 

“It’s just too coincidental.”

 

Neryl frowned.

 

From her entrance to her attitude and manner of speaking. If I feel something alien in all of the Saint’s actions, am I being too sensitive?

 

* * *

 

Three days had passed since the King and Agemas returned.

 

The urgent return journey had been roughly sorted out. Those urgently needing ghoul purification were moved to the chapel, and those requiring urgent treatment for injuries were moved to the court physician.

 

Meanwhile, Peleus refused both the court physician and priests and immediately shut himself in the Central Palace.

 

While her brother was busy handling the accumulated government affairs, Medeia also spent busy days for her own reasons.

 

“Your Highness, we confirmed she’s from Orphio.”

 

Kensington reported.

 

“She lived with her parents, but lost both parents to an epidemic a few years ago and lived alone. She’s a native who never left the plains until this Wave.”

 

“…”

 

‘Never left the plains…’

 

Medeia’s white hand quietly tapped the desk. Rachel’s life that the Red Foxes found was ordinary.

 

“She quickly won the palace servants’ favor. She’s well-regarded for sharing her holy power generously regardless of status. Word of the Saint’s good deeds is spreading throughout the royal palace.”

 

Kensington also reported on Rachel’s current situation staying at the Cottage House.

 

‘Not much different from her past life.’

 

She would soon win people’s hearts. The expedition, the imperial family, even the empire’s citizens’ love. Just as she had established herself in Kazen in her past life.

 

“…”

 

The white hand tapping the table slowed.

 

“Did Your Highness assign the investigation to me because you suspect that woman called the Saint is hiding something?”

 

“Well.”

 

The Princess gave no clear answer.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Sir.”

 

“Anytime. Then Your Highness, please rest comfortably.”

 

Noticing the coolness reflected in her indifferent face, Kensington quietly withdrew.

 

“…Rachel. What should I do with you.”

 

Left alone in the room, Medeia murmured quietly.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————