The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 160

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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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Part 2, Chapter 7

Rachel’s arm that Diangel had grabbed was turning red.

“I’m sorry, Miss Rachel.”

Diangel apologized while frowning. He seemed a bit startled.

“Could it be that the injury you received from the ghoul back then still hasn’t healed?”

It had been several weeks since Rachel injured her arm in the ghoul attack.

‘It’s already been several weeks since the Saint injured her arm in the attack… and the wound still hasn’t completely healed?’

King Peleus and the Agema were almost finishing their recovery after receiving Rachel’s divine power, yet the healing of Rachel herself, who was the source of that divine power, was slow.

“Divine power doesn’t work on my own body. So… I have no choice but to rely on medicine or my natural healing ability.”

Rachel drooped her eyebrows and showed a melancholy smile.

“The Goddess gave me the ability to help countless people, and if the price for that is merely that my own body’s wounds don’t heal, I can only be grateful.”

Her warm voice and genuinely grateful, humble attitude made it clear why the Goddess had chosen a girl from a remote countryside village to be the Saint.

“Even so, we can’t just leave the wound like this. Why didn’t you speak up earlier? If you had, we would have called a court physician to treat the wound.”

If the Saint was injured, Valdina had to take responsibility for it. It was a sensitive matter, so Diangel’s brow furrowed.

“The healing speed is slow anyway, and since it’s in a private area, I couldn’t show it carelessly. Besides, if word spread that the divine representative was injured, wouldn’t morale drop? So only His Majesty knows about it, and he personally bandaged it for me.”

She lowered her eyes as if embarrassed.

Only then did Diangel realize that she was a woman of marriageable age and awkwardly stepped back. He could understand her circumstances of not being able to expose her body carelessly.

“Actually, that’s why I came to see His Majesty today. Since I can’t easily tell others about it…”

Rachel glanced at Peleus.

Her flushed cheeks gave the impression that the secret shared between her and the King was not just about a simple injury.

But unfortunately, Peleus was the type of man who neither knew nor cared to know about such subtle romantic advances from the opposite sex.

“Court Physician Hertoss is tight-lipped. Miss Rachel doesn’t need to worry about rumors spreading.”

Without any change in expression, he offered a solution to Rachel’s excuse-laden purpose.

“B-but, Your Majesty. You don’t know how fatal reputation can be to a woman’s life. Moreover, since I must enter the temple soon, it’s an even more sensitive matter. Your Majesty, please forgive me. The only one I can trust here is Your Majesty…”

Rachel, blinking with tear-filled eyelashes, looked extremely pitiful.

It was natural for her, who had lost her entire family to ghouls, to have blind faith in Peleus who had suppressed the Wave.

It wasn’t strange either that she couldn’t adapt to the unfamiliar palace environment and lingered near him, who was somewhat familiar.

‘But it won’t do since His Majesty seems displeased. However, we can’t just leave the wound as it is…’

Diangel found himself in a bit of a difficult situation, understanding both sides.

“Then I’ll help you.”

At that moment, Medeia, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke.

Rachel hesitated. She seemed surprised by the unexpected offer, yet also flustered.

“Why, surely you don’t distrust me, the sister of your brother?”

“N-no. Of course not.”

Rachel reflexively shook her head at Medeia’s pointed question.

“It’s just… my wound is dirty with blood and filth. If someone as noble as Your Highness the Princess sees the wound, you’ll be shocked.”

“Hardly. Have you forgotten that Valdina has been at war all this time? I’m used to things like bandaging wounds. Come here.”

Without waiting for Rachel’s answer, Medeia pulled her arm.

“Miss Rachel, our Princess is braver and wiser than knights, so you need not worry at all.”

Diangel, who had been uncomfortable about possibly damaging the young woman’s reputation through his carelessness, was grateful and pleased by Medeia’s words.

‘Her Highness the Princess will step forward for His Majesty’s sake, regardless of her own thoughts.’

“Then I’ll ask Your Highness to help.”

“It’s f-fine, but…”

Medeia led Rachel toward the small side room attached to the office.

“…”

Peleus quietly watched the retreating figure of his sister leading the Saint away.

* * *

The small room where the King took brief rests while handling affairs was a windowless secret chamber.

Click.

The door closed.

Only Medeia and Rachel were in the room.

“I-I spoke carelessly. I’m ashamed to show such an unseemly sight to Your Highness the Princess. So I’ll take care of the treatment later by myself-”

Rachel felt awkward about being alone in this situation and tried to leave somehow. But the Princess paid no heed.

“Unwrap the wound. I need to apply medicine and bandage it.”

“It will be unsightly to look at…”

“…”

Unable to withstand the pressure of silence, Rachel had no choice but to unwrap the bandage.

Her claim of being attacked by ghouls was not a lie.

A hideous wound that looked like flesh had been gouged out by claws was revealed.

Medeia stared at Rachel quietly.

“My. The wound is quite deep. It must have hurt a lot.”

Despite her gentle voice, no emotion could be read in her green eyes.

Rachel was startled by the emotionless gaze that seemed to appraise her like a piece of meat and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“…”

Facing Rachel’s innocent face, far from any malice, a forgotten dark memory bloomed in Medeia’s heart.

“Mother. I don’t want to go to the Imperial Palace. Can’t I stay by your side?”

“I need to stay by Father’s side to protect Mother and Lea, right? Yes, then I’ll go.”

He was only seven years old, such a tender age.

Lian, who had been far too mature.

Because even his death had been so one-sided, Medeia sometimes imagined her son’s final moments as he died in the Imperial Palace after drinking poison.

Lian, you must have looked for your foolish mother.

Did you writhe your small body and cry out in terror?

How desperately I wished that you had at least died without too much pain.

“…”

As if she could hear her son’s final breath, Medeia’s body trembled.

Flames suddenly blazed in her calm eyes.

Under her invisible sleeves, the pain of nails digging in cleared away the fog of the past.

Medeia stared at the beautiful woman before her again.

Rachel. In this life, she hadn’t done anything yet.

But she was too dangerous a person to just let pass.

She had stolen Medeia’s position and achievements without shedding a drop of blood.

‘Even after poisoning Lian, she gained people’s sympathy as an Empress who bore false accusations.’

She was one who wore sheep’s clothing while hunting like a snake. If one let their guard down for a moment, they would find themselves tightly coiled in her embrace.

So when the opportunity came, she had to be dealt with.

‘Peleus and Diangel are behind this door.’

It would be difficult to eliminate Rachel without them noticing.

But even if she couldn’t persuade them, as long as this was Valdina, Medeia was confident she could somehow smooth over the situation.

Her green eyes, having finished her brief contemplation, sank coldly.

It was when Medeia was adjusting her grip on the sharp dagger’s handle under her sleeve.

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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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