The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 183

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

Part 2, Chapter 30

* * *

A few days later, the day of Saint Augustine’s Continental Festival dawned.

Regardless of nationality, people from across the continent gathered at the Elamouz Strait to witness the Continental Festival.

In the center of the street stood a statue of Saint Augustine decorated with flowers.

People joined hands in a circle around the statue and danced to the music that filled the air.

Flower petals fluttered in the wind, and sweet fragrances filled the air.

People burst into laughter. Joyful melodies could be heard from everywhere without cease.

For now, there was no nationality, no social status. Everyone mingled together and enjoyed the festival.

“Emily! Come in quickly! Let’s dance!”

“I’ll pass.”

Despite her excited friend’s urging, the girl shook her head. Her friend’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you forget that tonight is Saint Augustine’s night? The day when dancing men and women meet their lifelong partners?”

“What’s that? I’ve never heard of it.”

While scolding her for not knowing such a famous story, the girl gladly explained the whole tale for her friend.

“Long ago, there were lovers who couldn’t be together because they were from enemy nations. Eventually, they fled together but became fugitives pursued by both countries.”

“Oh my!”

“But Saint Augustine, taking pity on them, blessed them. And so they lived their entire lives cherishing each other!”

“It sounds like a fairy tale.”

“It’s a true story! Why do you think so many people gathered here today? To receive Saint Augustine’s blessing and meet the love of the century!”

As her friend said, this was a festival ground that transcended nationality and social status.

Giggling laughter continuously burst forth vigorously like fireworks in the sky.

Parthenon Temple.

Meanwhile, the priests from the Holy Kingdom and dignitaries from various countries who had come to the strait were enjoying the Continental Festival atmosphere at the Parthenon Temple.

The Parthenon Temple was located on high ground, a short distance from the palace.

With plains in front and the vast sea behind, it boasted a magnificent natural landscape.

It was positioned to overlook the entire street at a glance.

Moreover, for the Continental Festival, all the windows on both sides had been opened, creating a refreshing sense of openness.

This reflected the Valdina Imperial Court’s intention to enjoy the festival together with the people without creating barriers of social status.

So when people on the street looked up, they could faintly see inside the temple.

The Medeia siblings were presenting the first dance as hosts of the Continental Festival.

Valdina’s young Emperor drew everyone’s attention with his appearance that seemed more noble and devout than usual.

Dressed in an elegant white ceremonial outfit, he looked so much like the leader of the Holy Kingdom delegation that even young priests occasionally glanced at him.

The person in question was completely oblivious, his entire attention focused on his sister before him.

“Dea. I don’t know when you grew up so much. It feels like yesterday when you couldn’t even walk properly on two feet and I had to hold both your hands.”

Peleus could still find traces of the toddling baby in Medeia’s face even now.

“That’s ancient history.”

Medeia whispered with a slight smile at the corner of her lips.

Unlike the women dressed in lovely pastel colors, she still wore a solemn navy blue dress.

Nevertheless, perhaps due to her still youthful features, she still seemed like a fresh young girl.

Even with an expressionless face, even while emanating an unapproachable cold atmosphere, there was an undeniable loveliness about her.

Peleus gently brushed his sister’s cheek, flushed red from the outdoor heat, then glanced beyond the floor at the men waiting to ask Medeia to dance.

After briefly frowning at their impure gazes, he suddenly realized something.

His little sister had already reached an age when marriage proposals would come and go.

“Dea.”

“Yes?”

“Someday you’ll have no choice but to leave my side, but I hope that moment won’t come too soon.”

He quietly murmured after swallowing a sigh. His low voice was almost pleading.

The years he couldn’t watch over her had been too long.

He hadn’t even been able to watch her grow up like this by his side, yet soon he’d have to send her to one of those foolish boys.

“….”

“I’m sorry for making such a selfish request when I left you alone for so long.”

Medeia chuckled at her brother’s voice mixed with worry and dismay.

Peleus was worrying about nothing.

“Well. Will such a day ever come?”

Because in this life, she had no intention of marrying at all. Making the mistake of losing everything once was enough.

‘Someone might say I lack responsibility as a princess, but….’

If her reputation became so bad that she couldn’t even stay in Valdina, she could just leave her inheritance to Peleus’s children and go anywhere.

Having gone through the harsh expedition life, wouldn’t there be somewhere on the continent for her to stay?

Meanwhile, the music ended.

“Your Majesty!”

Peleus grimaced upon spotting High Priest Paulo striding toward them.

His booming voice spread across the floor.

His swiftness showed his determination not to yield his turn to anyone else, having waited only for the Medeia siblings’ dance to end.

“Please share the next dance with our Saint. The Goddess would surely find the sacred alliance between the Temple and Valdina beautiful!”

Behind him stood Rachel demurely. Her face was tinged with a shy blush.

Medeia inwardly admired their courage.

‘Great powers are quite similar indeed.’

The Holy Kingdom’s shamelessness in acting as if they’d forgotten all previous conflicts for their goals was no different from Kazen.

But High Priest Paulo still seemed oblivious.

The young Emperor of Valdina was not the type to be swayed by his pushy atmosphere,

And he was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to slap the Holy Kingdom’s face, regardless of how many people were watching.

“Now, everyone is waiting. Originally, our Saint should have had the first dance too, but she graciously yielded to honor the siblings’ close bond. So now we must properly restore the order—”

“Unfortunately, that will be difficult due to preparations I must make shortly.”

A calm voice of rejection rang out.

The refusal was swift, as if he wouldn’t consider it for even a moment.

“The music is short and doesn’t take much time. Your Majesty, this is an opportunity to display the harmony between the Holy Kingdom and Valdina.”

“If that’s the case, it doesn’t necessarily have to be me. Diangel, escort the Saint in my place.”

Paulo’s face turned red and blue.

‘That, that insolent…!’

Did that green boy not even know who made it possible for the Continental Festival to be held here?

They had even overlooked the vulgar dancing in their sacred temple?

Paulo felt deeply insulted, as if he himself had been rejected rather than Rachel.

“If His Holiness learns that Valdina’s Emperor treated the Goddess’s representative with such contempt, he won’t be pleased. Wouldn’t this momentary petulance cause too great a loss for Valdina to bear?”

Peleus stopped walking. Then he slowly turned around.

“Petulance….”

The face looking down at the High Priest clearly showed that he had been maintaining courtesy, at least consciously, until now.

“High Priest, you seem to be mistaken about which land you’re standing on.”

His cold voice pointed out the High Priest’s behavior.

A murderous aura emanated from the young Emperor, more intense than what the Temple Knights had felt when facing the Masu.

“….”

A bone-chilling pressure. The lively festival atmosphere instantly turned cold.

“I, I was merely….”

Paulo flinched and stepped backward.

Though the Emperor held nothing in his hands, for a moment Paulo had the illusion that he was holding a great sword.

Only then did he truly understand the infamous title of ‘Slaughterer’ that had been given to Peleus.

The rumors that the blood of plains warriors who had died by those hands over ten years could form a river were not false.

“I was concerned about public perception. For the reputation of both countries, especially Valdina. His Holiness urgently instructed me—”

“So you’re saying this is His Holiness the Pope’s will?”

Peleus snorted mockingly.

“How strange. If His Holiness truly thought that way, why would he send the Saint here again?”

Blue eyes turned toward Rachel, indifferent yet coldly calculating.

“Surely he knows what she did in Valdina last time?”

That clearly referred to the incident the Saint had caused in Valdina.

“Th-that is…”

“What? What do you mean by ‘what she did’? What did the Saint do?”

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