The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 189
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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 36
“There’s no need for you to dirty your precious hands. Especially on a day that will be remembered as a joyous occasion for Valdina, and in this place of all places?”
Light wrinkles formed between his handsome brows, as if he couldn’t understand.
His tone suggested he knew Medeia had just tried to kill her cousin, and even if that were the case, it was of no concern to him whatsoever.
“When there are those waiting who would gladly thrust their blade forward at just a word from you, why not make use of them?”
Rather, his tone suggested that Medeia’s attempt to handle him personally had displeased the 1st Prince.
His bold lips still didn’t hide his disapproving expression.
Apart from her surprise, Medeia recognized that his point was valid. At Valdina’s imperial proclamation ceremony, at the once-in-a-lifetime joy of the Continental Conference, she had almost spilled that worthless man’s blood.
It was just surprising and awkward that she was having this conversation with Chezare, the 1st Prince who was Jason’s blood relative.
Though this was the first time facing him at this proclamation ceremony, Medeia knew quite well the essence of Kazen’s 1st Prince Chezare.
No, she thought she knew.
One born to conquer and rule.
One who climbs to the peak and looks down. Therefore, one who stood on a parallel line that would never intersect with her own.
“Your Highness, even the finest sword will rust if not used.”
“Your Highness is too generous a title. Please refrain from such excessive formality.”
If Perdickas II heard his son treating the enemy nation’s—no less than Valdina’s—Princess with such courtesy, he would probably fly into a rage.
The gentle attitude, which seemed impossible to believe came from the same man who had mercilessly pressured Jason earlier, kept defying her expectations.
‘Was he that grateful for being freed from his terminal condition?’
However, Medeia knew.
She knew that just because she had become the 1st Prince’s savior, she shouldn’t accept this kindness he was offering without reservation.
The moment she let her guard down, he would bite her throat. Just as countless big shots had fallen before him.
“…I am deeply grateful for the goodwill the 1st Prince has shown me.”
Medeia pretended not to notice and bowed her head slightly in greeting. Burying the matters that had transpired between her and the 1st Prince publicly.
Though she understood his point, this meant that the help she had received was sufficient up to this point.
This was the line she was drawing, and also the boundary that needed to be established between Valdina and Kazen.
The 1st Prince seemed to understand this meaning as well, as he hesitated.
How would he react? Would he be angry that she had ignored his goodwill, or would he try to demand something new?
Their eyes met.
The 1st Prince’s golden eyes seemed like a brilliant sun, or like the whirlpool of a demon that would devour everything.
Then, a sound like air escaping leaked from between his well-shaped lips.
Only when his eyes narrowed into a round shape did Medeia realize that the 1st Prince was laughing.
“Your Highness need not fear me. Just think about how to wield this new weapon you’ve grasped.”
“…”
“Though you probably won’t believe me even if I say this.”
He left his seat with flawless courtesy.
Though it was a light farewell, the lingering impression he left was not so light.
His presence had completely pushed away all traces Jason had left behind.
Medeia swallowed a sigh.
‘What kind of… person is Kazen’s 1st Prince really?’
She felt as if all her judgments about the figure known as Chezare Dwaisler Kazen, whom she had heard so much about in her past life, were being overturned.
* * *
The basement of the temple.
“Where exactly is the problem supposed to be?”
Samon frowned as he looked around.
The explosives that had been installed looked perfectly fine, at least to his naked eye.
“I’m sorry. The device definitely wasn’t working…”
Suha scratched his head.
Smack!
“You pathetic fool, calling me here for something like this on a day like today? Should I cut off your head and mount it as decoration?!”
“I’m sorry, master.”
Samon passed by Suha, who was holding his cheek and bowing his head. Dong. Dong. Heavy bell sounds could be heard from afar.
“That’s enough, let’s go. If we delay any longer, we’ll get caught up in this too.”
“…”
Samon turned around. But there was no sound of footsteps following.
“What are you doing, aren’t you com… Gah?!”
As he was about to snap irritably, thwack! Pain so intense it made his vision go white struck his back.
“You, you bastard… Guh”
Why? How? He tried to ask Suha.
But thwack, once more the pain that crashed down silenced Samon.
‘No, no…’
This place would soon become a site of disaster. If he stayed here, he would die in agony without leaving even bones behind.
But Samon’s weak body betrayed his reason and gradually grew dimmer.
“…”
Without saying a single word, Suha passed by him as he lay face down on the cold basement floor.
Click.
With the metallic sound of the basement door locking as the last thing he heard, Samon lost consciousness.
* * *
Dong. Dong. Dong. The temple bell rang three times.
“Hurry to your places!”
“We’re starting!”
It was time for the ceremony to begin, praying for the success of the Continental Conference. The Continental Conference was a festival, but it was also a week of prayer honoring the saints.
After this ceremony, prayers to Saint Augustine would continue day and night for five days.
For this Continental Conference, Peleus, who had taken charge of the ceremony in place of the Pope, ascended the altar.
Instead of an emperor’s crown, he wore a laurel wreath on his head, and dressed in white ceremonial robes, he looked exactly like a member of the Holy Kingdom.
“O God, let names rise from your fountain, and guard our journey from death to life, from darkness to your wondrous light.”
Blue holy water trickled from the silver cup he tilted, moistening the flowers decorating the Continental Conference.
“Guard us!”
“Guard us!”
People shouted in unison.
His disciplined movements and silver hair reflecting the light, his noble features in white vestments had something that stirred people’s faith.
High Priest Paulo grimaced at the ceremony being conducted more zealously than by the Holy Kingdom’s priests.
“Why… does it feel like watching His Holiness the Pope?”
“Hey, you. Stop saying useless things and pray quickly! You’ll chase away all the good energy!”
While the festival atmosphere was still in full swing inside the temple.
Whoosh-!
“What, what is that?!”
Flames suddenly burst forth from the pillars supporting the temple.
“What are those flames… isn’t that smoke coming from over there?”
As people looked around in confusion, someone with sharp eyes muttered.
“Smoke?”
At that moment, bang-! An explosion sounded from behind the altar.
“Your Majesty!”
“Protect His Majesty!”
The Agema rushed toward Peleus. Only then did people realize the seriousness of the situation.
Then again, boom-! Bang-!
As if urging them on, explosion sounds were heard consecutively from all over the temple.
“Get away! Get out! Get outside!”
“Kyaaaah-!”
“Ahhh!”
The people in the hall began running toward the entrance in panic, rushing outside all at once.
They were desperate to escape from the falling debris.
But Medeia didn’t move from her spot as if nailed down. Her green eyes quickly swept over the rapidly collapsing altar.
‘Where is Samon?’
Don’t tell me he ran away?
Her smooth forehead furrowed. There was still a little time left before the final explosion that would collapse the interior.
‘I need to make sure.’
Medeia gripped the arrow in her sleeve. If the plan failed, she intended to deal with him right here before leaving.
The fact that the explosion’s aftermath would affect her as well didn’t matter to Medeia.
She was confident she could eliminate Samon and get herself out before the final explosion.
‘Even if I get hurt a little, that wouldn’t be bad either.’
If it was an incident where even the Princess was harmed, no one would dare suspect Valdina as the culprit.
Medeia’s green eyes darkened like a hunter preparing for the hunt.
‘Samon. You must fall here without fail.’
She had to break the most dangerous and only unifying force leading the current Claudio Family.
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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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