The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 218

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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 65

“You said it on purpose! You knew everything, and you wanted to mock me, you despicable— Aaah!”

Virna raised her hand with all her strength.

However, before she could even rush at Medeia, Neryl grabbed her arm and threw her down. Wet mud splattered across Virna’s face, making a mess of it.

“You won’t believe this, but I care for you more than you think. Even though you act so insolently, all your limbs are still intact, aren’t they?”

Medeia lowered her head to meet Virna’s eyes.

Virna trembled, her shoulders shaking.

“…”

“Rather than Aunt, who shares not a drop of blood with me, I find myself caring about you, Uncle’s daughter. I suppose the power of blood ties truly cannot be helped.”

Medeia whispered.

“As you know, I cannot openly support my uncle. So I had no choice but to hint at it to you like this.”

Medeia hoped her voice sounded as sweet as Virna’s had in her previous life, but she couldn’t be certain.

In truth, she didn’t have the luxury to feign kindness.

She had buried her homeland’s resentment in her heart and carved her child’s vengeance into her blade.

Since her return, she had to suppress her long-held grudges to resolve the immediate issues at hand, but Medeia had never forgotten them, not even once.

“Sister. The Empress won’t give up until she takes both your and Lea’s lives. You need to evade the Recluses’ attention.”

“Please entrust Lea to me. While you keep them occupied here, I’ll escape with Lea. I’ll protect her as safely as my own life.”

Every single word Virna had spoken to cunningly manipulate Medeia’s actions.

If it hadn’t been for that desperate situation where she was cornered by Jason and Rachel from all sides, she wouldn’t have believed that cunning promise so easily.

‘And I handed Lea over to you with my own hands.’

The vivid sensation of holding that small pouch soaked with the child’s blood still sometimes kept her awake at night.

Medeia, hiding her ruthless anger beneath the surface, leaned toward Virna.

“Now, it’s time to choose. Virna, my dear cousin.”

A cold, white hand lifted Virna’s chin.

“Whose daughter will you remain? Claudio’s daughter, or Catherine’s daughter?”

Would she plot futile revenge for her father who had died and turned to a handful of ash? Or would she secure a comfortable future by her living mother’s side?

If it were Samon, who prioritized efficiency above all, he would choose the latter, but…

Virna was different.

The fact that House of Valdina’s blood flowed through her was both the pride and identity that sustained her.

“Even if you abandon your royal pride and parasitically live in Raju’s shadow, I would understand you completely.”

“…”

“Not everyone can walk the noble path with integrity. That’s also the advantage of being from a branch family.”

It was a sweet voice that stimulated Virna’s inferiority complex and turned her burning insides upside down.

“Goodbye, Virna. Next time I’ll see you as Raju’s daughter.”

Make sure to learn proper etiquette by then.

Seeing fire spark in Virna’s eyes, filled with stubborn pride, Medeia smiled.

The prey had fallen into the trap.

* * *

Elamouz Strait, Raju’s Estate in District B.

“Miss Virna! What brings you here without notice?”

Seeing Virna appear at the estate, Raju’s secretary brightened with joy.

He had just returned from visiting his master, who was confined in prison.

His master had said he would soon be sent back to Kazen and ordered him to organize the assets in the strait and prepare to leave.

“And clean up the Count’s Manor in the capital as well. From now on, Catherine and Virna will be staying there.”

The secretary had been bewildered.

‘Has master forgotten what he did?’

Who would want to see their parent’s killer again?

The fact that she hadn’t visited this place again since that day when a maid from House of Claudio had urgently come to fetch Virna proved this point.

While he thought his master was being overly optimistic, he also felt somewhat sorry that their long-standing relationship would end like this.

Raju had been devoted to Virna as if she were his own daughter.

And now, in the midst of all this, she had come to visit the Count’s mansion again.

It was nothing short of a signal for reconciliation.

“I just stopped by. Is that alright? After the funeral ended, I felt rather melancholy.”

“Of course. I completely understand. Please come anytime and stay as long as you like.”

The secretary enthusiastically agreed with Virna’s words. It seemed the money and devotion his master had poured out all this time hadn’t been completely useless.

“I was worried about you, miss, so I’m so relieved to see you like this. Shall I have the kitchen prepare a meal? Should I call a theater troupe to lift your spirits?”

“No. Everything… is fine. I just want to be alone quietly, so don’t send anyone up.”

Virna shook her head and headed toward her room.

She had brought only one maid with her.

Red eyes. Bitten lips. Even the crumpled handkerchief clutched in her hand. She clearly showed signs of still enduring grief.

“Of course, I’ll inform the children as well. So you can rest comfortably, miss.”

The secretary nodded enthusiastically and escorted Virna to her room.

“Then, miss. Please call for me anytime.”

As soon as the secretary left, Virna’s tired and weary expression completely changed.

“Disgusting!”

She grabbed a letter opener and began stabbing the pillow frantically.

Thud, thud.

The metal pierced into the soft cotton, muffling the sound.

“Haa… Stay here. If anyone comes, tell them I’m sleeping.”

After quietly venting her anger, Virna instructed her maid.

As if she had been waiting, she left the room and immediately headed to the third floor.

Creak.

And she entered Raju’s private chamber, which was off-limits.

Since she had been there once before, her steps showed no hesitation.

Virna immediately searched through Raju’s desk.

The seemingly simple mahogany desk had hidden drawers positioned throughout.

Before long, a black safe located in the deepest center revealed itself.

Virna reached out her hand. A sharp pain shot through her fingertip.

And simultaneously, click, the safe’s door opened.

This time she could understand. At least that this pain was the medium for opening the safe’s door.

Virna picked up the black book inside the safe.

Beneath the black book lay a pile of parchment papers.

She hadn’t noticed this last time due to the shock of discovering that this book was the Former Emperor’s secret ledger.

[My beloved Robi. Even if the world doesn’t allow us, never forget that my heart is always with you.

-Your Cat.]

When she discovered her mother’s handwriting on the old parchment with dried ink and curled edges, Virna crumpled the letter violently.

“Haa, how could they go this far…!”

Before visiting this estate, after finishing the funeral, Virna had tracked down her mother, who had left hastily without even waiting for her daughter who had run out in anger.

And she had witnessed it with her own eyes.

Her mother visiting Raju. The two people clinging together through the bars of the isolated prison, having even dismissed other people.

“The two of them are lovers.”

So Medeia’s words were true.

That her mother and godfather had been deceiving her and her deceased father for such a long time!

“I’ll kill them… Absolutely… I won’t let this slide.”

Her index finger ached terribly. Virna sucked and swallowed the black drop of blood that formed on her pricked fingertip.

Even if that bastard Raju had applied poison here due to his vicious nature, it wouldn’t stop her.

* * *

“Miss, are you leaving already? I told the chef to prepare a meal, so please have dinner before you go.”

Seeing Virna trying to leave the estate before even half a day had passed, the secretary looked disappointed.

“There are people watching, and it would be better for me to return early today.”

“Ah. That’s… true… You’ll come find me again, won’t you?”

“…”

“Miss, forgive my boldness, but the master truly cherishes you. I know this isn’t the right time to say such things, but…”

At the maid’s carefully offered words, Virna nodded her head.

“…Of course. I know that my godfather cherished me and devoted himself to me. Don’t worry. I too will never forget and will surely repay him.”

Virna’s unwavering eyes gleamed with a strange light.

Inside the carriage returning home. Virna handed the black book she had stolen from Raju’s secret chamber to her maid.

“Give this to Samon… No. Samon won’t do.”

This ledger is Raju’s inexhaustible source of money.

Moreover, it’s connected to the smuggling business that’s the family’s only lifeline.

Her calculating brother would think about how to line his own pockets with this ledger rather than avenge their father.

“…Turn the carriage around. We’re going to the Kazen delegation’s quarters.”

The Head Servant himself had returned to Kazen, but he had left a couple of his men behind at the strait under the pretext of monitoring the delegation.

But in reality, it was to watch over Raju, his subordinate, while Jason was summoned to the Empire.

She had once heard Raju complain in passing about that persistent old man.

“Miss. The delegation is currently under detention, so wouldn’t it be too conspicuous if you went there yourself?”

The accompanying maid spoke up cautiously.

“Moreover, everyone knows well that you’re the master’s daughter… It might draw too much attention…”

Right. I can’t carelessly reveal that I’m trying to expose Raju.

Virna bit her lip, realizing the maid’s point was valid.

“Rather, if you have something to convey, I’ll quietly go myself. I’m confident I won’t be caught by the guards.”

“Come to think of it, you came to get me that time.”

She had already proven her loyalty by trying to inform me of father’s death first, avoiding mother who wanted to cover up the incident.

“Good. Among the delegation, there should be people wearing clothes embroidered with red roses.”

The red rose is a symbol given only to those who serve the Emperor closely.

In other words, it meant they were the Head Servant’s people.

“Give this to them. I’ll watch from here, so go and come back right away.”

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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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