The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 22
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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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Chapter 22
“I apologize. I didn’t know there was a guest here.”
An aide with an urgent expression approached and whispered to Sisear.
The Maid Supervisor had reported the Princess’s secret affair, and the enraged Queen Mother had summoned the Princess to the palace.
Sisear hesitated.
‘The Princess has a lover?’
Moreover, his informant in the Queen Mother’s Palace said that the Maid Supervisor had secretly leaked to them that the partner was Minister Etien of the Palace Ministry.
She intended to expose their relationship publicly before the Queen Mother.
‘Etien, what dirty scheming. Isn’t being the Regent’s right hand enough for you?’
Sisear immediately realized this was a collaboration between the Maid Supervisor and the Minister.
The Maid Supervisor who held a grudge against the Princess and the Minister who craved power. It was the worst combination.
He pressed his throbbing forehead.
The origin of this matter stemmed from the conflict between the Maid Supervisor and the Princess.
If only she would stay quiet if she couldn’t be helpful.
But he couldn’t just leave this alone.
If it was urgent, he had to cover up this incident by force if necessary.
“Sisear, I’m counting on you to take care of Dea.”
He couldn’t ignore the repeated request the King had made before departing.
“Let’s talk another day.”
Sisear announced the end of their conversation without hesitation.
“As you wish.”
“I apologize for making you come for nothing.”
Sisear left his seat unconsciously.
The minimal greeting and hurried steps made it clear that something urgent was happening at the palace.
“Boss, looks like the play has started.”
Watching Sisear’s retreating figure, Garo clasped his hands behind his neck.
“The Maid Supervisor bribed the Princess’s closest aide. I wonder if the Princess can avoid this trap?”
Garo looked toward where Sisear had left with interested eyes.
“Hm? What do you think~”
“Not particularly.”
It was a bored voice.
“Not particularly? Aren’t you curious whether the Princess will survive?”
“If she can’t manage, then that’s as far as she goes.”
“How cold. Boss, don’t you feel any pity for a tender girl struggling alone?”
Pity?
She seemed to have acted quite cleverly so far, but if she showed her back to worthless hyenas aiming for her throat, then that was as far as she’d go.
“If you can’t bite, you shouldn’t have barked.”
“Bite who? In this situation, it looks like the Princess will be the one getting bitten?”
Garo drooped his eyebrows as if feeling sorry.
“We’ll see.”
They’d find out soon enough.
If Valdina’s Princess resembled her homeland, she would have no chance of winning.
* * *
The Queen Mother’s Palace.
The audience stirred at what the Maid Supervisor and Mariyu said in unison.
“There’s evidence?”
“There is a token that Her Highness the Princess exchanged with her lover! An object engraved with the name of the lover to whom Her Highness promised marriage…”
Mariyu recited the information about the evidence without omission while shrinking her shoulders.
“…is in the Princess’s Palace. Her Highness would always look at that token day and night, longing for her lover.”
In conservative Valdina, giving a token of love was only possible between those who had promised marriage.
To that extent? People gaped. It was utterly unbelievable.
Everyone held their breath at the maid’s revelation of the Princess’s scandalous behavior and watched the Queen Mother’s reaction.
“…Then we must verify it directly.”
The Queen Mother commanded in a cold voice.
“Pinatelli.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A tall, thin woman standing beside the platform stepped forward and bowed.
It was Lady Pinatelli.
She was the Queen Mother’s closest confidant who had served by her side for nearly 20 years, and with her calm disposition and integrity, she remained untainted by any temptation, making her the person the Queen Mother trusted most.
“From now on, you will go to the Princess’s Palace and search it thoroughly. If you find the token they speak of, report to me immediately.”
The Queen Mother turned her head to look down at Medeia.
“Do you have any objections?”
“None at all.”
Medeia responded calmly.
Time passed quietly afterward.
The Queen Mother fanned herself to hide her rising anger.
Still, her insides seemed to be boiling as she soon coldly threw down her peacock feather fan.
Catherine kept making eye contact with the Maid Supervisor throughout, desperately trying to read her intentions.
‘Hmph. When your husband tried to kick me out, you should have looked for me as diligently as you are now.’
Lady Quizin turned her body away completely, cutting off Catherine’s efforts at the source.
Once she made the Minister her son-in-law, Catherine would be the one watching her expressions instead.
Gasp! She barely suppressed the laughter that almost burst out at the thrilling thought.
Meanwhile, Virna yawned, bored by the long wait.
‘Ugh, this is really tedious. When is that Pinatelli woman coming back? Did she turn into a slug from old age?’
Still, she was too curious about what would happen to leave her seat.
The others kept their mouths shut and only exchanged glances, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Medeia sat quietly as if she couldn’t see this silent commotion.
She remained in the same position with perfect posture, so still she could have been mistaken for stone.
Everyone waited for Lady Pinatelli to return quickly and break this icy atmosphere.
“The Prime Minister has arrived.”
Just then, an attendant from the Queen Mother’s Palace came and whispered secretly to the Queen Mother. Soon Sisear, having received permission to visit, entered through the door.
“I greet Her Majesty the Queen Mother.”
“Oh, Count Sisear. Come here.”
The Queen Mother’s face brightened considerably, her anger having subsided.
Sisear was a talent of this country that even the late King had cherished.
As a loyal subject who actively assisted her grandson Peleus, there was no reason for the Queen Mother to dislike him.
“What brings you here?”
“I came looking for the Maid Supervisor, but I received word that she was at the Queen Mother’s Palace.”
Sisear answered smoothly.
“Your Majesty, if it’s acceptable, may I take the Maid Supervisor with me?”
He hid his true purpose for coming here.
No matter how favorably the Queen Mother viewed him, she wouldn’t be pleased to discover that he was receiving reports about the inner palace situation.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. Unless it’s important business, it will have to be postponed.”
The Queen Mother immediately refused.
“It’s not urgent, so I’ll follow Your Majesty’s wishes. But what brings Princess Medeia and Lady Claudio here?”
He naturally changed the subject.
The Queen Mother hesitated. She was contemplating whether it would be alright to keep the Prime Minister here.
‘This matter will inevitably become known anyway. Sisear will end up handling it eventually…’
“You’ve come at the right time. Help me judge the severity of this situation. That impudent Medeia…”
After hearing a brief explanation, Sisear accepted the Queen Mother’s request.
The Maid Supervisor tensed at this unexpected variable.
‘Why did the Minister come? Surely he’s not trying to save the Princess?’
The two were famous enemies.
The relationship between the Princess who abused her seal and threw administration into chaos and the Minister who repeatedly blocked her was heading toward catastrophe.
‘Fine. Even if he tries to interfere, once Mariyu’s hidden evidence of Minister Etien comes out, he won’t be able to do anything. Medeia, you’re finished.’
The corner of the Maid Supervisor’s mouth twitched.
Just then, an attendant opened the door.
“Your Majesty Queen Mother, Lady Pinatelli has returned.”
“Oh, come in quickly.”
“Your Majesty. I have completed the task you commanded and returned.”
Lady Pinatelli, who had returned, bowed at the waist.
Maid Supervisor Lady Quizin looked at her with a triumphant expression, chin raised high, as if to say things were going exactly as she had predicted.
“So? Did you find it?”
The Queen Mother asked.
A quiet silence.
Gulp. Only the sound of someone swallowing echoed in the room. Everyone stared only at Lady Pinatelli’s mouth.
Had the Princess really committed a secret affair?
No, rather, there was something else they were dying to know even more.
Who exactly was the Princess’s secret lover?
Since they said items with each other’s names were exchanged, if Lady Pinatelli had brought that evidence, they would know right here on the spot.
At the moment when everyone’s anticipation reached its peak, Lady Pinatelli opened her mouth.
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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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