The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 221

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

Part 2, Chapter 68

This man, who was furious that a place filled with memories of his wife had been attacked, had forced upon her the humiliation of raising his bastard as her legitimate child.

The old man gazed with dry eyes at the Emperor, who raged without realizing his own contradictions.

He simply remained in deep silence, as if contemplating something.

In Eratosthe’s eyes, devoid of both fear and reverence, there was only cold tranquility.

“I will have the First Prince raise an army and imprint Kazen’s greatness upon that arrogant silver-haired brat. No matter how high he jumps, he cannot even reach my toes!”

The Emperor’s shoulders shook, failing to notice the silent hatred rising in the old man’s eyes.

Even at the angry voice echoing through the air, the old man remained unmoved.

“That will not do.”

Instead, he shook his head and directly contradicted the Emperor’s words.

“How insolent!”

“Your Majesty knows better than anyone the nature of the Valdinians, who grow stronger the more they are trampled. Moreover, Valdina is no longer even the powerless small kingdom it once was.”

Perdickas II glared at Eratosthe with piercing blue eyes.

His gaze was sharp enough to belie the rumors of being consumed by madness.

The sharp look that slowly crept up from the old monk’s feet gradually rose and finally stopped, boring into his face.

It was not mere anger, but also the cold gaze of a ruthless ruler thoroughly weighing Eratosthe’s counsel.

“….”

The silent pressure emanating from the Emperor crushed the space around them.

However, Eratosthe remained calm and unmoved as ever.

He was neither cautious like the Queen Mother or the Duke, nor did he read Perdickas II’s mood.

Perhaps for that very reason, instead of beheading Eratosthe, the Emperor opened his ears to his words and demanded a solution.

“Then you’re saying I should just endure while those bastards come charging with such venom?!”

Though wrapped in anger, Perdickas himself knew better than anyone.

In the current situation, unless the Kazen Empire took responsibility for what Jared had done, they would not back down.

However.

The Elamouz Strait that Kazen had already handed over as compensation three years ago had become the stepping stone for Valdina’s leap to becoming a new empire.

Whenever he recalled the fact that he had raised up those dying bastards with his own hands, Perdickas II felt like coughing up blood.

“No, absolutely not! I will not give those people anything more!”

“Your Majesty. What moves a traveler is not harsh wind and rain, but warm sunlight. If you wish to gain practical benefits, offer honor instead.”

“…Honor?”

At the unexpected answer, Perdickas II’s eyebrows twitched.

To the Emperor, who looked completely confused, Eratosthe continued.

“The current Emperor of Valdina cherishes his only sister so dearly.”

Perdickas II hesitated.

He knew of Princess Medeia as well.

After all, she was the original culprit who had caused them to hand over the strait in the first place.

He had heard that when the rebellion broke out, she remained in the royal palace to face the rebels with courage, and now earned the trust and love of the people.

However, in Perdickas II’s eyes, she was merely a foolish girl full of useless heroism.

A typical hot-tempered person with the unbreakable pride typical of Valdinians, whose humiliation led to impulse.

“You mean that insolent wench who was swayed by a few words from Angelique and challenged her to a duel? Why would I bother with such an immature brat who doesn’t know her place?”

Perdickas II was so focused on the young Emperor Peleus that he completely failed to grasp the existence of Medeia, who had manipulated everything from behind.

Medeia had also hidden her extraordinary nature from the outside world to avoid being detected by the Emperor.

If he hadn’t eliminated Kensington, his loyal retainer who had been the continent’s eyes and ears, the Emperor might have eventually reached the truth, but now it was spilled water.

However, there certainly existed those who could pierce through the truth amid the layers of lies and hypocrisy.

“…Yes. Your Majesty should declare yourself the guardian of Valdina’s Princess.”

For instance, those like Eratosthe, who had once been renowned as the Empire’s most brilliant scholar.

“Grant her the title of being a member of the Kazen Royal Family, and promise treatment befitting royalty.”

“Why should I do that for the blood of that disgusting upstart whom I can’t stand to look at!”

“Your Majesty. Think of the practical benefits. It is merely empty honor. Would there ever truly be an occasion for an enemy nation’s princess to play the role of royalty here in Kazen?”

Though he had clearly grasped the truth behind the incident, he did not reveal it to the Emperor.

Instead, he gave wings to Valdina’s Princess.

“As long as she doesn’t set foot on Kazen soil, why should there be any reason to be ungenerous about something that won’t happen?”

Even while anticipating that the Princess with those wings would eventually target his own homeland.

“But Valdina would be delighted even with such empty honor. It’s a new empire that just escaped being a kingdom, and there are only the two siblings in the imperial line to begin with.”

It was the result of his deep-rooted hatred toward the Emperor who was going mad with his condition.

“Moreover, since the Princess has been pointed at for her status since childhood, the Emperor would also find it too valuable to miss the opportunity to elevate his sister’s name across the continent.”

“….”

Perdickas II stroked his beard.

Then he slowly nodded as if finding it interesting.

This incident occurred because Jared had targeted Valdina’s Princess.

So the old man’s words that the Kazen Royal Family had sufficient justification to compensate the Princess, who was the direct victim, were surprisingly reasonable.

“…Hmm… Then exactly to what extent?”

“It should be enough to resolve the accumulated resentment, shouldn’t it? Enough that Valdina’s Emperor wouldn’t kick away Your Majesty’s proposal out of pride.”

“….”

The Emperor still hesitated.

Profit and pride battled fiercely back and forth in his mind.

“This old man merely suggested one way to ease Your Majesty’s concerns, so please don’t worry too much about it.”

Eratosthe bowed his head indifferently.

His tone suggested he had no great interest in whether the Emperor accepted his proposal or not.

‘If it were the Queen Mother or Leniart, they wouldn’t have withdrawn so meekly. They would have stubbornly insisted on their will through my mouth.’

Because he withdrew so lightly, Perdickas II found himself considering his proposal more seriously.

Moreover, it had been several years since Eratosthe had laid down all his titles after the Empress’s death and devoted himself to religion.

Even if he had some ulterior motive, it meant he wasn’t particularly threatening to the current Perdickas II.

‘Well, it’s better than giving those Valdina bastards more blood-like territory….’

He couldn’t deny that if he could push them outside Kazen with just a guardianship, it would be an excellent deal.

‘I can certainly treat her like an adopted daughter.’

He already had more children than he could count on ten fingers. What would it matter if one more fake was added?

‘I’ll stay in Kazen, and that wench will never leave Valdina, so we’ll probably never face each other for the rest of our lives anyway.’

The words of his retainers flashed through his mind—that continuing the diplomatic tensions blooming between the two nations should be avoided, no matter how powerful Kazen was.

In truth, both the Emperor and Kazen had already expended considerable energy from Valdina’s sudden threat of occupying the trade routes.

The Emperor, having finally made his decision, grasped Eratosthe’s wrinkled hand.

“Penteros, you are right. I shall do so.”

“…I am honored, Your Majesty.”

“You are the only one who shows me a way through this crisis. The only loyal retainer who truly serves this country!”

“….”

Eratosthe’s gaze indifferently swept over the unfocused Emperor.

The age difference between the two men, who had once been son-in-law and father-in-law, was close to twenty years.

However, unlike Eratosthe, who appeared mentally clear despite being withered, Perdickas II looked haggard and frail.

The Emperor’s fingertips trembled intermittently as he grasped the old man’s wrinkled hand.

The collar near his neck had long since turned dark, soaked with cold sweat.

The Emperor’s madness was still ongoing.

“Put your worries to rest. Kazen will prosper even more under Your Majesty’s rule, and no one can surpass Your Majesty’s dignity.”

Eratosthe’s low, quiet voice shook the Emperor’s heart like an echo bouncing back.

These were the words Perdickas II had so desperately wanted to hear, words that scratched his thirsty soul.

The Emperor’s eyes overflowed with emotion.

Though Eratosthe’s voice was indifferent, such was his silent loyalty toward him.

Yes, he had always been like that.

“Believe in Your Majesty’s potential. Your Majesty can defy even given fate and seize the Imperial Throne.”

Perdickas II suddenly remembered.

Those youthful days when he was young and full of passion.

How brilliant and magnificent he had been back then.

He feared nothing, and no one dared to surpass him.

The infinite power created by youth and strength—but that golden time had long since passed.

“Penteros, you will remain in the Imperial Capital.”

Perhaps that was why.

If Eratosthe stayed by his side like this, it felt as though he could reclaim his former self.

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