The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 222

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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 69

It seemed as if he would return to the days of the young, ambitious emperor whom no one dared to approach. 

“Your Majesty, I have already sworn to God-“

“No, I will not permit your return. Your title, your home, everything remains as it was. If you need anything, I’ll have it brought to you. I need you—no, this country needs you.”

The Emperor summoned the Head Servant and ordered him to bring items from Eratosthe’s estate and the convent as well. 

Eratosthe ultimately could not overcome his stubborn insistence. 

Eratosthe let out a sigh.

“If I can be of even brief service to Your Majesty, I shall comply.”

With those parting words that made no attempt to hide his intention not to remain long in the Imperial Capital, Eratosthe left the Golden Chamber.

His indifferent attitude, showing no pleasure even at the Emperor’s entreaties, made Perdickas II even more anxious. 

‘Briefly, he says. Penteros must be reluctant to return because of public attention.’

The Emperor, who had been staring at the door through which he had departed for a long time, interpreted Eratosthe’s reaction in his own way. 

Lost in deep thought as he rubbed the corners of his eyes, he soon nodded his head as if he had made a decision.

As the father of the Empress, he could not allow Eratosthe to enter the capital in a shabby manner, if only for appearances’ sake.

‘I must ensure he can hold his head high by my side.’

He must not be overshadowed by the Queen Mother or Leniar either.

“Head Servant, promote Penteros to Duke.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Head Servant, who had been watching the conversation between the two men without missing a detail, could not hide his inner amazement.

‘He is truly still a remarkable man. His Majesty once regarded him with as much wariness as Leniar.’

The reason Perdickas II had allowed his retirement was also because he feared that his father-in-law, grieving over his daughter’s death, might harbor thoughts of revenge against him.

‘To make His Majesty forget all those years with just one appearance.’

Moreover, the current Perdickas II had become an obsessive paranoid patient who believed everyone was out to get him, unlike the wise young man of the past.

Yet Eratosthe had managed to lower his guard and earn his trust, 

ultimately leading the Emperor to declare his return without suspicion.

Thus, the baron who had been away from politics for ten years would return more splendidly than anyone. 

And with power elevated by several ranks at that. 

The Head Servant could not dare predict how Eratosthe’s return would change the landscape.

He could only vaguely guess that an even more fierce battle would unfold than the present. 

Meanwhile, Perdickas II, unaware of the Head Servant’s shock, hummed cheerfully.

“Head Servant. Prepare an edict to be issued to the Princess of Valdina. As her guardian, I will guarantee treatment equivalent to Kazen royalty, and promise immunity privileges and Imperial protection throughout the Empire.”

Promising immunity privileges that even meritorious subjects did not receive and the Emperor’s protection to a foreign princess, treating her as royalty, was unprecedented in Kazen’s history.

However, if they were to avoid letting Valdina discover their intention to cover up this incident with mere honorary titles as Eratosthe had suggested.

They had to present conditions so exceptional that those people could not refuse.

“Hmm. What precious gifts might there be worthy of giving to that Valdina wench? You may open my treasury.”

Perhaps because he had not only solved a long-standing problem at once, but also managed to keep that strategist by his side again, the Emperor was in a good mood for the first time in a while.

“No, I don’t want to give anything of mine to that damned bastard’s offspring.”

Then, recalling the face of Valdina’s emperor, he showed displeasure again.

“Let me see…. Hmm. Ah. We can find something from the Former Emperor’s legacy. When that bastard Raju returns. For Valdina, such faded glory would be quite sufficient.”

“….”

When no response came to what had been smooth answers until now, the Emperor, who had been lost in thought, raised his head. 

“Why no answer? Do you think I’m being petty?”

“Not at all, but….”

The Head Servant hesitated.

“There is a matter regarding the Former Emperor’s legacy that Raju revealed which I must report to Your Majesty.”

At the ominous tone, the Emperor frowned.

“Is it a matter so grave as to shatter even the joy I feel for the first time in so long?”

A sharp resonance lingered at the end of his voice.

His glittering eyes could explode at any moment. 

Others would be too afraid to dare open their mouths. 

But the Head Servant, who had served the Emperor closely for so long, handed him a bundle of parchments from his breast without hesitation.

“This is information that Raju’s substitute secretly delivered to our side. It contains all the sources and locations of the slush funds the Former Emperor had hidden.”

“You found all of them?!”

Perdickas II’s eyes widened.

Flash. Greedy anticipation arose in his eyes.

Raju had only briefly mentioned the existence of the Former Emperor’s legacy in his repatriation request letter. 

To avoid the risk of being eliminated after having only the substance stolen, he had hidden the detailed locations and specifics.

Ultimately, Perdickas II had no choice but to demand repatriation from Valdina, and the relationship between the two countries had deteriorated even further. 

The Emperor snatched the bundle of parchments the Head Servant offered and immediately opened the first page.

His sharpened eyes scanned down the parchment.

“30,000 sacks of northern grain, 500,000 gold from southern salt profits, 100,000 gold in funding according to secret agreements….”

“As you must have noticed, Your Majesty. This is completely different from what Raju reported. That man only mentioned the Former Emperor’s treasury.”

Before joy could fill the Emperor’s eyes as he read down the letters on the parchment, the Head Servant urgently added as if it was too early to rejoice. 

“From my urgent investigation, the legacy had already been recovered and disappeared. It seems Raju disposed of it and laundered it as personal funds.”

“What?”

Thick, deep veins bulged above the Emperor’s forehead. 

His lips twisted unsightly, and his beard trembled with rage.

“Evidence was found of him drawing massive funds for smuggling operations and living expenses until most recently. To conceal this, it seems Raju was planning to present these falsified ledgers-.”

“That damned disgusting thief!”

Crash-!

The Head Servant could not continue speaking. 

“How dare he mock me and steal my wealth! I’ll have him torn limb from limb!”

The enraged Emperor had thrown objects nearby. 

“Your Majesty. Time was short and my judgment may have been insufficient. Perhaps we should first have Raju repatriated here for thorough investigation….”

“Unnecessary. Send a messenger immediately to sentence him to 500 lashes.”

Despite the Head Servant’s attempts to dissuade him, his eyes were already bloodshot. 

The pieces of parchment the Emperor had torn to shreds fell helplessly to the floor.

‘Indeed, my instincts were right. That bastard never acknowledged me as his master.’

Perdickas II had been wary of and kept his distance from Raju simply because he had been the Former Emperor’s retainer.

But when he learned that he wasn’t just any retainer, but one trusted enough to be entrusted with slush funds, his suspicions exploded.

‘Why did he only reveal this now!’

And his madness breathed certainty into those suspicions.

‘That cunning bastard was watching for a chance to stab me in the back.’

He only reluctantly confessed when driven to the brink of death, but seeing how he tried to hide it until the end, he must have been plotting something.

The slush funds Raju’s substitute had revealed were by no means a small amount.

If this money had fallen into his hands, it would have become the power to seize new opportunities and lead the political situation.

That made it all the more bitter. The fact that he had been thoroughly played by a mere lackey from a insignificant small country.

Perdickas II twisted his lips.

“Even if he dies before then, don’t stop the whipping and don’t end the punishment until the corpse is pulverized.”

It was a cold voice that covered the heat of anger. 

“I will never allow even that vile bastard’s soul to dare touch my land!”

* * *

At the time when Perdickas II was confronting the truth of being deceived by a worthless person. 

Duke Leniar, who had left the Imperial Palace one step ahead, was also preparing to face the unfinished shadows of the past.

Silence lingered around the bridge located behind the Imperial Palace Garden. 

The Duke, standing in the middle of the bridge, slowly moved his fingers as he caressed his ring.

In the center of the golden ring was carved an eagle’s head entangled in thorny vines. 

The eagle’s eye, decorated with a red ruby, sparkled as it caught the sunlight.

The Duke, lost in thought while turning his ring, casually gazed across the lake. 

The waves were gentle, and starlings flying in the distance made sharp cries. 

The Duke’s expression was impassive, but his fingertips gripping his ring were tense.

As if trying to hide the subtle trembling that betrayed his anxiety, he clenched his hands beneath his sleeves.

Just then, Eratosthe slowly walked over from the opposite side of the bridge.

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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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