The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 229
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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 76
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Princess’s Palace courtyard.
Neigh-!
All attention was drawn to the white horse that appeared in the Princess’s Palace. Its glossy mane fluttered magnificently.
“…Arion?”
Medeia carefully observed the diamond-shaped white mark on the horse’s forehead.
“You recognize it. Yes, it’s Arion’s bloodline. A purebred.”
Neryl swallowed beside her.
Arion was the legendary steed ridden by Kazen’s first emperor, said to have been born at the boundary between sea and land.
It was renowned for its stamina and agility, tirelessly traveling from one end of the vast empire to the other.
“So pretty…”
“No!”
Saya unconsciously reached toward the horse but was hastily grabbed by Zeta’s hand.
Neigh-!
A deep hoofprint was left where Saya had been standing. The grass was trampled.
If not for Zeta, at least her sleeve would have been bitten.
“It’s more vicious than it looks. Its temper is no joke.”
Its personality was so sensitive and difficult to tame that many had given up on it.
Zeta scratched his temple awkwardly.
He seemed even more embarrassed by the contradiction of bringing a horse that no one could tame and had no owner as a gift.
“Even in Facade, quite a few were bitten by that beast on the way here… I brought it under my lord’s orders, but if you find it troublesome, you may send it back.”
Zeta said, glancing at the fierce horse that was bucking wildly.
Having observed Medeia closely, Zeta didn’t think she would fear a mere horse. But still, he didn’t think it was an appropriate gift for a princess.
“Boss, are you really trying to win the Princess’s heart? Who gives a crazy horse as a gift? What if she gets trampled to death?”
He remembered even the mischievous Garo shaking his head in disapproval.
“Isn’t there another horse?”
“…He said you would know when you see it.”
Even as he spoke, Zeta’s puzzled expression was amusing.
A light smile played on Medeia’s lips as she observed the white horse.
The horse’s mane sparkled in the sunlight, and its dignified bearing captivated the eye at first glance.
She could understand the message he was trying to convey through this horse.
Arion, a difficult but magnificent steed that would display excellent prowess once tamed.
This superficial honor that Perdickas II had sent was the same.
‘So he means for me to make full use of it.’
Moreover, the First Prince, who was the core of the imperial family, had sent congratulations along with the bloodline of the founding emperor’s steed.
While empowering the Princess of Valdina, it would also make it much harder for the capricious Emperor to retract his proposal later, even if he wanted to change his mind.
Medeia suddenly wondered whether Chezare’s reason for sending this steed to her was truly for her sake, or to further grate on his father’s already frayed nerves.
Given his nature that she knew, it seemed more likely to be the latter.
In any case, what mattered was…
“Snort-!”
The white horse standing in the courtyard reared its hind legs roughly, trying to kick the chest of the mercenary controlling it.
An unfamiliar space. Noise. Every time it heard sounds, it snorted as if growling.
‘A child sensitive to sounds.’
The white horse’s fierceness that Medeia observed read more as wariness than threat.
“Release the reins and step back.”
The hesitant mercenary eventually followed Medeia’s command.
Not all the magical beasts she had encountered during expeditions were cruel.
Sometimes rare solitary magical beasts like unicorns were the exception.
Recalling the distantly shimmering silver mane of a unicorn, she casually unfastened her bracelet.
‘That one was curious, I wonder if you are too.’
A small bell hung at the end of the silver bracelet.
Chime-!
A clear, clean sound rang out.
At the same time, the white horse that had been bucking reacted to the sound and whipped its head up. Its neat ears on both sides perked up.
Chime-
The clear ringing sounded again as if waiting for the horse’s response.
Then the white horse stopped its thundering hooves.
“Your Highness.”
“Shh.”
People around murmured at the white horse’s reaction.
Medeia placed her other hand, not holding the bell, to her lips.
While everyone held their breath, Neryl tensed her body.
Since the mercenary holding the white horse’s reins had stepped back, she was on guard in case this fierce horse might charge at Medeia.
Moreover, three years ago, her master had been caught in Virna’s scheme and fallen from a horse.
Then, Medeia shook the bell once more.
The white horse perked up its ears and took a step toward Medeia.
Another step. The distance gradually closed,
and finally the white horse stood before Medeia.
Large eyes looked down at the moon-like silver human.
To the white horse, humans were always annoying and tedious beings that only bothered it.
But the human before it didn’t torment or constantly pester it. It even seemed quite interesting.
The bell that sparkled reflecting sunlight also caught the white horse’s interest.
Finally, when the hesitant white horse nudged the bell with its nose, Medeia reached out and stroked the white horse’s neck.
The gentle touch carried a warmth as if reuniting with an old friend.
“You’re curious too.”
Medeia whispered softly.
Instead of biting her hand, the white horse affectionately rubbed its cheek against Medeia’s hand.
Then it soon looked at the bell as if restless and lightly stamped its hooves. It seemed to be urging her to shake the bell once more.
“Do you like this?”
Medeia burst into laughter and removed the bell to hang it on the bridle.
As clear sounds chimed with each movement, the horse stamped its feet. A gentle chime- sound rang around the walking horse.
“Neigh-!”
The white horse neighed happily.
Its white mane gleamed in the light, and its large eyes now gazed at Medeia’s face instead of the bell.
Wariness disappeared, and curious eyes examined Medeia thoroughly.
“…”
Medeia waited silently.
How long did this tense tug-of-war-like time pass?
The horse that had been arrogantly looking down at Medeia lifted one leg. As if telling her to quickly put a saddle on its body.
When a quick-witted mercenary put on the saddle, the white horse slowly circled around Medeia, moving as if observing her.
Then it slowly bent its front legs and lowered its back for Medeia to mount easily.
But it kept its head stiffly raised while snorting softly.
As if emphasizing that this was a choice, not submission, a strange stubbornness and dignity could be felt in its large eyes.
“This is the first time that beast has asked for a saddle on its own. How on earth did you do it?”
Zeta’s jaw dropped.
Right now, this horse that even bared its teeth at Chezare had bowed its back to the Princess first?
“Wow…! But, is that right? Do horses normally act so… so… proud toward their master?”
Saya clapped then muttered.
Even to her, who was inexperienced with horses, the white horse’s attitude seemed unusual.
Medeia suppressed her laughter as she mounted White Horse’s back. The way she lightly swung up while gripping the saddle with her fingertips looked quite natural.
“Your Majesty- don’t worry, I’ll catch you if you fall.”
Neryl’s expression remained stiff, perhaps recalling the moment when Medeia had fallen from her horse.
Neigh-!
Then White Horse bucked roughly.
As if asking whether he looked that pathetic.
Medeia soothed him by stroking his mane.
“Just walking for now. I’ll let you run to your heart’s content later.”
Neigh-!
White Horse seemed to understand, elegantly stepping forward as he made a circuit around Hosong.
As if showing off to everyone around how excellent he was.
“How clever. Your name is… hmm, how about Silva.”
Medeia said while stroking White Horse’s mane.
A gentle breeze blew through Hosong.
Silva’s mane and Medeia’s hair swayed softly in the wind.
The glossy white mane gleamed silver in the sunlight. Combined with Medeia’s silver hair, it radiated an even more mystical brilliance.
Neigh!
Silva stamped his front hooves as if pleased with the name.
The clear sound of jingling bells spread out into the sunlight.
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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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