The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 25

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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 25

“Your Highness, I understand your feelings, but this is not a situation to be stubborn. Please, for the sake of this aunt…”

Lady Claudio’s appearance as she tried to somehow persuade the Princess to avoid the Queen Mother’s rebuke was pitiful.

Medeia still stood upright.

Her expression was calm like a rock that holds its ground even against a raging tsunami.

This wouldn’t work at all. The infuriated Queen Mother rolled up her sleeves.

“Are you ignoring me because I’m just an old woman in the back room? Do you think you don’t need to mind me because you have the seal? How utterly selfish!”

“…”

“Wicked thing! Using such a vicious nature to devour everyone around you! Are you trying to send me away like my son!”

The Queen Mother could not contain her anger.

It seemed as if Medeia was the source of all the misfortune that occurred in this place.

“Why aren’t you answering!”

If it had been the previous life’s Medeia, she would have been deeply hurt by such an attitude from her grandmother.

She would have lowered her head, kept her mouth tightly shut, and only shed tears silently.

However, Medeia swallowed a cold laugh. She didn’t care how much the Queen Mother hated her.

‘The deeper the hatred, the better.’

The more the Queen Mother hated her, the greater the reaction would be when she learned of her son the Regent’s ambitions.

After all, for her, family was only her brother Peleus.

The weak child who was hurt by such harsh words was dead. What remained here was only a madwoman obsessed with revenge.

‘The Queen Mother is the only one in this palace who can suppress the Regent.’

Starting from today, the Queen Mother’s indiscriminate hatred toward her must disappear.

‘I must protect the seal while making the Queen Mother want to protect me.’

Medeia answered.

“I cannot give you the answer you desire, Grandmother. I cannot answer.”

“Are you saying you’ll defy my words now? That you won’t hand over the seal?”

The Queen Mother flew into a rage. People held their breath at her anger, not daring to step forward.

The indiscriminate criticism toward Medeia grew stronger.

Sisear frowned.

Princess Medeia, the Regent’s puppet, was foolishly always Lord Peleus’s weakness.

His reason told him that it would be more helpful for maintaining the current royal power if the Princess lost her seal and stepped down here.

“Your Majesty the Queen Mother, this is not a light matter, so I suggest you reconsider the time and place.”

Nevertheless, he gave another opportunity for the Princess to keep her seal.

He disliked standing by and watching one-sided abuse being hurled at a young girl.

Knowing that without even the seal, no one would try to protect that child, he could not turn away from the Princess in the end.

“Ahem. Ahem!”

The pouring abuse stopped for a moment. The Queen Mother cleared her throat.

Perhaps thinking she had made a spectacle of herself, her flushed cheeks trembled slightly.

Then, Medeia’s voice rang out.

“Privately, he is my brother, but officially, this is a seal received directly from His Majesty the King, the sovereign of this nation. Grandmother, you may punish me, but you have no authority to take away the seal.”

“What?”

She was about to burst into anger at the impudent reply that rekindled the fire.

“If relatives doubt and try to overturn the sovereign’s commands, who would follow the King’s words? As an elder of the Royal Family, please think once more.”

The Queen Mother’s mind snapped to attention.

Though she hated the granddaughter who had taken her eldest son’s life, she dearly loved her only grandson Peleus.

In this place were also the minister and Lady Claudio.

Privately, they were the King’s friends and family, but ultimately they were subjects who had to serve under Peleus.

Certainly, if she forcibly took away Medeia’s seal, it would be tantamount to ignoring the authority of her grandson the King.

‘Foolish ones might use this as an excuse to plot mischief.’

The Queen Mother swallowed her labored breathing.

Though the logic was correct, the humiliation of being pointed out by the granddaughter she had looked down upon certainly existed.

The Queen Mother glared at the impudent granddaughter standing defiantly.

A sharp silence flowed where one dared not carelessly swallow even once.

The Queen Mother, having composed her voice, spoke.

“There is nothing wrong with your words. I have no authority to take your seal.”

Then.

“But as your grandmother, I can certainly punish you, can’t I? Since you said so yourself.”

“…”

“Medeia, kneel before the chapel and offer penitential prayers. Until the Goddess gives a revelation that she forgives you.”

People doubted their ears.

Until the Goddess gives a revelation?

Even the respected high priests of the Holy Kingdom could hardly receive a revelation once in their lifetime.

There was a reason why divine revelations were called miracles.

“Until this child realizes what she did wrong, no one should give her even a sip of water. Do you all understand?”

The Queen Mother’s words meant she would punish her granddaughter indefinitely until her own anger subsided.

“Your Majesty the Queen Mother-“

“Step back, Sisear. From here on, this is a matter of my palace. I will not tolerate interference.”

The Queen Mother shook her head.

“You’d better return now. What are you all doing? Escort the minister out.”

In the end, Sisear had to leave surrounded by sturdy maids.

When he passed by Medeia standing upright like a stone, their eyes met for an instant.

There was no wavering in the Princess’s green eyes.

Leaving the Queen Mother’s Palace, Sisear looked up at the sky.

“My lord, how close have you come? You must achieve victory quickly.”

He removed his monocle and rubbed his tired eyes. Deep fatigue settled over his haggard appearance.

* * *

As Sisear left, the door opened briefly.

Neryl quickly ran forward to the Queen Mother.

While pacing outside the door without permission to enter, she had been able to hear everything inside.

The Maid Supervisor’s scheme had completely collapsed, and finally even the punishment the Queen Mother had just given to Medeia.

‘Does the Queen Mother expect a miracle?’

At this rate, the Princess would have to suffer the Queen Mother’s tyranny indefinitely.

Her body moved before her reason.

When the Queen Mother’s guards tried to stop her, Neryl was already kneeling before the Queen Mother with her head bowed.

“The Princess is still not mentally and physically sound due to a recent riding accident. She cannot endure the punishment. I will take her place.”

“Who are you exactly?”

The Queen Mother asked in a displeased voice. Neryl frantically repeated the same words.

“You may give me severe punishment, harsh punishment. So please punish me instead.”

“She is Princess’s maid.”

Pinatelli whispered. Neryl knelt once more and pleaded.

“Your Highness, please consider your granddaughter’s welfare once more.”

When she mentioned blood ties, the Queen Mother’s face hardened instantly.

“Where does a mere maid dare to speak so impudently? Pinatelli, drag that thing out.”

“Step aside, Neryl.”

Medeia walked over and stood in front of Neryl.

“Having disturbed Grandmother’s mood with childish words, I will gladly accept the punishment you have given.”

She showed no sign of fearing or being mindful of the Queen Mother’s punishment. Rather, it felt like her dignity was being trampled.

“Ha.”

The Queen Mother let out a hollow laugh.

Did this child only choose to do hateful things the more she was disliked?

“Fine. Then go to the chapel right now.”

“Yes.”

Medeia bowed at the waist once more and left her seat.

“Mother… Please reduce the severity of the punishment just a little. Her Highness the Princess is still young, and what if her health suffers?”

Catherine spoke up a beat too late.

Since Medeia had left to receive her punishment, the situation had truly become uncontrollable.

They didn’t want the Princess to fall ill either.

‘We still need Medeia.’

Until the King returned, they needed a scapegoat doll to bear all criticism and blame.

“Silence. Do you think you can look down on me too now?”

“I was merely…”

“If you have time for such thoughts, manage your own affairs properly!”

The Queen Mother shouted angrily and left her seat.

“Mom, just let that Medeia suffer a bit. Why did you step in and get scolded for nothing?”

As Catherine froze, Virna, who had followed behind her, scolded her.

“You be quiet.”

“Earlier too. Didn’t you see that half-wit standing there like a wooden block, ignoring everything you said?”

Virna grumbled.

They were still in the Queen Mother’s Palace. Her thoughtless daughter was far too careless.

“I told you to be quiet!”

“What did I say that was so much…”

Though Virna pouted her lips, Catherine was too busy frantically turning things over in her mind to comfort her daughter.

The connection between the Maid Supervisor and the Regent that Mariyu had reported earlier seemed to have been glossed over in the chaotic situation.

‘The problem is…’

She could understand Lady Quizin trying to frame Medeia with false evidence. But targeting Minister Etienne and the Princess?

‘Did Quizin act alone? Or did Quizin and the Minister work together?’

If so, did that mean the Minister had other intentions?

Moreover.

‘Who put the false evidence in Mariyu’s belongings? Who helped Medeia?’

If there was an ally of Medeia’s that they hadn’t identified, it would be an even more serious problem.

Catherine looked down on her foolish and dim-witted niece so much that she never dreamed all of this had been orchestrated by Medeia.

‘Why did Medeia suddenly defy the Queen Mother like that, and why did the Queen Mother make such unreasonable demands…’

The continuing unexpected situations left Catherine deeply perplexed.

‘Why are things turning out this way…? How exactly is this all unfolding?’

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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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