The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 26

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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 26

* * *

The Queen Mother strictly controlled the mouths of those who were present that day.

So the story of that day, which could have been called a disgrace to the royal family, did not spread.

However, when the Princess suddenly knelt in prayer for hours in front of the Royal Chapel, people could guess that something major had happened.

To the north, south, east, and west of the Princess stood sturdy maids.

They watched with sharp eyes to see if anyone approached the Princess or offered her water or snacks.

And soon after it became known that they were the Queen Mother’s maids, people thought:

‘Ah. The Princess is being punished again.’

To punish her so publicly, she must have really fallen out of favor.

Just how much did the Queen Mother hate her eldest granddaughter?

“Has it already been half a day?”

“The Queen Mother said to kneel there until the goddess gives a revelation.”

“A revelation? It would be easier to wait for lightning to strike from a clear sky.”

“She’s just going to torment her until her own mood improves.”

Near the Royal Chapel, one could frequently see those who came to watch Medeia.

A princess of a nation was being punished in front of everyone watching.

Medeia knew that the shame and humiliation that a young girl who hadn’t even had her debutante ball yet would feel was all within the Queen Mother’s calculations.

‘I cannot yield now.’

If she yielded, the Queen Mother would soon forget about her.

She would fall for Claudio’s sweet words and unknowingly end up helping them.

‘This incident will drive the two apart.’

Making the Queen Mother doubt the loyalty of her second son, whom she trusted more than anyone.

That was the final fruit of this incident that Medeia had planned.

The sun set and night fell.

Unfortunately, it was autumn with large temperature differences, so cold, chilly winds blew fiercely.

It was past midnight. The onlookers had all returned home long ago.

Medeia was now wearing only a single muslin dress.

The thin fabric was no help at all in blocking the cold.

“The weather is too cold. You came out without any preparation. Please let her at least wear this.”

Neryl pleaded while holding a blanket, but the Queen Mother’s maids shook their heads.

“The Queen Mother did not permit it. She told us to tell the Princess this: If you wish to ask the goddess for comfortable forgiveness, then consider your punishment not received at all.”

“This is really too much—”

“Neryl.”

Medeia stopped Neryl from protesting.

Even on her pale, bloodless face, only her eyes remained clear.

“Don’t make my saving you meaningless.”

“Your Highness…”

“Go back. Don’t come until I call for you.”

Neryl had already offended the Queen Mother once by protecting her.

She wouldn’t tolerate it a second time, even for the sake of appearances, so it was better to hide her completely from the Queen Mother’s sight.

“Do as I say. If you trust me.”

At her firm words, Neryl had to bite her lips and retreat.

‘This too must be Your Highness’s arrangement. Just as Your Highness used the Maid Supervisor and Mariyu’s scheme.’

She couldn’t easily take her leave.

The young Princess sitting alone in front of the vast chapel looked small and lonely.

Moonlight shone on Medeia’s gaunt face as she prayed toward the statue.

‘If the merciful goddess truly exists.’

Neryl prayed earnestly.

‘Please look down upon our Princess with favor.’

Only after a long while did Neryl leave her spot.

As the night deepened, even the maids standing guard dozed off.

Only Medeia looked up at the goddess with clear eyes.

Unlike Neryl, there was not a trace of resentment or blame in her green eyes.

God had given her the opportunity to take revenge on her enemies—what more could she want?

Everything was flowing according to her arrangement.

How much time had passed like that?

Medeia, exhausted by the cool cold and fatigue, briefly closed her eyes.

At that moment, light emanating from the fingertips of the goddess statue before Medeia wrapped around her like wings.

* * *

Under the blazing sun beating down on the chapel.

Medeia was still in that same spot, receiving the scorching sunlight with her entire body.

Her pale complexion that looked ready to collapse at any moment and her parched lips—no one could help but feel sympathy.

“Ha, still being stubborn?”

The Queen Mother snorted.

She too knew that the punishment she had imposed was unreasonable. So she had left room for compromise.

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

In other words, this meant that if Medeia came to her first to apologize for her wrongdoing, she would forgive her.

So if she came crying and begging after about a day, she had planned to pretend she couldn’t resist and let it slide.

“It’s already the third day, Your Majesty…”

“I know it’s the third day too!”

She hadn’t expected her to endure this long.

Rumors had spread widely that the Queen Mother had severely punished the Princess.

Now even among the palace people, there was talk about what the Princess could have possibly done wrong to be made to stand there for so long.

“She’s trying to act recklessly toward me too. This child is trying to completely defeat this old woman.”

The Queen Mother pressed her lips into a straight line and said:

“Pinatelli, make sure no one approaches that girl. Even if she still hasn’t realized what she did wrong, she’ll understand by the time this old woman enters her coffin!”

“Your Majesty…”

At Lady Pinatelli’s gaze, the Queen Mother burst into anger.

“Why are you acting like this too? Don’t disappoint me.”

“…Yes.”

Lady Pinatelli bowed while hiding her pity.

* * *

Chezare visited the palace again.

“The room has changed.”

It was a different location from before.

Since the exploration had been completed through their previous conversation, the agreement was reached quickly.

Facade was granted permission to stay on Valdina’s land in exchange for money.

Sisear eventually agreed to the astronomical amount that could easily extinguish the urgent fire that had befallen the kingdom.

The rear support he had hoped for was rejected.

However, the request to publicly expose Facade until the imperial delegation departed was accepted.

That was a more successful result than Sisear had expected.

Since Facade was famous for rarely revealing itself as an arms dealer operating in the shadows.

‘Just the ‘performance’ that we and Facade are exchanging something will make the Empire nervous. They won’t be able to run wild as usual.’

“Do that.”

It was the point when the agreement was roughly being finalized.

Something caught Chezare’s eye.

He could see the edge of the white palace visible through the window. And at quite a close distance, there was a chapel.

It was a position where he could see the Princess kneeling before the statue.

He could guess the reason why the location had changed today.

“Sisear.”

Chezare suddenly asked Sisear, who was completely ignoring Garo’s chatter about how expensive their lives were.

“Are you worried about the Princess?”

“Ha. Pointless.”

His words cut off as if he didn’t even feel the need to continue.

However, if it were the usual him, he wouldn’t have responded so quickly to such a jab.

The Princess and Sisear?

Chezare’s eyes narrowed briefly before instantly returning to normal.

“Speaking of which, rumors have spread throughout the Royal Palace. Brother, it’s been three days already, hasn’t it?”

Garo clapped his hands together.

“I thought only the Kazen Royal Family was heartless, but Valdina is no joke either. The Queen Mother must really hate her granddaughter?”

Having finished the tedious negotiations and found an interesting topic, he was excited. His bronze face gleamed.

“Still, the Princess has backbone. I thought she wouldn’t last as long as I expected.”

Sisear frowned at Garo’s words.

He couldn’t understand the Princess who turned away from the clear escape route the Queen Mother had left for her.

“Backbone, my ass. She’s just being foolish. Being stubborn will only make her more hated.”

Then, a chuckling sound was heard.

“Boss, why are you laughing?”

“Who knows. Maybe that’s what she’s aiming for.”

Having experienced countless schemes and traps in the Imperial Palace, Chezare had considerable insight into using human emotions to break through situations.

Whenever the Emperor tried to be wary of him and tighten his leash, Chezare would instead provoke his father.

When hatred becomes excessive, forgiveness also deepens.

That young Princess who crushed the Maid Supervisor’s ambitious scheme also seemed to be targeting that gap.

Sisear raised an eyebrow as if asking what he meant. Chezare shrugged and turned his head.

Through the carriage window, he could see the Princess still sitting in front of the chapel.

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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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