The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 265
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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 112
Ch.7
Medeia’s view was blocked as she turned away from her conversation with the Pope.
“Dea, you….”
It was Peleus.
If Medeia’s conversation partner hadn’t been the Pope, Peleus would have pushed the other person aside and intruded mid-conversation.
“What on earth were you thinking to allow that man’s whims…!”
His voice sounded suppressed as if he was holding back his emotions. The handsome young Emperor’s face had become as cold and ruthless as the north wind.
“Peleus.”
“Even now, you must withdraw. Even if it means reconvening the continental conference-.”
Medeia grabbed Peleus as he tried to follow after the Pope.
“You cannot become a ruler. The imperial throne is a merciless place. I don’t want you to become painfully lonely.”
“I know.”
I probably know better than anyone else in this world.
Medeia murmured silently.
“Peleus. I wanted him.”
“….”
When even anger flashed in his blue eyes, Medeia grabbed her brother’s arm to reassure him.
“Peleus, he cut down Jared for me, and risked his life to slay the Evil Dragon to prevent the oracle. How could I not love such a man.”
“….”
“I want him.”
But the more Medeia added explanations, the more Peleus’s handsome face was consumed by self-reproach.
“This is your brother’s fault.”
He rubbed his gaunt face.
“I left you alone for too long. That’s why-.”
I am now paying the full price for the sin of leaving my young sister behind.
What use was it to be praised as a wise Emperor? I couldn’t comfort the heart of a young girl starved for affection at all.
“That’s not…. Sigh, Dea, men will dive into anything for their goals.”
So you fell for the purposeful kindness offered by an innocent man.
Without knowing who he really is, without knowing what dark schemes he harbors.
“….”
Far from her persuasion working, Medeia was flustered as her brother’s face grew darker and darker.
She had sworn that in this life she would never become her brother’s source of worry. She couldn’t understand at all why he was making the same self-deprecating face as when she chose Jason.
‘There was an unexpected obstacle….’
As Medeia tried to take a step back, she bumped into someone who had approached behind her.
She staggered from the impact as if she had hit a solid stone wall.
Peleus reflexively moved his body.
However, before that, a hand reached out from behind and lightly grasped Medeia’s shoulder, helping her regain her balance.
“Careful.”
It was Chezare.
Peleus glanced at Medeia’s shoulder being held by him. The atmosphere flowing out became even more chilly.
“First Prince.”
“Your Majesty.”
Before Chezare could even bow his head slightly in greeting, an icy voice flowed out.
“First Prince, I confess that I held you in high regard. However, the blood of Kazen flowing through you seems unavoidable. Do you think I don’t know that you plan to use Valdina so you can become Emperor by using our Dea?”
Peleus no longer held back. The sharp words he set forth were completely the attitude of facing an enemy.
“That you appeared every time Dea was in danger was all for today, I know that dirty scheme and let a black beast into Valdina.”
“Peleus!”
Medeia’s face turned pale.
This was the first time her always noble brother had criticized someone so bluntly and directly.
While this was proof of how angry he was, Chezare had no reason to hear such criticism.
This had been her plan from the beginning, and Chezare was the person who had helped the expedition first and most of all. Moreover,
“Peleus, this marriage is something I-.”
Then, Chezare stepped forward in front of Medeia, blocking her path.
As if protecting her from Peleus’s fierce aura.
“I understand well what Your Majesty’s concerns are. In truth, there is no one on this continent who has experienced the ruthlessness of the imperial throne closer than I have.”
At that moment, the audience stirred.
Everyone knew that Chezare’s words were referring to his father Perdickas II and his stepmother Empress Eleanor.
Wasn’t the First Prince the very result of Perdickas II betraying his first wife, the Empress?
Chezare, who had revealed with his own mouth the shame that no one dared speak aloud, appeared utterly composed.
“Therefore, I swore to my mother long ago. That I, at least, would hold the vows of engagement sacred and give my whole heart.”
He took Medeia’s hand. Then he removed the ring from his own hand.
“Even if I say I won’t receive Valdina’s assistance, it would be hard for you to believe anyway. So, I will give the same thing to the Princess.”
As if he couldn’t see the fire flashing from Peleus’s eyes, he slowly slipped the ring onto her slender finger.
Her small, white hand was completely covered by Chezare’s hand.
“Medeia.”
And when Chezare removed his hand, the clear seal of the First Prince engraved on the ring shone brightly.
“This ring is my power and your power. From now on, Princess, you have the authority to establish laws in my territory and lead my army and subjects.”
As if he couldn’t feel Medeia looking up at him with startled eyes, Chezare continued naturally.
“No one can go against your will, and anyone who threatens you will become my enemy.”
Chezare turned toward Peleus. Golden eyes and blue eyes clashed fiercely.
“….”
For the first time, Peleus was at a loss for words.
The answer to his accusation about using his sister was almost brutally direct.
Nevertheless, he could no longer argue back.
Giving his sister this seal ring that practically symbolized the First Prince’s ruling authority meant sharing his own power with her.
The people watching opened their mouths wide.
‘Even if Valdina helps the First Prince through this marriage, the Princess isn’t the master of Valdina, so what she can give is limited.’
But with the seal ring the First Prince gave her, the Princess could exercise not just the authority of a simple spouse, but her husband’s actual power.
Even a fool could figure it out after thinking about it. This marriage was absolutely advantageous to the Princess.
‘Did something happen to the First Prince’s head after he slayed the Evil Dragon?’
‘The one who holds the most powerful succession rights in Kazen is giving up even his seal just to prove his sincerity?’
Then, Chezare turned his head slightly toward Medeia.
“Dea. I’ll put on the wedding ring during the ceremony.”
Everyone could feel that the First Prince’s voice became much lower and more affectionate when speaking to the Princess. Plus that familiar way of addressing her.
‘Ah. Now I’m getting the picture. When blinded by love, the world turns upside down overnight and people change.’
It seemed the iron-blooded First Prince was no exception when it came to love.
As if putting a period to their conviction, Chezare said.
“I will not abandon Dea.”
His golden gaze swept over Medeia and Peleus, and finally glanced at Eratosthe standing in the crowd.
There was no longing or joy toward his maternal grandfather in Chezare’s eyes.
Eratosthe looking at his grandson was the same. Unlike the enthusiastic crowd, his eyes with fine wrinkles showed no change at all.
As if he didn’t believe the First Prince’s sincerity in giving up even his seal at all.
Despite being grandfather and grandson meeting after a long time, the two passed by each other as dryly as if looking at complete strangers.
Chezare spoke again with emphasis.
“I will not betray my wife.”
* * *
“You didn’t need to go that far.”
When only the two remained, Medeia murmured quietly.
Toward the golden eyes that seemed to ask what she meant, Medeia lightly shook the hand with the seal ring.
“No matter how much Peleus opposed it, the ceremony was going to proceed as planned. But if I give this to you there… It’s not just anything, it’s a seal. How are you planning to handle the aftermath later?”
At Medeia’s words, Chezare shrugged his shoulders.
“If I hadn’t done that, your brother was ready to challenge me to a duel until one of us died. I couldn’t draw my sword on the first day of our engagement, could I?”
“That’s ridicu-.”
Medeia hesitated.
Indeed, considering Peleus’s fierce momentum earlier, Chezare’s words made sense.
Instead of answering, Medeia subtly changed the subject.
“Hah. I suppose there was one of the Emperor’s confidants among the Kazen officials earlier? You wanted to show it to him?”
In other words, it was a message to be conveyed to Perdickas II.
‘I did want to show him.’
Though the opponent wasn’t his father. Chezare swallowed a bitter smile.
Medeia could be sharp in strange ways.
How had she noticed that streak of defiance that had unconsciously emerged in that brief moment when he met his grandfather’s eyes filled with dry contempt?
‘I wanted to say that I’m different from your son-in-law.’
A fleeting shadow crossed his handsome features.
“I did my best, yet instead of praise I only get scolded. How unfair.”
Chezare elegantly placed his hand on his chest as if dejected.
However, the end of his tone rippled languidly, not sounding dejected at all.
“It was excessive though.”
“Compared to your proposal that had no trace of romance, anything would be excessive.”
“…”
At Chezare’s retort, Medeia hesitated.
On the flight from Death’s Gorge to here in Sacramontes, Medeia had vaguely realized.
‘This won’t be the end. This life is becoming too different from the last.’
Since Medeia had created that change, fate would continue to create variables and target her.
Even Jason had now awakened to his past life.
The knowledge and experience that only she had known could no longer be monopolized.
‘As long as the oracle continues to target me, I cannot be free.’
Medeia instinctively felt it. To avoid repeating the past, she had to move first.
“Chezare, take me as your bride and inherit the oracle. Three years will do. Within those three years, I’ll make you the Emperor of Kazen.”
Medeia planned to eliminate both Jason and Rachel within three years. Murderous intent swirled in her green eyes.
That was how the current performance came to be.
This play that Medeia started and Chezare completed.
“…Since when has the indomitable First Prince become so sentimental?”
When Medeia snorted softly, a smile played around Chezare’s lips.
“What would you have done if I had refused?”
“What else. I would have looked for someone else to fulfill the oracle.”
At that moment, his golden eyes flashed dangerously between his captivating features.
“…It wouldn’t have been our worm-like brother, so then who?”
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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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