The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 27

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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 27

She seemed to lack strength, swaying and barely managing to support herself by pressing her arms against the floor.

‘Even a newborn foal would have more strength than that.’

Unlike her useful mind, her body was useless. A look of disdain flashed across his golden eyes.

To be in such a state after only three days – if this were a battlefield, she would already be dead and fertilizing a pile of corpses.

Just then, something irritating caught his eye at the fence of the Courtyard of the Chapel.

A boar-like mass was waddling along.

Chezare’s trained senses picked up the sound of their conversation.

“You must not approach.”

“Come now. It’ll only take a moment!”

“Minister! What rudeness is this?”

While the Servants were dealing with the Maids trying to block them, the Princess was left completely exposed and defenseless.

The mass moved with quick steps, displaying agility that didn’t match its obese frame.

The Princess remained motionless, as if she couldn’t hear anything.

“Puheung~”

The thing that spotted the Princess let out a snort.

Chezare felt an inexplicably unpleasant mood wash over him.

A couple of small pebbles from the flowerpot placed by the Window disappeared beneath his extended index finger.

“Argh!”

The mass that was struck hard in the calf let out a scream.

From the massive impact like a fierce boulder rolling toward him, his knees buckled and he fell over.

“Minister, are you alright?”

“It’s an attack! Someone is trying to assassinate me!”

Unlike their master who was making a fuss, the Servants were actually confused as they couldn’t find any trace of an attack.

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Hearing the commotion, Sisear sat up.

The remaining pebbles under his hand rolled back into the flowerpot with a soft sound.

“Nothing.”

Chezare turned away with his usual bored expression.

* * *

Swoosh. Swoosh.

By the time the three were about to part ways, heavy rain was falling.

Sisear had left first due to urgent news from the battlefield, and the two were about to leave the Palace.

“Did the sky get a hole in it? It’s pouring like crazy.”

Garo grumbled.

“Boss, wait here for a moment. I’ll go get the carriage.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go together.”

“No, Boss should stay here. I’ll be back quickly.”

Worried that he might follow, he disappeared into the rain in an instant.

Even Garo, who remained cheeky despite taking countless daggers, sometimes treated Chezare as the First Prince like this.

As if even raindrops were intolerable for the precious body destined to sit on the imperial throne.

Even though that might no longer be something Chezare could attain.

“…”

It felt like bitter water was rising from within.

Chezare walked alone in the rain, forgetting Garo’s request.

He didn’t bother to throw away the umbrella Garo had shoved between his arms.

Patter patter. The sound of rain filled the world.

Then, his steps stopped.

The golden eyes behind the silver mask spotted a figure kneeling beneath a statue.

The pouring rain was soaking the Girl from head to toe.

Rainwater flowed endlessly down her face, which had become gaunt beyond pale.

The Princess swayed but never collapsed. Blood vessels stood out on the back of her hands pressed against the ground.

Her clenched teeth burst and blood flowed.

Soon, drops of blood mixed with rainwater, turning pink, fell beneath the white stone.

Thanks to Garo’s constant chatter, Chezare had come to know quite well about that small Princess.

“Chezare. Are you truly of my blood?”

The Princess’s tragic fate of being surrounded by enemies and threatened even by blood relatives gave him a strangely familiar sense of déjà vu.

“I won’t lose. I will survive.”

Someone’s old memories overlapped with the image of the Girl enduring alone.

“Hng!”

The Princess’s arm supporting her against the white stone suddenly buckled.

As her body pitched forward, Chezare took a step closer. Ridiculously, even without realizing it himself.

He could see the Princess gritting her teeth.

She used all her strength in both arms to lift her body. From her bulging blood vessels, he could feel her will to never collapse.

Then the Princess raised her head.

Her wet eyes spotted Lady Pinatelli standing behind the Chapel, then she lowered her head again.

Chezare stepped back. He saw the smile that appeared on the Princess’s lips.

“What an interesting performance.”

Belated laughter burst out.

If even he, who had noticed the Princess’s plan, had approached, how much more so would others?

Chezare had to admit that the Princess’s method was quite skilled at drawing out people’s sympathy.

Medeia had no idea that someone was watching her and bursting into laughter.

She was using all her strength to keep from losing consciousness in the fiercely pouring downpour.

‘Not yet, not yet. Hold on a little longer.’

At some point, the world became quiet.

The sound of rain beating against her ears stopped. Medeia looked up in surprise.

What blocked the torrential rain was a large black umbrella placed in front of her.

‘…Who?’

She looked around.

However, she couldn’t find anyone in the empty Courtyard of the Chapel.

* * *

Queen Mother’s Palace.

After hearing Lady Pinatelli’s report, the Queen Mother’s expression was not good.

“Who does she take after to be so stubborn?”

At least it definitely wasn’t her son.

“What on earth does she hope to gain by being so obstinate? Causing unnecessary trouble and creating all this chaos.”

The Queen Mother shuddered.

Lady Pinatelli wiped her hands with a cloth soaked in warm water and said,

“Your Majesty, do you remember the Maid who offered to take the Princess’s punishment?”

“Are you talking about that impudent thing who dared to interfere?”

“Yes. That Maid named Neryl is precisely the cause of Your Majesty’s conflict with the Maid Supervisor. Your Majesty was also beaten along with her because you were angry that the Maid Supervisor nearly killed that child.”

The Queen Mother frowned.

“Ha. What is a Princess doing engaging in such simple competition with a lowly servant?”

“But Your Majesty, it turns out that child is from the Late King’s Royal Guard.”

Lady Pinatelli pretended not to notice the wrinkled hand wearing the ring pause, and continued speaking gently.

“For the Princess, that Maid is like the only trace left by the Late King. It’s my guess, but perhaps she’s enduring like this not to oppose Your Majesty, but to protect that child.”

She also added that the Princess had prevented Neryl from leaving the Princess’s Palace.

“So no one can easily touch her. The Late King’s memories are like Your Majesty’s reverse scale, so you cannot back down either.”

“…”

The Queen Mother remained silent for a while.

Her eldest son who had left so suddenly was always like a nail driven into her heart.

It hurt when she tried to pull it out, and even when left alone, it caused aching pain.

That’s why she resented and blamed her granddaughter even more…

“Hmph. Johan was the supreme ruler of this nation. And you’re saying the only trace he left behind is that one maid girl? That’s ridiculous.”

Though still gruff, her voice was much softer than before.

“That may be true for Your Majesty. But you know, don’t you? That Princess has nowhere to turn her heart to.”

Even when she hadn’t taken the Princess’s side, Lady Pinatelli had felt concerned for her.

Perhaps it was because she had personally experienced how cruel the world could be when her family fell and she became a lonely orphan.

“I too wandered for a long time after my husband passed away. But I was an adult then, and I had Your Majesty.”

“…”

“Princess was unfortunately not so blessed. How could I possibly fathom the feelings of losing both parents, who were like heaven to her, overnight at such a young age?”

“Are you trying to blame me now?”

The Queen Mother glared at her as she asked, but all the anger had drained from her voice.

“Of course not. But Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, could I say one more thing?”

Lady Pinatelli spoke with a careful yet deliberate expression.

Her face, devoid of any smile, was quite solemn. The Queen Mother nodded.

“Doesn’t it seem strange that the Maid Supervisor tried so persistently to slander Princess? It seems like more than just holding a grudge over the beating…”

“…”

“It appears there might be another reason why she needed to bring down Princess.”

“…Come to think of it, it was odd that she came to me claiming it was for Medeia’s sake, especially since she was supposedly close friends with Catherine.”

Now that her immediate hatred and anger had subsided, the Maid Supervisor’s intention in making such a fuss and escalating the matter seemed suspicious.

“So… knowing you would be angry, I took action first. I will gladly accept Your Majesty’s rebuke.”

Lady Pinatelli offered a bundle of documents while asking for forgiveness.

Soon after.

“Quizin, that damned wretch!”

The table in the Queen Mother’s Palace shook violently.

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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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