The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 274

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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 121

Not long after Medeia staggered to her feet and left the corridor, an attending priest approached Rachel’s side.

The attending priest accidentally knocked over a cup.

Splash—!

“Ah, my apologies, Saint.”

As Rachel’s cream-colored saint robes became deeply soaked, Paollo scolded harshly.

“You fool! Do you know where you are to act so recklessly!”

That was when it happened.

The moment High Priest Paollo, snorting with anger, slammed the table supposedly for Rachel’s sake,

the back of the chair grazed Rachel’s right hand as it passed.

“…Kgh!”

Rachel’s face contorted with an inaudible groan.

“Saint? Are you alright?”

Paollo was startled and hurriedly examined Rachel.

However, he found no particular injury on her white hand.

“Yes… I’m fine. Please calm down, High Priest.”

Rachel hastily hid her right hand under her sleeve and turned away.

Then she straightened her clothes without losing her smile.

“It was just an accident. I only need to change clothes, so please don’t scold him too harshly.”

She quietly disappeared outside the corridor as if nothing had happened.

Pain spread like pus beneath her back, but she swallowed it down with all her might.

The corridor of the Central Temple shrouded in deep darkness was quiet.

The attending priest from earlier quietly approached and stood beside Rachel.

“The one who was nearby, you dealt with her?”

“Yes.”

He, wearing his robe pulled low, led the way as if guiding her.

When the chapel door creaked open, inside was Neryl, collapsed and unconscious.

The dagger embedded in her side and the fresh blood flowing from her lips seemed to show the violent struggle that had occurred moments before.

‘Not even 10 stars, yet she made such a fuss.’

Tch, Rachel twisted her lips into a crooked smile.

Remembering how she stayed by Medeia’s side like a loyal dog made her even more spiteful.

“Good work.”

Rachel stepped on Neryl’s hand as she passed.

She pressed down hard as if crushing flesh, but there was no reaction from the unconscious knight.

Soon Rachel straightened up and discovered Medeia collapsed beneath the stone wall of the chapel.

“…”

Thump thump. Her heart raced.

Rachel strode forward and stood before Medeia, then slowly bent down.

She brought her hand under the Princess’s nose.

She felt nothing.

Only some lukewarm warmth remained on the skin, but no pulse could be detected anymore.

The damp coldness characteristic of the dead seeped through her fingertips.

“Ahahaha! It’s done, finally!”

Rachel let out an exclamation of joy.

“Mother! I did it!”

Venus, the prophecy—it was all over now. Because this girl would breathe no more.

“The prophesied child? Don’t make me laugh, it’s over. Now everything—”

Rachel stopped mid-sentence and checked the time. She couldn’t be away from her seat too long. It was still too early to raise a toast.

“…Take this to the Hall of Judgment.”

She quietly whispered to the attending priest standing beside her.

This girl’s usefulness wasn’t over yet.

The Hall of Judgment would be the place to showcase this glorious end to everyone.

Rachel swallowed the silent surge of euphoria.

* * *

“Take her to the Hall of Judgment.”

After Rachel left the chapel with her cold command and turned away,

“…”

Just as the attending priest arrived at the Hall of Judgment and was about to set down the dead Princess’s body, a shadow hidden in the darkness glided out.

“Kgh—!”

Simultaneously, a silver sword flew like lightning and pierced the attending priest’s chest. At the same time, a short dagger grazed his neck.

Without even managing to scream, the priest collapsed.

Just as the Princess’s corpse he was carrying was about to fall, the shadow from the darkness caught her.

Moonlight illuminated his face.

It was Theo, a handsome Holy Knight with a stern expression.

He carefully held Medeia and stepped inside.

Theo, who had carefully laid her on the cold altar, swallowed his breath.

“Princess.”

“…”

His trembling hand touched the altar instead of reaching for Medeia.

She lay with her eyes closed, completely motionless.

“…Are you alright?”

“…”

For a moment, his heart sank.

‘I followed the plan, so why… why isn’t she waking up?’

Before she lost consciousness, Theo had switched the cups in advance.

What Medeia drank wasn’t the deadly poison Rachel had applied to the cup.

It was a drug that would temporarily stop Medeia’s breathing and pulse to deceive Rachel’s eyes.

The amount and concentration of the drug, calculated precisely for time and effectiveness…

He had prepared everything perfectly without a single error. No, he believed he had…

‘What if I made a mistake…’

Had the drug been even slightly too much? Or perhaps it didn’t suit the Princess’s constitution?

Were there side effects he didn’t know about?

Ominous thoughts began to gnaw at Theo’s mind one after another.

‘I shouldn’t have accepted the order to use your body as bait.’

This cold and vicious woman who used everyone as mere chess pieces made no exception even for herself.

This silence while the Princess remained unconscious felt to Theo like being crushed under a sharp blade.

‘I’m anxious because the operation might fail, because we might lose the chance to judge the false saint.’

That’s why I’m so afraid. There could never be any other reason—

“You’re awake—!”

Just as Theo’s fingertips grew cold, Medeia finally opened her eyes.

“…”

The indifferent and cold green eyes from his memories were looking directly at him.

“Dear God…”

Theo unconsciously collapsed and pressed his forehead against the altar. Relief that seemed drawn from deep within his chest burst forth.

“The Covenant Cup?”

Medeia, who had opened her eyes, slowly sat up and asked indifferently.

Despite witnessing Theo’s intense reaction, she showed no concern whatsoever. He answered with forced composure.

“Yes, it’s prepared.”

Soon, when the Saint’s true identity was revealed, the real Covenant Cup that she had poisoned would be presented as decisive evidence to the Pope and High Priests.

“But… how did you know the Saint would choose the Hall of Judgment?”

Theo asked.

The Princess had accurately predicted the Saint’s actions from distant Valdina, even though he himself, who was in the same temple, hadn’t known about them.

‘…If it’s Rachel, she would try to make the most use of my death.’

“She needs to stage my death like divine punishment for her authority as a Saint to be revived. For that purpose, there’s no better stage than this.”

The Hall of Judgment.

This sacred place where the Goddess sees through sins invisible to humans and delivers justice.

Medeia turned around and looked around the room.

‘But Rachel, this place doesn’t only have the statue of the Goddess of Justice that you desire.’

She would have focused only on the goddess statue standing tall in the center. But the massive sacred painting hanging behind the altar below it was actually a disguised glass wall.

It was a space for those who would silently watch everything that happened in the Hall of Judgment.

And beside it, behind a casually hung curtain, was the Mirror of Truth moved from the Mirror Chamber.

A mirror that would reveal the truth, and a glass wall to watch everything—a single stage prepared solely for the Saint, equipped with everything.

“Now, it’s time to invite the audience.”

At Medeia’s brief dismissal, Theo came to his senses and nodded.

* * *

Back to the central corridor.

The corridor was still filled with music and laughter. 

Elderly guests sat at tables, sipping glasses filled with world tree wine. 

Meanwhile, on the floor, young and glamorous men and women danced in pairs to the soft melody of harps. 

Rachel glanced around the corridor. 

The reception was in full swing, and no one had yet noticed the Princess’s absence.

“When the song of the holy feast rings out, I shall return to offer blessings again. Since all proprieties have been observed, I must briefly focus on my duty of prayer. Please forgive the rudeness of my temporary absence.”

Since the Pope and High Priests had also left their seats, Rachel’s statement was naturally accepted.

Rachel stepped outside the corridor.

‘Foolish things. They’re laughing without even knowing what happened to their master.’

She cast a sideways glance at the Agema who were mingling with Facade’s mercenaries in dance competitions.

That boisterous laughter would soon turn to wailing. 

Rachel’s heart pounded.

She imagined how their bright faces would darken one by one and die in the despair that would soon come. 

A moment later, the Sanctuary of the Saint.

Rachel entered inside. 

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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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