The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 295

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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 142

“Indeed, the Late Emperor’s foresight illuminates our couple’s future.”

The Emperor gripped his cane tightly with trembling hands.

“For the master of this Empire to personally protect my wife, what greater congratulatory gift could there be? This foolish son failed to recognize the Late Emperor’s affection and showed insolent behavior.”

Chezare smiled languidly, simultaneously grating on both the Emperor and Queen Mother’s nerves.

The Emperor was tormented that he couldn’t revoke the guardian position and privileges due to propriety.

The Queen Mother was also pained by the fact that this would become a protective shield preventing others from carelessly touching the First Prince’s Wife.

Soon, a firm hand grasped Medeia’s hand and gently pulled her.

“Then we couple shall take our leave. Late Emperor, may you live ten thousand years. To protect my wife and guard this land, you must remain healthy for eternity.”

He didn’t forget to express his gratitude in a deliberately slow manner, as if to provoke.

“That fool wrapped in my daughter-in-law’s dress skirts, unable to tell heaven from earth, will eventually captivate the people’s eyes and covet this Imperial Throne. I can’t stand the sight of you, so get out!”

Perdickas II shouted, while simultaneously speaking coldly to Medeia.

“Though it’s a privilege I granted, I won’t overlook anything beyond your station. Don’t be mistaken—not everyone who stands beside a prince becomes an empress.”

His voice was so ominous it could freeze one’s bones.

It was tantamount to declaring he would never make the First Prince crown prince.

Unbearable joy flashed across the Queen Mother and Juan’s faces.

“How could I dare covet that lofty position? It’s merely the delusion of some foolish ones.”

Medeia bowed respectfully.

The woman who had stood stiffly asserting her privileges now bowed at this very moment, making the Emperor’s anger boil over.

Moreover, “foolish ones.”

‘Is she mocking me?’

“While knowing the command issued by His Majesty, there are only petty people who would put their greed before Your Majesty’s dignity,”

As if not seeing the Emperor’s face reddening again, Medeia calmly finished her words.

“The noble master of Kazen surely sees through all such schemes, doesn’t he?”

“…”

At those words, the Emperor hesitated.

It was as if someone had thrust a cold blade into his mind, which had been filled with rage toward his eldest son and daughter-in-law.

Medeia silently swallowed her laughter.

‘Something more frightening than anger. It’s suspicion.’

Had the Queen Mother, mistress of the Inner Palace, truly forgotten the privileges her husband granted to the Princess of Valdina?

Or had she dared to test the Emperor’s authority while knowing about them?

‘A single drop of suspicion is enough.’

She knew the Emperor’s paranoia would spread it at will, dyeing his mind pitch black.

Perdickas II hated her and Chezare to the point of loathing.

That hatred fortunately became the perfect smokescreen hiding Medeia’s instigation at this moment.

Led by Chezare’s hand out of the Imperial Palace, Medeia’s face remained expressionless.

‘The Emperor’s hatred and inferiority complex toward Chezare run deep.’

If his son had died, he would have become a painful thorn in his heart that couldn’t be removed, but since he survived to the end, it seemed to stimulate his inferiority complex even more.

‘The crown prince position won’t fall into our hands easily.’

Then the goal was clear.

They had to bring down the Third Prince, currently the most likely candidate for that position.

While Medeia was deep in thought, Chezare stopped walking.

Suddenly, she felt strength in the hand that gripped hers.

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

She looked up at Chezare’s face, but he wasn’t looking at her.

His gaze strangely avoided hers, as if he were avoiding her eyes.

“I made you hear filthy words.”

He said quietly.

His leisurely provocation before the Emperor seemed to have been only a facade.

She could feel his emotions in his low, rough voice that sounded locked away.

“To see and hear the most hideous things first upon setting foot in Kazen Imperial Palace.”

His hand stroked along Medeia’s silver hair.

His fingers glided along her ear, then gently caressed her soft, delicate earlobe.

As if trying to wash away his father’s harsh words that had just touched her ears.

His fingertips, carefully caressing something precious, felt like an apology.

“…It won’t happen again.”

Feeling the faint killing intent in his cool voice, Medeia shook her head.

“You know it’s still too early.”

While she was grateful that Chezare protected her even before the Emperor,

immediately baring his teeth at his father the moment someone touched Medeia, as he did earlier, wasn’t like him.

“Chezare. You need to be yourself.”

The First Prince who was detached from everything, lacking nothing in emotions or people, and thus able to maintain superiority until now.

Then the man, beautiful as a sculpture, laughed helplessly.

The sigh escaping between his well-shaped lips seemed to be the only thing showing his humanity.

“I can’t do that.”

The hand tracing her ear fell away.

His arms settled on Medeia’s shoulders, trapping her within them.

“Dea. When it comes to you, I can’t do that.”

Before Medeia could stiffen, Chezare buried his head above his own arms.

His fine black hair tickled her neckline softly.

Those thorns that should be nothing special because I’m so familiar with them—thinking of them touching your pure skin makes me unbearable.

I’ve been patient enough until you fall completely into my hands, I could swallow any immediate humiliation, but I don’t want to endure anymore.

I want to rampage like a mad dog, just because they dared touch you.

“I always mocked those whose reason was dominated by emotion, but now I’m doing that despicable thing—”

Chezare swallowed the words he couldn’t finish.

He felt like he would lose his composure and fall apart completely. He couldn’t tolerate such a version of himself.

Then he straightened up, feeling the small hand embracing his back.

“It wasn’t unexpected, and it’s not your fault.”

“…”

Medeia had experienced enough of bearing useless hatred unilaterally.

Today, experiencing the Emperor’s unreasonable anger and harsh words, she could easily imagine the days of the young boy who had grown up hearing such things.

Though she wouldn’t dare pity him for it.

‘I know what it feels like to be unwelcome to anyone.’

I know how piercing and miserable it is to have no one to attach your heart to in this splendid, vast palace.

“Chezare, you can’t choose your bloodline.”

Even if the world, everyone, pointed fingers at him, she knew it had been his struggle for survival.

“If doing your best to survive is a sin, then it’s better to become conspicuously evil.”

So she would tell him again and again that at least she believed he wasn’t wrong.

“…”

Chezare raised his head.

Perhaps because he had an expression unlike him, like a lost child she’d never seen before.

Medeia unconsciously reached out and cupped both his cheeks.

Before she could stand on tiptoe due to their height difference, he smoothly bent his waist and lowered himself.

Medeia caressed his ear with her hand, just as Chezare had done.

His ear was cold and surprisingly soft.

‘I wish you weren’t hurt either. I wish it could just be erased like this.’

Medeia found herself wishing without knowing it.

And that wish led her to lightly press her lips to Chezare’s cheek.

It was a kiss meant to comfort.

“…This is,”

Soon her cheeks flushed red in surprise at her own impulse, but she couldn’t stop.

At that moment, her waist was pulled firmly. She was drawn into his embrace as if being pulled in.

The sound of his roughly beating heart penetrated deep into Medeia’s chest.

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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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