The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 30

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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 30

As a result, it was revealed that she had embezzled and stolen royal goods from over twenty departments under her management.

Several chests filled with gold were found in Quizin’s house.

What was even more shocking was the fact that the Black Eye Trading Guild, the royal family’s official supplier, had conspired in her embezzlement.

“They created double ledgers. They inflated the amounts, procured inferior goods, and split the remaining difference between themselves. What a world they must have lived in!”

When the royal knights stormed in, the head of the Black Eye Trading Guild fled.

“So they ended up losing the ledgers in their panic?”

Joaquin Claudio.

The man more often called Prince Claudio or the Regent made no effort to hide his displeasure.

“The auditors led by the knights ransacked everything they could get their hands on, whether it was the palace or private homes.”

Catherine was equally flustered.

“Damn it, what about Etien! What the hell was the Minister doing!”

If the Minister of the Royal Household had been there, the situation would have been very different.

He would have somehow silenced those involved and covered up the incident.

“The problem was that this all happened while he was in hiding after being attacked at the palace.”

The Minister, frightened by the mysterious assassination attempt near the chapel, refused to enter the palace until the culprit was caught.

In the meantime, Sisear struck like a storm.

Prince Claudio wasn’t even given a chance to properly assess the situation.

The Queen Mother and Sisear took this opportunity to disband the Royal Trading Guild entirely to prevent future corruption.

They eliminated the very opportunity to monopolize royal supply contracts and line one’s pockets.

“Damn it, you should have stopped this!”

For the Prince, this was a more painful result than Quizin’s death.

The Black Eye Trading Guild had been his secret source of funds.

‘The guild master fled and the money was laundered multiple times, so the trail shouldn’t lead back to me.’

The Prince’s mouth twisted into an ugly grimace.

Just recently, the rebel forces had contacted him demanding funds. He had used the money meant for the rebels to buy back Medeia’s jewelry.

‘I thought the Black Eye Trading Guild would quickly make up for it…!’

Who could have predicted things would turn out this way.

There was a hole in his money pouch, and it didn’t seem like it would be easily patched.

To think that Quizin’s trivial attempt to cut off a finger or toe of his niece would return as a typhoon.

His head was pounding.

Catherine felt just as wronged by her husband’s reproach.

“It happened right before my eyes with no time to intervene, so how could I have done anything? Did I know that Quizin had lost her mind like that, or that Mother would suddenly draw her sword like this?”

The Queen Mother had punished everyone involved in this incident. The sword she drew still carried weight.

Under the pretense of restoring discipline as the royal family’s elder, her commands were justified, and thus no one could openly oppose them.

The Prince furrowed his brow.

“Get ready. I need to go see Mother.”

Since the Royal Trading Guild was disbanded, he had to at least reclaim the position of Maid Supervisor.

He urgently sought out the Queen Mother.

However, despite his haste, he failed to realize that his mother’s anger was still burning fiercely.

“A new Maid Supervisor? With all this chaos in the palace, is that more important to you than cleaning up the mess?”

Rather than persuading the Queen Mother, he received a severe scolding.

“…It is my oversight. I have nothing to say.”

He apologized for now.

He wasn’t afraid of his aging mother, but her position as Queen Mother was too troublesome to make an enemy of.

So he maintained the role of an obedient and caring son, at least on the surface.

“Mother. But how could you handle such major matters hastily without consulting me? If you had given it more time-“

The Queen Mother’s face darkened.

“How much more time should I give? Until lawless people like Quizin climb right over my head?”

His wife Catherine chimed in.

“He has a point. We can’t handle the palace’s disgrace so suddenly like this. To avoid damaging Princess’s honor, we need more thorough preparation…”

Using the Princess as an excuse was always effective. They were accustomed to playing the role of a couple devoted to their niece.

“Catherine, I heard she was your childhood friend. Are you sure you really didn’t know?”

However, instead of praising them as usual, the Queen Mother asked with sharp eyes.

“Mother, I was deceived too! Even knowing her for 10 years, I never dreamed she harbored such poison inside. I even deliberately cut contact after she became Maid Supervisor to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Catherine made excuses that she was busy with her duties as a duchess and had little contact.

“I suppose you were busy. How deep must Virna’s paper cut have been for the court physician to refuse my summons?”

Every word she threw was far from ordinary.

“And now you two should return to the ducal estate. Empty the Cottage House too. I’ve kept you here too long.”

The Queen Mother said she had been meaning to speak to them separately, but it was convenient that they came.

“Collateral branches shouldn’t remain in the royal palace, but since I, who should set an example, have violated the strict national law, people who look down on the royal family emerge. Now it must be corrected.”

The moment the word “collateral” came from his mother’s mouth, a cold flash passed through the Regent’s eyes.

Catherine was equally shocked.

Return to the ducal estate? Was the Queen Mother trying to banish them from the royal palace?

“Evil people find cracks anywhere. If it’s something done by Mother, the most senior member of the royal family, it would be exemplary in any case, so what is there to worry about?”

Catherine hid her confusion and flattered her.

“Besides, thinking about how I’ll worry day and night from afar about whether Mother might fall ill after we leave makes everything go dark before my eyes.”

However, her mother-in-law’s face, which should have softened, remained cold.

“Catherine. Is your reluctance to leave the palace truly out of concern for me?”

“What? Why do you say such hurtful things? If not for Mother’s well-being, what else would I wish for in this palace?”

“That’s right, Mother. You know better than anyone what kind of person she is.”

The Queen Mother silently looked at the couple.

“Enough. If that’s how you feel, then so be it. My head hurts. You may withdraw now.”

The Queen Mother waved her hand as if she had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Eventually, Prince Claudio and his wife, having received their dismissal, left the Queen Mother’s Palace in dejection.

“My second son’s family has too much greed.”

As the Queen Mother pressed her forehead and leaned back, Lady Pinatelli offered her warm tea.

“…Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“There are hyenas everywhere just waiting for opportunities. This royal palace has become a piece of meat that makes everyone drool.”

Even though this chaos was caused by someone they recommended, instead of reflecting, they were trying to manipulate things their way again.

Even her second son, whom she had trusted, was deeply disappointing.

‘With only wolves left in a house abandoned by its master, Valdina is in such peril.’

The Queen Mother sighed. She was not without responsibility for this outcome.

“The living must go on living, yet I’ve been lost in the fog for too long. How much our ancestors must blame this foolish one.”

The Queen Mother frowned and turned around.

“Pinatelli.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You’re the only one I can trust. Someone who can manage this piece of meat fairly without greed.”

“Your Majesty’s words are…”

“Please take on the role of Mistress of Maids.”

Surprise spread across Lady Quizin’s face.

As if she had never expected this, her usually calm voice trembled slightly.

“That cannot be. I swore to God that I would serve Your Majesty by your side for life. As for the Mistress of Maids, I will search again for someone suitable to Your Majesty’s satisfaction.”

“I once swore to protect you by my side for life. But for Valdina’s sake, God would forgive us.”

The Queen Mother took Lady Quizin’s hand.

Since entering the palace at a young age, Lady Pinatelli had always remained by her side with the same unwavering devotion for the past 20 years.

“In this vast place, there’s no one else I can completely trust and entrust things to besides you. Everyone is blinded by the position of Mistress of Maids, only scheming to fill their own bellies. Even Claudio, my own son.”

“Mother, but how could you handle such major matters hastily without consulting me?”

Claudio’s arrogant words stuck in the Queen Mother’s mind. No matter how she looked at it, those didn’t seem like words a subject should say.

‘Joaquin… He’s not aiming for a place he shouldn’t reach, is he? No, my son wouldn’t do that…’

Suddenly, a faint unease swept over her.

‘I need to clean things up. So that the second son doesn’t get any unnecessary ideas.’

The suspicion that had been ignited actually illuminated the Queen Mother’s vision, which had been hazy until now.

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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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