The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 301

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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 148

Princess Straus trembled. She tried to move her lips, then stopped.

When she was reflected in the First Prince’s Wife’s emotionless eyes, she was instantly terrified.

Enough to forget even the burning heat of her stinging cheek.

‘What if she really kills me?’

Immunity privilege. With just those words, the First Prince’s Wife could avoid any punishment.

Like that insect skewered and torn apart on the tea fork over there, the woman before her would tear her to shreds and walk away gracefully with that beautiful appearance intact.

She looked around, but everyone avoided her eyes as if afraid the sparks would fly to them.

‘No, this can’t be…’

A primal fear for her life surged up.

“My rude…”

Princess Straus finally lowered her blazing eyes in defeat.

“I can’t hear you very well.”

“Please forgive my rudeness… I beg you…”

“I still can’t hear you.”

The First Prince’s Wife’s voice was calm.

However, her indifferent gaze without a trace of warmth was still looking down at the Princess.

The moment she met those eyes, Princess Straus realized.

The words of her nanny who had grabbed her as she left the manor today flashed through her mind.

“Be careful, Miss. They say the First Prince’s Wife absolutely won’t tolerate anyone touching her family. Even when Valdina was still a powerless small nation, when the 4th Princess insulted her father, she threw down her glove right there on the spot.”

So she had thought to strike at that very weakness.

If the First Prince’s Wife got excited and caused trouble, she could exploit that opening—

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

If she had at least not insulted her mother, she wouldn’t have been cornered to this extent like now.

But it was too late to regret it now.

Princess Straus realized that until she endured the humiliation she deserved,

this merciless play would never end.

“Oh—!”

At that moment, a short gasp flowed from the aristocratic ladies’ lips.

Princess Straus had picked up her teacup and poured it over her own head.

The dark tea flowed down her hair that was neatly tied with pearl pins, staining her dress a darker color.

“With my shallow insight, I dared… to speak rudely to Your Highness. Please, withdraw your anger…”

It was thorough submission, crushed by survival instinct.

Along with the blood on her tightly bitten lips, liquid that could have been tea or tears dripped down her cheeks.

Having grown up pampered as an only precious daughter, she had never lowered herself so miserably before.

The others watching that miserable scene of the First Prince’s Wife thoroughly bringing the Princess to her knees also felt their spines grow cold.

No one could accept this situation as merely an interesting spectacle anymore.

The Princess was just an example.

In truth, the First Prince’s Wife was clearly warning everyone right now.

That if she wanted, she could savagely bite anyone at any time.

“Of course. Oh my, to spill tea like that, you must have been very distressed. How could I not understand? Go home and rest now.”

Medeia, who had watched the Princess pour tea on herself right before her eyes, spoke in a worried voice.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Princess Straus was rather grateful for that dismissal and hurriedly left.

Never once able to lift her head to the end.

“You’ll understand, won’t you, Dowager Empress? Since the Duke of the North cherishes his daughter so much, we can’t let incidents happen in the Imperial Palace.”

The First Prince’s Wife spoke gently while watching the Princess’s retreating figure as she fled.

But that wasn’t a question—it was a declaration.

As if she were the host of this tea party, as if the Dowager Empress’s permission wasn’t needed.

The First Prince’s Wife had shot an arrow of provocation at the Dowager Empress, returning the earlier rudeness.

The attendees held their breath inwardly.

‘I thought the Prince’s Wife had a gentler temperament compared to the First Prince…’

Where was the kindness and gentleness in that appearance of trampling the Dowager Empress’s dignity underfoot?

How could that black devil have taken a different species as his lifelong companion?

She too was fierce and ruthless like the First Prince, as if not a drop of blood would come out even if stabbed.

Rather, the First Prince at least gave warnings with his cold appearance, but this First Prince’s Wife who looked fragile and soft…

If you were fooled by that tender exterior… you’d end up smashing your own head like the Princess just did.

“…”

No one dared to open their mouth carelessly.

They feared who that tea fork blade still stuck in the table would point at next.

People couldn’t dare meet the First Prince’s Wife’s gaze and lowered their eyes.

And they mentally reviewed whether they had unknowingly shown hostility toward the First Prince’s Wife or committed any discourtesy.

At that moment, the existence called the Dowager Empress was no longer visible to them.

Because they had no time to care about anyone else in their terror of having their necks cut as an example.

“…”

The Dowager Empress clutched her dress.

Ugly wrinkles formed all over the fine, soft dress fabric.

Until the ice-cold tea party ended and all the attendees left, the wrinkles in the dress only grew more numerous.

“…Are you satisfied now.”

When everyone had left and only the First Prince’s Wife remained, the Dowager Empress bit her lips and glared at her.

“Cunning thing. Now I understand why Angelique suffered so much.”

She could now fully understand her daughter’s resentment.

“Caught by a snake-like creature like you, how did my daughter endure it? You must have been very busy picking off my people one by one.”

Medeia smiled brightly.

“You know how it is. Since the First Prince is quite skilled at that kind of ‘persuasion’ method, even the Dowager Empress’s precious people weren’t that difficult.”

“You threatened my people with their lives and now you’re bragging about it?”

“I sent them all back with their limbs intact, so I’m hurt that you resent me like this, Dowager Empress. Perhaps I should have left marks on their fair skin for my sincerity to get through?”

Medeia shrugged her shoulders.

At that brazen retort, the Dowager Empress’s beautiful jaw trembled intermittently. It was to suppress her anger.

If not for her experience of fighting the Queen Mother for decades, she would have lost her composure and exploded right there.

“First Prince’s Wife.”

The Dowager Empress’s voice sank low.

“How many people do you think I’ve seen in this position who got their heads cracked while showing off petty tricks like yours?”

“The Dowager Empress has no need to be so hostile toward me.”

Then, a clear voice lightly echoed through the greenhouse again.

The intimidating presence that had dominated the space until just before vanished, and a gentle atmosphere like spring breeze bloomed.

The smile on Medeia’s lips remained completely intact.

“The 4th Princess has helped Valdina greatly, so how could I forget that kindness? So if we’re being precise… I’m on both of your sides.”

At that moment, fire flashed in the Dowager Empress’s eyes.

Unable to endure any longer, she picked up a teacup and threw it.

“Are you… mocking us mother and daughter right now?!”

Who caused Angelique to end up like that!

Even at the sharp sound of the cup breaking, Medeia didn’t move.

“It was the 4th Princess who proposed the tribute wager, who brought in the wolf pack to target me. Are you now going to say that the 4th Princess’s alliance with Samon Claudio is also my fault?”

“You, you…!”

No one had ever spoken so openly and boldly before the Dowager Empress.

The Dowager Empress’s body trembled violently, unable to contain her rage.

“Even if that’s true for the 4th Princess, if the Dowager Empress thinks the same way… then I’ve seriously misjudged people.”

Despite the Dowager Empress’s fury, Medeia clicked her tongue with a calm face. Her green eyes coolly swept over the Dowager Empress.

“I thought you were someone with the strength to have endured against the Queen Mother all this time.”

“Ha. Now you’re finally showing your true colors.”

The Dowager Empress let out a scoffing breath.

“I see you’re trying to sit on top of my head.”

Her gaze fell upon the red signet ring that Medeia was wearing.

“With His Majesty’s protection and your husband’s signet, do you think this entire Empire is now in your hands?”

That must be why she’s become so arrogant. Her teeth ground together.

However, Medeia smiled peacefully as if she couldn’t feel the Dowager Empress’s hatred at all.

“I’m saying that when there’s a common enemy, today’s foe can become tomorrow’s friend.”

“What did you…?”

“1st Prince Chezare and 3rd Prince Juan.”

Medeia’s gaze sank with determination.

“Of the two people currently remaining in the Imperial Palace, who would pose a greater threat to Your Majesty the Dowager Empress’s safety if they ascended to the Imperial Throne?”

The Dowager Empress was left speechless.

“Would it be the 1st Prince who has me as his wife—someone who holds gratitude toward the 4th Princess—or would it be the 3rd Prince who has the Queen Mother as his mother?”

“…You!”

“Let me put it in terms that are easier to understand.”

Medeia’s voice became even softer.

“To protect the comfort and position that Your Majesty the Dowager Empress currently enjoys, which side would allow for coexistence?”

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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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