The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 305

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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 152

This woman of commoner origin named Bridget had been a lowly maid serving the Queen Mother when she first entered the palace.

She had now established herself as one of the most seasoned court ladies in the Kazen Imperial Palace, second only to the Imperial Maid Supervisor.

Despite being of an age where she could leave the palace, she remained one of the loyal servants still attending to the difficult and sensitive Queen Mother.

“….”

Instead of answering, Bridget quietly placed a velvet box on the table.

These were the ‘gifts’ the Queen Mother had sent to win over the new High Priest.

The Queen Mother let out a scoffing laugh and tapped the palm-sized velvet box.

The glossy surface showed no trace of being touched.

“I see, now that he’s come to a great nation like Kazen, something like this isn’t enough to satisfy him? For a clergyman to be so full of greed….”

“No, Your Majesty. That’s not it….”

Bridget swallowed briefly before continuing.

“The new High Priest has rejected all the goodwill from others who came to visit besides us, and wouldn’t even allow meetings.”

“….”

“Only the 1st Prince and his wife were exceptions. Looking into it further, he seems to frequently interact with the First Prince’s Wife’s subordinates as well.”

“The First Prince’s Wife?”

That wench again.

Finally losing her composure, the Queen Mother sharply furrowed her brow.

“Yes. Your Majesty, judging by the Holy Kingdom’s recent attitude, it seems the Great Cathedral is also trying to draw a line between themselves and our 3rd Prince faction.”

“…What exactly are they scheming? Wasn’t driving out the head of Kazen’s diocese enough?”

The Queen Mother gripped the tablecloth as if suppressing her anger. Unsightly wrinkles formed in the fabric.

“If only Norman had somehow remained in the Kazen diocese….”

How much money and effort had she poured in over the years to win over that old, arrogant High Priest.

Just when she was about to reap the fruits of her labor, Norman was ruthlessly expelled by the 1st Prince Chezare’s hand.

Simply for committing a ‘mistake’ against the First Prince’s Wife on that single day of the coronation ceremony.

“They say he was driven out loaded on a donkey without being able to take even a speck of dust with him.”

And Norman had also been someone the Queen Mother had personally brought in.

“That bastard Chezare definitely intended this. He deliberately threw filth in my face.”

The path to the Imperial Throne that she had so carefully built. One of its core pillars had been cut away in an instant before the Queen Mother could do anything.

“We can’t continue to leave things like this. Even if the Holy Kingdom won’t side with our Juan, they must not go to that bastard.”

That was when it happened.

“Your Majesty!”

A maid urgently entered the Queen Mother’s reception room.

“What matter makes you bustle about like an unsightly dog?”

“It’s about the Dowager Empress’s tea party….”

Soon after the maid reported what had happened at the Eastern Palace, the Queen Mother clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“Ha, unable to handle a single wench and being dragged around. I called her a fool, and she really acts like one.”

“The Dowager Empress had no choice. When the First Prince’s Wife slapped the Duke of the North’s daughter, she even brought up the immunity privilege she received from His Majesty the Emperor.”

Bridget nodded in agreement.

The situation at the tea party, where everyone would have been helpless and manipulated by the First Prince’s Wife alone, was clear without needing to ask.

The Queen Mother’s brow furrowed deeply.

‘Immunity privilege… That wench who was already acting up must have been ready to soar completely.’

Giving the First Prince’s Wife another weapon at this point was definitely not a favorable development for the 3rd Prince faction.

“That wench needs to be broken as soon as possible.”

Broken and isolated.

“I don’t know why the Holy Kingdom has been so soft on that wench since the wedding….”

That too needed to be cut off. So that no one would think to easily extend a hand to the First Prince’s Wife.

“There’s no choice, I’ll have to step forward myself.”

“Your Majesty will personally?”

“Since no one wants to touch that wench, what choice is there?”

“But if you do that and the 1st Prince retaliates again….”

Bridget’s shoulders trembled considerably.

High Priest Norman, the head of Kazen’s diocese, had been cut down by a single thin arrow the Queen Mother had lightly thrown at that wench.

If this attempt also failed, thinking of who would pay the price and the prominent vassals of the 3rd Prince faction, the maid couldn’t hide her anxiety.

“Shut your mouth. Are you planning to act like a dog that tucks its tail before even fighting?”

Instead of being swayed by her loyal servant’s fear, the Queen Mother snorted.

“Since that bastard is so protective of his wife, I won’t target her directly this time. Isn’t there a Valdina Knight beside her?”

“You mean the Agema?”

The Queen Mother rose from her seat.

She headed toward a long glass case on the wall of the inner chamber located deep within the Western Palace. Inside, lustrous weapons were displayed in a row.

All of them had been prepared for her son, the 3rd Prince.

The Queen Mother slowly walked along, stroking the glass with her extended index finger.

Then at some point, she stopped.

“This one will do nicely.”

The maid hesitated seeing her master open the glass case and pick up a sword. A subtle radiance flowed from the sharp blade.

It was a famous sword made by a dwarf craftsman from Alphensia.

Ten years ago, the Queen Mother had secretly diverted what should have been offered as tribute for her son.

“He’s been boldly walking around even though he came from an enemy nation. I’ve heard plenty that he’s at the top of the capital’s sword dueling competitions.”

However, if that knight’s enthusiastic sparring was actually for exploring Kazen’s military strength, the story would be different.

“His Majesty wouldn’t just stand by and watch if he knew. How could he let go of a spy trying to steal Kazen’s secrets and sell them to his own country?”

“A spy?”

“Yes. A spy.”

“…Ah, the 1st Prince would be in trouble. If he had to choose between his wife and one of her two subordinates.”

Bridget, who had looked puzzled, soon nodded as if understanding the Queen Mother’s plan.

Her master intended to use the Emperor’s inferiority complex toward Valdina to frame the First Prince’s Wife’s knight as a spy.

“If the First Prince’s Wife’s subordinate is eliminated, the couple would grow distant, and the 1st Prince would be alone again. If done well, we could catch two rabbits.”

“That’s right. I hear that Valdina royalty and their guard unit called Agema are all exceptionally close like family.”

The Queen Mother’s lips curved up coldly.

When faced with that loyal subordinate’s neck, would that wench still be able to act as nonchalantly as now?

* * *

A while later, in the capital’s downtown.

Deep inside an alley shrouded in darkness, lights were on in a tavern frequently visited by the Imperial Palace’s high nobles and knights.

Perhaps for that reason, the furniture was polished and maintained a clean yet unpretentious atmosphere.

“Innkeeper, another bottle of liquor here!”

“Yes! Coming right up!”

Though it was well past midnight, the tavern was still bustling with noise.

After today’s sparring ended, everyone was eating and drinking in good spirits, their excitement at its peak.

“Brother, really, that aura, how did you draw your sword so quickly? Please tell only me.”

The Gray-Haired Knight asked Menil with sparkling eyes. Several large empty cups were already placed in front of him.

“You weren’t bad yourself either. If you build up your lower body strength a bit more, your speed will improve too.”

Menil spoke casually.

“During sparring, you seemed to constantly be conscious of your right shoulder, so you must have injured it before? Rather than that, try practicing drawing aura from that point. If you can’t overcome a weakness, it’s better to compensate for it.”

“Wow, you’re really amazing. You’re like a fortune teller. When I first awakened, I was clumsy with aura manipulation and got my shoulder cut.”

The Gray-Haired Knight was moved.

“You’re the first person like this, brother. To teach me so generously, since I was born lowly and learned aura by watching others….”

The knight had a touched expression.

In truth, aura manipulation methods were no different from awakened knights’ secret techniques, so it was rare for someone to teach like this unless they had a relationship as deep as master and disciple.

“Your skill is excellent and your attitude of wanting to keep learning is admirable. Usually, people at that level would be content and stop there.”

Menil’s face showed genuine fondness.

The Agema were open to those who continuously sought to learn and improve. Especially to those trying to overcome difficulties of environment and birth.

“Don’t worry. If you work diligently, there will come a moment when your eyes open!”

Even now, pleasantly drunk, the fact that the knight was a Kazen didn’t seem to matter much.

“Ugh, brother. Please accept this, think of it as tuition from a worthless fool.”

The knight held out a dagger wrapped in black cloth. It was a fine sword about the length of a medium sword.

“Long ago, I secretly defeated a high-ranking noble and received this instead of prize money. This is the only valuable thing I have.”

“Huh? It’s fine. I wasn’t expecting anything…”

“No, please accept it. Think of it as proof that you’ve become my teacher.”

Swaying, he casually pushed the sword under Menil’s armpit.

“No. I already have a sword I use, so you just keep this.”

“That won’t do. You’re like a teacher who taught me for the first time in my life without asking for payment… If you really don’t want it, I’ll complete my aura later and challenge you to another duel to take it back, so please just hold onto it until then.”

The knight gulped down the last remaining alcohol. Whether from being heavily drunk or the situation, both his face and eyes were red.

“Ugh, brother. I think I’m going to make an unseemly display, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“Alright, if that’s what you want—”

“Sir Menil, look at this guy! I’m right, aren’t I? In this stance, you should place your foot like this—!”

Around that time, knights from another table grabbed Menil’s arm and pulled him over. Adding another cool drink was a bonus.

“Huh? Wait, wait, hey, this person really… You, be careful going home!”

Menil had no choice but to strap the sword he received from the knight to his waist before leaving his seat. In the midst of it all, he waved his hand toward the departing knight.

“Ugh, I’m getting drunk… Why is this alcohol so strong…”

Soon, the worried voice of the innkeeper echoed over Menil, who had collapsed face-down on the table.

“Oh my, are you alright, my lord? Good heavens, I told you not to drink too much—”

However, he didn’t know. That Menil’s eyes, with his head lowered, were clearly staring at the floor.

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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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