The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 309

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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 156

The First Prince and his wife were dancing to the melody on the floor.

Due to countless expeditions including conquest wars, First Prince Chezare had missed his father’s birthday more years than he had attended.

Even when he did attend, he would always just show his face briefly before leaving, yet now he was dancing in the Grand Banquet Hall.

This was the same person who would cruelly shatter the courage of countless young ladies who barely mustered the nerve to ask him to dance, with just one arrogant and cold glance.

Watching the First Prince hold his wife’s small hand and move his feet smoothly, people were amazed to realize for the first time that he could have the face of such an ‘ordinary lover.’

The light purple dress hem fluttered across the cream-colored floor.

His firmly built lower body and black shoes steadily supported those movements.

The couple matched their steps flawlessly.

Even the onlookers thought that regardless of what kind of personalities this young couple had, they could not deny that their appearance was breathtakingly well-matched.

After the dance ended, Chezare brought clear sparkling drinks to his wife’s lips before the maid who had seated her, and took the cumbersome lace cape from her.

‘Ha. Since when has that bastard Chezare been so devoted.’

The Queen Mother frowned.

The sight of the First Prince listening and paying attention only to his wife seemed ridiculous.

And the First Prince’s Wife who accepted it so naturally as well.

“Hey, poke my eyes right now. Have I gotten fog in my eyes from old age? The First Prince is acting like that…”

“They say people become different when they fall in love… I never dreamed the First Prince would cherish his wife like that.”

People swallowed their shock at seeing the incredibly arrogant First Prince openly display the devoted husband’s demeanor of serving his wife without any hesitation.

Because of this, even the fact that the First Prince’s Wife was sitting at the head table with the other imperial consorts didn’t cause much of a stir.

The Queen Mother’s gaze watching this scene grew even colder.

In the eyes of the Kazens, having the cruel and murder-obsessed First Prince appear as someone who cherishes his wife was definitely not something to welcome.

He had achieved superiority in the succession struggle with achievements and military power that overwhelmed his brothers.

However, obedience gained through sword and fear is only temporary.

Emperor Chezare had failed to win the true hearts of the Kazens. And it was her son Juan who had exploited that gap.

‘A throne that has lost the people’s hearts is bound to be overturned at any time. So our Juan has a chance too.’

But now, the First Prince’s Wife was trying to open channels to fill her husband’s weaknesses one by one.

And most decisively.

‘Behind that girl is Valdina.’

If even the new empire supported Chezare’s march toward the throne, her son’s position would inevitably become precarious.

The Queen Mother’s eyes toward Medeia filled with fierce hostility.

‘Do you think your husband is any different? As long as that vile emperor’s blood flows in his body, he’s the same.’

The Queen Mother sneered inwardly.

Even the current affectionate love would only last until he sat on the throne.

No, his father had already removed that mask even before ascending to the throne, so if it’s Chezare, that cunning bastard, it might be even sooner.

‘You don’t realize he’s scheming to use your brother’s power, how foolish.’

What use was being skilled at petty power struggles?

The First Prince’s Wife was ultimately just like the Dowager Empress, a half-baked know-it-all who was intoxicated by the superficial affection a man gave and couldn’t see the true face that would flip at any time before power.

Anyway, Chezare’s pathetic pretense would be stripped away today.

‘No matter how helpful Valdina’s backing is, it can’t prevent the immediate crisis of being branded as the main enemy in this country right now.’

Even because of his position as First Prince, he wouldn’t be able to cover up his wife’s knight who leaked information to a foreign country.

The Queen Mother glanced sideways.

Bridget, who noticed her master’s gaze, nodded slightly.

It meant everything had proceeded without a hitch.

“Dea, what is it?”

Meanwhile, Chezare asked as if he could only feel his wife’s gaze among all those stares.

“Can you feel them starting to take the bait?”

Was it because they had completely stolen the banquet hall’s attention, or because of today’s finale they had ‘prepared’? The gazes of the Queen Mother and her son also occasionally swept over the couple.

“Juan hasn’t yet, but his mother has taken it.”

The fishing line that had pierced through the gills was slowly becoming taut.

The smile in his golden eyes deepened.

“…”

Only Medeia would be able to notice that this man, even more beautiful under the chandelier’s light, was strangely on edge right now.

The more the languid smile hanging like a portrait deepened, the more impossible it became to guess his mood.

How many times would one have to overcome the sharp blue blades hidden beneath this dazzlingly splendid banquet hall to be able to pretend such enjoyment?

Anyway, this place was where everything about her was being observed.

Medeia quietly touched her pinky finger under the table.

She just wanted to convey that from now on, at least it wasn’t his fight alone.

“…My wife is quite affectionate.”

Pausing, Chezare’s finger, having noticed the delicate contact, gently brushed across the back of her hand.

* * *

The Grand Banquet Hall, Emperor Perdickas’s seat.

“Your Majesty, please wet your lips.”

The Dowager Empress, who had been wiping his mouth with a coquettish smile, rose from beside the Emperor.

She knew better than anyone what he enjoyed.

Her elegant hands selected only foods that suited the Emperor’s taste and arranged them beautifully on a silver tray.

“Indeed, you are the only one who thinks of me. Head Servant, send the chest of black pearls that the Duchy of Libea offered to me earlier to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

Regular pearls were already precious, but to gift an entire chest filled with black pearls! The envious eyes of the aristocratic ladies turned toward the Dowager Empress.

“This is a gift to celebrate Your Majesty’s honorable birthday, so how could I dare to take it carelessly?”

As the Dowager Empress shook her head, Perdickas II repeatedly pressed the gift upon her while praising how beautifully she had adorned herself today.

But that was only for a moment,

“Father! Were you satisfied with the performance I prepared for you?”

Soon, when the play prepared by the Queen Mother and the 3rd Prince unfolded, the attention the Dowager Empress had been receiving was helplessly pushed aside.

“What a wonderful gift. Juan, you have made me very happy.”

Perdickas II was so moved that he personally went up on stage and clasped his son’s hands.

The short play that had just been performed on stage was about an unknown hero who bravely defeats enemies and finally becomes emperor.

After the play ended amid tension and cheers, at the final scene—when the protagonist sitting on the throne removed his golden mask, people were startled.

The person who had shown such perfect acting that no one would doubt he was an actor was none other than 3rd Prince Juan.

“Even if I could only reach Father’s footsteps, it would be a successful life. Even that would require me to pour out my insufficient talent and effort endlessly, so I could never compare to Father, who was a chosen king from birth.”

That play was adapted by taking only the most brilliant parts of Perdickas II’s life.

Watching the 3rd Prince perform so passionately that sweat dripped between his golden armor and mask, the Emperor’s heart swelled with his son’s flattery.

The Emperor’s face, flushed with joy, was like a ripe red carrot about to burst.

“Yellow and red… Which is uglier, a yellow clown or a red clown?”

Watching the embracing father and son, Chezare muttered indifferently.

“Should this side wear a blue mask?”

But there’s no such thing, so what to do.

Despite his seemingly regretful tone, his voice contained no trace of misery from being rejected by his father or sense of crisis about the 3rd Prince.

In the bustling noise of the banquet hall, only Medeia heard his words.

She had to bite her lips tightly to keep from laughing.

Anyway, the 3rd Prince and his mother, who had satisfied Perdickas II’s thirst for recognition more than countless gifts, received the most praise today.

Riding on that momentum, the Queen Mother casually dropped a remark.

“If Angelique had been here too, she surely would have brought joy to Your Majesty. It’s truly regrettable.”

Her words ended softly, and her drooping eyebrows held regret.

“That child has such an unaffected and pure nature that she surely would have delighted Your Majesty no less than Juan.”

“…”

At that moment, the smile immediately disappeared from Perdickas II’s face.

His body even pulled back. As if unconsciously creating distance from the Dowager Empress beside him, Angelique’s mother.

“Ha, if I had been delighted twice, this empire would have been shattered by now!”

It was a cold rebuke that even shattered the gentle melody flowing through the banquet hall.

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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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