The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 31
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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 31
“So no matter who takes the position of Royal Maid Supervisor, this kind of thing will keep repeating. But if it’s you, knowing I’m behind you, everyone will give up. At the same time, they won’t dare think of doing anything foolish.”
There was no way they wouldn’t be nervous with Lady Pinatelli, the Queen Mother’s eyes, roaming everywhere.
“You’re the only one who can straighten out this chaos. Only then can I feel at ease.”
Could one person receive such deep trust?
Lady Pinatelli was deeply grateful that the one giving it was even the Queen Mother.
‘Driving out the corrupt and depraved to set the royal family straight is something I too have long desired most.’
At the same time, Lady Pinatelli felt a little guilt that she couldn’t tell the Queen Mother the truth.
She bowed her waist.
“…I will do my best not to disappoint Your Majesty’s expectations. I will devote all my strength with my life.”
“…Yes, I’ll trust only you.”
A wrinkled hand slowly patted her shoulder.
* * *
“Did you hear? A new Royal Maid Supervisor came?”
“Lady Pinatelli? She was the Queen Mother’s close maid, right?”
The newly appointed Royal Maid Supervisor was someone who was both gentle as water and resolute.
She no longer tolerated the laziness and injustice that pervaded the royal palace.
She cut out every place former Maid Supervisor Quizin’s hands had touched, and there was a massive purge among the palace servants.
Having lived in the palace for a long time, Lady Pinatelli knew the reality of the royal palace well.
Especially, she was very passionate about rooting out the informants the Regent had planted everywhere.
With the Queen Mother firmly backing her, no one could stop the new Maid Supervisor’s unstoppable progress.
“The former Maid Supervisor was guilty of embezzlement, but what’s more shocking is that she was driven out for trying to plot against the Princess!”
Also, the story spread that the court physician who had been lazy when the Princess recently collapsed was thoroughly beaten and expelled from the palace.
“The Queen Mother does keep her granddaughter in her heart after all!”
The invisible hierarchy of the palace was gradually being established.
* * *
Princess’s Palace.
As the new Maid Supervisor reformed the palace, changes came to the Princess’s Palace as well.
“Make the arrangement similar to the Queen Mother’s Palace. Hang that curtain here.”
The new Maid Supervisor came directly to the Princess’s Palace to select the placement of items. Not a single item or piece of furniture lacked elegance.
One by one, as things took shape, it finally had the dignity befitting a royal residence.
“I greet Princess.”
Lady Pinatelli, who spotted Medeia, bowed deeply.
It was the very etiquette performed for royalty, lacking nothing.
Since the Maid Supervisor, the head of palace servants, showed such sincere respect to the Princess, others also straightened their backs.
‘Lady Pinatelli is the Queen Mother’s person. So the fact that she treats the Princess like that means the Queen Mother values the Princess.’
They could no longer ignore or disparage the Princess.
No matter how much the Queen Mother hated her granddaughter, the message was clear that she would never tolerate wicked people touching her granddaughter.
“Lady Pinatelli.”
Medeia nodded as she received the greeting.
“This place is dusty, so it’s not suitable for Your Highness to be here.”
“Since the Maid Supervisor has also been working hard all this time, would you like to get some fresh air with me for a moment? My garden is small but quite cozy.”
Lady Pinatelli did not refuse the Princess’s invitation.
“I can only be grateful for Your Highness’s consideration.”
The two sat in a secluded spot near the entrance. A bright ray of sunlight shone on them.
A faint shadow fell over Medeia’s head. Lady Pinatelli smiled.
“I’m simply amazed. That the situation flowed exactly as Your Highness predicted…”
“…”
“Thank you. That I can be in this position is all thanks to Your Highness’s grace.”
Instead of answering, Medeia picked up her teacup.
The dawn conversation that had passed between them sank beneath the rippling tea.
Lady Pinatelli also understood the meaning and smiled silently.
“The royal palace is being set right again. Your contribution is great, Lady. The seal I stamped has finally played its role.”
“What are you saying. I’m simply doing what I ought to do. Though it will take a long time because that Quizin left filth in so many places.”
“I believe you will do well, Lady.”
Medeia comforted Lady Pinatelli. Then she brought up something casually.
“By the way, while tracking the whereabouts of my former maids, I learned something, but I’m not sure if I should tell you about it.”
“Please tell me. If it’s about setting the royal family’s ways right, what would I hesitate about?”
Medeia moved her lips briefly before speaking.
“Lady Quizin… I heard she smuggled out and sold children from the palace.”
Smuggled out? Lady Pinatelli furrowed her brow.
“Are you saying Quizin was involved in human trafficking?”
“I don’t know the details either. When I tried to find the maid who left the clue again, even that maid had disappeared…”
Medeia lowered her eyelashes. Worry filled her noble expression.
“Regardless of their status, once they enter the palace, they are people of the royal family and citizens of Valdina. But if it’s true that they were forcibly sold from this palace…”
Lady Pinatelli first reassured the Princess.
“I understand Your Highness’s concern. I will look into it, so please don’t worry too much.”
“I was worried about bringing up such a burdensome matter when you’ve only just taken office, but since you say so, it eases my mind.”
Even with the massive investigation of Quizin, not a trace of the dirty gifts she sent to the Minister was revealed.
That meant Etien was secretly hiding his hobby that well.
“Since palace internal affairs were overseen by the former Maid Supervisor and the Minister of the Royal Household, how about consulting with the Minister? He might know something.”
Medeia added.
“Since the Minister also happened to get caught up in the Maid Supervisor’s schemes, I’m a bit cautious on my side.”
“I understand completely.”
Lady Pinatelli nodded.
* * *
Minister of the Royal Household’s office. The Minister threw down his newspaper with a thud.
It was a follow-up article about former Maid Supervisor Quizin.
“What a miserable failure. How stupid.”
Clicking his tongue, he scratched his protruding belly.
When Quizin was imprisoned, he immediately cut ties and looked for his own way out.
“How could I know what that woman did on her own?”
“Recently, she came looking for me saying she’d send more of those ‘toys.’ She probably planned to steal my things that day, connect them to the Princess, then try to control me. Since she had my weakness.”
He had also persuaded the Regent who came after hearing about that day’s battle and sent him back.
Anyway, there was no evidence of his complicity.
The Regent returned with an uneasy face.
Being a paranoid patient, even if he didn’t believe his words, he couldn’t completely let go.
Anyway, Quizin’s downfall had considerable repercussions for the Minister too.
Not only were the bribes he used to pocket while the new Maid Supervisor cleaned out various parts of the palace all blocked,
but most desperately.
With Quizin’s death, the source of his pleasure had disappeared.
‘Quizin, that woman at least had good abilities. Her ability to select goods was amazing.’
It was regrettable as if he had broken an irreplaceable convenient tool.
As he was smacking his lips alone, an attendant announced a visitor.
The Minister jumped up.
“Please come in, Lady Pinatelli!”
* * *
“Such a shameless person should have been expelled long ago, of course!”
The Minister slammed the table with his rough voice as if indignant.
He was constantly cursing former Maid Supervisor Quizin to win Lady Pinatelli’s favor.
“Didn’t I try to harm even Your Highness the Princess in the end while satisfying my greed? The Queen Mother was truly wise to immediately punish such a wretch.”
Following his chuckling jowls, his belly also jiggled flabbily.
However, Lady Pinatelli stared at him expressionlessly. The embarrassed minister stopped laughing.
“Ahem!”
“Well then, I should be going now. I hope you’ll look into the matter I mentioned once more.”
“Of course. Human trafficking—even demons would tremble at Quizin’s wickedness. I will certainly investigate the details thoroughly.”
Lady Pinatelli stood up after hearing the answer she wanted.
The minister rubbed his greasy hands and casually asked.
“Since we’ve formed this connection, I’d like to pay respects to the Queen Mother together sometime. When would be good?”
“I think the Queen Mother would be more pleased if we focused on the current issues rather than pursuing friendship.”
Lady Pinatelli’s answer was cold.
“Then I’ve been quite presumptuous.”
“…Yes. Take care.”
As the lady disappeared with a flawless bow, Count Etienne immediately smacked his lips.
“What a rigid wooden block. Ptui!”
He spat out the tea he had been drinking.
The water spurted out with a puff, disgustingly wetting the table. An attendant wearing a fox badge approached and pulled out a handkerchief.
“This has become troublesome. I hid it so carefully, how did they catch the scent?”
Since eyes were on him, it seemed he’d have to quietly lay low for a while, toys and all.
“Damn, how unlucky! Even in death, causing trouble.”
Nothing goes my way. He kicked the table in irritation.
* * *
Lady Pinatelli sent word that she had met with the minister.
‘He’s more cautious than I thought.’
The fact that many political enemies still hadn’t found the minister’s fatal weakness proved that.
‘Or perhaps the minister hid it well.’
Either way, the secret he had hidden for so long would soon be revealed.
Medeia turned around.
“Neryl, you said your friend Tom is from the streets?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’d like to ask him to run an errand.”
Neryl received a parchment listing herbs and various materials.
Having cut off the Regent’s left arm, the next turn was the right arm.
‘Minister Etienne. You’re next.’
After finishing the one remaining cleanup, that is.
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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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