The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 310

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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 157

“If that wench had been here, she would have been shrieking and screaming. On such a joyful day, she has a natural talent for ruining my mood.”

Suddenly losing his appetite, he roughly pushed away the cup he had been drinking from.

“That wench doesn’t know how to please her father like you do, Juan. She only causes trouble, nothing more.”

Perdickas II’s expression grew even darker.

He was recalling the sharp words his daughter Angelique had hurled at him before being expelled from the holy city.

Even thinking about it again made his anger surge.

“Has that wench ever done anything properly? She has nothing but pride, and her mind and eyes are so dull that she easily fell for schemes.”

Murderous intent blazed in Perdickas II’s bloodshot eyes.

Just thinking of his stolen golden lands, Sardinia Island and the Elamuz Strait, made his teeth grind.

“Having such a fool for a child is my sin and Kazen’s misfortune.”

Saying this, Perdickas II glared at Medeia.

The current owner of those stolen lands and one who carried Valdina’s blood.

As if he wanted to pour out all that resentment onto Medeia instead.

‘If only it hadn’t been for three years ago, Valdina would still be groveling at my feet.’

Upon seeing Valdina’s emblem on the gifts placed in one corner of the grand banquet hall, marking its elevation to empire status, Perdickas II felt his insides churn again.

“Father, please don’t trouble yourself too much. Kazen’s territory is still vast. How could it compare to the grief of the small nation kings I conquered and offered to you?”

With an unusually gentle voice, Chezare cleverly blocked the Emperor’s gaze toward his wife.

Perdickas II glared at his son.

‘Yes, you’re determined to flaunt your achievements after all. This means you want to climb on top of your father’s head.’

The atmosphere in the banquet hall quickly became subtle.

Among those attending this gathering were some from countries that had been defeated by Chezare and made subordinate to Kazen.

“…”

Perdickas II pursed his lips and took a breath.

As the sovereign ruling those conquered territories, he still had enough sense not to display his anger in front of these people.

“…”

The Dowager Empress glared at the Queen Mother who had cleverly orchestrated this situation, trembling with rage.

But she could only bite her lips tightly, unable to say anything, watching the Emperor’s mood.

Fearing that in his anger, he might banish her daughter to an even harsher frontier than now.

‘I must endure.’

Even though the self-loathing of being a mother who couldn’t say a word while her daughter was mocked as a fool before all these people gnawed at her heart,

‘His Majesty’s hatred is still so fierce… If I move, our Angelique will be hurt. That child will be… hurt.’

She had to swallow her resentment in silence.

“Your Majesty, though it may be presumptuous, the ceremony to reward the meritorious cannot be delayed any longer.”

Then, Eratosthe broke the silence with a dry voice.

In his hands was a scroll stamped with the imperial seal.

As if the emotional whirlwind engulfing the distinguished guests in the banquet hall had nothing to do with him, the old man’s face was indifferent.

Wearing gray investigator robes with an expression seemingly stripped of all emotions, under the brilliant lighting that drained his coloring, he looked like a black and white piece cut out and painted black from a painting.

“Ah, has the time already come to this? Penteros, come closer.”

Perdickas II glanced at the clock and nodded.

As Eratosthe said, it was already time for the awards to be finished.

“Wolfgang Tarvio, Vasily Sen, step forward.”

Then came the exclamations of the meritorious being honored before the Emperor, and the anticipation of those eagerly waiting for their names to be called.

The banquet hall quickly became lively again with that fervor.

Perdickas II awarded honors exactly according to the list Eratosthe submitted, without a single objection.

It was proof of the Emperor’s trust and faith in Eratosthe.

“Michellon Erma, you are recognized for risking danger in the plague-stricken west and maintaining public order—”

Eratosthe in his gray investigator robes recited each person’s record one by one.

Medeia gazed intently at his back.

If it seemed like that old man had deliberately diverted the Emperor’s attention,

was she being too sensitive?

* * *

“…To serve a wise ruler like His Majesty is truly a miracle and salvation that heaven has bestowed upon Kazen.”

“Yes, that’s right. How could Kazen decline when His Majesty’s glory grows more brilliant each day?”

After even the awards ceremony ended and the banquet was reaching its peak, only those who knew how to wag their tongues without artifice remained by Perdickas II’s side.

In the eyes of those ceaselessly babbling pleasant words, fear and desire toward the Emperor were mixed together.

“Hmph, do you think I don’t know you’re flattering me with your three-inch tongues?”

Though he spoke gruffly, a faint satisfaction appeared on Perdickas II’s face.

Leaning back on his throne, he slowly surveyed the banquet hall.

The endless melody of music.

Under the glittering chandeliers, ministers watching his mood, nobles seeking opportunities, subjects bowing their heads…

It was like seeing when he had first ascended to the throne.

When the world had first bowed its head beneath his feet.

Even his eldest son, who was like a thorn in his eye, had offered him a golden crown woven with golden roses.

‘Earlier he was being openly insolent, ha. He couldn’t have made this overnight, so he must have been preparing it beforehand.’

Setting aside the fact that the insolent boy had personally bowed and offered it, just considering the value alone, it surpassed any gift presented in the banquet hall. He couldn’t help but feel pleased.

The reality that this empire still revolved around him.

That’s when it happened.

“Caught him! This vile Valdina bastard!”

A thunderous shout erupted. Simultaneously, the music filling the banquet hall stopped abruptly.

The atmosphere froze instantly.

The Emperor frowned.

“We caught him red-handed trying to send secret correspondence from the Kazen Imperial Family!”

In the distance, imperial knights were dragging someone forward.

They had handled him so roughly that the man’s hair was completely disheveled, and his armor and face were covered in blood.

“Your Majesty. This man is a Valdina spy.”

The Captain of the Knights who had reached the Emperor roughly threw the man down.

“We’ve been monitoring this person based on an internal tip. There was suspicion he carried a sword hiding secret letters, and today, the moment he tried to cross the palace gate with that sword, we caught him in the act.”

His booming voice echoed through the banquet hall. As if to make everyone hear, the Captain continued his report shouting.

“Marquis Menil!”

Startled, Neryl rushed forward to support Menil. Then she glared sharply at the Captain.

“A spy? How can you not only make false accusations but harm a person so severely!”

“A spy would resist. Aren’t you also part of his group!”

Just as the Captain was about to draw his sword and point it at Neryl.

A shock struck his hand, and he nearly dropped his sword.

“Ugh—!”

“Captain, your blood must be boiling with a death wish. Judging by how you’re trying to draw your sword before His Majesty.”

When the 1st Prince flicked his finger, the Captain gritted his teeth.

‘Damn, what did he throw? My hand is still tingling.’

He spoke through gritted teeth.

“1st Prince, this isn’t a matter that can be covered up by protecting him so unreasonably.”

People watching that tense standoff murmured.

As the 1st Prince stepped forward, more people realized that the bloodied man was the First Prince’s Wife’s guard.

Wasn’t he a former member of the Emperor of Valdina’s personal guard, recently recognized for his outstanding skills even in the holy city?

“This is an absurd slander. Why would Marquis Menil be a spy—”

“Should I show you the evidence directly for you to shut your mouth?”

Clang—!

The Captain threw a heavy sword to the floor.

From the broken hilt, crumpled pieces of parchment scattered out.

The Captain, who briefly met eyes with the Queen Mother, twisted his lips into a smile.

“Look, Your Majesty. Why else would he hide these secret letters so covertly? And why did this man try to quietly slip out of the Imperial Palace with them today of all days?”

After a moment of silence, murmurs erupted throughout the banquet hall.

“…Is that really…!”

“How could this be, was he really a spy?”

All eyes turned to the First Prince’s Wife and her guard.

If the guard who seemed so loyal was truly a spy as the Captain of the Knights claimed, could the First Prince’s Wife, his master, really have known nothing?

If the being we regarded as a sacred blessing and welcomed was actually a beast that would destroy the Empire?

Suspicion spread quietly like poison throughout the banquet hall.

“Your Majesty, please judge with your wisdom. Could it be mere coincidence that the First Prince’s Wife’s guard committed such an act today, when Valdina’s Prime Minister has come to visit?”

The Captain of the Knights walked toward Perdickas II with a satisfied expression and bowed.

“This is a scheme by the Emperor of Valdina to send his sister to Kazen to make us lower our guard, then steal our secrets!”

The Emperor’s frowning face gradually grew more menacing. Suspicion filled his gaze as it swept over Medeia and the fallen Menil.

‘Were those creatures trying to use our Kazen as a stepping stone again?’

He absolutely could not allow that. Taking the strait from me and even creating a new empire should have been enough!

Just as anger was slowly rising on Perdickas II’s face.

“This is a grave insult to His Majesty the Emperor of Valdina and a diplomatic discourtesy toward all of Valdina.”

Valdina’s young Prime Minister responded coldly.

“As the Captain of the Knights of Kazen’s Imperial Court, shouldn’t you possess the prudence befitting that responsibility? If this claim proves false, are you confident you can bear the catastrophic damage to relations between our two nations?”

The Captain of the Knights shot back.

“With all due respect, if you still speak thus after seeing this evidence before your very eyes, it appears to me that Valdina is merely trying to brazenly make excuses.”

“…”

“Furthermore, Her Highness’s guard recently went around the capital city requesting duels. Who knows whether that was truly for training, or reconnaissance to gather information…”

The Captain glared alternately at Sisear and the First Prince’s Wife as if they were accomplices.

“We Kazens, myself included, showed complete loyalty despite Her Highness being of Valdina bloodline, yet it seems Her Highness had thoughts only for her homeland.”

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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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