The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 314
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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 161
Neither the golden Imperial Throne nor the power to control the Empire could save the Emperor’s pride, which was being mercilessly crushed at this very moment.
The beautiful melody of the banquet had long since ceased to reach his ears.
The satisfying feeling that had made it seem as if the whole world was blessing and celebrating his life just moments ago was now shattered to pieces.
‘Is it because that man is still so young and strong that the Queen Mother couldn’t forget him and tried to secretly conspire behind my back?’
Flames blazed fiercely within him. The hand gripping his staff trembled violently.
“The Queen Mother.”
Perdickas II had to struggle desperately not to descend from this dais and beat the Queen Mother to death.
“How strong-willed must she be to mock even my imperial command. Fine, from now on I’ll send the Queen Mother to the Abyss… No, she’s still my consort, so that would be too much. The Tower should be appropriate.”
The Emperor, swallowing his trembling breath and rage, scratched his chin and smiled cruelly.
He didn’t even spare a glance at the man beside the Queen Mother.
“It would be good for her to cool her head while feeling the cold wind there.”
“…”
“What are you doing? Hurry and escort the Empress.”
“Your Majesty, this cannot be. Please, I beg you to reconsider with your wisdom—”
“Queen Mother. I told you to go ‘cool’ your head.”
The Emperor sharply warned her again.
‘Even so, to turn your back on me so suddenly in an instant—twenty years of shared time means nothing.’
The Queen Mother swallowed a silent sigh deep in her throat.
After giving her confused son Juan a warning look to absolutely not intervene.
“Yes, I shall do so.”
Finally, the Queen Mother briefly bowed her head and accepted the Emperor’s will.
“However, Your Majesty. Please remember just one thing. I swear to the Goddess, if I am not honorable, I would not refuse even the punishment of falling to hell and repeating endless reincarnation.”
But Perdickas II waved his hand dismissively, letting even his wife’s resolute vow disappear into thin air.
“Escort the Queen Mother.”
“Let go. I know the way to the Tower well enough.”
The Queen Mother rose from her seat, tidied her disheveled hair, smoothed the wrinkles in her dress, and lifted her chin.
Though it couldn’t make her current miserable state disappear, it at least gave the impression that reflecting on the life she had lived, she would not crumble easily.
“I shall escort you, Your Majesty the Queen Mother.”
The Queen Mother raised her head.
Her gaze swept over the bloodied Valdinian knight, her son Juan who had turned pale, and the old man who looked at her with pained eyes.
And finally, her eyes met with the First Prince and his wife, who were clearly watching this scene.
‘To create a snare that binds my ankles with old affection—there’s no way that dried-up Chezare would use such methods,’
Then there was only one person who could have made this trap.
“First Prince’s Wife, I failed to see this side of you.”
‘How did she find out about Alfred’s existence?’
The fact that this young girl had sought out an old adversary from long ago and targeted her so precisely was chilling.
“I apologize, Your Majesty the Queen Mother. I wanted to protect Your Majesty who had ‘cherished’ me, a newcomer, by any means necessary…”…”
The First Prince’s Wife bowed her head in apparent dismay.
With an expression that seemed she truly hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.
The Queen Mother’s teeth ground together. Because only she understood the hidden meaning.
Since you targeted me, I targeted you in return.
“No, I won’t forget your heart.”
Gripping her dress tightly, the Queen Mother smiled kindly.
“When I return, I will surely respond in kind.”
As if trying not to think about the fact that returning to this brilliant position would not be easy.
* * *
The Emperor, who had coldly watched the Queen Mother’s departure, turned around.
He scratched his chin.
“We cannot leave the Inner Palace management position vacant during this time, so what to do. Dowager Empress, you will have to take the trouble.”
Not only confining the Queen Mother to the Tower like a criminal, but also stripping away her actual power?
It was a cold tone that didn’t even consider the feelings of the Third Prince, her son, or the Third Prince’s faction that had implicitly supported the Emperor.
“Dowager Empress, why is there no answer?”
Even the Dowager Empress herself was flustered by this situation that had changed as quickly as flipping one’s palm, and finally answered.
“Yes, yes…! I will, I will… do so!”
Nodding and scratching his chin, the Emperor turned toward the Captain of the Knights.
“Captain of the Knights.”
“Yes… Your, Your Majesty.”
“What a fool. To think I put someone like you in charge of protecting the Imperial Family.”
The fact that he didn’t hesitate to make such direct criticism even in an official setting showed Perdickas II’s rage about this current situation.
“How could you handle things so clumsily without proper investigation and worsen relations with Valdina? I’m stripping you of your captain position. Await my punishment.”
“I, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
The Captain of the Knights, who had turned pale as the situation flowed completely differently from the plan, prostrated himself without even being able to meet the Emperor’s eyes.
“First Prince’s Wife, you must feel very wronged to be falsely accused when you acted with good intentions.”
“…”
Perdickas II was already furious about discovering his wife’s betrayal, and now he was even angrier at having to make conciliatory sounds to Valdina’s young Emperor.
However, since there was also the matter of external dignity, he couldn’t just brush off the handling of Valdina.
Perhaps because of this, a coarse pronunciation leaked from between the Emperor’s clenched teeth.
“This alone won’t be satisfactory compensation for your homeland and injured escort. So I’m thinking of placing your escort in that fool’s position—what do you think?”
The Emperor’s sharp gaze swept over Medeia.
His pride was hurt that his daughter-in-law had discovered the shameful fact that his wife had feelings for another man.
Pretending not to know the inside story, Medeia politely bowed.
“I’m grateful for your consideration, Your Majesty, but I cannot accept. What I did is insignificant compared to the privileges and gifts Your Majesty has bestowed upon me.”
Like a daughter-in-law who embodied the very essence of ‘Valdinian character’—that received kindness must always be repaid, regardless of the discord between her husband and father-in-law.
And she turned toward Sisear and spoke as if pleading.
“Marquis Sisear, please understand this matter generously for my sake.”
“Princess, though it may be presumptuous, I cannot do so even for Valdina’s honor.”
However, Sisear adjusted his monocle with a cold expression.
“How long have you been on Kazen’s imperial register that you’re already trying to overlook your homeland’s disgrace, Princess?”
He, who had been showing an irritated expression continuously, coldly snapped at Medeia.
“Wasn’t your limb injured like that because of Princess’s meager family affection? Is this country really worth your such devotion? This country that didn’t even treat you as human after you entered the palace?”
When the incidents of how they had turned away from and ostracized Medeia after she entered as the First Prince’s Wife came nakedly from Sisear’s mouth, the Kazens’ faces all turned red at once.
“If you’re going to use a knight who’s among the finest even in Agema like a disposable servant for such people.”
He looked straight at Medeia and firmly added.
“I will take Marquis Menil with me. If I leave him in this place any longer, it seems next time not even bone dust will remain.”
It was a piercing rebuke that struck even Perdickas II and the Imperial Knights in the face.
The number of blood vessels bulging at the Emperor’s temples increased after hearing criticism from such a young man.
“Marquis Sisear! Will you really do this!”
Medeia raised her voice, pretending not to know.
“I am the First Prince’s consort. Since I entered this land holding His Highness’s hand, I swore to the Goddess to live as a Kazen, so it’s natural to think of Kazen first—how can you blame me for that?”
Though calm, cold anger was hidden in each word.
“If you insist on doing so, then do as you wish, Marquis. I’ll send a letter directly to my brother. I’m not sure whether my brother will really trample on his only sister’s dignity and insist on saving face.”
“…”
Sisear and Medeia faced off.
Their deadly atmosphere was so intense that one could momentarily forget they were from the same country.
The Kazens in the banquet hall recalled the old rumor that the Chancellor and Princess had once been bitter enemies when the King of Valdina was away at war.
“…I understand. I’ll handle it as Princess requests. However, I’m taking Marquis Menil with me.”
In the end, it was Sisear who stepped back first.
The famously hardline iron-blooded Chancellor had bowed his head as soon as the First Prince’s Wife mentioned her brother.
It seemed the rumors about how much the Emperor of Valdina cherished his sister were not false.
Perdickas II, who had been watching that scene, also had his expression subtly soften. Since he hadn’t known that the First Prince’s wife would step forward to handle his troublesome matter for him,
even that daughter of Valdina, who had seemed nothing but hateful until just moments ago, no longer appeared so detestable to him.
“Chancellor, what would become of my dignity if you take him away like that? Head Servant, bring my sword and give it to that guard.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A famous sword incomparable to the heavy sword that had hidden the secret letter was presented before Menil.
“That’s the Heart of the West Wind, isn’t it!”
It was a famous sword forged from mithril and blessed by the Central Temple, said to send sword strikes flying in doubles following the wind.
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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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