The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 325

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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 172

It was ridiculous.

When did he cherish Juan like his own tongue, and now he treats him like a mortal enemy.

‘To the Late Emperor, children were nothing more than disposable items to vent his mood on.’

It was around this time that Angelique realized her selfish and cold father’s true nature.

“I will make you… Urgh!”

Perdickas II’s face, unable to hide his anger, swelled red as if it would burst at the slightest prick of a needle,

“Your Majesty!”

Then it stiffened like a wooden block.

“Court Physician, what are you doing! Attend to His Majesty! Quickly!”

With the Head Servant’s urgent voice, the imperial physicians rushed to the tent.

Though he barely survived the assassination attempt in the forest, his exhausted body could no longer bear the rage the Emperor arbitrarily spewed forth.

“Attend to His Majesty!”

Eventually, Perdickas II was carried back to the Imperial Palace unconscious.

The hunting competition, having lost its host, immediately came to an end.

Even after returning to the Imperial Palace, Perdickas II remained unconscious, unlike usual.

The fierce vigor of youth he once prided himself on had long since left him.

“Father, I was wrong, Father. It was a mistake, I didn’t realize… Please forgive me! Yes, Father?”

The 3rd Prince knelt before the Emperor’s bedroom for several days, begging for forgiveness.

Without even time to treat the wounds he sustained while fleeing from the Giant Bear.

But the door did not open, and when Perdickas II briefly regained consciousness, he sought not his beloved second son but his hated eldest son.

“Chezare… Where is Chezare…”

“The First Prince is… Your Majesty, we will immediately send word to his palace. Please, gather your strength.”

The vassals of the Crown Prince’s Palace were half-doubtful upon hearing the news.

“His Majesty seeks our lord even while hovering between life and death?”

“That can’t be, surely he’s not hiding some other scheme?”

Perhaps he intended to use this incident as an excuse to frame and kill him?

They initially didn’t trust the imperial command and even confirmed the facts through their spies within the Imperial Palace.

“None of the royal family can approach His Majesty right now. Even when the 3rd Prince fainted while begging forgiveness, His Majesty said he couldn’t stand the sight of him and ordered him dragged to the Abyss.”

That was truly surprising.

Even when Juan’s mother, the Queen Mother, fell from favor and their faction wavered, the Emperor might have suspected Juan but never cast him out.

“It happened just as Her Highness said. She said nothing lasts forever, and truly His Majesty’s heart has changed.”

“It seems our lord saving His Majesty right before his eyes left a very strong impression.”

Did the First Prince’s Wife predict all these changes brought about by the unexpected assassination attempt at the hunting competition?

Everyone was bewildered yet delighted by this change.

“If His Majesty’s heart continues to remain with our side, the Crown Prince position is as good as ours, and abdication won’t be far off.”

Waves of joy swept through the Crown Prince’s faction vassals.

However, a cold chill lingered in the First Prince’s palace.

“My lord, you must prepare now and go to the Imperial Palace.”

“Get out.”

As if he couldn’t hear Alpha’s urging, Chezare snapped.

He was still in casual clothes.

Bandages were wrapped tightly around his shoulder torn by the Giant Bear’s claws.

“But-“

“Should I repeat myself?”

A sharp rebuke flew like a blade.

Alpha had no choice but to leave the golden imperial decree and withdraw, sending Medeia a pleading look for help.

“…”

A cold silence filled the bedroom.

Medeia quietly turned around, intending to fetch Chezare’s clothes.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Then, his voice caught her ankle.

“…What?”

“Everything turned out exactly as you wanted, so I asked if you’re satisfied.”

Chezare crossed his arms and leaned against a pillar.

Despite his relaxed and leisurely expression, the aura emanating from him was cold as ice.

“You knew.”

Golden eyes pierced through Medeia as they stared at her.

“That I wouldn’t save him.”

“…”

“So you moved.”

The cool voice ringing in her ears was direct.

“Knowing that if you jumped in, I’d have no choice but to intervene.”

“…”

That day, when he discovered the Giant Bear in the forest, Chezare had no intention of saving the Emperor.

In that brief moment when his father’s life hung in the balance, he had reached that conclusion.

Even if the repercussions would be great, he thought Perdickas II’s death would be more beneficial for himself and this continent.

The moment he thought that, Medeia burst forward.

She leaped in front of the fierce Giant Bear that was tearing apart the knights.

The moment he saw the silver light protecting the Emperor, something seemed to snap in Chezare’s mind.

“Didn’t you drag me in knowing I wouldn’t let you get hurt?”

It was an instinctive movement without time to think.

Though the Late Emperor thinks he saved him, Chezare had only acted for Medeia’s sake.

“…”

Sometimes silence becomes an answer, but sometimes it’s just avoidance.

Medeia’s silence now was the latter.

Her eyes, which always met his gaze calmly, were subtly avoiding Chezare.

Ha.

A hollow laugh escaped between Chezare’s well-shaped lips.

He ran his long, straight fingers over his gaunt face.

“Turning the Emperor’s heart didn’t mean using me.”

Medeia hesitated.

She couldn’t deny his words.

I stepped before the monster to move Chezare.

Because I trusted that he, who cared for me, wouldn’t leave me in danger.

“The heart I’ve given you all this time, to you it’s…”

Was it merely a medium to use for your planned goals?

“…”

She could understand the unfinished implication of his words.

“…You know too, Chezare. If it hadn’t been to that extent, we couldn’t have turned the Emperor’s heart-“

“Dea, spare me the excuses.”

The end of his words carried an arrogant smile.

“Are you trying to deceive even me now?”

Just like when he had completely figured out all the schemes Medeia once used against Uncle’s faction.

Chezare’s voice was no different from usual.

That’s why the disappointment he was feeling, or even what could be called betrayal, was felt all the more vividly.

At least Medeia, she at least would be different.

Even that last hope seemed to have sunk.

“Whether he acknowledges me as his son again or not means nothing to me, so nothing would have changed anyway, right?”

“…”

“Your head is only filled with thoughts of making me Emperor and then leaving. Isn’t that right?”

His golden eyes were as cold as ice.

The faint smile that always lingered whenever he looked at Medeia, and the affection he never hid, had silently disappeared.

The moment she realized this, Medeia’s breath caught in her throat.

“Fine. Who should I blame? I’m the one who put myself in your hands to be toyed with.”

At the same time, a low murmur reached her ears.

“It’s not the first time, so reacting like this now is pathetic.”

He picked up his outer garment with the arm that wasn’t bandaged.

“If you’re worried I’ll act like this in front of the Late Emperor too, don’t worry, Dea. I won’t mess things up.”

“….”

“It’s an opportunity my wise wife risked her life to create, so I can’t let it go to waste, can I?”

Chezare swallowed a self-deprecating laugh and turned his back.

Then he walked away with unsteady steps.

His back, never once turning around, was cold.

Was this what people meant when they spoke of the First Prince’s heartlessness?

As if he had erased all memories and recollections, as if he had cut them all away, there was no hesitation in his steps.

For the first time, Medeia stood there speechless, at a complete loss for words.

* * *

Imperial Palace.

Perdickas II, who had been burning with high fever after the hunting competition, wasn’t in his right mind for some time even after opening his eyes.

‘Has so much time really passed?’

He leaned against his bed and looked down at himself.

Wrinkled hands, vanished strength, labored breathing.

Now, he had no choice but to acknowledge it, even if reluctantly.

“I have… grown old. The world is no longer mine.”

“What are you saying, Your Majesty? You’re still so vigorous. The continent and this Empire will continue to prosper endlessly as long as Your Majesty remains.”

The Emperor let out a hollow laugh at the Head Servant’s response as he tended to him.

“Do you take me for a fool?”

How could words from an old man even older than himself, facing his own twilight years, be any comfort?

“Now it’s truly time to decide on a successor.”

The Head Servant looked up in surprise.

“Why do you look at me like that? Just because I’ve grown old and seem unwilling to let go of the Imperial Throne, I won’t let this Great Empire crumble.”

Had his experience of facing life and death before the Giant Bear cleared away his foolishness?

The Emperor’s eyes, free from the aura of madness for the first time in a while, had become quite clear.

“…Your Majesty, I…”

The Head Servant was half-doubting whether this was the Emperor’s whim or if he had truly recovered.

Just then, word came that the First Prince had arrived.

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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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