The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 330

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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 177

At those words, the surroundings fell silent.

The remaining vassals also glittered their eyes at the Emperor’s cold reaction, weighing their own positions once again.

“Your Highness?”

Medeia’s vision shattered into pieces in an instant.

Her consciousness fragmented, and scenes scattered like shards floated before her eyes.

Following the first fragment of a mage in a gray robe plunging a sword into Chezare’s back,

The second fragment containing Chezare falling below the ice wall while entangled with the Central Black Mage,

And the final fragment showing Chezare, injured and struggling to rise, crawling to reach somewhere in a cave before finally losing consciousness.

Like when she defeated the Evil Dragon, afterimages spanning present and past flashed by.

And then vanished in an instant.

Medeia was back in the Imperial Palace filled with vassals.

Her green eyes seemed to contemplate something before becoming calm.

Soon, a composed voice rang out.

“Then I will go to the iceberg myself. While everyone is distracted by their power struggles over my husband’s life and death, he is slowly dying… You wouldn’t forbid even this, would you?”

Medeia’s green eyes flashed like a whirling whip.

* * *

When she emerged from the Imperial Palace, the sunlight was still blazing hot.

She felt the heat of the sunlight, completely different from the ashen gray of the ice wall Medeia had seen in her vision moments ago.

‘The temperature Chezare must be feeling at the iceberg right now would be incomparably lower than this.’

Somehow her mouth felt dry. Her pace quickened.

Just as she turned the corner, she collided head-on with someone.

“Oh my. Sister-in-law, are you alright?”

It was Prince Juan.

Facing Medeia, he wore neither his usual gentleman’s smile nor the anxious expression he had shown after his mother, the Queen Mother, was confined to the tower.

He looked strangely calm and unusually relaxed.

“I highly regard sister-in-law’s spirit and extraordinary wisdom in wanting to go north in this situation.”

Juan, with a slight upturn of his lips, continued quietly.

“However, isn’t it too precious a talent to be buried for the sake of a dead man?”

A vile light flickered in his eyes.

“If you wish, the seat beside me is also vacant, so please consider it. The Empress position might be difficult, but I can certainly handle accommodating you, sister-in-law.”

His gaze, starting from her temples, traveling down her nose to her lips where it lingered, carried a seductive air.

When Medeia looked at Juan calmly, he trembled slightly.

Surely when this woman cornered his mother, he had resolved to show her no mercy…

‘Her abilities are tempting, but that fair appearance is also to my taste.’

“Your grief must be great, but you must accept it. What would remain even if you went all the way there?”

A chuckle escaped between Juan’s lips.

When Chezare was around, he couldn’t even dream of it, but now couldn’t he grasp her with his own hands?

At that moment, with a sharp crack, Juan clutched his cheek and tumbled down.

“How dare you…!”

“Since brother is absent, it seems sister-in-law must provide guidance in his place.”

Medeia lightly dusted off the hand that had slapped his cheek. As if some filthy dust had stuck to it.

“Even with half-blood mixed in, how can you so foolishly disturb propriety? If my husband returns alive, how would you face him?”

Soon Medeia stood before Juan, looking down at him as he lay fallen.

Despite her calm voice, her gaze held a frosty chill.

Juan unconsciously hunched his shoulders, then immediately contorted his expression.

“He’s dead, didn’t they say—!”

“Indeed. Three years ago, many people were just as confident, but how did that turn out? Since the 1st Prince’s bad taste is betraying people’s expectations, I can’t be certain either. What do you think, 3rd Prince?”

“…”

Juan hesitated.

As Medeia said, he seemed to recall Chezare, who had returned unharmed despite receiving a terminal diagnosis three years ago.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let my guard down. You understand, don’t you, Juan? That Imperial Throne you covet is a place where even a moment’s carelessness can cost you your head.”

This time, Medeia teasingly tucked Juan’s disheveled hair behind his ear.

“Isn’t it too precious a life to throw away for such base desires?”

A moment later.

“Your Highness, I’ll step away briefly.”

Garo, who had been intently watching Juan’s departing figure, was about to leave.

“Garo, if you’re planning to retaliate against Juan, stop.”

“But that bastard insulted Your Highness and the boss. Once he pays for his loose tongue with a severed tongue, he’ll come to his senses.”

Garo’s face showed none of his usual cheerful demeanor.

“There’s no time for that. Marquis Garo, Terrence. We must return to the border right now.”

“Do you truly intend to accompany us, Your Highness? Your Highness, that place is too dangerous and treacherous.”

“If I feared such things, I wouldn’t have declared it before everyone.”

Terrence was momentarily flustered, then shook his head.

When they raided the Golden Tower, the cradle of Black Mages hidden for half a century was certainly not to be underestimated.

They had nearly died trying to dispel the magic near those ice walls.

He could understand why even Chezare, who cherished Medeia terribly, had tried not to take her along, saying it was dangerous.

“As you know, there may still be black magic circles that haven’t been dispelled. It’s too dangerous.”

To take Medeia to such a place? The moment Chezare found out, far from merit, he might try to strangle him.

“I have a duty to keep Your Highness safe.”

“He’s alive.”

Then, Medeia grabbed Terrence’s wrist.

“I saw it. Him moving alive after falling from the cliff. We must go find him immediately.”

Her quietly murmured voice was filled with conviction.

Terrence was confused about whether to believe these words or how to reassure her.

“I saw him.”

“You saw… What do you mean…?”

“When we struck the Golden Tower, the Central Black Mage escaped through the western gate, didn’t he? The one called Edra wore a gray robe.”

“How could Your Highness know that…?”

Terrence’s eyes widened.

“Sometimes, I see incomprehensible scenes. Like when I saw that creature’s past before I slew the Evil Dragon.”

Terrence belatedly recalled that she was the Goddess’s chosen representative.

Yes, if it’s the Goddess’s power… perhaps she could even bring back the dead Chezare from the Underworld.

“So this too might be a revelation. That his life can be saved.”

“Understood. I will escort Your Highness there.”

Terrence, who was about to turn around, hesitated and bowed.

“Chezare, he once entrusted me with something. If anything should happen to him, to escort Your Highness back to Valdina.”

It was something Chezare had mentioned in passing.

“When you’re giving away all good and precious things, desperately trying to claim a place by her side, why do you speak of sending Her Highness back?”

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of letting her go easily either. But…”

Terrence remembered Chezare’s golden eyes growing coldly distant.

Like that time when the primordial curse consumed him and he tried to send her back to Matap. Those damned rational, neatly composed eyes.

“Without me, the Emperor and everyone else will target Medeia first. Before that happens, take her away.”

But Chezare should know.

Even from the primordial curse, Terrence had not retreated, leaving him behind.

That such a person would not simply follow Chezare’s life-or-death request.

“Though he wouldn’t agree to taking Your Highness there now, I too have no choice but to place hope in Your Highness in the current situation.”

Terrence and the other vassals of the Crown Prince’s Faction couldn’t let go of even a single thread of hope.

“We must move immediately. There’s no time.”

“I’ll have preparations made right away.”

He nodded his head.

* * *

After Terrence left, Medeia ordered her close associates, including Neryl and Menil, to prepare for departure to the iceberg.

Medeia turned toward Lady Tollin.

“While I’m away, those trying to investigate the situation will swarm the palace. If there’s anyone inside running their mouth unnecessarily, feel free to execute them on the spot without question.”

Medeia’s gaze became resolute.

The Old Woman watched as Medeia captivated the servants.

‘Indeed, she is the companion His Highness chose.’

Even in this situation, instead of falling into despair, she seeks ways to move forward.

“While I’m gone, those trying to learn about the situation will flock to the palace. So until I return, you must take utmost care to ensure no information about the First Prince leaks outside.”

“I will follow Your Imperial Highness’s words.”

Medeia also gave strict orders to the Crown Prince’s Faction retainers.

“What’s important now is finding His Highness the First Prince. Even if provocations come from the Emperor or the Third Prince’s side, do not respond.”

Now was the time when internal unity needed to be stronger than ever.

“I will bring him back, so you must hold your positions without wavering.”

They say people shine in times of crisis.

Even before, she had thought the First Prince’s Wife would be an excellent ally.

But her appearance of throwing herself forward without hesitation in this precarious situation where not only Chezare but even she herself could be in danger was powerfully etched into the minds of the Crown Prince’s Faction retainers both inside and outside the palace.

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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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