The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 350
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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 197
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Medeia sat quietly beside Chezare.
She reached out her hand to caress his skin.
She could still feel the warmth of a living human.
“Chezare.”
The motionless man still had his eyes closed.
His brilliant golden eyes were shut beneath his eyelashes, and his sculpted features stood out even more as the flesh had sunken.
However, despite that beauty, his skin had a grayish hue.
The faint remaining light of life seemed as if it would soon be extinguished, leaving only moments before he became a corpse.
“…Wake up.”
Her small hand wrapped around his index finger.
“I told you to follow the plan. Then you need to open your eyes. Open your eyes and…”
Usually, Chezare would cover Medeia’s hand with his other four fingers and playfully tickle the back of her hand.
“…”
But now, there was no reaction at all.
Medeia squeezed his index finger tightly.
Even though she squeezed with all her might, painfully hard, he didn’t open his eyes to look at her, nor did he grasp her hand in return.
Medeia gazed down at Chezare quietly.
In the bedroom where dusk was falling, there were only the two of them.
Her emotionless green eyes, unreadable in their thoughts, wavered for a moment,
Then finally she raised her hand.
A small but sharp dagger gleamed under the lamplight.
With a sharp pain, clear blood began to well up from the tip of Medeia’s index finger.
‘If neither magic nor divine power works…’
Even defeating the Evil Dragon had started with her attempt to mix her blood with the dragon’s blood.
Divine power doesn’t work, but perhaps. Her blood might be possible.
It might be able to wake Chezare from this arduous curse-like suffering.
‘Please.’
Her desperate heart was contained in each drop of blood that fell toward Chezare’s lips.
Medeia wiped away the bloodstains that had spread between his beautiful lips.
And she waited.
“…”
But nothing happened.
Darkness descended over the night where dusk had fallen.
Until the sky outside the window turned pitch black, until the morning star rose again.
Nothing changed.
Though it wasn’t unexpected, though it was merely something she had tried just in case,
Medeia felt as if she were being crushed by a massive boulder.
“You said… You said I was your representative.”
Oh Goddess.
Words of resentment burst out without her knowing.
Even when defeating the Evil Dragon, you showed me the way in the worst moments. You helped me get through it.
“But now, why…”
What use is being a representative?
Why doesn’t my power, the Goddess’s power, reach him?
Or is it that you won’t allow it?
“Chezare.”
After I revealed Rachel’s true nature at the temple wedding and lost consciousness, were you like this too?
Like this…
“Don’t… make me afraid.”
She slowly bent her waist and rested her white forehead against his temple.
Even when the second oracle came down and Chezare unexpectedly hovered between life and death, everyone admired her unwavering composure.
Medeia had never wavered before anyone.
Only before Chezare Kazen could she freely collapse.
“Chezare, I am now…”
I think I’m a little afraid. Afraid that I might lose you.
“How ridiculous. I’ve lived thinking revenge was everything.”
Her hand gripping Chezare’s index finger tightened again.
If I have to lose you as the price for that revenge.
“It feels like it doesn’t have much meaning.”
Chezare, because you’re here, I can now dream of what comes next.
I can step on yesterday’s pain and wait for tomorrow’s joy.
Medeia rested her head against Chezare’s chest.
When she closed her eyes, the faintly audible heartbeat barely kept her from collapsing.
A single tear flowed down her white cheek.
-Child, it’s just not time yet.
The sound of wind that barely reached her ears went unheard.
* * *
Medeia’s eyes snapped open.
It seemed she had dozed off lightly beside Chezare.
Suddenly sensing a presence, she saw Terrence and Garo hesitating at the doorway.
When Medeia nodded, Terrence spoke.
“We sent Duke Leniar back. The court physician said Marquis Theo should be able to recover his remaining arm soon as well.”
Garo continued with his report.
“Following the boss’s orders, we tried to infiltrate Facade spies into the Central Temple, but they’ve strengthened their security too much and we failed.”
His expression darkened.
“After Marquis Theo escaped, they quietly sealed off the temple entirely, so it appears the interior has either been brainwashed by them or completely filled with Black Mages.”
“We estimate they’re remnants who were scattered across the continent, not from the iceberg stronghold we attacked.”
Since Chezare’s absence, the two had been reporting all situations to Medeia.
“…”
She gazed at them quietly.
They seemed the same as usual, but she had spent considerable time with them.
So she could read the anxiety hidden behind their usual faces.
“Terrence, Garo.”
Garo’s dark brown eyes and Terrence’s bloodshot eyes turned toward Medeia.
“Don’t you two also want to tell me? To accept the oracle?”
If she just did that, Chezare could open his eyes.
Everyone here knew he could walk to the Imperial Throne waiting for him as before, without burning with fever or coughing up blood.
But Terrence immediately shook his head.
“How could we, knowing it’s fabricated?”
When he entered this room, he had already seen Medeia’s finger roughly bandaged and soaked red, and the faint bloodstains remaining at Chezare’s lips.
What could he dare say before Medeia’s desperation as she tried to wake Chezare even with her own blood?
“Your Highness should know why Chezare kept us two by his side.”
His eyes sank as if collapsing for a moment.
“Chezare once commanded us. If anything should happen to him, our lord would be Your Highness, and we could serve Your Highness and go to Valdina, or…”
Terrence’s gaze touched Medeia’s belly.
“We could assist Your Highness in taking your place as the ruler of the Imperial Court here in Kazen. Either way, we will follow Your Highness’s command.”
“Your Highness is already the ruler of Romagna, the First Prince’s territory, so there’s no lack of symbolism.”
Garo deliberately winked playfully.
“It was the boss’s arrangement. To prevent Your Highness from backing out of the marriage, he prepared so cunningly.”
Medeia swallowed a hollow laugh.
Chezare Kazen, this fierce yet tender man—just how far had he anticipated and prepared for everything?
Something deep in her chest tightened hotly.
“Your Highness. It will be difficult, but please endure.”
“….”
Just then, urgent footsteps were heard. It was Neryl.
“Your Highness, a messenger has come from the Imperial Palace.”
Finally, Perdickas II had broken his patience and summoned Medeia.
“Your Highness need not respond. We will handle this.”
Knowing why he was calling, how could the First Prince’s faction possibly respond?
Terrence immediately turned around.
Even if it gave the Imperial Court grounds for retaliation, he intended to drive away Perdickas II’s messenger.
“No. I’ll go.”
Medeia shook her head.
“Your Highness, but….”
Terrence showed reluctance, but Medeia’s eyes held no wavering.
“You know that if we don’t settle this clearly now, he’ll keep coming anyway.”
Right now, all the Empire’s attention was focused here on the First Prince.
“Then I’ll accompany you.”
Garo shrugged his shoulders.
“The First Prince’s faction may nominally be under the Emperor, but was Facade ever the same?”
As a weapons dealer of the continent, why should they bow to the Empire’s Emperor?
At Garo’s words, Terrence also reluctantly nodded.
“Alpha, assemble all of Facade’s mercenary units. We’re escorting Her Highness to the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes, Lord Garo.”
They moved in perfect coordination and scattered in all directions. War clouds gathered over the palace.
And in the bedroom where everyone had left,
In the darkness filled only with silence,
Chezare’s index finger twitched and moved, his eyes still closed.
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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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