The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 353

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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 200

Garo appeared beside Medeia as she watched Jason’s retreating figure disappear into the distance.

“Your Highness, why did you dismiss us? That damn Jason should be executed immediately, not spared…”

Though he had followed her command, his expression showed he couldn’t understand her decision.

Medeia commanded firmly.

“Count Garo. From now on, order Facade to monitor Jason’s every move.”

“But Your Highness, we’ve been continuously surveilling him, yet we still haven’t found any connection points. It seems they have ways of communicating that evade our eyes.”

Garo rubbed his temples with a troubled expression.

“Both Castulo and the Holy Kingdom are truly cunning. They seem to have prepared thoroughly this time, as we can’t catch their trail as easily as expected.”

Since the oracle emerged, news from the Holy Kingdom had been cut off as if sealed, and though they had monitored Jason’s side, nothing significant had emerged.

“It will be different now.”

Since the rats wouldn’t come out of their burrow easily, Medeia had set fire to one of their tails.

“Until now, both Rachel and Jason aimed for the same thing, but from now on, that won’t be the case.”

Rachel sought to steal Medeia’s fate, while Jason tried to reclaim Medeia’s love.

Using Medeia as a medium—their only common denominator—they had joined hands to fabricate the second oracle that would tear apart Medeia and Chezare.

However, what Rachel was overlooking was this:

While Rachel wanted to keep Chezare alive to make him her husband, Jason wanted to eliminate him more than anyone else.

And just moments ago, Medeia had lit Jason’s final fuse.

‘He’ll try to turn back time using black magic.’

The completion of this fake oracle that Rachel had planned was no longer important to Jason.

Rather, to complete his own magic, he would try to consume the resources Rachel had carefully prepared.

‘Rachel, you believed that Jason wouldn’t betray you at least until your plan was complete, but…’

When it came to knowing Jason, Medeia had the upper hand.

What mattered most to Jason Castulo was himself.

He was someone who could sacrifice anything without hesitation for his own desires.

Even if this conflicted with Rachel’s purpose,

Even if it ultimately caused this fake oracle to fail, the selfish Jason wouldn’t stop.

“So you deliberately provoked him?”

At Garo’s question, Medeia nodded.

“He’ll try to use black magic, so from now on, he won’t be able to hide anymore.”

When a burrow catches fire, rats have no choice but to come out.

“When that happens, don’t immediately round them all up, but inform me first.”

“Yes? Why…?”

Garo tilted his head again, but soon remembered.

He realized that Medeia’s commands were understood through their results.

“I shall do so.”

He turned to his subordinates. Some of the mercenaries who received the order quietly slipped away.

“Your Highness, are you alright? You looked very pale when you came out.”

“I’m fine. I just felt on edge for a moment and wasn’t in good condition.”

“Hmph, it’s because you’ve overexerted yourself seeing too many wretched people after coming all the way to this damn Imperial Palace.”

Garo snorted as he glared at the high spires of the Imperial Palace.

“I’ll escort you home as quickly as possible. The energy of this unlucky place might harm Your Highness.”

Clatter clatter. Just as Medeia’s carriage was about to leave the Imperial Palace gates.

“Neigh-!”

With the horse’s cry, the carriage suddenly jolted to a stop.

“What’s wrong?”

Medeia drew back the window curtain.

“It’s nothing, Your Highness. Please stay inside the carriage.”

A small boy was dangling from Garo’s hand.

Garo’s usually cheerful expression had turned quite fierce.

“Why were you hiding here? What were you trying to do by jumping at Her Highness’s carriage?”

The boy had been waiting outside the Imperial Palace and had jumped toward Medeia’s carriage.

If Garo hadn’t nimbly caught the child, the large wheels would have nearly crushed this small body.

‘This might be a scheme to worsen public opinion toward Her Highness.’

He couldn’t let his guard down just because the opponent was a small child.

How many times had he seen people harm others while wearing the guise of weakness?

[No, I was just-!]

The child earnestly spoke in sign language.

However, to Garo’s eyes, it only looked like flailing arms.

“Try speaking with your mouth! Is your mouth glued shut or-“

“Stop it, Garo.”

Medeia got out of the carriage. The child’s face looked familiar.

“You’re Count Eratosthenes’…”

When his master’s name was mentioned, the child nodded vigorously.

“Do you remember me?”

[Yes!!]

His large eyes held a mixture of joy, relief, and fear.

“Your Highness, do you know this child?”

“He’s a child that Duke Eratosthenes keeps with him.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there was a young monk who used to scurry around beside the Duke. Garo nodded as he recalled that memory.

“Kid, why did you suddenly take off your monk’s robes?”

Making yourself hard to recognize.

Garo’s grip loosened as he grumbled. The child sniffled and wiped away his tears.

Then he ran to Medeia.

“Were you waiting for me?”

The child nodded.

“Is this… something he sent?”

[Here.]

The child pulled out a velvet pouch from inside his robe and held it out to Medeia.

It was an errand his master had asked him to do.

“…”

Medeia untied the pouch.

A transparent diamond-shaped stone revealed itself above the velvet cloth.

“It’s sea salt stone.”

Garo, who had traveled across the continent as a weapons dealer, immediately recognized the stone’s identity.

Medeia grasped the stone.

Surprisingly, the warmth felt from the stone comfortably settled her insides.

Even the harsh fragrance of the Imperial Palace that seemed to linger at her nose tip appeared to fade.

“It’s extremely effective at purifying impurities, so pregnant women and the elderly often seek it out. But for Duke Eratosthenes to send this to Your Highness… Could the Duke be trying to improve his relationship with the boss even now?”

Garo’s voice rose slightly, as if he was secretly excited.

He had always felt upset that his boss unilaterally cared for her maternal grandfather.

[The monk also told me to give this to Your Highness.]

What the child carefully held out was a palm-sized letter.

Medeia carefully fingered the edges of the stiff envelope and cautiously broke the seal.

On the neatly folded white paper, only a single sentence was written.

[This old man humbly dares to rely on Your Highness’s mercy and begs that you please take in this child.]

It was remarkably neat and restrained handwriting.

Medeia couldn’t take her eyes off the handwriting that somehow resembled someone, giving her a sense of déjà vu.

“…”

She recalled the old man who had been by the Emperor’s side just moments ago.

As always, he had stood there silently.

A face as withered as dried wood, an upright posture.

And even when the Emperor spat out violent words telling her to accept her husband’s new woman, he simply stood there watching the scene.

At the same time, he remained completely unshaken by the Emperor’s fury as he raged at Medeia’s retort.

Was his giving me the salt stone payment for the request to look after the child?

Medeia had no intention of refusing the Duke’s inexplicable request.

However…

“Your Highness? Are you alright? Shall I call a court physician?”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Medeia, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon shook her head.

Then she turned toward the child.

“Child.”

The young novice’s face still shone with innocence untainted by the world.

The child was looking up at Medeia while clutching the letter envelope tightly to his chest, as if faithfully trying to follow his master’s orders.

“Will you come with me?”

[What? But I have to wait for my master, don’t I?]

The child tilted his head, looking back and forth between the palace gates and the street.

“Your master… wait, he entrusted you to me. He must be worried about you. So how about waiting with me at the palace?”

Medeia pronounced each word slowly so the child could easily read her lips.

Then she showed the child the letter.

The child’s face turned pale as he guessed the contents of the letter.

Medeia grabbed the shoulder of the child who was about to turn and run back to the palace immediately.

[Can’t I go back to my master?]

Tears welled up in the child’s eyes.

It was because he vaguely realized that his master was trying to send him away.

“Sniff, sniff…”

Only the sound of the child’s sniffling echoed.

Medeia looked down at the salt stone and letter he had given her and speculated.

Eratosthe had probably sent the only child by his side to her because he wanted the child to be safe.

“Don’t cry. You can go back. I’ll make sure you meet again. But for now, stay with me.”

Medeia gently spoke while wiping the child’s tears.

“Have you ever been to the palace? There are lots of sweet pastries, flowers, and trees… What do you like? How about reading books?”

The child sniffled and nodded. Then, after hesitation, he took Medeia’s hand.

“Let’s depart.”

Medeia, who had boarded the carriage with the child, said.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The carriage wheels began moving again. The Imperial Palace growing distant was reflected through the window.

Somehow, she felt a strange feeling, as if the sky had become more hazy.

* * *

At that time, at the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Terrence, who was entering the First Prince’s office, hesitated.

Because the person he had been longing for so much was walking out through the bedroom door.

Having lain down for a long time, the man swayed momentarily as he stood up.

“Chezare, are you regaining consciousness!”

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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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