The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 40

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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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Chapter 40

Gilliphos had also written down the last known location of the two, spotted in the outskirts slums.

“Your Majesty, shall I go and bring this Theo person?”

Medeia shook her head.

Theo had harbored strong resentment against Valdina in her previous life too. If he found out Neryl belonged to the royal family, he might flee.

Moreover, Medeia had not yet decided how to deal with Theo.

As the center of the rebel forces, it would be right to eliminate him early, but as an individual, Theo had essentially died because of her. So how should she calculate this debt?

“I should go myself.”

She would need to see with her own eyes to make a judgment.

Whether to spare him, or eliminate him.

* * *

Asylum Street, which Gilliphos had mentioned, was the royal capital’s representative slum.

“This way…”

“…”

Though she was a fallen noble, Neryl had never been driven to rock bottom, so this was her first time in a slum.

Neryl unconsciously brought her hand to her nose as she stepped down from the carriage.

A piercing stench emanated from various spots along the uneven streets.

Somewhere in the alleys, screams of agony echoed.

Occasional shouts could be heard from people fighting over food.

“It’s terrible, Your Majesty.”

Neryl shook her head.

Medeia answered with pitying eyes.

“Yes, it wouldn’t be strange if civil unrest broke out anywhere, anytime. All the cleanup will fall to Peleus when he returns.”

The two walked through streets where both people and structures seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

Despite their disguises, their incongruous appearance failed to blend into the poor slums and drew attention.

Neryl kept her hand on the sword hilt at her waist, in a state of extreme tension, ready to draw at any moment.

“Miss there, why don’t you have your fortune told?”

So when someone addressed Medeia at a corner turning into an alley, she nearly drew her sword.

Neryl discovered the speaker was a small old woman wearing a robe and sheathed her sword back into its scabbard.

A small mat with a cracked crystal ball and what appeared to be a begging bowl.

In fact, from outward appearance, the old woman was close to being a beggar.

“Take a look at the young miss’s future, I may look like this but I’m the oldest tree in this country, you won’t regret it.”

The old woman reached out with a completely hoarse voice.

“That’s alright. I already know.”

For Medeia, living her second life, there was no need.

She gestured to Neryl to give the old woman a few coins and turned around.

“That’s all the more reason to look. Since it’s a life being lived again, the fortune will be different too, won’t it?”

From under the worn robe sleeves, wrinkled hands rolled a couple of small crystal balls with a rattling sound.

Medeia’s steps stopped. She slowly turned around.

“You’ve thought well.”

Seeing Medeia seated before her, the old woman cackled.

Rattle. Rattle.

The balls rolled under the wrinkled hands.

“Oh my, oh my, this life won’t be easy either. Chaos is blocking the young miss. Still covering the holy path and trying to steal the young miss’s light.”

The balls rolled onto the mat showed an asymmetrical pattern.

But the old woman grinned, saying there was nothing to worry about.

“There’s one falling giant star. A very black one. That star will cut through the chaos blocking the young miss’s path.”

Medeia interrupted the old woman’s words.

“Whatever that is, I don’t need it.”

Giant star or whatever, was she to depend on someone else again?

Entrusting her life to another’s hands was what Medeia most wanted to refuse in this lifetime.

“Sticky things will grab your ankles again this time too. They’ll devour the young miss to fill their own bellies.”

“If I get devoured a second time, that would mean my abilities only go so far. But I’m confident.”

The old woman clicked her tongue.

“Tsk, it’ll be difficult, why not take it easy this time?”

Medeia just smiled silently.

“Have you perhaps heard of the Dawn’s Tears?”

“Dawn’s… Tears?”

“That mysterious medicine containing the goddess’s power erases everything that exists in this world. Disease, memories, even fate. Those tears will save the great star.”

The old woman paused briefly before continuing.

“Young miss, heaven cherishes you greatly. Enough to fill all the starlight and push back the 12 positions to reverse them, watching over you.”

Suddenly, blood trickled from the old woman’s lips. Her small robed back swayed.

“In the young miss’s body flows the blood of one who was once the wisest on the continent, and one who conveyed the goddess’s will. So under this heaven, the young miss is the only one who can find those tears—”

The old woman smiled while swallowing the rising blood clot.

“Oh my, heaven is warning this old woman.”

Medeia caught the collapsing old woman in her arms.

“You should see a physician. Neryl—”

Though the old woman’s ancient robe reeked, Medeia paid no mind and wiped away the flowing bloodstains.

“Your heart remains kind as always, young miss. This old woman still has someone waiting for her. My fortune-telling ends here, so young miss should go on your way now.”

The old woman stubbornly refused Medeia’s help. And until the very end, she grasped her hand and urged her.

“Don’t dismiss this old woman’s words, young miss.”

After the bizarre encounter with the old woman, Medeia stopped walking as they turned out of the alley.

‘Something’s definitely strange.’

How did that old woman know she was living a second life?

“Neryl, go back to that place and bring that old woman to me.”

It seemed she needed to ask more detailed questions.

However, Neryl, who had returned to the alley following Medeia’s command, came back empty-handed.

Neryl also looked bewildered at the traces that had completely vanished as if she had dreamed a midsummer night’s dream.

“There was no one at that spot. Whether she left or disappeared, the alley itself was eerily empty.”

* * *

Residential area within Asylum Street.

“Saya, just getting back?”

Aunt Angela from next door, who was sweeping the yard, greeted Saya.

“Yes. I cleaned up some trash and got paid for it.”

She was on her way home, holding black bread she had obtained early since dawn.

“Did you come alone dangerously? Since you were coming anyway, you should have come with Junie.”

Aunt Angela worried with drooping eyebrows.

“I hear human traffickers are rampant these days. Since there’s so little to eat, now there are even bastards who kidnap people to sell them.”

Saya was also well aware of the sinister rumors circulating in the alleys.

“I’m okay since Junie’s dad is here, but you live alone so I’m really worried. It would have been much better if Theo were here…”

Aunt Angela looked at Saya with worried eyes.

The shabby hut wasn’t a very safe place for a young girl to live.

“I heard a Veteran’s Village was built near the city walls. Your father was a retired soldier, wasn’t he? Go there. It’s too dangerous here.”

She went on for a while about how clean and safe the Veteran’s Village was.

“I heard they accept everyone, including family members, if you just prove your name and status. Rumor has it there are even people impersonating others, so you should move there quickly too. It’ll definitely be much safer than here.”

When Saya hesitated and didn’t answer, Aunt Angela spoke as if offering a favor.

“Are you worried Theo won’t be able to find you when he returns? I can at least tell him you went there.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I like it here. I’ll go in first. I have to go out again later.”

Apart from the warm concern, Saya quickly said goodbye, sensing the aunt’s eyes glancing at the bread in her arms.

Returning home, Saya let out a sigh.

“Veteran’s Village… I’d want to go there too if I could. But how can we go when Theo beat up a government soldier and ran away?”

When Theo returned, if his criminal record was revealed, he would be headed straight to prison.

“What exactly am I supposed to do…”

A single tear rolled down the small girl’s cheek.

Their mother had died giving birth to the siblings, and their retired father had passed away struggling with injuries and poverty.

The siblings, left alone in the world, had to survive somehow.

Theo had gone out looking for food when he got into a fight with someone trying to steal it and was dragged to the guard station.

Then he ended up beating the guard captain who had taken bribes and was trying to punish Theo unfairly.

That night, Theo disappeared, leaving behind only a single note.

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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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