The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 43

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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 43

Medeia, who had noticed his sinister intentions, adjusted her grip on the fan handle. The cool touch of iron stuck to her palm.

The feel of a weapon in her hand for the first time since the expedition felt unfamiliar.

“You can’t even handle one low-grade magical beast. Princess. Really, why did you come along?”

“Valdina is nothing special either. Those fancy cavalry were all just for show!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go back? Do you think our expedition gathered to clean up after one useless woman?”

In her past life, the heroes of the expedition were never kind to Medeia.

Since Medeia wasn’t formally bound to Jason, far from receiving treatment as a grand duchess, they treated her as baggage for the expedition.

Even Jason, her lover, didn’t protect Medeia.

“Medeia, you know I need them. The day I become Emperor, I’ll reveal all your grievances.”

It was heartbreaking that even the one she loved wasn’t on her side. Even on nights when they slept back to back, she secretly soaked her pillowcase with stifled tears.

“I can’t keep living like this.”

And she realized. That only she could truly protect herself.

That if she didn’t somehow fulfill her purpose, she might be abandoned by this harsh expedition.

From then on, Medeia began observing the heroes who fought magical beasts.

“I can’t surpass them in strength. So I have no choice but to compete with speed and technique.”

“How can I deliver a blow in one strike?”

The straightened fan handle drew an arc from inside to outside.

Then,

“I want to prove it. That I didn’t make the wrong choice.”

She struck the leader’s throat precisely.

The distinctive weight of Damascus steel was transmitted through the point of impact.

“Urk-! Wh, what…”

“I want to work hard and return with dignity, so I want to show everyone.”

Jason. I really,

I thought if I worked hard, if I did my best, it would work out.

Our love, my child’s future,

My dream of someday returning to my homeland with honor.

But back then, I didn’t know.

That human hearts are as deep and endless as an abyss, and that even a man you’ve spent half your life with shouldn’t be trusted.

“Cough-!”

After being struck in the throat, the leader tumbled to the ground from the merciless blow to his solar plexus.

Thud!

Then Medeia’s fan handle was driven vertically into the ground right next to the fallen leader’s ear.

If it had been just a little more to the left, it would have pierced his neck.

“Uh, uh…”

The leader trembled violently. The smell of urine wafted from his lower body, which was darkening with moisture.

Whiz, whiz, whiz-!

Then, with the sound of deadly wind, several throwing knives flew toward Medeia.

“Your Highness, be careful!”

She deflected two, but missed the last one.

‘Saya is behind me.’

With that thought, instead of completely dodging the throwing knife, Medeia twisted her body slightly to avoid only a fatal wound.

However, the pain she had braced for by biting her lips wasn’t felt.

Clang-!

Because the fiercely flying throwing knife had hit something and bounced away.

“Are you alright?”

Neryl hurried over and asked.

“Yes.”

“That was really dangerous. Why didn’t you dodge?”

“…”

Neryl soon saw Saya trembling behind Medeia and understood the reason.

“What if that throwing knife had been poisoned?”

While listening to Neryl’s scolding, her face pale, Medeia looked around.

Someone had definitely blocked the last one for her.

‘Where did it come from? Who threw it?’

No sound could be heard in the silent forest.

Normally she would have confirmed the source, but the sun was setting. She had to return before the palace gates closed.

Having set her priorities, she put away her weapon and straightened her appearance.

Neryl, who had finished dealing with the remaining soldiers, approached. She paused when she saw the fallen leader.

‘As expected, Your Highness was hiding your skills.’

“Shall I kill them all?”

Neryl looked at the unconscious leader.

“Is there any need to dirty our hands further?”

They’re bodies that can no longer function properly anyway.

When even people have nothing to eat, would the beasts be full?

Even if they’re lucky enough to survive the hungry beasts and return to the streets, there will be those who only wish for them to pay for their karma.

“When your master wakes up, tell him. Next time we meet, it’ll be hard to keep his life.”

The soldiers, terrified, could only nod repeatedly.

* * *

“Princess, that’s really Valdina’s princess, right?”

After the princess’s carriage left, Chezare’s group emerged from behind the trees.

Garo, who had been dazed for a while after the shaman’s death, rubbed his eyes as if he couldn’t believe what had happened before his eyes.

“Could the princess do martial arts?”

Even Terrence, who had been calm throughout, tilted his head in excitement.

“When the princess turned around, I could feel the killing intent all the way here, you know? By the way, boss. That last throwing knife bouncing away, that was you, right boss?”

Despite being dazed, he had managed to see that.

Instead of answering, Chezare didn’t take his eyes off the spot where the princess had left.

“…”

He recalled her appearance from earlier.

The nobility that didn’t crumble even among the fierce bandits. Her delicate features, innocent like a young animal, were clear even from a distance.

The strange atmosphere where calmness and vitality coexisted seemed more suited to nature than the deadly royal palace.

But that peacefulness was brief, as she aimed for the bandit’s throat more lethally than anyone.

In the forest at sunset, the princess’s flowing silver hair sparkled like gold for an instant.

‘Valdina’s Golden Star…’

Suddenly, the old woman’s words came to mind.

“Poor black star, Valdina’s Golden Star will save your fate entangled in something terrible… it will.”

Chezare’s eyes flashed gold like the princess’s had moments before.

‘Could the Golden Star the old woman mentioned be a person?’

If that’s really the case, what are the chances that princess could be Valdina’s Golden Star?

The tears of dawn, could that girl really find the antidote to remove his curse?

“Find out everything about Valdina’s princess.”

“So suddenly? Ev, everything?”

“Everything.”

Thump thump thump,

Even at the faint possibility, Chezare’s heart began to race rapidly.

* * *

Valdina Palace.

“This is Saya, who will serve me from today. Everyone get along well.”

Saya, who came to the palace following Medeia, quickly adapted to her new environment.

“Was there no hazing?”

“It would be a lie to say there was none at all. But the child is quick-witted and has a way with words, so she quickly won over the hearts of the palace people.”

A street child that the Princess had brought back from her expedition.

In the Royal Palace where status was everything, Saya immediately became a thorn in everyone’s side.

But having lived alone on the streets, she didn’t yield to such treatment.

How could a rolling stone expect to be loved from the very beginning?

Moreover, she was well-versed in earning people’s sympathy.

“My birthday is the anniversary of my mother’s death. My father injured his leg in the war and had trouble moving around, but until he passed away, he always bought me white bread on my birthday.”

She boldly revealed secrets that would be devastating for a teenage girl.

No one gets angry at someone from the bottom who struggles even with basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter.

It’s only those of similar standing who measure and compete with each other.

“That day was also when I was going to gather medicinal herbs. But who would have thought I’d be sold to human traffickers? Everything went dark before my eyes.”

With her bean-sized black eyes sparkling, she vividly described the situation of that day, mixing facts with some fabrication.

“The bandits said my eyes and organs already had buyers. I was running frantically when I crashed into a carriage, and seeing a noble young lady inside, I desperately clung to her begging to be saved.”

“Oh my… how pitiful…”

The maids had completely fallen for her story.

“If Your Highness hadn’t saved me, I would have been sold off piece by piece without leaving even a trace behind. My deceased parents must have somehow wanted to keep me alive.”

Saya bravely wiped away her flowing tears with her fist. The maids were moved along with her and dabbed at their own eyes.

“Goodness… how heartbreaking.”

“I, Saya, may still be young, but I know human decency. I desperately clung to repay the grace of saving my life, and that’s how I came to be here. Only later did I learn that noble person was a Princess, and now I’m causing trouble for you sisters.”

Saya stood up and bowed deeply at the waist.

“You sisters are no different from my teachers. Since I’m uneducated and lacking in many ways, please scold me plenty. I will receive your teachings like they’re from heaven itself.”

“Oh my, listen to how this child talks!”

The maids burst into laughter.

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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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