The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 44
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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 44
She would pinch Saya’s cheeks, calling her cute, and feed her cookies, asking if she had ever tried them before.
Once it became known how Saya came to follow the Princess, the hostility that had been rising began to visibly disappear.
Being small and nimble, and taking on all the difficult tasks, Saya quickly established herself in the Princess’s Palace.
“Your Highness, is it alright to let Saya speak like that?”
Neryl worried whether it might give those watching her an excuse to act.
“It’s fine. She’s a clever child.”
Saya had come to Medeia first.
“Your Highness, I’d like to say this—would that be alright?”
Not only did she get permission beforehand and coordinate their stories, but she also read Medeia’s inner thoughts well and moved quickly ahead of time.
“Sister Medeia! You promised to go to the Duke’s daughter’s tea party with me today, kyaa, what?!”
“Oh my, what should I do, I’m sorry, Miss. Sob sob, I’m still so clumsy…”
There were times when she used ignorance as an excuse to refuse Virna, who came bothering them for no reason.
“It seemed like Your Highness dislikes Miss Virna. Did I think wrongly?”
“Saya, you should say Princess Claudia. I taught you the proper etiquette.”
“I’m sorry, Lady Neryl. But Miss Virna calls our Highness ‘sister’—where does that etiquette come from?”
Even Neryl ended up laughing at the cheerful yet bold observation.
Stories spread quite often that Princess Claudia was as ignorant of etiquette as a street urchin who had just entered the palace.
“Your Highness, I know you didn’t avoid the rain to protect me that day. I will never forget the grace of saving my life.”
She had lived alone in the slums for nearly three years.
Unconditional protection that she couldn’t expect even from her own brother. Saya would never forget that small, delicate back that protected her without hesitation—as small and fragile as herself.
‘How can I be of help to our Highness?’
Thus, she constantly pondered and tried to be helpful to Medeia.
Having grasped the situation in the Royal Palace, Saya soon became friends with maids from other palaces as well.
“I heard you saved a poor child. Well done. A princess should know how to care for her people.”
When even the Queen Mother brought up Saya’s story—somehow having taken notice—Medeia was quite surprised.
After that, no one mentioned Saya’s status anymore.
Medeia gained the additional positive reputation of being a generous and warm princess.
The brilliance of Theo, who had been the leader of the rebel forces in her past life, had clearly been passed down intact to his twin sister.
“However, Your Highness. About the day you brought Saya—before entering the palace, I had Tom search for that strange old woman once more.”
When Medeia said nothing in particular, Neryl continued.
“But it seems Facade’s mercenaries had also been to that street that day, besides us.”
“Facade?”
Medeia looked up.
“Yes. Tom said he tried to find out more about why they came, but their presence was so sharp that he was discovered halfway through and ended up being chased away instead.”
“…”
“However, it seems a high-ranking official from Facade had come, as they completely blocked off the street and only disappeared after quite some time had passed.”
Medeia frowned.
What business could the continent’s weapons dealer have in this small kingdom’s slums?
In her past life, Facade had never surfaced. In other words, it was a new variable in this life.
‘As Sisear said, they would help in suppressing the Empire, but I’ll need to find an excuse to send them away afterward.’
“I understand for now. Did they find that old woman?”
Neryl shook her head.
“But Your Highness, about those strange words that old woman said that day. Do you believe them?”
“What? That my future is full of chaos?”
When Medeia asked teasingly in return, Neryl looked flustered and made a tearful face.
“No, Your Highness’s future will be brighter than the sun. I just thought that thing called the tears of dawn… might somehow be helpful to Your Highness…”
“…”
“That old woman said so, didn’t she? That Your Highness would be the only one who could find it.”
“In the young lady’s body flows the blood of one who was once the wisest on the continent, and one who conveys the will of the goddess.”
“Well. The conditions don’t seem to match. My father was certainly wise, but to say he was the greatest on the continent seems too much of a leap—”
Medeia paused.
One who was once the wisest on the continent.
A sage.
And the country protected by the Philosopher’s Stone, Valdina.
Could it be that Valdina was able to possess the Philosopher’s Stone, surpassing the great powers of the continent, because its owner was an ancestor of Valdina?
“Your Highness…?”
“Wait, I have somewhere to go.”
At the thought that crossed her mind, Medeia smoothly rose.
* * *
Medeia’s shadow fell across the stone wall.
Cool air greeted her.
The Philosopher’s Stone was still emitting its blue-green light from atop the central altar.
“In the young lady’s body flows the blood of one who was once the wisest on the continent, and one who conveys the will of the goddess.”
Even if the former referred to a sage, the latter was still shrouded in mystery. Conveying the will of the goddess?
Medeia’s mother was a dancer by origin. Her mother’s country had perished long ago, and she had wandered after losing her homeland.
So she was far from any goddess.
Medeia reached out with a somewhat helpless feeling.
“Ancestors of Valdina.”
The familiar coldness wrapped around her fingertips.
Holding the Philosopher’s Stone with both hands, she murmured.
“Please tell me. Is there something you want to convey to me? What should I do—”
Then she paused as a sharp pain shot through her fingertips.
There seemed to be a sharp part at the bottom of the stone that hadn’t been completely polished.
A crack-like wound appeared on her fingertip.
When a drop of blood from her index finger finally fell onto the stone, something amazing happened.
The stone split in half with a crack, and a vast, pure white light burst forth.
“…”
Because Medeia had witnessed countless strange sights during her expeditions, she could barely maintain her composure.
Had it been anyone else, they would have fainted at this miraculous event.
The light that filled the room gradually subsided.
Medeia blinked her dazzled eyes and properly examined the interior.
Inside the split Philosopher’s Stone sat a small cylinder about the size of a finger.
Click. When Medeia picked up the cylinder, the Philosopher’s Stone closed again.
The split gap was sealed without a trace, returning to its complete form as if nothing had happened.
If not for the wound remaining on her hand, she might have thought she had briefly dreamed.
Medeia examined the cylinder.
At the top of the cylinder was carved a goddess statue, and at the bottom was a water drop pattern.
“Tears of… dawn?”
As if answering Medeia’s murmur, the silver liquid inside the cylinder rippled gently.
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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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