The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 48

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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 48

Medeia gazed at the distant hilltop shrouded in darkness.

‘Neryl is doing well.’

The promised time was when the great bell tolled eight times.

The flares and siege cannons had already been transported and positioned through Gillipos.

Medeia had already finished preparing to escape Prince Claudio and his wife’s trap.

“Saint Esther’s spear—truly, the heavens have finally answered your earnest prayers.”

Medeia completely changed the purpose of the banquet.

“Surely this means that our Valdina will be victorious?”

As the war dragged on, both commoners and nobles alike had grown weary.

However, that didn’t mean they didn’t want victory.

No, in fact, they desired it more desperately than anyone.

Beyond this long ordeal, they had desperately hoped for even a small certainty that Valdina would ultimately triumph.

Medeia had satisfied their parched yearning with Saint Esther’s spear.

Even though it wasn’t real.

“Saint Esther has descended upon Valdina!”

“The star of victory shines upon Valdina!”

Those overcome with emotion murmured joyfully. The attendees, lost in the afterglow for a while, finally understood the reason for today’s splendid banquet.

“Of course, when praying for victory, such devotion cannot be lacking. Otherwise, the goddess wouldn’t have given us an answer like today’s.”

With the fate of war at stake, the scale of devotion offered to the gods was never insufficient.

The Regent frowned.

“What nonsense, Saint Esther… that’s ridiculous…”

Divine will my foot—it was just one of those strange phenomena that happen by chance.

What great significance could it possibly have?

Moreover, the star of victory—for Claudio, who wanted the king’s victory least of all, it was utterly unsettling.

“Uncle, am I mistaken?”

Medeia didn’t miss his words and raised her delicate eyebrows.

“Since Aunt and Virna prepared this banquet at the ducal house, I thought there could be no other reason for Uncle, Valdina’s loyal retainer, to host tonight’s banquet…”

People’s eyes turned to the Regent.

The corners of his mouth, forcing a hearty laugh, trembled.

If he denied it here, it would be tantamount to admitting the ducal house had other motives.

“How could that be? You’re just so clever that you’ve read this uncle’s inner thoughts completely. It’s simply amazing.”

Medeia smiled and raised her glass.

“His Majesty will never forget Uncle and the ducal house’s loyalty. As Valdina’s princess, I’ll convey my gratitude on his behalf. Come, everyone raise your glasses.”

Golden champagne sparkled.

“A toast to Valdina’s loyal retainer Claudio!”

“A toast to Claudio!”

As if illuminating the Regent’s rotting heart, dozens of golden champagne glasses rose in unison like candles.

* * *

“Haha, Claudio, the star of victory!”

Count Montega’s voice boomed throughout the banquet hall.

“I apologize for thinking you were just a bookworm. I thought you were cowering in the Royal Palace like a coward, but there’s still fighting spirit in your chest! Excellent!”

With a face full of admiration, he slapped the Regent’s shoulder repeatedly, saying words that could have been either insults or praise.

Prince Claudio was clenching his teeth so hard his gums ached.

The Queen Mother also praised her second son.

“Joaquin, you had such a wonderful idea. You’re truly my son.”

Then she turned her eyes to Medeia.

“Medeia, is that also why you wore a black dress today?”

“Yes, Grandmother. I wanted to show respect to the soldiers fighting for Valdina on the battlefield.”

Medeia placed her hand on her chest and made a sacred bow.

“How thoughtful. You haven’t forgotten your duty as a princess.”

The Queen Mother nodded approvingly.

Then she looked at Virna standing beside her. A reproachful glance passed by.

Virna confirmed her grandmother’s cold eyes and became even angrier.

Why, when I held the best hand, did this result come about?

Why is everyone looking at me with pitying eyes instead of Medeia?

She couldn’t understand it at all.

The banquet hall also stirred upon hearing the conversation between the Queen Mother and her granddaughter. Some changes occurred among the attendees as well.

“We couldn’t bring ourselves to dress up in times like these either.”

“But look at those excited fools. Tsk, tsk. To think they’re also citizens of Valdina—how pathetic.”

Even while they criticized each other, the main topic was undoubtedly today’s protagonist, the princess.

People crowded around Medeia.

They praised her unanimously, saying that despite her young age, she had the deep heart of royalty that thinks of the people.

Even those who had maintained neutrality began hovering around, trying to greet the princess.

The Regent trembled with rage.

His face had turned completely red from barely containing his anger, and even those who had been approaching him stepped back in surprise.

When he was about to head toward Medeia again, a thick hand blocked the Regent.

“Stop it. If you step forward any more, it’ll look suspicious.”

“…Minister.”

Eyes pressed down by quivering jowls looked at Prince Claudio with pity, as if asking how he could be so blind to the current situation.

Minister Etienne knew of Prince Claudio’s scheme today and had helped him.

Therefore, he too felt bitter seeing the young princess smoothly evade the trap.

However, he abandoned his regrets sooner than the Prince.

To Etienne, the princess was actually too insignificant to even be a piece on the chessboard.

Today’s failure was merely a matter of crushing the princess today versus tomorrow.

“Tsk, this round is lost. We need to aim for the next one. Why is someone who should know better acting like this?”

When the Minister clicked his tongue, Prince Claudio felt like he would explode. He almost forgot that the Minister was his ally and nearly shouted.

‘Easy for you to say!’

Medeia had earlier said in front of everyone that it was a “banquet prepared by the ducal house.”

She had also repeatedly said that the royal family wouldn’t forget the ducal house’s efforts, even confirming it with the Queen Mother.

That meant all the expenses incurred today were also the ducal house’s responsibility.

‘I prepared this banquet planning to charge it to the royal family, indulging in every luxury imaginable!’

Moreover, it had become a situation where he was using the ducal house’s fortune to pray for the victory of his nephew Peleus, whom he wanted to kill.

Prince Claudio felt like he would cough up blood.

“Ha. Wait, I’ll go to the rest room.”

Suppressing his boiling rage, he strode out of the banquet hall without even saying goodbye to the Minister.

“…Virna, you come with me.”

Catherine also hurriedly left, dragging her daughter along as if pulling her away.

Etienne shook his head.

“Good grief. Being so hot-tempered… Bring more alcohol. The expensive, strong stuff.”

Since the scheme had gone awry anyway, he planned to enjoy the rest of the night comfortably.

He surveyed the banquet hall with greedy eyes while drinking.

The fresh youth under the bright lights made his blood boil.

Imagining the screams those haughty ones would make when mercilessly crushed made his whole body tremble with excitement.

A dark red tongue emerged to lick his lips, leaving a greasy sheen.

“Yes, master.”

Umberto, an attendant wearing a red fox badge, bowed at the waist.

* * *

“It hurts. Mother, I said it hurts! Let go of my hand!”

Catherine, who had dragged her daughter to the rest room, was furious to the top of her head.

“Virna, are you out of your mind? Why did you put that on and come here!”

“….”

“What did Mother tell you! She said to make sure Medeia wore it! Was that so difficult?! Why did you covet it for no reason!”

However, Virna wasn’t in her usual state of forced obedience either.

The humiliation she felt in the banquet hall was enormous. But when her mother only scolded her instead of protecting her, resentment surged up.

Catherine, who had no intention of indulging her daughter’s stubbornness any longer, held out a new dress.

“Hurry and change into new clothes. You need to go back into the banquet hall with Mother.”

Virna bit her lips when she saw the ordinary pink muslin dress.

If she changed into different clothes now, wouldn’t that prove she had indeed stolen Medeia’s dress?

“I don’t want to.”

“…What? Are you going to be stubborn? Don’t you care about Mother and Father’s reputation?”

“Mother just doesn’t want to see me happy even for a moment, right?”

Virna looked at her sparkling reflection in the mirror.

Even after hearing all the scolding and criticism, it was still true that this diamond dress was breathtakingly dazzling.

I absolutely won’t take it off. This is mine. I’ll never give it to Medeia.

Defiance trembled in Virna’s chest.

“I don’t want to! Mother doesn’t think about me either, so I’ll do whatever I want too!”

“No! That dress is what I—!”

Before Catherine could grab her, Virna ran out just like that.

“Haa.”

Catherine, whose head was throbbing, grabbed her forehead and staggered.

“That stubborn fool who needs to be broken before she learns takes after her father.”

After letting out a sigh like a soliloquy, she immediately shouted angrily.

“What are you doing? Find Virna and bring her back quietly, hurry!”

* * *

Medeia quietly watched the backs of the Claudio family leaving the banquet hall.

Then she sensed a presence and turned around.

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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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