The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 71

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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 71

The woman reluctantly unwrapped the dirty bandage. There was a sticky sound of blood and cloth stuck together.

The shadow only relaxed its guard after discovering the vivid horizontal wound.

The smell of blood must have been from that wound.

Still, the unsettling feeling didn’t fade, and the woman chattered on.

“You said you’re from the Royal Palace Guard, right? My husband’s older brother also works in the guard, so if it’s alright with you, could you deliver something for me? There’s some laundry he asked for. His name is Ryan Enold—”

“I’m on official duty, so that would be difficult. Well then, I’ll be going.”

The shadow hastily withdrew before its identity could be exposed.

“Toward the North Gate—!”

The shadows left the street.

* * *

Chezare regained consciousness around the time the Empress’s shadow disguised as a guard knocked on the door.

Bang—! Bang—!

His eyes snapped open as he tensed at the noise.

He reflexively touched his face. The mask was still tied to his face, not having been removed.

The Princess must not have been curious about his face. His clothes and condition were still the same as when he had lost consciousness earlier.

Chezare blinked. His vision was whitish.

What did she put over me?

Soon he realized that a faintly musty and dusty, rough-textured cloth was covering him like a bundle.

“…”

He pondered for a moment. He had lived his entire life being precious and pampered.

Born and raised as an emperor, Chezare had never once covered himself with a garbage blanket, not even during his mercenary days.

For a brief moment, the thought crossed his mind that it might be better to kick off this blanket immediately and reclaim what little dignity remained, shadows or not.

However, at that moment, a delicate voice was heard.

“I’m sorry, but my husband isn’t home right now.”

When he heard the voice naturally mentioning a husband despite never having held a man’s hand, he almost laughed.

When she said she was hurt while cutting cloth, he tensed thinking she might have been attacked while he was unconscious, and when she lied about having family in the guard to shake off the shadow, he was impressed.

Soon the shadow left, and faint breathing like a small animal panting caught his ear.

He could tell how nervous she had been.

As the door closed, Medeia collapsed against it, leaning her back against the door. Her vision spun, so she closed her eyes briefly.

“There’s nothing the Princess can’t do.”

Medeia raised her head.

He had already gotten up and was unwrapping the dirty bandage tied to his hand.

“I didn’t know you were good at acting too.”

The mercenary’s eyes were still pale, but there was laughter in his voice.

When the cool touch of his long, straight fingers made contact, her mind snapped to attention.

Medeia tried to pull her hand away, but stopped at the sharp pain.

In that moment, he took out a medicine bottle from his chest and poured it over the wound. Unlike when he had wielded his sword with deadly force, his touch was surprisingly careful.

The pain immediately disappeared along with a cooling sensation.

“I’m in your debt.”

The cut remaining on the white hand was red and deep. The laughter that had been lingering in his golden eyes disappeared.

Looking down intently at the wound, he said.

“Princess, since you saved me, I’ll repay this debt someday.”

It was a gentler voice than ever before.

Medeia and the man were close enough that she could observe his face.

Even with the mask on, his sharp jawline and handsome bone structure couldn’t be hidden. His long, straight hands wrapped Medeia’s wound with a clean handkerchief.

From somewhere came a deep, rich woody fragrance. Along with it was a faint freshness like a handful of wind blowing through a dense forest.

“How enchanting must it be outside?”

Why did the words of a noblewoman who had once murmured at a banquet come to mind?

“Wipe the blood you’ve shed before speaking. You look unsightly.”

Soon Medeia, realizing that the fragrance belonged to the man, swallowed a bitter laugh.

‘Really, what an irritatingly noticeable presence.’

He’s just an outsider anyway.

“Welcome guests have arrived.”

The mercenary seemed to have already expected the intruders to come.

The Empire’s intruders had also targeted only the mercenary. Had he drawn them in?

Since when did my country Valdina become a playground for Kazen people to run wild?

Her green eyes, now calm, coldly swept over him.

“Then tell me what you want now. Stop stirring up Valdina any further.”

It was a cold voice, as if today’s joint defeat of the monster and her self-harm to hide him had never happened.

Displeasure was clearly etched on her proudly raised, noble chin.

He answered with eyes that seemed to smile or not.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

As if that was all there was to discuss, Medeia stood up from her seat.

“See you again. Your Highness the Princess.”

Bang—! The door closed without an answer.

* * *

The street where the intruders had disappeared was quiet.

“Your Highness!”

Medeia was soon able to meet Neryl.

“I saw the signal. I should have come earlier… but it took time to get out of that chaos.”

Neryl, who was in the carriage, took care of Medeia. When she saw the wound remaining on her hand, her face darkened remarkably.

“Did this happen while dealing with the monster? How did you treat it? There might be a scar. Should I call the court physician?”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry too much. It only looks like this on the outside, but inside it’s almost completely healed.”

Medeia patted Neryl’s shoulder as if nothing was wrong.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. No matter what you say, I should have moved with you from the beginning…”

“I said it’s fine. If that had happened, the situation would have been worse.”

Because the leader of Facade was waiting in the office.

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. I’ll tell you the details later. By the way, what about the fire at the Count’s mansion?”

“It’s still burning fiercely. The guard and fire department gathered belatedly, so the entire street near District 2 is paralyzed. The Count’s people are also almost completely wiped out. They either burned to death or died at the hands of assassins.”

A brief silence followed Neryl’s words.

“But Your Highness… your expression doesn’t look good. Perhaps the Regent’s name wasn’t on the document?”

“No, look. Here it is at the very top. Below that are all the names of Samon and his subordinates.”

Medeia took out a scroll from her chest.

“With this, we can bring down the Duke. Keep it safe.”

There was a separate time when this document would be decisively used.

When the rebel forces crossed the royal palace, this would be revealed to the world and expose the Regent’s ambitions.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Neryl, who received the document, once again examined her master’s face.

Tonight, amid the vast variables of fire at the Count’s mansion and intruders breaking in, the Princess had certainly obtained what she wanted.

But the Princess’s expression was full of worry.

“Do you remember the assassins with white cords tied around them who entered the Count’s mansion?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Even to my eyes, their swordsmanship looked extraordinary.”

“You observed well. They were using Imperial swordsmanship.”

They had tried to kill the leader of Facade.

“Valdina’s meager power cannot compare to the Empire, so these small fry are running wild as if this place belongs to them. Peleus must return here as soon as possible.”

Medeia sighed while rubbing her temples.

Looking up outside the carriage window, the dim dawn sun was rising.

Somewhere under that sky, Peleus would be there.

“I need to find a way to help Peleus end the war quickly.”

* * *

Claudio’s Estate.

The Regent, who had belatedly heard the news, struck Samon’s cheek with a fierce blow.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Crash!

The teacup the Regent had thrown shattered into pieces.

“I told you not to act recklessly-! Didn’t you clearly say you would only burn down the manor!”

“He was someone who had already received grandmother’s execution order anyway. If that disgusting man hadn’t been stealing away servants as his playthings, it wouldn’t have escalated to this point! Father, don’t you remember what that man did to us siblings at that grand banquet?”

Samon revealed his true feelings.

“Even so, you shouldn’t have been so cruel! What do you think the remaining people will say about your father now? Didn’t you anticipate at all that they would think of him as a shameless man who killed all the family members of his allies?”

Was this child always so short-sighted?

The Regent pressed his throbbing head.

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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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