The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 76

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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 76

“….”

“You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

“You’re as insufferably unlucky as ever. You really know how to piss people off with your words.”

“What other talent could someone who makes a living with their mouth possibly have?”

Having nothing to say in response, the Princess complained irritably that her lace gloves were sticking to her hands and wouldn’t come off.

4th Princess Angelique had a fiery temperament.

If there was something she wanted, she absolutely had to get her hands on it, but even then, she handled things so carelessly and roughly that most ended up broken or discarded in a sorry state.

“There’s absolutely nothing appealing about this tiny country! The only thing worth looking at was the young king’s face!”

From the way she emphasized it, it seemed the king’s appearance had quite caught her fancy.

Kensington wondered if perhaps the Princess had accepted this diplomatic mission solely to see the face of Valdina’s king.

“Your Highness, Valdina’s king may be away, but his cousin is still in the country.”

A greasy-eyed man with a glossy black mustache, dressed to the nines in a shining red uniform, interjected into the conversation.

“…Count Laju.”

Roberto Laju.

A nobleman born in Valdina who had joined this diplomatic mission as an envoy to ease tensions between the two countries.

Though he had been a commoner in Valdina, in his youth he had thrown himself in front of a leopard charging at the late Emperor Alcetas II, and in recognition of this deed, he was granted a noble title by the Empire.

Alcetas II employed the man who had saved his life, and Count Laju enjoyed considerable trust and power despite being a foreigner.

However, before he could even properly celebrate his belated rise in status, Alcetas II passed away not long after.

His brother Perdickas II, who ascended the throne next, did not employ Count Laju, who reminded him of his brother’s reign.

Though the Emperor’s rejection left him in an awkward position, he still had more than enough status as an imperial nobleman to throw his weight around in Valdina.

Unlike Kensington, who frowned, the 4th Princess showed interest.

“Cousin? Who?”

“Prince Claudio. As you may have heard, he’s the only son of the Regent who rules Valdina.”

Laju’s greasy eyes sparkled as he curved his lips into a grin and spread his arms wide.

He looked exactly like a fish vendor desperately trying to sell stale fish at a market stall.

“Being direct cousins, they look quite similar too. So the Prince is also renowned as a handsome man. In fact, he’s already here waiting to pay his respects to Your Highness.”

Laju clapped his hands.

Thud, thud. Samon walked toward the Princess with a subtle smile.

His appearance, dressed up with all his might, was like a peacock spreading its feathers wide to catch a female’s attention.

His heavily starched uniform fit perfectly, brazenly emphasizing his body lines.

The epaulettes on his shoulders and chest were dazzling, and his pointed shoe tips gleamed with oil.

Princess Angelique looked him over from head to toe as if examining a store mannequin.

In that brief moment, she had already finished evaluating the merchandise.

‘He’s just a well-dressed beanpole.’

The interest that had briefly sparked quickly fizzled out.

Then, Samon greeted her with smooth etiquette.

“I have the honor of meeting Your Highness, Princess of Kazen. I am Samon Claudio. Prince Claudio, the former Prince and current Regent, is my father.”

His baritone voice was polite and gentle. Moreover, its content was even sweet.

“Your Highness the 4th Princess’s beauty has reached even this distant Valdina. To be able to meet the renowned beauty of the century on this continent—I am simply moved beyond words—”

“Similar, I suppose,”

Princess Angelique snorted. Her gaze was directed at Count Laju. She didn’t even look at Samon.

“If you’re going to offer something, you should bring something better.”

“Pardon, what?”

And before Samon could even be flustered,

“Count Laju, how dare you bring me something so inferior and try to pair it with this Angelique Graham?! Do I look that easy to you?”

Princess Angelique burst into irritation.

“The king’s hair was lustrous. It was like mysterious moonlight scattered about! And those indifferent eyes, those truthful pupils devoid of lust….”

Unlike Peleus’s mysterious silver hair, Samon’s was closer to a dull dark gray that had lost its brightness.

Samon’s eyes were also blue like Peleus’s, but the color was much muddier. His shortly folded eye shape was also irritable.

The occasionally flashing gleam in his eyes looked cunning, and his lips, thinner than Peleus’s, seemed petty.

Though he was tall, he hadn’t trained his body, so none of the strength of knights who crossed battlefields could be found.

Most decisively, he completely lacked the unapproachable, cool and upright atmosphere that Peleus possessed.

“Hmph, inferior goods of poor quality.”

The Princess, who had once again surveyed Samon’s features, turned her head away coldly and passed by.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Count Laju panicked and chased after her.

Left alone, Samon trembled with humiliation.

Though I don’t know what words were exchanged before I emerged from the tent, the Princess looked at me like a piece of meat at a butcher shop.

Her gaze was sharp as she examined me in detail, as if checking whether the meat was premium grade, domestic, or organic.

Having a brain, I couldn’t help but know who the Princess was comparing me to.

Peleus. My king and cousin brother who always stands like an unreachable tree.

“….”

Samon clenched his fists. His nails dug painfully into his flesh.

* * *

“The 4th Princess still has quite the temper.”

General Jared glanced at the Princess’s noisy quarters and curved his lips.

“Ah. I apologize, Grand Duke. This one was born and raised roughly, so she doesn’t know how to value anything precious. Whether it’s people or objects.”

Crush. A single flower caught between thick fingers was miserably crushed.

Savoring the scream-like sound from the delicate petals, the General looked at the man before him.

Then a handsome young man with neatly arranged reddish-brown hair showed the General an inscrutable, faint smile.

Jason Castulo. He was a Grand Duke of the Kazen Empire.

“Who would dare speak carelessly about the actions of a battlefield hero?”

This young Grand Duke with his generous and gentle appearance was actually a somewhat ambiguous existence in Kazen.

Originally, he should have been the one to inherit the throne.

If the late Emperor had lived, he would have been the one and only Crown Prince.

However, his uncle Perdickas II, who inherited the throne instead of Jason, was an outstanding ruler who elevated the Empire’s national power to new heights, and among his children, especially the 1st Prince Chezare, was a conqueror rarely seen on the continent.

Victory in continental wars, unification of small kingdoms. Under the rule of this father and son, Kazen solidified its position as the continent’s undisputed superpower.

In comparison, neither the late Emperor Alcetas II nor his only son Jason who inherited his blood had any particularly outstanding achievements or abilities.

So there was no way any faction would step forward to restore the disrupted succession order of the imperial family.

Also, the overwhelmingly dominant presence of Jason’s peer and cousin who would become the next Crown Prince, 1st Prince Chezare, played a major role.

Who would want to support Jason against that cruel demon?

When Perdickas II granted his nephew Jason the title of Grand Duke, he also bestowed upon him the surname Castulo.

‘Castulo’ was the name of a saint who had devoted his entire life to religion as a martyr.

Granting that surname to Jason indicated his intention never to return the throne.

Jason also accepted his uncle’s decision and exercised restraint.

So in the public eye, he appeared as a benevolent and wise person who knew his place.

But everyone has hidden ambitions.

In this distant land of Valdina, beyond the Emperor’s watchful eye, Jason’s suppressed ambitions were slowly beginning to raise their head.

“May the glory of victory be with Count Jared forever.”

Jason raised his cup with an unreadable gleam in his eyes.

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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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