The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 78

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 78

“That should be sufficient.”

The girl with an expressionless face opened her mouth. Even facing the menacing knights, she showed no sign of being intimidated.

“You bitch? How dare you interfere with my punishment? What are you doing! Go grab her!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The sound of the Princess throwing a tantrum could be heard, but Jason couldn’t take his eyes off the girl he was seeing for the first time.

The Princess’s guard knight walked toward the girl without hesitation.

However, before he could even open his mouth to threaten her with his rough and large build, a sword was pointed at his throat. It was a female knight protecting the girl.

“Stand back.”

It was an amazing sword-drawing speed. The Princess’s knight couldn’t even follow with his eyes as his opponent drew her sword.

“Are there only vermin in Valdina? How dare a lowly wench interfere here of all places?”

Seeing her guard hesitate, the Princess’s face turned even redder.

“I wonder who you are to insult Valdina at every turn. You must either be a traitor who knows nothing of your homeland’s honor, or perhaps you’re not from this country at all.”

“What, what? How dare you! I am from the great Empire-!”

When the Princess, provoked by the girl’s taunt, was about to reveal her identity, Kensington grabbed her arm and muttered quietly.

“Stop. Have you forgotten, Your Highness? Where we are?”

Whatever rumors might spread later, they had to hide their identities as the ones who caused today’s chaos at all costs.

While silencing the Princess, Kensington examined the silver-haired girl who had suddenly appeared with suspicious eyes.

“You’re acting so stupidly! We should have just killed them from the beginning!”

Meanwhile, the Princess, furious at being unable to move, pinched her guard mercilessly and kicked his shins.

Though the fierce kicks made him feel like his eyes would pop out, the guard couldn’t say anything.

“…”

The girl maintained a calm expression throughout, making the contrast between the two people clearly visible to everyone watching.

Princess Angelique scowled fiercely.

“Damn it! I refuse to stay in this beggar-like place. Let’s go!”

Once the furious Princess disappeared, a peaceful atmosphere finally settled over the street.

“Th-thank you. Thanks to you, Tippi and I survived.”

“Pii, piiii!”

The tiger cub also made cute crying sounds.

The girl nodded indifferently and immediately left the scene.

Jason, who had been watching the scene as if entranced, hurriedly stepped forward.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke? Where are you going?”

He couldn’t even hear the voice of the knight calling him from behind.

Coming out of the tent, he could see the girl walking not too far away.

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Jason urgently chased after the girl. Seeing the girl’s silver hair fluttering like silk somehow made his mouth go dry.

“Excuse me, but may I know your name?”

Her steps that wouldn’t stop, her hand that couldn’t be caught – somehow the girl’s retreating figure felt regrettable, like grasping sweat in one’s palm.

The courage to stand against shameless tyranny when no one else would step forward. The composure that silenced the arrogant Angelique.

The girl was not only beautiful but also wise.

“…”

Please, just stop for a moment and look back at me.

At the moment Jason wished for this, the girl’s footsteps stopped.

Ah, thank goodness. Momentarily, an inexplicable sense of relief swept through Jason’s chest.

“The one who caused the commotion just now is my cousin. She was raised too preciously and lacks manners. I apologize on my cousin’s behalf.”

It was a gentle and considerate voice that would melt away the other person’s wariness.

Eventually, the girl who had been standing still turned around.

The moment he saw her beautiful green eyes, Jason was mesmerized.

And at the same time, fierce killing intent brushed past the back of his neck.

‘What?’

Startled, Jason raised his head and looked around. It was such clear murderous intent that he wondered if there was an assassin targeting him.

However, he found no trace and focused on the girl in front of him again.

For an instant, her enlarged green eyes trembled with shock. Fear, anger, and even inexplicable regret flashed by in a moment.

“Miss? Are you alright?”

It was strange. Why was the girl surprised to see him?

Jason was surprised by the various emotions in the girl’s eyes while trying to recall if he had met her somewhere before.

No. If I had seen such a face, I couldn’t have forgotten it.

“Miss.”

Jason reached out his hand. It was definitely not with any improper intention.

It was just that the water droplets pooling in her trembling eyes looked so precariously hanging as if they would fall at any moment, appearing pitiful…

“I was just…”

Smack-!

However, his outstretched hand was coldly struck down.

A stinging pain remained on the back of his hand. Jason realized that she had slapped his hand away.

“It doesn’t hurt. Don’t worry.”

Jason unconsciously muttered, trying to reassure the girl.

Meanwhile, the girl had returned to her expressionless face as if nothing had happened.

The moisture that had been rippling had long since dried up completely. Nothing could be read from her pale face, as if a thick curtain had been drawn over it.

For that fleeting moment, the girl’s briefly revealed emotions felt so precious that Jason unconsciously clenched his fist.

If only she would look at me with those eyes just once more, just once more.

“I had no intention of startling you. I merely wanted to apologize on my cousin’s behalf. Also, if you would tell me your name, I would like to express my gratitude-“

Ha. It seemed like he heard a snort from somewhere.

Did I mishear?

Just as Jason was puzzled.

“What meaning is there in belated gratitude or apologies?”

The girl shot back coldly.

“If I may be so bold, if you had been watching from the beginning, shouldn’t you have stopped your cousin? Instead of just standing by pretending it wasn’t your business.”

“Pardon…?”

“If you have such leisure, why don’t you first examine yourself, whose words and actions don’t match.”

Still, he was a Grand Duke of the Empire.

Having grown up as the second most noble bloodline after the Emperor, this was the first time he had faced such reproach to his face.

When the stunned Jason came to his senses and looked for the girl again, she had already disappeared.

* * *

From the green building where Facade’s branch was located, all of Angelique’s commotion could be seen.

“The 4th Princess is still the same. Whether in Kazen or Valdina, she’s unchanged – should I praise her persistence at least?”

“Checkmate.”

Chezare’s cool voice echoed. He seemed completely uninterested in the commotion outside, not even glancing at it.

On the table next to the window where they sat, a chess game was in full swing.

Black had devoured most of white’s pieces, leaving very few remaining.

“Boss, go easy on me. You’ve been winning continuously.”

Garo made a tearful face and clutched his head.

“Oh, Grand Duke Castulo is there too. Look, Boss.”

As if wanting to divert Chezare’s attention elsewhere, Garo peeked his head out through the car window.

“After secretly joining hands with the Regent behind the scenes, it seems he brought Jared along on this trip to Valdina too.”

“Jason brought Jared?”

Chezare’s eyebrow slightly raised. Soon, as if understanding, he let out a snickering laugh.

“It seems my dear cousin brother is finally starting to stretch his wings?”

He saw through Jason’s ambition at a glance.

“After living quietly like a dead mouse all this time, now that Boss is gone, he’s sneakily coming out and extending his reach both inside and outside Kazen. If he gets the Regent and even Jared, then he won’t be someone we can just ignore anymore.”

Garo grumbled as if annoyed.

“Well, anyway, right now they also have to go around appeasing the 4th Princess, so it won’t be entirely comfortable for them either… Huh?”

Garo tilted his head.

“Over there, isn’t that the Princess?”

The hand that was moving the chess piece hesitated.

Chezare looked up. Silver hair flickered and disappeared beyond the window.

“Did I see wrong? Well, there’s no way she’d be here, Boss…?”

When Garo turned around, Chezare had already left his seat.

“Why are you suddenly leaving in the middle of chess!”

Garo shouted at the back that gave no response.

“Geez, checkmate! Checkmate!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————