The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 8

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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 8

Red threads scattered down below Mariyu’s shoulders with a rustling sound.

“Neryl?”

No, what she thought were threads was actually her own cut hair.

Mariyu’s glossy red locks, which she had cherished and cared for like her life, scattered messily across the floor.

“Kyaah! What are you doing right now!”

“Next time it’ll be your neck.”

Neryl, holding her sword, warned in a low voice.

“Are you crazy? Are you in your right mind-!”

The blade that had been lying flat was raised upright.

The cool touch of metal against her neck. The sharp pain she felt as her skin was cut.

Neryl lowered her head. She whispered into Mariyu’s ear, so only she could hear.

“If you dare lay a hand on Her Highness carelessly, I’ll break every one of your fingers.”

“You, you…”

Mariyu bit her lips. She never knew that Neryl, who was always dull as a stone, could feel so threatening.

Those mineral-like eyes of someone who had killed before gave her chills.

Mariyu trembled as she stumbled backward step by step.

* * *

“Neryl, why don’t you rest more.”

“This much is fine.”

Even with the sword in her left hand instead of her right hand wrapped in bandages, Neryl showed no awkwardness.

Medeia looked over Neryl’s entire body.

‘Strong.’

Medeia had seen countless strong warriors during her expeditions. Though she couldn’t become like them, she had at least developed her eye for such things.

Neryl had no openings. Even now when she couldn’t use one arm.

‘If she’s like this now, what would she be like when her arm is fully intact.’

It seemed she could at least match evenly against Kazen’s 7-star knights.

‘Peleus, brother sent me that child for this reason.’

After muttering something into Mariyu’s ear, she returned with steady steps.

“What did you say to make her face turn so pale?”

“I told her to… work hard.”

“Really?”

Whatever it was, Mariyu was nothing but a nuisance to Medeia.

She had no intention of keeping someone who had stabbed her in the back by her side.

“You’ll take care of my personal needs from today. And you there will handle my dresses.”

“Really, truly?”

Excitement filled the maids’ voices.

Serving the Princess personally was work that came with many rewards.

‘I don’t know why, but now that Mariyu has been pushed out, it’s our chance to get a piece of the action!’

The maids couldn’t hide their joy at the suddenly changed situation.

Bowing repeatedly until their backs were sore, they followed behind Medeia.

Excited, they flattered Medeia while also badmouthing Mariyu as ungrateful.

“But, Your Highness. The palace seemed a bit strange today.”

Then one maid brought up the topic with a troubled expression.

“When I went to get supplies, there was a mountain of dry firewood piled up right next to us, but they gave us different wood instead. And it was all damp with moisture and moldy!”

“That’s right, Your Highness. They even told us to carry it ourselves.”

“And they said the regular servants shouldn’t enter our palace anymore.”

Without the servants who handled the palace’s basic maintenance, all those menial tasks would fall to the maids.

“Since I scolded the Maid Supervisor yesterday, she seems to be trying to get revenge.”

Medeia nodded as if she understood.

“My goodness, then… Is it, is it really true? That Your Highness struck Lady Quizin with a rod…”

Overnight, yesterday’s incident had spread throughout the entire palace, but only the maids of the Princess’s Palace couldn’t believe it.

But now the Princess herself had confirmed it while they were still uncertain.

They looked back and forth at Neryl standing beside Medeia. They recalled the sight of the Princess supporting the injured Neryl yesterday.

“Then, it really was because of Neryl…”

You made an enemy of the Maid Supervisor!

The maids were shocked, while also thinking the Princess was very foolish. Did the Princess really know who she had turned into an enemy over a mere maid?

Their thoughts were cut off by the Princess’s next words.

“It’s my palace and my people. It would have been the same for any of you, not just Neryl. Without my permission, no one can touch my people.”

The maids were flustered by Medeia’s firm words.

“By any chance, Your Highness… what are you planning to do? We’re curious…”

Watching the maids roll their eyes as they asked questions, Medeia thought wryly.

‘Not you, but your masters must be curious.’

It seemed they had received hints to observe the situation. Eyes waiting for an answer sparkled.

“Right now, I cannot submit to the Maid Supervisor.”

Creak. Medeia opened a drawer and took out a handful of jewelry.

“Since the Maid Supervisor harbors such poison, you’ll have a hard time for a while. I’m sorry.”

A pair of sparkling ruby earrings went to the maid in charge of personal care, and a gold bracelet to the one managing dresses.

She gave each of the other girls one of the larger pieces from the jewelry box.

The maids’ eyes widened.

The Princess had given away her entire collection of jewelry to comfort them.

Even if they were ignorant of worldly matters, they couldn’t be this ignorant.

Or perhaps, she cares for us that much?

The heavy jewels and kind words shook them.

“If we don’t endure now, the Maid Supervisor will think she can control your lives and deaths whenever she wants.”

Unaware of the Princess’s eyes, which were colder than ever before.

“Though I’m a powerless master, I don’t want to see you treated the same way.”

White hands were placed over the maids’ hands that gripped the jewelry tightly. They were a bit cold, but small and soft.

“I’ll wait for the right moment to ask my uncle for mediation. For the sake of this incompetent master, please endure until then.”

Her calm tone and downcast eyelashes revealed her despair.

“No, Your Highness. Knowing that you want to protect us, how could we resent Your Highness.”

“No matter how the Maid Supervisor tries to torment us, we’ll endure with all our heart and serve Your Highness. Please trust only in us.”

The maids spoke in unison with tears in their eyes.

The substantial feel of the jewelry in their hands made them even more loyal.

* * *

“They’re all like bats. You gave them far too much.”

After the maids gave much more respectful greetings and withdrew, Neryl complained with dissatisfaction.

This place was full of lackeys trying to spy on the Princess’s activities.

There wasn’t a single person worthy of receiving the Princess’s sincerity.

“They’re all constantly carrying news of Your Highness outside, yet you’re giving them rewards instead.”

“Right. Among my maids, you’re the only one I can trust, Neryl.”

Even with the jewelry drawer now empty, Medeia remained calm.

“So I need to get rid of them.”

“What?”

At Neryl’s bewildered expression, Medeia only raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

Most of the jewelry she had given to the maids were gifts from Prince Claudio and his wife.

The jewels gifted by her uncle and his wife were expensive and had gems large enough to draw admiration.

On the surface, it looked like the Prince and Princess cared deeply for their niece.

But if you looked closely, the craftsmanship was crude and too focused on the stones, giving off a nouveau riche feeling.

To those who knew jewelry, they were vulgar pieces that would make one question the owner’s taste.

‘She went to official events proudly wearing all that gaudy stuff…’

There was a reason why nobles and diplomatic envoys looked down on Medeia.

“She’ll probably try to sell off everything she received as soon as she leaves the palace.”

“Oh, that’s exactly what I’m hoping for.”

The jewels Medeia gave to her maids were like a megaphone directed at the world.

Someone would remember the gifts that the Regent and his wife had made such a loud fuss about giving to Medeia.

When those jewels hit the market, people would start to wonder.

What could have driven a princess of a nation to give away even her precious belongings to comfort her maids?

How far would her uncle be able to silence people?

“For borrowing their hands, this was quite a bargain.”

Medeia patted Neryl’s shoulder with an expressionless face.

* * *

“You’ll regret this.”

The Maid Supervisor wasn’t speaking empty words.

She sprinkled sand powder in the food and soaked the bedding with scents that attracted all kinds of insects before sending them in.

She tried everything else that could make a young, precious lady’s day miserable.

All visits to the Princess’s Palace were also refused at the Maid Supervisor’s discretion.

Though visitors had been rare to begin with, now that she blocked even people who came on business, the Princess’s Palace quickly became as desolate as an abandoned house.

The Maid Supervisor intended to completely isolate Medeia in this vast palace.

‘I told Catherine not to visit the Princess for a while too.’

Let her think carefully about the price of acting so recklessly.

‘Medeia, you’ve plucked the whiskers of a sleeping lion.’

The Maid Supervisor shuddered with satisfaction at the success of her revenge.

But what she never could have imagined was,

“Ugh, how long is this going to continue? Hey, throw this away. It came from outside.”

“Isn’t this too old-fashioned? Hairpins, what era is this from?”

Most of her malicious gifts never even reached Medeia.

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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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