The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 85

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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 85

However, Medeia responded coldly.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t want to hear that the Princess of Valdina received support from Facade.”

“The people of Kazen are different from Valdinians, Princess. Acting haughty will only make them look down on you.”

The people of Kazen indulged freely in entertainment and luxury based on their fertile national power.

Paradoxically, they wouldn’t miss any opportunity to find fault if one strayed even slightly from etiquette or fell behind fashion trends.

“Don’t worry. I know as much about them as you do.”

I experienced them to the point of exhaustion in my past life.

“They’re more worldly than anyone yet readily submit to power. This might be easier than dealing with Valdinians who would rather die than break.”

In my past life, when Jason usurped the throne, the people of Kazen accepted the changed emperor without resistance.

Of course, all potential competitors had already died and disappeared by then.

“…Why?”

Medeia hesitated.

She noticed eyes staring at her intently.

“I understand that the Princess has never left Valdina in her lifetime, yet you know the Empire quite thoroughly.”

It was an expected question. Medeia shrugged and said.

“Akaress, that’s why people invented writing and created things called news. You must have been too busy running a trading guild and hiding your identity to know.”

In a generous voice as if teaching a new maid.

“…”

“If you want, I’ll send you some books too.”

Chezare, noticing the faint mischief in her expressionless lips, couldn’t help but chuckle.

If Garo had known, he would have thrown a tantrum asking why she didn’t throw a dagger at the Princess.

“Fine. I actually had something to tell you too.”

Chezare’s body, which had been approaching Medeia, suddenly stopped.

Late at night, alone together in a bedroom.

To him, she was just a young princess, but he didn’t know if she thought the same.

For a girl of this age, nothing was more important than purity and chastity. He seemed to have acted too casually.

However, Medeia, who had been a wife and mother of two children in her previous life, felt no awkwardness at all.

The flutter or tension that might bloom between a man and woman had long since withered and aged in her heart.

“…”

Chezare snapped out of his thoughts at the green eyes looking up at him as if asking what was wrong.

The Princess with her clear face was calm, while only he was acting foolishly like an immature boy.

Regaining his composure, he placed an ornament on Medeia’s white hand.

It was a cat-shaped brooch. An emerald was embedded where the eyes should be.

“If you press this.”

When his thick finger pressed the tail part, click, the cat’s mouth opened and a sharp needle flashed.

It was an intricately designed weapon.

“It fires. It’s coated with a powerful paralyzing poison. Even a slight graze will keep someone down for three days.”

“It would be perfect for stabbing rude people like you.”

Even as she said this, Medeia couldn’t take her eyes off the brooch.

“Will you refuse this time too?”

“…”

Medeia didn’t answer.

As if he expected this, a light laugh came from under the half-mask.

“I knew you’d like it.”

“I never said I liked—”

Medeia bristled, feeling as if her true feelings had been exposed without her knowing.

“Well then, see you again, Princess.”

But Chezare disappeared in an instant, just as he had arrived.

Medeia stood up and gripped the window frame. Cold night wind rushed in.

“What a selfish person.”

Coming like the wind and leaving like a typhoon after stirring everything up—if she didn’t keep her wits about her, she’d be swept away.

Her muttered words, like a sigh, settled over the sparkling emerald eyes of the cat.

* * *

Valdina’s Administrative Palace.

“Chancellor? Already at this hour… no, haven’t you left the palace yet?”

Early dawn, an aide discovered Sisear and widened his eyes.

On the map spread across the desk, notes from his contacts scattered across the battlefield lay in disarray.

“Did you have a good visit to the Princess’s Palace yesterday? Oh, what’s this?”

“Ten days ago, a Rasai supply convoy heading to the battlefield was burned.”

The attendant found a letter and a piece of burned flag and tilted his head.

“Surely, Princess didn’t do this?”

“Tell Peleus not to miss the timing.”

“Send this to the camp where His Majesty is stationed. It’s urgent, so as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

The attendant hurried outside.

Sisear suddenly realized.

The Princess had struck the Rasai supply route using external forces, not Valdina Palace.

‘Did she… hire mercenaries?’

“If it didn’t reach my ears, they’re no ordinary people.”

Until two weeks ago, there had been no news at all.

If they were precise and secretive enough to target exactly their objective and withdraw in such a short time against the fierce Rasai tribe…

“Surely not… Facade?”

An incredulous breath escaped.

* * *

A group of royal maids emerged from the Kazen diplomatic mission’s quarters.

“Goodness, I’d only heard about it, but the 4th Princess really has an incredible personality. She doesn’t like this, doesn’t like that. How do her subordinates manage to please her?”

“Exactly. Just now she complained the quarters were shabby and sent the Count away to find imperial decorations.”

The maids clicked their tongues.

“Tsk tsk, how is he supposed to find those things at this late hour? Poor thing. Even an imperial count is helpless before royalty.”

On the streets of Valdina Palace lined with closed shops, Kensington, who had been busy with the 4th Princess’s errand, stopped walking.

A familiar silver figure had appeared before his eyes.

“What brings the Princess of Valdina out at this late hour?”

“Count Kensington, let’s walk for a moment.”

While obediently following the Princess, deep wariness arose in Kensington’s eyes.

He had been pondering how to approach her after being discovered and coming this far with the Red Fox Clan’s existence exposed.

But the Princess of Valdina had sought him out first.

“I was half-doubtful whether Umberto could properly convey the message. I thought it would be enough if the words just got through somehow. But I didn’t expect you to come looking for me directly.”

“…The matter is what it is.”

“Worried that all your people planted in Valdina might be rooted out? Don’t worry. I didn’t seek you out to pursue that.”

“Then?”

Unlike his benevolent appearance leading the diplomatic mission, sharp eyes without a trace of smile captured Medeia.

The real Kensington was somewhat arrogant, somewhat cautious, and even sensitive.

“I came to warn you.”

“With all due respect, I don’t quite understand what advice the princess of a small nation could have for me, a subject of Kazen.”

Kensington subtly provoked the Princess. He intended to observe her reaction.

“What would you do if I exposed your true identity to the royals right now?”

It was also a threat delivered casually.

Befitting the leader who commanded spies traveling across the continent, his tone was calm but contained undeniable coldness.

“True identity… like you, who seems like an ordinary diplomat but actually moves intelligence networks across the entire continent?”

Kensington hesitated at the question delivered with a sly smile.

“Count, blackmail only works when you have nothing to lose. But even so, I’m not sure who would believe you.”

Medeia raised the corners of her mouth.

“Frankly speaking, what happened between the Count and me is known only to us two, isn’t it?”

To expose the Princess’s true nature, he would first have to confess to secretly placing a spy with Valdina’s Minister of the Royal Household.

Both of them knew Kensington would never take such a risk.

“Wise Count, you sent countless spies across the continent and used the information they gathered to launch preemptive attacks.”

The Princess’s eyes were sincere.

“Even I know that the current Emperor was able to safely ascend to the throne thanks to your loyalty hidden in the shadows.”

“…”

“But now it’s dangerous. The Red Fox Clan that was your strength will now strangle you.”

The Princess stopped walking and turned around. Kensington met her vivid green eyes.

“Because Kazen’s Emperor will betray you.”

The air froze cold. Kensington warned.

“Princess, you should be careful before uttering such nonsense.”

“I personally respect the Count. Especially your loyalty and sacrifice that you’ve maintained regardless of the generation.”

A trace of respect showed on her small, pale face.

“But has Kazen’s Emperor ever given you proper reward? Can a lord-vassal relationship be maintained through one-sided loyalty? Kensington, you need to find a better master.”

Kensington’s eyes blazed with anger. He put strength into his toes as he stood facing the Princess.

“Your Highness is not the first foreigner to try to win me over. But then, as now, my answer remains the same. Kensington is loyal only to His Majesty.”

As if she had expected such a firm answer, Medeia nodded slightly.

“I respect your conviction. However, I wanted to warn you. You’re too precious to be sacrificed to the greed of ungrateful people.”

Even after the Princess left, Kensington couldn’t leave his spot. For a moment, he was so angry that it was difficult to manage his expression.

Perhaps the biggest reason was that he couldn’t deny the words of the girl who had stood before him.

The words that his lord, Perdicas, now that he had ascended to the throne, would soon betray him.

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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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