The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 86

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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 86

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Valdina Palace.

Sunday evening, Valdina nobles and Kazen people gradually gathered in the banquet hall.

It was the day of the official welcome banquet for the Kazen delegation.

From Valdina’s perspective, Kazen’s aid was desperately needed.

It was no exaggeration to say that the outcome of the war depended on how they treated these guests.

Therefore, despite their modest circumstances, they put their all into creating a splendid and beautiful banquet.

“Aren’t these flowers violettas that bloom all year round? The effort to procure them must have been considerable.”

“Indeed. They smell so fragrant. I don’t know whose idea it was, but the hall looks much more radiant too.”

A sweet yet mysterious floral fragrance wafted throughout the banquet hall.

The chandeliers sparkled more than ever, and the subtle glow of ice stones and golden candlesticks showed the painstaking effort put into every corner of the banquet hall.

It was a level of care and luxury comparable to Medeia’s recent recovery celebration banquet.

The Kazen people’s eyes swept over the interior of the banquet hall.

“Oh my, this level would be considered a tea party, not a banquet in the Empire. Is this all they could manage with their best effort?”

“Hey, today’s banquet might have bankrupted half of Valdina’s treasury, so don’t be too harsh.”

They constantly compared everything they saw and heard to Kazen’s standards, disparaging them.

“What era are these ice stones from? Oh dear, mere golden candlesticks? They present such things for a state affair? Now I understand Valdina’s level.”

Some even spoke aloud openly.

“Those wretches never change no matter how much time passes. How is it that only such rude and arrogant ones come every time?”

When the Queen Mother burst out in anger, Lady Pinatelli tried to calm her with a worried expression.

“If it weren’t for the aid I promised, I would have thrown those insolent ones out of this palace immediately.”

“Your Majesty, please be patient. It’s still too early.”

“I know. I won’t show it, so don’t worry.”

However, the Queen Mother also well understood the importance of the aid that Kazen would bring.

Veins briefly stood out on her wrinkled hands gripping the armrest.

Meanwhile, while the delegation members were busy craning their necks like turtles to critique Valdina’s banquet hall, Jared was busy for a different reason.

“The Princess of Valdina’s fair face is truly flawless. Kensington, where is the Princess? I want to see her.”

“General, please… lower your voice first!”

Even considering that Jared was a 10-star knight and a brave general of the Empire, his attitude was extremely rude.

Though Kensington wasn’t unaware of his scoundrel-like personality, he hadn’t expected him to act so selfishly even in such an official setting.

The moment he left the Imperial Palace, it seemed he had completely let loose, thinking there was no one left to mind.

“The one and only Princess of Valdina. She’s not someone the General should carelessly mess with.”

“This fellow’s rough appearance seems to make the Princess keep avoiding me, so Kensington, you should build a bridge for me. Just help me get acquainted, and I’ll handle the rest myself.”

His sinister, giggling voice reached even the Valdina nobles on the opposite side of the banquet hall.

The Valdinians frowned.

“No matter how much Her Highness the Princess may be considered unwanted, she is undoubtedly His Majesty’s one and only sister. That damned bastard has no right to address her so casually!”

Among them, Count Montega was particularly outraged.

“It’s not just disrespecting Her Highness the Princess. They’re looking down on all of Valdina as beneath them. Claudio, we can’t just stand by and watch this. We royal relatives should protest first!”

“Ahem, ahem. It’s a bit excessive, but… let’s calm down for now. You’re not planning to ruin the banquet we just started, are you?”

The Regent had a headache.

‘Still, I have my dignity… they should show some restraint…’

This was because Kazen’s delegation was acting far more unreasonably than he had anticipated.

‘This will cause a big backlash! They can just return to Kazen when it’s over, but I have to stay here…’

The Regent glanced around and signaled to Count Roberto Laju to restrain his delegation members.

However, Raju also wasn’t in a position where his words carried weight with Kazen’s officials, so he could only shake his head helplessly.

At the same time, on the Kazen delegation’s side.

Jared wasn’t the only one searching for the Princess among the crowd.

‘She wouldn’t skip even the official banquet welcoming the delegation.’

Jason’s expression twisted.

Since the first day, Jason had been lurking around the Princess’s Palace and deliberately delaying meetings with delegation members while procrastinating.

However, he hadn’t seen the Princess even once.

The gifts he sent to foster friendship were all returned as well.

‘She definitely saw me.’

Jason had never had difficulty winning people’s hearts, especially those of the opposite sex.

His smooth appearance, gentle speech, and personality could break down any woman’s guard.

However, this was the first time he’d encountered such an unresponsive, stone-like opponent.

“The Princess apparently doesn’t like meeting people and usually stays cooped up in the palace. She’s only recently started doing some external activities.”

Suha added information for his master who was desperately searching for traces of the Princess.

Even so, who would have thought she’d be this difficult to meet.

Jason’s fingers twitched. Like wanting to grasp something that wouldn’t be grasped.

Perhaps because she wouldn’t come easily, he was becoming more anxious than usual.

The sight of that silver hair that had sparkled as if it would shatter if held kept haunting his eyes.

“But Your Highness, did you know? There’s also Facade in the Royal Palace.”

“Facade? Here in Valdina?”

“Yes. At the recent banquet held in the Royal Palace, even their leader appeared.”

Jason narrowed his eyebrows.

How did the continent’s explosive demons who only operated in the shadows end up in Valdina?

“Doesn’t this mean Facade and the Valdina Royal Family have quite a close relationship? It’s troublesome for us in Kazen.”

Suha looked worried.

“Perhaps when we refuse aid, pressure might come from Facade’s side.”

However, Jason’s face was bright.

“Angelique is the delegation’s representative anyway, so what do we have to worry about? Rather, this is good. If we can establish connections with Facade as well…”

There would truly be nothing to fear.

If Facade was there, there was no need to be cautious. He could even forcibly absorb the 1st Prince’s forces by overwhelming them.

“This Valdina is truly a land of opportunity for me.”

He smiled with satisfaction.

* * *

“I greet Her Highness Princess Medeia.”

“Lady Aspasia, have you been well?”

Despite being a familiar banquet in their own country, the faces of Valdina nobles were not comfortable.

Their faces showed a mixture of heightened tension and displeasure.

Then, as Medeia was exchanging greetings with the nobles, a small presence was felt behind her. She turned around.

“Sister Medeia.”

Virna was standing there.

People whispered and stepped back.

The story of Princess Claudia fleeing the Royal Palace like an escape in the middle of the night was now too stale to even be treated as gossip.

Under the glancing, scrutinizing gazes, Virna bit the inside of her cheek but maintained her smile unchanged.

Her angel-like pure white dress matched well with her pink hair, still looking as lovely as ever.

However, having apparently suffered quite a bit at the convent, her haggard appearance couldn’t be hidden even with makeup.

“Virna.”

“I’ve returned.”

Virna’s eyes glinted ominously.

“Thank goodness. I was very worried about you. How was life at the convent?”

“…It was a devout time. I also prayed to God for your safety, sister.”

As if she couldn’t read the vivid resentment in those eyes, Medeia gently pointed out.

“Oh my, Virna. You should address me as Your Highness. Today is a banquet where Kazen people are also present, and if Grandmother finds out you got the etiquette wrong, she’ll be angry again.”

“…”

“Virna, I’m saying this for your sake. I know better than anyone what it’s like to be hated by Grandmother.”

The Queen Mother’s anger toward Prince Claudio’s family was still ongoing.

Just moments ago, when the Regent couple had brought her to pay their respects, the Queen Mother had pretended not to see them.

As if chewing the flesh inside her cheek, Virna’s raised corners of her mouth trembled.

The harsh convent life of the past few months had taught her a deep lesson.

‘I will never go back to such a place again.’

That’s why she could suppress the surge of anger at Medeia’s infuriating words and endure it.

“…Of course, …Your Majesty.”

She answered with a forced smile.

Just then, the hall became somewhat chaotic. The doors opened and sturdy men appeared one after another.

“…Mercenaries of Facade….”

Though they were dressed in similar evening wear, the sharp aura emanating from them drew people’s attention.

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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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