The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 92

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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 92

His body revealing a vivid chest, sharp jawline, and the perfect smile drawn by his handsome lips were charming enough to make people pause for a moment.

If not for the burn scars, that man would have made his name known throughout the continent, the people in the banquet hall thought anew.

Of course, he was already famous in other ways even now.

‘Akaress, was it?’

Jared immediately recognized the white mask.

Earlier, the Princess’s maid had babbled about how strong he was, which had displeased him – he was a mercenary of Facade.

‘Hmph, what’s so special about him? He doesn’t even look that strong, yet they make such a fuss.’

Due to the First Prince’s scheme, he had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor and wasn’t permitted to participate in the continental war.

But that mercenary was said to have been active, which stirred an inexplicable competitive spirit in him.

Jared glared at the white-masked mercenary with flashing black eyes.

The 4th Princess was also flustered.

Why was Facade suddenly interfering in the confrontation between Kazen and Valdina?

“You threw that wrong, didn’t you? Facade, you have nothing to do with this matter.”

The Princess didn’t want Facade’s intervention.

She looked at Garo as if seeking an answer, but he too had nothing to say.

Garo was equally frustrated inside.

‘How would I know? With all these Kazens swarming around, and my lord jumping forward wearing a half-mask and cursed – you think I don’t know this damn situation, 4th Princess!’

But since he couldn’t say it out loud, Garo just grunted and shrugged his shoulders.

“He’s a mercenary who never listens to what I say, so if he’s determined to do it, I can’t help it either.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

The 4th Princess shouted sharply. She absolutely had to win this confrontation.

“This is a matter between Valdina and Kazen. How dare a foreigner try to interfere!”

Didn’t the maid also say that mercenary was terrifyingly strong? She couldn’t leave any excuse for Jared to lose.

“Ahaha, Your Highness. A foreigner, you say? We’re just stateless weapon dealers…”

When Garo added this as if to further upset the Princess, Chezare chuckled.

His direction was toward Jared, not the 4th Princess.

“It seems the Princess of Kazen fears that her personally chosen representative might lose to me?”

“You bastard…!”

Jared’s face contorted with rage at the 4th Princess’s reaction, unable to deny it.

Did the Princess truly think he couldn’t defeat such a lowly mercenary?

“A dead man sure has a loose tongue.”

“That’s usually said over a corpse.”

The rich voice flowing from beneath the white mask even carried a musical quality.

“Ah, you wouldn’t know since you’ve never been to a battlefield?”

Jared’s face turned as terrifying as a demon.

“If you stand up for the Princess, your dog’s death won’t be compensated by anyone. Do you still want to fight me?”

Chuckle. The mercenary raised the corner of his mouth again.

“Your tongue is long.”

This bastard-!

There was nothing more to say. Jared charged forward.

“Come forward, you dog of Facade.”

Jared, provoked by Chezare’s taunts, gestured with his hand.

“Jared!”

The 4th Princess approached to stop him but flinched at Jared’s vicious eyes.

“4th Princess, since this guy is fighting on Your Highness’s behalf, you should let him choose his opponent too.”

There was a threat that he would withdraw otherwise.

There was no one stronger than Jared in this diplomatic mission.

When Jared wouldn’t bend his iron-like stubbornness, the 4th Princess glared at him with displeasure.

“Since you chose this, you must win.”

“I’ll even cut off an arm, so trust this guy.”

Ever since hearing that the mercenary had been active in the continental war helping the 1st Prince he despised, he had found him disgusting.

Jared thought he would slaughter him this time to show those arrogant Facade people a lesson.

Seeing his confidence, the 4th Princess finally felt relieved.

After all, wasn’t Jared one of the continent’s top 10-star knights? His martial prowess was no lie.

The 4th Princess, wearing a faint smile, murmured softly.

“Not just an arm – kill him outright. You can use your secret technique.”

Jared hesitated for a moment, then grinned wickedly.

“Then I’ll need to change weapons. But can you handle the consequences with Facade?”

“That girl will have to handle it too, so what.”

If the mercenary who stood up for the Princess died, relations between Valdina and Facade would become difficult too.

“Jason wanted you. If you win today, I’ll take you under me.”

The Princess smiled cruelly.

“Wouldn’t I be better than that worn-out old rope? I should show the Late Emperor, who forgot about you, what you’re capable of.”

Jared giggled.

He was very satisfied with this situation where both the Princess and the Duke wanted to have him.

All he had to do was get rid of that white mask over there. Cruel anticipation gleamed in Jared’s eyes.

* * *

Before long, preparations for the rematch between the two warriors were complete.

One was Kazen’s 10-star general, the other was Facade’s mercenary captain.

Both had high notoriety and martial prowess, so people couldn’t easily predict the outcome.

Chezare, wearing armor, met eyes with the Princess who was looking at him.

Her green eyes were calm, as if unsurprised by his sudden intervention. Even though he had clearly disrupted whatever plan she had prepared.

He couldn’t read what she was thinking at all. She was like a still water surface that swallowed even ripples.

‘Does she think dealing with a mere 10-star is nowhere near enough?’

He was unconsciously thinking he wanted to see again those surprised eyes that had looked up at him when he once subdued the Hydra.

The Princess walked toward him.

Her steps stopped in front of Chezare.

“Akaress.”

The name of the white half-mask was called from between pale lips,

“Since you stand in this place representing me, you may think of yourself as my knight, at least for now.”

Her clear voice rang out.

The Princess personally tied a light green handkerchief around Chezare’s right arm.

Facade’s emblem was covered, and Valdina’s crest embroidered on the handkerchief was revealed.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

After tying the knot firmly, the Princess tapped his arm four times without people noticing.

When Chezare looked down at her as if asking what it meant, she pressed the crest embroidered on the handkerchief once more with her ring finger.

“…”

“Please take care of yourself.”

As if she had finished what she needed to do, when the Princess stepped back, Chezare bowed.

“I shall bring victory to the Princess.”

He kissed the knot of the handkerchief tied to his arm.

It was a reverent kiss, unbelievable for a mercenary who had rolled around battlefields.

Exclamations burst out at the sight of the two, reminiscent of a brave knight and a pure lady praying for his fortune in war.

“Hmph. Generous treatment for a stray dog.”

Jared stared at the handkerchief tied to Chezare’s arm as if to devour it.

Seeing the Princess he had been eyeing treat some nobody from Facade so kindly made heat boil up inside him.

Jared smoothly drew his sword.

The blade he had changed just before the duel, as the Princess ordered, was coated with deadly poison.

This colorless, odorless elixir had eliminated competitors and made Jared who he was today.

“You’ll regret laying a hand on me.”

He threw out a sinister provocation, but all that came back was a mockingly raised corner of the mouth.

The rematch began.

* * *

Jared’s skill was no lie.

As if to demonstrate the prowess of a 10-star knight, threatening attacks swept forth. Gray-brown aura surged.

But Chezare parried the sword by a hair’s breadth.

“Facade’s dog, bring out your aura if you don’t want your neck cut.”

“Not particularly.”

Chezare shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t hide his intention that facing Jared without aura was no problem.

Treated like a novice, Jared ground his teeth in humiliation.

“Fine, then I’ll match you too. Don’t make excuses later.”

He withdrew his gray aura, but Jared’s killing intent became even more ferocious.

Scattered sword energy pressed down on Chezare from all directions like a stranglehold.

The golden eyes behind the mask swept over Jared with amusement, spinning round and round. Just like Medeia had done earlier.

‘Why four times?’

He was searching for the meaning of the signal the Princess had left earlier.

It couldn’t be just about showing his skill, or simply aiming to defeat Jared.

“What are you doing, Jared! Why aren’t you finishing this quickly!”

The anxious 4th Princess shouted.

Exchanges that seemed about to end but didn’t. The precariously continuing sword lines looked exactly as if Jared was deliberately holding back a move.

‘You think I don’t want to?’

Jared panted with bloodshot eyes.

He had been confident he would slaughter that white mask within twenty exchanges, but far from twenty exchanges, even when it became twice that number, Jared hadn’t managed to cut even a thread of his opponent’s clothing.

At that moment, the mercenary’s blade explosively shot up toward Jared.

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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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