The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 93

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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 93

“Urgh…!”

In an instant, red lines were drawn across his neck, temples, and around his eyes. These were positions where a single strike could have severed his lifeline.

“Hah. He’s completely toying with Jared.”

Sisear muttered lowly. The people agreed as well. The mercenary of Facade was vicious even in temperament.

To humiliate him like that, playing with him like a toy when he could have finished it in one strike.

Still, his opponent was a general of a nation, yet there was a malicious intent felt in completely shattering the reputation he had built up until now.

The faces of the Kazen delegation watching this scene also reddened with humiliation.

However, Jared himself, the person in question, had no time to feel shame. It was difficult enough just to dodge that sword moment by moment.

He couldn’t see any openings at all.

A deep fear of death rippled from Jared’s toes.

It felt like facing a massive black wave.

A hopeless and suffocating feeling that no matter how he struggled, he would be submerged and drowned by the towering wave.

Jared had felt this emotion exactly once before in a duel.

‘When I crossed swords with the 1st Prince.’

His body recognized that terrible sense of déjà vu first.

‘But isn’t he dying right now? Then the person before my eyes is—’

Suddenly, as if Jared’s suspicion was a mistake, the sword’s trajectory changed irregularly.

Different from the 1st Prince’s noble yet domineering swordsmanship, he felt the killing intent of a death line that had weathered countless battles from the bottom up.

‘What is it, which one is real?’

“Bring out your aura, you fool!”

The 4th Princess shouted, seeing Jared being helplessly pushed back. He was about to lose right now—was this the time to care about appearances?!

Jared’s sword, wrapped in gray aura, finally opened a retreat path for its master.

“Hah, hah…”

It was a strong and threatening aura befitting a 10-star. But Chezare was still just a bare sword itself.

‘Right. It doesn’t matter how I win as long as I win.’

At that moment, Jared twitched his nose. The blood vessel at his temple was bulging prominently.

‘…Damn it, of all times…’

Feeling a faint discomfort in the hand holding his sword, Jared wiggled his fingers.

‘The medicine’s effects should be kicking in about now.’

In the crowd, Medeia hid a faint smile. Intelligence gleamed in her green eyes.

In her past life, Jared was truly the most outstanding warrior in the expedition.

Medeia had observed him for quite a long time while spending years together in the expedition.

All of his habits and mannerisms.

Long ago, Jared had severely injured his hand during his knighthood ceremony.

It was a major injury where he almost lost his fingers, and even now after treatment, he still felt a subtle pain.

So he always carried water steeped with black berries called belladonna and drank it frequently.

Belladonna was a poisonous plant that could cause death with just three berries.

However, if the amount was properly controlled, it could be an effective anesthetic that made one forget pain.

Except for one major weakness that hadn’t been discovered yet.

‘If you smell violets while having consumed belladonna, the medicinal properties intensify.’

It causes paralysis symptoms beyond anesthesia.

In her past life, this fact only became known to the world after Jason ascended to the throne.

Back then, Medeia had eliminated one of the famous generals who threatened Jason in her past life using this method.

The flowers decorating the banquet hall everywhere today were funeral flowers prepared for Jared from the beginning.

Funeral flowers to be offered at the funeral announcing Jared’s death as a warrior.

Medeia’s eyes met with Chezare’s as he glanced back toward the crowd.

‘He noticed too.’

She nodded slightly. As if to say what you’re thinking is correct.

The well-shaped lips beneath the white mask curved into an arc.

Meanwhile, Jared was extremely anxious about his stiffening hand.

“Damn it…”

As the sword’s direction kept subtly going awry, Jared irritably readjusted his grip.

It was already a difficult fight even with a good hand, but at this rate, defeat was obvious.

And he would lose miserably and shamefully.

‘No. I can’t let that happen.’

Cornered, Jared bit his lip, then pulled something from his chest and threw it at Chezare.

The chain with sharp spikes was a trap-type weapon that sealed the opponent’s movements.

Though its use was prohibited in duels, he knew that if he just won, the 4th Princess would somehow smooth things over.

The chain shot up like a black snake.

‘Now!’

Taking advantage of that gap, Jared’s gray aura fiercely thrust toward Chezare’s chest.

It was filled with fierce killing intent to pierce through his heart.

Chezare swiftly swung his sword.

The silver blade flashed.

As the severed chain lost its power and fell to the floor, Jared’s sword that he had dropped also fell to the ground.

Clang—!

“Aaaaah—!”

Jared screamed while clutching his hand. The spot where his fourth finger should have been was completely empty.

“Aah! My, my hand… my finger…”

“Kneel.”

A leisurely voice commanded. Unlike the domineering sword technique, it was full of composure.

Thud. Jared collapsed to his knees as if falling.

However, even his desperate screams stopped at Chezare’s blade that cut through his throat.

Chezare, who had cold eyes, turned his body toward Medeia. As if nothing had happened, his handsome lips wore a leisurely smile.

“I wonder if Your Highness the Princess is pleased with the gift I offer.”

It was clearly Valdina’s victory.

* * *

Silence flowed through the hall.

It was for a different reason than during the Princess’s duel that had left everyone dumbfounded earlier.

One was wailing covered in blood, while the other was perfectly fine without a speck of dust.

The result of the duel that occurred in an instant was so brutal that they didn’t know what to say.

“Woooooooh—!”

However, soon thunderous cheers erupted.

“The mercenary of Facade won! He completely destroyed the general!”

“Our Majesty won! Our Valdina achieved victory again!”

Hadn’t Kazen’s general committed a foul by throwing a trap when he was at a disadvantage? Since he fell into his own scheme, he deserved to be hurt.

Amid the people’s cheers, Medeia walked toward the Kazens.

“4th Princess, are you satisfied now?”

“Th-this is…”

The 4th Princess’s face turned pale blue. Her mind went blank from two consecutive defeats.

No matter what means she used, she couldn’t reverse the outcome of the duel. Hadn’t she seen it clearly with her own eyes?

Moreover, compared to the mercenary who didn’t break a single rule, Jared had committed fouls by even throwing prohibited weapons.

The 4th Princess trembled all over.

The Kazens were the same.

“H-how…”

Did this happen? They were shocked.

Jason was also startled to see the mercenary of Facade overwhelm Jared, but he wasn’t as stunned as they were.

‘It was all Angelique who escalated things to this point.’

Most of the delegation members she brought were also supporters of the 4th Princess.

Aside from Jared and Kensington, they were all worthless anyway, so there was no reason for regret.

‘Angelique will be pushed far from succession after this incident. In that case, I should reach out to the Dowager Empress.’

The Dowager Empress wouldn’t try to put the other princes and princesses, who had been her enemies all this time, on the throne.

Then the only alternative left for her would be me.

Jason’s eyes gleamed at the thought of picking up the scraps of the falling 4th Princess.

“Duke Castulo.”

Jason flinched.

The Princess of Valdina was looking at him.

“I ask that the Duke, who serves as judge and guaranteed this duel, declare the victor.”

Her eyes were still the same peaceful and gentle as before the duel. The dried bloodstains she hadn’t yet treated evoked pity.

Nevertheless, Jason was extremely bewildered.

In his joy over the 4th Princess’s predicament, he had overlooked the fact that he too was a participant in this confrontation.

‘I guaranteed the duel confident that Kazen would win.’

What was he to do now that Valdina had won?

Chezare, who was watching this, suppressed his laughter. To dig a trap that would trouble Jason even at the moment when victory was clearly confirmed.

This made it clear. The Princess was targeting his cousin.

Medeia spoke.

“You swore to God that you would judge fairly and faithfully, so I will trust in the Duke’s and God’s judgment.”

“…”

Jason looked around.

The 4th Princess glared at him and shook her head vigorously, as if telling him absolutely not to acknowledge it.

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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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