Chapter 118
“Look. They are searching for you, intending to capture and kill you!”
Smoke was already rising from various parts of the palace. It was proof that the rats the Regent Duke had released into the palace were doing their job properly.
“Me?”
“Are you not the only remaining Princess of this kingdom? Without you, they can establish a new dynasty. In the end, it is a battle of legitimacy.”
His voice sounded extremely solemn and eerie.
“If you are caught, this Royal Family will be in jeopardy. Those cruel rebels will take you hostage and blackmail your brother.”
“....”
Looking down into her confused green eyes, the Regent Duke grabbed Medeia’s shoulders with his thick hands as if pressing down, making eye contact.
“Medeia, I know you misunderstand me. But I swore to your late father. I promised to protect you safely no matter what happened.”
Medeia’s lips parted slightly as she barely managed to answer.
“T-Then... what about you, Uncle?”
“I....”
The Regent Duke answered with determined eyes, as if prepared for death.
“I must protect this place. Only if I remain can I deceive their eyes, don't you think?”
The Regent Duke’s eyes shone with tragic resolve, as if he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice himself for his niece.
“Medeia, flee at once. I have prepared an escape route so you can safely slip out of the palace away from the bandits.”
The Regent Duke gestured with his chin to the knight behind his shoulder.
“My knight will protect you until you reach safety.”
A sturdy knight wearing armor engraved with the crest of the Claudio Duke Family bowed to Medeia.
“I will risk my life to ensure Princess Her Highness reaches safety.”
“....”
However, the Princess remained rooted to the spot as if she hadn't heard the knight's words.
Her slender shoulders could be seen trembling violently.
“You must be afraid. You likely didn't expect them to overturn even the Royal Palace.”
The Regent Duke emphasized high-handedly once more, fearing she might have other thoughts.
“Do you intend to stay here and become their puppet? You don't plan on handing over this country that your brother risked his life to protect, do you?”
“...I understand, Uncle. I will follow your words.”
Medeia nodded. Her shimmering green eyes were so full of moisture they looked like they would overflow at a single touch.
‘It worked. It worked!’ The Regent Duke cheered inwardly and sent a subtle glance to the knight.
‘Take Medeia out through the secret passage and hand her over to the Rebels. And don't forget my final request.’
‘Yes, Your Grace.’
Recalling the Regent Duke’s words before entering the Princess Palace, the knight stiffened slightly.
“Make it look like the Rebels did it, and be sure to leave a deep scar on that girl’s face. The corner of the mouth, the cheek, anywhere is fine. Slashing an eye wouldn't be bad either.”
The Regent Duke had realized that Iason had a considerably deep interest in Medeia.
“The Castulo Grand Duke will likely go to rescue Medeia later, so I must nip it in the bud before his heart deepens any further.”
The position of Grand Duchess had to belong to his daughter, Birna.
The knight marveled at the wickedness of the Regent Duke, who sought to ruin his niece’s future in addition to usurping his nephew’s throne, but soon nodded as he recalled the reward he had been offered.
“Then Dea, you must survive.”
After giving Medeia’s hand another firm squeeze and speaking in a heart-wrenching voice, the Regent Duke turned around.
“....”
Medeia did not leave her spot until her uncle had moved far enough away to be out of sight.
The knight from the Duke’s family urged her.
“Princess Her Highness, you must move quickly. There is little time.”
“...I am so worried about my uncle that I cannot bring myself to leave.”
To think she was worrying about the Regent Duke in the midst of this, unaware that he was driving her to her death. The knight clicked his tongue at the foolish and weak Princess.
“Where are the other family members? My aunt? Samon and Birna? I cannot flee alone while leaving them behind.”
When she remained stubborn despite the urgency of the hour, the knight couldn't help but answer in a tone mixed with slight irritation.
“The three of them have already fled, so they will be safe. His Grace ordered me to prioritize Your Highness’s safety, so please move quickly.”
“No, they haven't.”
Just then, the Princess muttered softly through her clear lips.
“Birna is here, inside the palace.”
“Pardon?”
The knight doubted his ears, as if he had misheard.
The Claudio Princess—why would his master’s daughter, who should be safe at the Duke’s residence by now, be in the palace during this chaos?
“I used Iason to call Birna here. No, to be precise, it was through a maid.”
“Pardon?”
The moment the knight asked back, his vision went black.
“Zeta.”
Medeia signaled to Zeta, who appeared behind the collapsed knight.
Zeta quickly hid the knight’s body under a pile of bushes and stripped him of his armor. Then, she donned the armor engraved with the crest of the Claudio Duke Family herself.
“Let’s go to Birna.”
* * *
Baldina Royal Palace, Envoy Quarters.
“Captain, what is the matter?”
“We must leave Baldina. A rebellion has broken out.”
Kensington's complexion changed as she held the letter.
“They say they are marching north, shouting for the overthrow of the Royal Family. They will reach the Royal Capital soon.”
‘There is so little time. Can I get the entire envoy group out of here by then?’
Kensington bit her lip. Her failure was that she had been momentarily overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, delaying her check of the communication sent by the Red Fox Corps.
“Captain, why are you in such a hurry? Let’s look into the situation more—”
Kensington couldn't hold back any longer and shouted.
“I’m saying even this rebellion might be her scheme!”
From the hunting ground incident, the Regent Duke, the 4th Imperial Princess, and even Iason—far from gaining anything, only their own positions became precarious.
Solely because they had threatened her, the Princess had wound them up like a spiderweb.
What was even more surprising was that everyone—even the miserably expelled Castulo Grand Duke—showed no sign of noticing that this incident had been orchestrated by the Princess’s hand.
‘She caused that disaster with just a small pack of wolves, and now it’s a rebellion. Just how far, and at whom is the Princess aiming this time?’
A slight chill ran down her back.
At that moment, a sudden realization struck her.
‘If she wanted to, she could have hidden it from me too, so why did she reveal it?’
If it were the Princess who had silently struck the backs of the three giants of Baldina and Kazen, there was no way she would leave traces carelessly.
Therefore, if Kensington was able to notice her actions, it meant Medeia intended for it.
“You need to serve a better master.”
“Captain?”
“Ha....”
Kensington, finally realizing Medeia’s intention, let out a hollow laugh.
The Princess was tempting her. Telling her to abandon those pathetic and ungrateful people and follow her.
“In all my life, this is the first time I’ve experienced such a courtship.”
Even her master, Perdicas II, had never shown such ‘sincerity.’
She couldn't tell whether she should be grateful for that sincerity or be wary of it as a citizen of Kazen. She truly had never met such a strange person.
“...For now, inform the 4th Imperial Princess and the envoy group. Tell them to prepare to leave this Royal Capital quickly.”
“Are you not going, Captain?”
Umberto, noticing the hesitation in Kensington's attitude, tilted his head.
“For now.”
A calm voice echoed.
“I think I’ll watch a little longer. It won't be difficult for me to escape on my own, after all.”
Kensington crossed her arms.
“We shall find out soon enough.”
This time as well, she might be able to watch the puppets dancing on the stage the Princess had set.
