She pointed alternately toward the act of abdication in her hand and the space beyond the Castle Walls where Birna would be. Then, she clicked her tongue as if lamenting.
“Ah. Truly, your family has neither blood nor tears in the face of power. To be this cold-hearted even to your own daughter—now I understand.”
“You little girl!”
“Samon.”
Before Samon could fall for Medeia’s provocation, the Regent Duke warned his son and then turned to Medeia.
“Medeia, the Queen Dowager’s life hangs on that one seal of yours. Do you wish to go down in history as a cursed creature who not only devoured her parents but also killed her own grandmother?!”
“Uncle, everyone is watching. Are you not afraid of the heavens, coveting what is not yours?”
Clear green eyes scanned Hoakin. Her voice was steady, intended for all to hear.
‘Not... mine?’
Those words ignited the Regent Duke’s fuse. His face flushed a dark red, and the veins in his neck stood out sharply.
Rage blazed within him as if his reason were being scorched to ash.
“It is mine!”
Forgetting that he had just told his son not to fall for Medeia’s provocation, the Regent Duke roared at the top of his lungs.
“That throne was mine from the beginning! Your arrogant father and brother stole what belonged to me!”
He pointed toward the sky with the hand not holding his sword and then struck his own chest.
“Heaven knows and earth knows! I, Hoakin de Baldina, am the one with the material to be the true master of this land! Why do you think Baldina has reached this state? It is because I am not the King! The Goddess has sent down punishment!”
What he vomited out now was his true heart, which had possessed him since long ago.
He truly believed that his share of destiny had been stolen by his brother and nephew.
“Uncle, wake up from your lone delusion. The late King, the people, and even the Goddess have eyes and ears...”
But Medeia shattered his firm belief with a calm voice.
“How could they choose a pathetic politician who would plunge the country into this chaos just to sit on a throne?”
The resolute voice that had overwhelmed the Rebels moments ago now crushed the Regent Duke’s pride.
“Uncle, you are not material for a King. Your rule would only put Baldina in jeopardy.”
“Hmph, do you think I will be toyed with by your tongue any longer! If I say it is so, then it is so! Do you think they will not choose me even in the face of blades and blood?!”
The sight of the Regent Duke raving alone contrasted sharply with the Princess maintaining her composure.
Among the startled ministers, Siseo spoke out.
“Regent Duke, you truly are not in your right mind.”
“Shut up. I shall hold my coronation in the spot where I first tear out your cunning tongue!”
The moment Siseo spoke, the Regent Duke ordered a knight to strike his cheek.
“Oh, are you sure you didn't mean to say a funeral?”
But Siseo still did not yield. Even as the knights of the Claudio Duke Family beat him severely as if to vent their frustration.
“Medeia, hurry!”
“Even if I die, I will never pull down the King His Majesty with my own hands. I refuse.”
Despite the brutal atmosphere and the pressure that felt as if it were crushing her entire body, the Princess remained stubborn.
“Even if you—!”
In that instant, blood splattered beneath the Regent Duke’s feet. An unbelievable event occurred.
“Mother!”
“Queen Dowager Her Highness!”
The Queen Dowager had pulled the dagger from the Regent Duke’s waist and stabbed her own chest.
“Hoakin, you... shall never become the King of this country! I will... not allow it!”
Even as she collapsed, her wide-staring eyes did not leave her son.
‘Since I raised your ambition this way, this mother shall be the one to extinguish it.’
If she died like this, Hoakin would go down in history as a monstrous rebel who killed his own mother and stole his niece’s throne to ascend.
The people would never recognize him as King, and no matter how he grasped the throne, he would collapse before long.
‘...Medeia, I am sorry. This foolish grandmother...’
Her wrinkled eyes captured the image of Medeia as they blurred for the last time.
Her granddaughter was staring at her blankly. Was what was contained in those green eyes a handful of worry, or resentment?
“Queen Dowager Her Highness!”
Lady Pinatelli shook off the knights and ran to the Queen Dowager. She pressed down on the heart where blood was seeping out with all her might using her sleeve.
“Call the royal physician! Quickly! Regent Duke, is she not your mother? Please...!”
The Regent Duke’s complexion was now almost black-blue.
How could his own mother block her son’s future like this until the very end?
Hahaha. The Regent Duke’s mouth tore open as a sadistic laughter echoed. A madness reflected in his eyes, which had lost all reason.
‘Fine, be it a tyrant or whatever, it doesn't matter. As long as I become King, I don't care!’
He clenched his fists with cold eyes.
Then, he barked at Medeia.
“This is the last time, Medeia! Stamp the seal at once!”
But Medeia still did not move.
Staring at him quietly, it looked as if she were waiting for something.
“Hahaha! Are you perhaps waiting for your brother? Peleus—do you think that fellow will come running now to save you? Wake up from your dream! What will change if he comes! Baldina’s army must all be rotting as a handful of dust on the plains!”
It was then. A faint sound of laughter, a *pfft*, was heard.
“I heard that the reason Baldina struggled against Kazen’s invasion back when Uncle was the King’s brother was because Uncle fell for their trap and led the soldiers out.”
Medeia no longer hid her vivid mockery.
“Though a scar remains on your shoulder, Uncle survived, but I heard that the five hundred soldiers who followed the King’s brother never returned alive. Indeed, it seems your eyes that cannot read the tide of battle are still the same.”
“You are truly struggling because you want to die.”
“Uncle, rather just kill me and take the seal. Surely a cold-blooded man who removed his niece would be better than a degenerate who threatened his parents?”
Medeia spread her arms and bared her chest. Her green eyes stared at the Regent Duke and the Queen Dowager.
His niece’s cold green eyes.
They looked exactly like his older brother’s eyes that used to look down on him with pity.
Hatred and inferiority surged from deep within his chest.
Thus, the agitated Regent Duke did not realize.
That a flash had passed through Medeia’s eyes as she looked past him toward the distance beyond the Castle Walls while mocking him.
“It cannot be helped, Medeia. Do not resent me. This is your choice.”
As he ground his teeth and lifted his sword, Samon hurriedly grabbed his father’s arm.
“F-Father! Calm yourself, judge again coldly and rationally—”
Was he truly going to kill Medeia right now? Was it not different from the original plan?
Most of all, hundreds of eyes were watching them right now!
“Let go, Samon. This father shall bring everything to you. The throne, and this country.”
But the Regent Duke even shook off his son’s hand. There was no longer anyone to stop the man possessed by madness.
“What have I to fear now!”
The Regent Duke raised his arm. Just as the flashing sword swung down toward Medeia—
*Phwaat—! Clang—!*
“Aaaaagh!”
Along with a screeching sound of crushing metal, the Regent Duke’s scream echoed.
A sharp spear had flown in and struck his sword away. The force was so great that a fragment of the sword flew into the Regent Duke’s eye.
He clutched his eye, which was streaming blood, and shrieked.
“Aaaaagh! Who is it! How dare, w-who to me...!”
Half of his vision turned toward the place where the spear had flown from.
“Claudio, do not lay a single finger on my sister.”
A chilling voice echoed.
It wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone to hear, and all those gathered lifted their heads.
A handful of wind that cooled the heat of madness swept over the Castle Walls of Baldina.
And in the spot where the wind passed, a young man stood atop the watchtower looking down at the walls.
Silver hair and a blue cape fluttered.
Atop his armor, the crest of the Baldina Royal Family was vividly revealed.
