One of the jailers was so stubborn that it cost nearly the price of a house in gold coins as a bribe just to see their faces for a moment.
Regardless, Raju Count was incredibly lucky. He had remained in the Royal Capital as the liaison between the Regent Duke and Iason.
When the rebellion diverged from the plan, he hid himself faster than anyone else. As a citizen of Baldina living in Kazen, pulling his feet out quietly and lying low like this was neither new nor difficult for him.
Thus, while Iason and his men were all expelled from Baldina, Raju alone was able to remain here.
“Duchess, please eat this. Here is clean water and blankets.”
Even in the prison, he first tended to his lover, who was steeped in sorrow.
“Oh, dear. How could such a noble person be in such a state…?”
A roughened face, disheveled hair, and a filthy dress. Raju felt as if his heart were tearing apart at the sight of his beautiful and elegant Catherine trapped in this shabby prison like a sick bird.
“Birna, apply this medicine. Your godfather brought it. If you don't wrap it with clean bandages, the wound will fester.”
When he saw the gashed back of Birna, he wished he were the one injured instead.
He turned around and stared at the Regent Duke behind the bars on the opposite side, gritting his teeth inwardly.
*‘You stupid bastard, it’s all because of you. You gathered every ounce of strength you had just to stage a coup, and yet you failed?’*
Furthermore, the Regent Duke hadn't just failed; he had dragged Iason into the same gutter with him.
*‘You dared to sell out the Grand Duke just to save yourself?! Being a brainless idiot is one thing, but getting past the immediate hurdle isn't everything!’*
Raju could not stand how pathetic the man’s behavior was, showing the complete fall of a high-and-mighty noble who had never once hit rock bottom.
If it had been him, things would have been different. If he had held the same status and power as Claudio, the outcome would have changed.
As his long-standing inferiority complex toward the Regent Duke combined with the disastrous results the man had brought about, a murderous rage surged within him. He wanted to kill the Regent Duke right here and now.
*‘Filthy Baldina Royal Family! Hoakin, you bastard! And that niece of yours too!’*
However, the flame of anger currently surging in his chest was not directed at the Regent Duke first. It was toward Princess Medeia.
*‘That wicked girl tricked and sold out our Birna just to save herself?’*
Being kidnapped by the Rebels, bearing the disgrace of fleeing to save her own life before the eyes of the world, and having her flesh cut by a blind sword—all of that should have happened to that girl instead.
Raju Count trembled. His selfish act of shifting all resentment onto the opponent was a perfect reflection of Birna’s own nature.
If he had thought about it even slightly more calmly, he would have known that none of this would have happened if they hadn't targeted Medeia in the first place. But if Raju were someone capable of making rational and logical judgments, he wouldn't have set foot in this mire to begin with.
*‘Birna, your father will surely avenge your resentment. That Princess will never die peacefully. Once you get out of here alive and return to the Empire, that is.’*
However, for now, finding a way to save the Duke’s family from certain doom was more urgent than swearing revenge for his boiling rage.
He didn't care if the Regent Duke died. But Catherine was his one and only love, and Birna was his biological daughter. He could not let them be trapped in this filthy prison until they were executed. He had to get the mother and daughter out by any means necessary.
“…Samon.”
Turning his head, Raju approached Samon and handed him a small basket. Inside were clean water, bread to satisfy hunger, medicine, and painkillers.
“Thank you, Uncle Raju.”
Samon approached the bars. His eyes, shining in the darkness, were like those of a cat.
“I’m glad you, at least, have kept your wits about you.”
Raju spoke as if exhaling a sigh. Neither the Regent Duke nor Catherine and Birna were in a sound state. No matter what Raju said, it seemed they were too dazed to hear him. Occasionally, they would only burst out spitting curses toward the King and the Princess.
At Raju’s words, Samon opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“Yes, we certainly cannot perish like this. Uncle, please call for the 4th Imperial Princess. She will be able to get our family out.”
Raju swallowed a sigh of relief. Even though they had failed the rebellion and were imprisoned, the young duke still seemed to be reading the situation, so he hadn't invested in a completely losing hand.
“Indeed, you’ve sought the right person… but the 4th Imperial Princess will not move. She is not the type to say a word of plea to the King of Baldina for the sake of a mere paramour.”
“…Even if I threaten to expose my relationship with her and her eccentricities?”
“How many men do you think have disappeared after making such trivial threats? The 4th Imperial Princess won't even blink an eye.”
Samon could not deny that Raju’s point was valid. He bit his lip. Was there truly no way? Did they really have to just wait for execution?
“Unless you hold a major weakness that can't even be compared to bedroom affairs.”
“Pardon?”
At the meaningful follow-up Raju added, Samon looked up at him.
“What does that mean…?”
“Your uncle has already taken action. I bribed the 4th Imperial Princess’s maid to give her medicine that makes her show signs of pregnancy a few days ago.”
In the gap where the delegation became chaotic while rushing out of the Royal Palace in shock at the rebellion.
Samon was dazed for a moment before understanding Raju’s words and asking back. Pregnancy. Yes, if that were the case, it was certainly a major issue that the 4th Imperial Princess could not ignore.
“But even so, it will be discovered once a physician examines her.”
Furthermore, the physician accompanying this delegation was a man with a reputation for being a divine doctor. He would surely realize it was a fake pregnancy induced by medicine.
“Do not worry. He, too, will tell the Princess exactly what we want. The divine doctor’s grandson is in my hands.”
Raju’s oily eyes gleamed. He had kidnapped the divine doctor’s grandson and was threatening him. Since his only remaining flesh and blood—the grandson left after his son and daughter-in-law died early—was held hostage, the divine doctor had no choice but to submit to Raju’s orders.
“I have already sent word to the Imperial Palace. That the 4th Imperial Princess is pregnant with your child. The Emperor will surely send an answer soon.”
News of the situation in Baldina must have reached the ears of Perdicas II. Since he cherished the 4th Imperial Princess the most, and with the Eastern Empress and the Eastern Lords behind her, he would not be able to let his first grandchild become a bastard.
“Uncle, thank you. I will never forget this grace you’ve shown by working for our family.”
Samon prostrated himself and expressed his gratitude to Raju. While everyone else had turned their backs, Raju was the first and only person to visit the Claudio family and risk danger to provide a way to live. Even with his cold and selfish nature, Samon could not help but be moved.
“We are already family. Do not offer empty greetings.”
Raju waved his hand. His gaze briefly caught Catherine and Birna leaning against the prison wall.
“Then, Uncle. Please also convey this matter to the Holy Kingdom. Say that we wish for the Pope to bestow a blessing when the child is born.”
Raju understood the meaning behind Samon’s words. It was an additional safeguard to ensure the Kazen Imperial Family could not simply cover up the Princess’s pregnancy.
“As expected, you are clever. Leave it to me.”
Raju offered praise. The eyes of the two men putting their heads together were shining black, like the backs of cockroaches.
***
On the sun-drenched streets of Baldina, more citizens than ever before had come out. It was to welcome the King’s triumphal ceremony.
“Long live Baldina! Long live His Majesty the King!”
At the very front of the parade, Peleus approached on a white horse. Two hundred Agema followed behind him. Under the sunlight, the armor Peleus wore sparkled in white along with his silver hair. The light reflecting behind him made him feel like he had a holy aura.
“Our young Majesty, when did he become so dignified!”
People let out sighs of admiration, not even noticing the lethal Greatsword strapped to his back.
“He cut down the enemies of the plains and ran the long distance that usually takes months in a single breath for our sake to stop the Rebels.”
“He’s incomparable to Claudio, that filthy trash who shifts his stance like flipping a hand! If you see one thing, you know ten; a man like that would have fled alone to save himself if a national crisis occurred even if he had become King!”
“Tui! I can still hear those hair-raising things he babbled in my ears. Even if you're crazy, there's a limit; he should have been grateful for the luxury he enjoyed with that stone-like head. Where does he think he's aiming!”
“Right, exactly! Who dares to try and steal His Majesty’s throne! The King of Baldina is one person, His Majesty Peleus!”
Just as Medeia had intended, the citizens’ mouths were filled with constant praise for the King and criticism toward the Regent Duke.
*Pop, pop!* The ceremonial cannons firing across the streets and the majestic music of the military band made the scene reminiscent of a festival. It was a sight of Baldina bustling with joy for the first time in a very long while.
