21 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Episode 21
While those present were lost in their own thoughts, Medeia remained calm throughout.
The Queen Dowager's expression grew even fiercer.
"Are you trying to deny it? Do you need to be punished before you speak properly?"
"If you wish to punish me, I will gladly accept it. But I cannot call a lie the truth to escape the moment."
Medeia's expression was unwavering.
Despite her private life being exposed, she showed no shame, embarrassment, shock at being betrayed by a trusted Maid, or even a sense of betrayal.
Could she be so confident if she wasn't truly innocent? Were they mistaken about something?
Just as people began to question, Medeia continued calmly.
"How coincidental. Mrs. Cuisine is someone I recently punished for violating royal law, and Mariu is a child I excluded from work and distanced myself from due to her constant troublemaking."
"……."
"It just so happens that these two are the ones accusing me of having a lover. Grandmother, are you sure they are telling the truth?"
Then, the Queen Dowager turned to the Head Maid and Mariu.
"Ah, no!"
They shouted in unison.
"……There is evidence!"
\ \ *
At that moment, in Ciseo's office.
Steam rose from a teacup on a somewhat desolate wooden table.
"So, when are you going to tell me? The reason you came to Baldina."
Cesare, standing by the window, slowly reached out.
His straight index finger traced the frame where sunlight shattered into fragments.
"Well, shall we say it's because the weather here is beautiful?"
"You might as well say you've gone mad from war trauma."
Ciseo scoffed.
"Oh, don't you think I have the sensibility to appreciate beauty?"
"Nonsense."
Ciseo put down his teacup.
"If you were such a sentimental person, you would have died in the Tower of the White Night already."
"Whoa, whoa. What's with you two again?"
Gallo, who had been admiring the decorations on the fireplace, chuckled as he approached.
Tower of the White Night.
A national academy located at the end of the continent, accepting only a select few students, with all curriculum kept strictly confidential.
The existence of the Tower was revealed only when graduates spread out across the continent and became active, but most of it still remained hidden beneath the surface.
Cesare, too, was shrouded in mystery regarding his origins, age, and everything else. He even wore a bizarre mask, so no one knew his face.
"Ciseo. Aren't you curious about my face? You're the only one who doesn't ask."
"If I did, would you take off that mask?"
"No."
"Then there's no point in asking a question that can't be answered anyway, is there? It's inefficient."
"Hyung. Are you going to efficiently cut your own coffin to the perfect size later? Huh?"
"Shut up."
Though their time together was brief, the three were quite close.
And after graduating and scattering, losing contact for many years, Cesare returned as a notorious arms dealer on the continent.
Gallo was the public face of the Facade Merchant Group, and Cesare was known as his mercenary.
But Ciseo knew that Cesare was the real leader.
'Who could possibly rule over that guy?'
It was the same in the Tower. Cesare always took a step back, but no one could easily surpass him.
Ciseo erased the bittersweet memories.
"Explain why the Facade's mercenaries are digging around the royal palace. Immediately."
Public and private matters had to be clearly separated. A cold glint lingered behind his monocle.
"You know very well that it doesn't make sense to keep you here in the current state of war."
"And you also know that the Prime Minister of this country has the power to smooth things over."
"Cesare."
"Tell me what you want, Ciseo."
Cesare spread his hands.
Even though he was clearly a guest, he exuded an air of ease as if he were the owner of the room.
Ciseo frowned and rubbed his forehead.
"I really don't get along with you."
Cesare's eyes were calm, as if to say, so what?
"Hyung, do you think our boss would bat an eye at that? Just swear at him. That'll relieve your stress more."
"Gallo, your babbling mouth is still the same."
"Aren't you being too harsh on me?"
While Gallo placed his hands on his chest with a shocked expression, Cesare's languid voice echoed.
"Ciseo, stop testing the waters."
Ciseo sighed.
He could feel Cesare's sharp edge hidden beneath his relaxed demeanor.
"I need your support."
So now he had to tell the truth.
If he continued the charade knowing he'd been caught, that guy would tear down the curtain.
"If Facade covers the rear, we can end the battle before spring comes."
As the war dragged on, Baldina was reaching its limits both internally and externally.
'Besides, the Regent Duke's power has become too strong.'
Even the nobles were joining the Regent Duke's side, fiercely increasing his influence.
'So we must end the war as soon as possible. His Majesty must return to the capital to hold onto the faltering royal authority.'
It would have been better if Medeia, the King's only sister, could have played that role, but the young Princess had long been swayed by the Regent Duke and become his puppet.
'His Majesty shouldn't have given the Seal to the Princess.'
What was meant to protect his sister had become a self-inflicted wound that tightened the noose around the King's neck.
"My dear Ciseo."
Ciseo turned his gaze.
The smile beneath the silver half-mask drew a curve.
"Does Baldina have the ability to pay? It would be troublesome if you tried to settle the deal with friendship."
If it weren't for the chilling tone, one might have mistaken the man before him for being amused.
"Besides, that's not all you want, is it?"
The air in the room grew cold.
His scattering voice seemed to fall to the floor in sharp, distinct pieces.
"Why did you bother seeking us out instead of the Empire?"
"……."
"Ah. You're going to use my mercenaries and use us as a shield as well? Ciseo, you've planned things well inside and out?"
He immediately grasped Ciseo's intention to use Facade to block Kazen's interference, even if only for a moment.
"Thank you for the memories. You're the only one who's still alive among those who tried to use me."
"Then kill me."
Ciseo replied with a blank face.
"If my head can make Facade move according to my plan, it's a more than sufficient trade on this end."
"Ha."
It was unclear whether it was a sneer or a sigh. The coldness dissipated.
"Hyung, you must be dying because the thing on top of your neck is getting in the way, right?"
Gallo scoffed with a dumbfounded expression.
Cesare leaned against the wall and looked at his old friend.
"Ciseo. You don't have to offer your head. If you promise to follow me, I'll move according to your rules."
"I have already sworn allegiance to His Majesty the King."
Ciseo's expression remained unchanged. Cesare, who had already anticipated the rejection due to his rigid nature, raised the corners of his lips.
"Do you want to escape Kazen's interference? Then kill all the envoys and send them back."
"Are you kidding me right now? Are you telling me to fight another war? Baldina doesn't have the resources for that. Especially not with the Empire……."
Ciseo glared at him over his clear monocle. Cesare replied nonchalantly.
"They don't have the resources either."
Trying to escape halfway would only make the opponent more afraid and try to pressure them even more.
Cesare knew well that the key to victory in war was momentum, not military power.
If Baldina had captured and killed even one member of Kazen's royalty, they wouldn't be ignored like this.
Ciseo sighed.
"That's why I said I don't get along with you."
"Yeah, yeah. You always chose the weaker side."
"Weak? Are you saying that after seeing Baldina's cavalry?"
"Those who are not evil, Ciseo. The world calls them weak."
"……."
Ciseo looked at his old friend.
"Cesare, you're really…… pushing the limits of recklessness."
If he were an ordinary person, he would have revered that cold-blooded man. It was hard not to.
Endless arrogance, but a figure full of ability and talent to back it up, would captivate anyone.
However, he could not gamble with the fate of the country.
"Besides, the current delegation is accompanied by Kazen's Princess, Grand Duke, and even a General. It's difficult to annihilate them without the Royal Guard."
"Change the target, then."
Cesare shrugged.
"How about the First Prince? I heard he's just waiting for his death date."
"Kazen's First Prince? Are you saying that with a sane mind?"
That demon of war who conquered dozens of small kingdoms before he even turned twenty?
Ciseo thought he was too arrogant.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Gallo coughed loudly.
His eyes were wide and glaring at Cesare. As if to say, are you crazy?
Tap. Tap, tap!
"Your Excellency, Princess Zena!"
At that moment, the door to the office burst open.
