22 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Episode 22
"I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was a guest.”
A hurried aide approached and whispered to Siseo (Lord).
The Head Maid had reported the Princess's secret love affair, and the enraged Queen Dowager had summoned the Princess to the palace.
Siseo (Lord) paused.
‘The Princess has a lover?’
Moreover, the ear he had planted in the Grand Royal Dowager Palace said that the Head Maid had secretly leaked to them that the lover was Minister Etienne.
She intended to reveal their relationship to the world in front of the Queen Dowager.
‘Etienne, you’re playing dirty tricks. Isn’t being the Regent Duke’s right-hand man enough for you?’
Siseo (Lord) immediately realized that this was a collaboration between the Head Maid and the Minister.
A Head Maid with a grudge against the Princess and a Minister hungry for power. It was the worst combination.
He rubbed his throbbing forehead.
The origin of this incident was the conflict between the Head Maid and the Princess.
If she couldn't help, he wished she would at least stay still.
But he couldn't leave it like this.
If necessary, he would have to forcibly cover up this incident.
“Siseo (Lord), I entrust Dea to you.”
He couldn't ignore the request that the King had repeatedly made before leaving.
“Let’s talk again another day.”
Siseo (Lord) announced the end of the conversation without hesitation.
“As you wish.”
“I apologize for making you come all this way.”
Siseo (Lord) left without realizing it.
Minimal greetings, hasty steps. It was clear that something urgent had happened in the palace.
“Boss, it looks like the play has begun.”
Gallo, watching Siseo (Lord) walk away, clasped his hands behind his head.
“The Head Maid has bribed the Princess's closest aide. I wonder if the Princess can avoid this trap?”
Gallo looked at the spot where Siseo (Lord) had disappeared with interested eyes.
“Huh? What do you think~”
“Not particularly.”
It was a listless voice.
“Not particularly? Aren’t you curious if the Princess will survive?”
“If she doesn’t, that’s the end of it.”
“How cold. Boss, don’t you feel sorry for a fragile girl struggling?”
Sorry?
She seemed to have acted quite cleverly so far, but if she showed her back to insignificant hyenas aiming for her neck, that would be the end of it.
“If you can’t bite, you shouldn’t have barked.”
“Bite who? In this situation, it looks like the Princess will be bitten?”
Gallo drooped his eyebrows as if he felt sorry.
“We’ll see.”
He would soon find out.
If the Princess of Baldina resembled her country, she would have no chance of winning.
\ \ *
Grand Royal Dowager Palace.
The audience stirred at the words spoken in unison by the Head Maid and Mariu.
“There’s evidence?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! The Princess has a Token she exchanged with her lover! An item with the name of the lover the Princess promised to marry is engraved on it……”
Mariu shrank back but recited the information about the evidence without missing a detail.
“……It’s in the Royal Palace. The Princess always looked at that Token day and night, longing for her lover.”
In conservative Baldina, giving a Token of love was only possible between those who had promised to marry.
To that extent? People opened their mouths. It was hard to believe.
Everyone swallowed hard and watched the Queen Dowager’s expression at the Princess's explicit actions revealed by the Maid.
“……Then we must confirm it directly.”
The Queen Dowager ordered in a cold voice.
“Pinatelli.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A tall, thin woman standing next to the platform walked out and bowed.
It was Mrs. Pinatelli.
She had been the Queen Dowager’s closest aide for nearly 20 years, and the Queen Dowager trusted her the most because of her calm nature and integrity, which made her immune to any temptation.
“From now on, you will go to the Royal Palace and search every corner. If the Token they speak of is found, inform me immediately.”
The Queen Dowager turned her head and looked down at Medeia.
“Do you have any objections?”
“None at all.”
Medeia replied calmly.
After that, time flowed quietly.
The Queen Dowager fanned herself to hide the rising anger.
Still, as if her stomach was boiling, she coldly threw down the peacock feather fan.
In the meantime, Catherine continued to make eye contact with the Head Maid, struggling to read her intentions.
‘Hmph. When your husband tried to kick me out, why didn’t you try to find me as diligently as you do now?’
Mrs. Cuisine turned her body away completely, blocking her efforts.
If she made the Minister her son-in-law, Catherine would have to be mindful of her instead.
Hiss! She barely stopped herself from laughing at the thrilling thought.
Meanwhile, Birna yawned, bored with the long wait.
‘Ugh, I’m so bored. When is that Pinatelli woman coming? Did she only eat snails when she got old?’
Still, she couldn’t leave because she was curious about what would happen next.
The others exchanged glances, keeping their mouths shut for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.
Medeia sat quietly as if she didn’t see this quiet commotion.
She was in the same position, so unwavering that one could believe she had turned to stone.
Everyone waited for Mrs. Pinatelli to return quickly and break this icy atmosphere.
“The Minister has arrived.”
At that moment, a servant of the Grand Royal Dowager Palace came and whispered to the Queen Dowager. Soon, Siseo (Lord), who had been granted permission to visit, entered through the door.
“I greet the Queen Dowager.”
“Oh, Lord Siseo (Lord). Come in.”
The Queen Dowager’s face lit up with a less angry expression.
Siseo (Lord) was a national asset that even the Late King had cherished.
He was a loyal subject who actively supported her grandson Peleus, so there was no way the Queen Dowager would dislike him.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to find the Head Maid, and I heard that she was in the Grand Royal Dowager Palace.”
Siseo (Lord) replied smoothly.
“Your Majesty, if it’s alright with you, may I take the Head Maid with me?”
He hid his purpose for being here.
No matter how much the Queen Dowager thought of him, she wouldn’t be happy if she found out that he was receiving information about the Inner Palace.
“I’m sorry, but it’s not possible. Unless it’s an urgent matter, it will have to be postponed.”
The Queen Dowager refused immediately.
“It’s not an urgent matter, so please do as Your Majesty wishes. But what brings the Princess and Claudio and her daughter here?”
He naturally changed the subject.
The Queen Dowager paused. In her head, she was debating whether or not to leave the Minister here.
‘This matter will inevitably become known anyway. In the end, Siseo (Lord) will have to take care of it……’
“You’ve come at a good time. You can judge the importance of the matter. Medeia, that insolent thing…….”
After hearing a brief explanation, Siseo (Lord) accepted the Queen Dowager’s request.
The Head Maid was nervous about the unexpected variable.
‘Why did the Minister come? Surely, he’s not trying to save the Princess, is he?’
The two were famous enemies.
The relationship between the Princess, who abused the Seal and messed up the administration, and the Minister, who repeatedly stopped her, was headed for disaster.
‘It’s okay. Even if he tries to intervene, once Mariu reveals Minister Etienne’s Token, there’s no way out. Medeia, you’re finished.’
The corners of the Head Maid’s mouth twitched.
At that moment, a servant opened the door.
“Your Majesty, Mrs. Pinatelli has returned.”
“Oh, welcome back.”
“Your Majesty. I have returned after carrying out your orders.”
Mrs. Pinatelli, who had returned, bowed.
The Head Maid, Mrs. Cuisine, looked at her with a triumphant face, as if to say that she was right.
“So? Did you find it?”
The Queen Dowager asked.
A quiet silence.
Gulp. The sound of someone swallowing echoed in the room. Everyone looked only at Mrs. Pinatelli’s mouth.
Did the Princess really have a secret love affair?
No, what they were more curious about was something else.
Who on earth was the Princess’s secret lover?
Since they had exchanged items with each other’s names on them, if Mrs. Pinatelli had brought that evidence, they would be able to find out right here.
At the point where everyone’s expectations were high, Mrs. Pinatelli opened her mouth.
