48 - The Crown I Will Take From You
48
Medeia gazed at the distant mountain ridge shrouded in darkness.
'Neril is doing well.'
The promised time was when the great bell rang eight times.
White phosphorus bombs and siege cannons had already been transported through Gillifos.
Medeia had already finished preparing to escape Duke Claudio and his wife's trap.
"Saint Esther's Spear, the heavens have finally answered your prayers."
Medeia completely changed the purpose of the banquet.
"Doesn't this mean that Baldina will surely be victorious?"
As the war dragged on, Baldinians, both commoners and nobles, grew weary.
But it wasn't that they didn't want victory.
No, in fact, they desperately wanted it more than anyone else.
They had been desperately hoping for even a small certainty that Baldina would ultimately triumph, overcoming this arduous time.
Medeia filled their parched desires with Saint Esther's Spear.
Even if it wasn't real.
"Saint Esther has descended upon Baldina!"
"The star of victory is with Baldina!"
Those overwhelmed with emotion murmured in joy. The attendees, who had been immersed in the lingering emotion for a while, finally understood the reason for this splendid banquet.
"Of course, the sincerity to pray for victory cannot be lacking. Otherwise, the Goddess would not have answered us like today."
As the outcome of the war was at stake, the scale of devotion to the Goddess was never insufficient.
The Regent Duke frowned.
"What, Saint Esther, that's absurd..."
The Goddess's will was nonsense; it was just one of the strange phenomena that happened by chance.
What great significance did it have?
Besides, the star of victory... Claudio, who desired the King's victory more than anyone else, felt uneasy.
"Uncle, am I mistaken?"
Medeia didn't miss his words and raised her beautiful eyebrows.
"Aunt and Birna prepared this banquet at the Duke's residence, so I thought that the only reason a loyal subject of Baldina like you would host this banquet was for this reason..."
People's eyes turned to the Regent Duke.
The corners of his mouth, which were making a hollow laugh, trembled.
To deny it here would be tantamount to admitting that the Duke's family had other intentions.
"Not at all, I'm just amazed that you're so clever that you've read this uncle's mind."
Medeia smiled and raised her glass.
"His Majesty will never forget your heart, Uncle, and the Duke's family's heart. As the Princess of Baldina, I would like to express my gratitude to you on his behalf. Now, everyone, raise your glasses."
Golden champagne sparkled.
"A toast to Claudio, the loyal subject of Baldina!"
"A toast to Claudio!"
As if illuminating the Regent Duke's rotting heart, dozens of golden champagne glasses rose simultaneously like candles.
\ \ \
"Haha, Claudio, the star of victory!"
Marquis Montega's voice echoed through the banquet hall.
"I apologize for thinking of you as a bookworm. I thought you were just holed up in the royal palace like a coward, but there's still spirit alive in your heart! Excellent!"
He patted the Regent Duke's shoulder with an impressed face, saying words that were hard to tell whether they were insults or compliments.
Duke Claudio was clenching his teeth so hard that his gums hurt.
The Queen Dowager also praised her second son.
"Joaquin, you had such a wonderful idea. Truly my son."
Then she turned her eyes to Medeia.
"Medeia, is that why you wore a black dress today?"
"Yes, Grandmother. I wanted to pay respect to the soldiers fighting for Baldina on the battlefield."
Medeia placed her hand on her chest and gave a sacred bow.
"You have deep thoughts. You haven't forgotten your duty as a Princess."
The Queen Dowager nodded as if she was impressed.
Then she looked at Birna, who was standing next to her. A reproaching gaze flashed past.
Birna confirmed her grandmother's cold eyes and became even angrier.
Why did this result come about even though she had taken the best card?
Why is everyone looking at me with pity instead of Medeia?
She couldn't understand at all.
The banquet hall, which had heard the Queen Dowager and her granddaughter's conversation, also stirred. A slight change occurred among the attendees.
"We couldn't bring ourselves to dress up in these times either."
"But look at those people who are having fun. Tsk, tsk. It's pathetic that they're also citizens of Baldina."
Even amidst their mutual criticism, the topic was undoubtedly the Princess, the protagonist of today.
People flocked around Medeia.
They praised her, saying that she had a deep heart for the people, befitting royalty even at a young age.
Even those who had maintained neutrality were craning their necks to greet the Princess.
The Regent Duke trembled.
His face was so red from barely suppressing his anger that even the people who were about to approach him were surprised and stepped back.
Just as he was about to turn to Medeia again, a thick hand stopped the Regent Duke.
"Stop it. If you go any further, it will be suspicious."
"...Minister."
The eyes, pressed down by the trembling cheek fat, looked at Duke Claudio with pity, as if saying he couldn't see the trend.
Minister Etienne knew about Duke Claudio's scheme today and helped him.
Therefore, he also tasted bitterness at seeing the young Princess smoothly avoid the trap.
However, he gave up his lingering feelings before the Duke.
For Etienne, the Princess was, in fact, an insignificant existence that couldn't even become a piece on the chessboard.
Today's failure was just a difference of whether to suppress the Princess today or tomorrow.
"Tsk, this game is over. We have to aim for the next one. Why is someone who should know better acting like this?"
As the Minister clicked his tongue, Duke Claudio felt frustrated. He almost forgot that the Minister was on his side and shouted.
'You wouldn't be disappointed!'
Medeia said in front of the people earlier that it was 'a banquet prepared by the Duke's family.'
She repeatedly said that the royal family would not forget the Duke's family's efforts and even had the Queen Dowager confirm it.
That meant that all the expenses incurred today were the Duke's family's responsibility.
'I prepared the banquet with the intention of passing it on to the royal family, indulging in every luxury possible!'
He even ended up praying for the victory of his nephew Peleus, whom he wanted to kill by plundering the Duke's family's wealth.
Duke Claudio felt like he was going to vomit blood.
"Ha. Excuse me, I'll be back after visiting the lounge."
Suppressing his boiling anger, he left the banquet hall in large strides without even greeting the Minister.
"...Birna, you come with me."
Catherine also took her daughter out as if dragging her, and hurriedly left the place.
Etienne shook his head.
"Goodness. To be so fiery... Bring me more wine. Something expensive and strong."
Since the scheme had gone awry anyway, he was thinking of enjoying the rest of the night comfortably before leaving.
He scanned the banquet hall with greedy eyes and swallowed his wine.
The fresh youth under the bright lights made his blood boil.
Imagining the screams those high-nosed people would make when they were mercilessly crushed made his whole body tremble.
A dark red tongue came out and licked his lips, leaving a greasy sheen.
"Yes, Master."
The attendant with the red fox badge, Umberto, bowed.
\ \ \
"It hurts. Mom, it hurts! Let go of my hand!"
Catherine, who had dragged her daughter to the lounge, was furious.
"Birna, are you out of your mind? Why did you wear that, why did you wear it!"
"..."
"What did I tell you! I told you to make sure Medeia wore it! Was that so difficult?! Why did you covet it for no reason!"
However, Birna was not in her usual, even forcibly docile state.
The shame she felt at the banquet hall was enormous. But instead of comforting her, her mother only blamed her, so resentment surged.
Catherine, who had no intention of listening to her daughter's stubbornness any longer, held out a new dress.
"Hurry up and change into new clothes. You and I have to go back to the banquet hall."
Birna bit her lip when she saw the plain pink muslin dress.
If she changed into other clothes now, wouldn't it be the same as proving that she had stolen Medeia's dress?
"No."
"...What? Are you going to be stubborn? Don't you think about your mom and dad's reputation?"
"Mom just doesn't want to see me happy even for a moment, right?"
Birna looked at her sparkling reflection in the mirror.
Even if she had heard all kinds of scolding and criticism, the fact remained that this diamond dress was breathtakingly dazzling.
I'll never take it off. This is mine. I'll never give it to Medeia.
A fierce stubbornness arose in Birna's heart.
"No! Mom doesn't think about me either, so I'll do what I want!"
"No! That dress is what I-!"
Before Catherine could grab her, Birna ran out as she was.
"Haa."
Catherine, whose head was throbbing, clutched her forehead and staggered.
"That stubbornness that only knows when it's broken is just like her father."
She let out a sigh as if talking to herself, and then shouted.
"What are you doing? Find Birna and bring her back quietly, quickly!"
\ \ *
Medeia stared blankly at the backs of the Claudio family leaving the banquet hall.
Then she felt a presence and turned around.
