49 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Chapter 49
"Samon."”
“Medeia.”
The Regent Duke’s son and Birna’s brother, Samon, stood behind her.
“I was so out of it that I forgot to congratulate you on your recovery. I’m glad you’re healthy again.”
Unlike his affectionate voice, the blue eyes staring at Medeia were dark.
‘She’s changed so much since the fall from the horse.’
The dignified voice that prayed for victory earlier didn’t sound like the pathetic fool he knew at all.
‘Medeia, that bitch. Did she perhaps notice our scheme and make the first move?’
He inwardly suspected Medeia.
Her skill in cornering her father and sister with an innocent face was extremely skillful.
“Samon, did I do something wrong?”
Then, Medeia lowered her beautiful eyebrows with a trembling voice.
Her clear and transparent eyes filled with worry, she looked like a frightened deer.
“I just said what Aunt and Birna told me to say, but I didn’t know everyone would be so upset.”
Her white hand grabbed Samon’s arm and shook it slightly.
“Do you think they think I’m arrogant for giving the dress Aunt gave me to Birna?”
She seemed to be completely dependent on Samon, as if complaining about her unfairness to her own brother.
‘Right, she’s such a timid and observant child… I was overthinking it.’
If she knew their ambitions, she wouldn’t treat him the same way.
Samon chuckled at Medeia’s foolishness and patted her shoulder affectionately.
“Of course not. You know how much our mother likes Dea. She’s just trying to keep the immature Birna in check.”
Anyway, isn’t today your day? Samon smiled.
However, Medeia noticed that his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
‘Samon, you’re cunning and cruel, and you always retaliated when you suffered a loss.’
Once, a low-ranking servant of the Duke’s family accidentally damaged Samon’s favorite leather shoes.
Samon kindly forgave him in front of everyone, but later, she heard that the servant was fired after an accident in which one of his ankles was cut off.
His personality was thoroughly revealed only in front of those weaker than him. At the time, Medeia only thought it was a coincidence.
But now that she knew Samon’s true nature, Medeia knew.
‘He’ll try to repay me for today’s events. Because his family was embarrassed.’
But she wasn’t afraid of Samon.
‘I have a lot to repay you for too.’
In her previous life, Samon rose to prominence when it was revealed that Peleus had injured his leg in the war and became disabled.
The King was chosen by the Divine Physician. The noblest being in the country.
Therefore, the people of the continent believed that his body must also be perfect.
Baldina was no exception.
“Doesn’t that mean the Divine Physician doesn’t recognize His Majesty the King!”
Peleus had to quell the fierce public opinion that threatened the royal authority both internally and externally without even having time to treat his injured leg.
At that time, Samon, who had a similar lineage and appearance to Peleus, quickly emerged as a substitute for Peleus.
Eventually, there was even talk that Samon should succeed to the throne instead of the flawed Peleus.
‘I won’t let you siblings leech off us anymore.’
“Brother, please explain it well, you know how I feel.”
“Of course.”
Samon nodded.
“Dea, I’ll be going now. Today is your day, so don’t worry and enjoy yourself.”
He bowed and kissed the back of Medeia’s hand before leaving.
Like a beast watching its prey, Medeia couldn’t take her eyes off his back for a long time.
\ \ \
Birna, who had run outside, huffed and puffed in resentment.
She had to return to the banquet hall quickly to avoid being caught by her mother again.
As she took steps to return to the hall, she saw Medeia in the distance, talking to people and smiling brightly.
“…Why are you smiling?”
Birna mumbled blankly.
I’m so miserable, so why is Medeia smiling so happily over there?
“When you think about it, it’s all because of Medeia.”
That bitch deliberately gave up the dress so that I would be ridiculed by people.
Otherwise, why would she so readily give up such a precious thing?
Birna clenched her fists and trembled.
If so, she couldn’t just stand still either. She called her personal maid, Sheila.
“Sheila, make Medeia drink this.”
“Yes? To, to Princess Medeia? Miss, this is still a palace banquet, that’s too dangerous-”
Sheila was horrified to see the pile of white powder.
Slap!
In an instant, stars twinkled in her eyes.
“Am I your dog, or are you my master? Do as you’re told. Unless you want to be sold off tomorrow without anyone knowing.”
Clutching her burning cheek, Sheila reluctantly nodded.
“Don’t worry. It’s not poison. I’m not going to do anything that will kill me either.”
“Th, then…”
“It’s just that you’ll see strange things and hear hallucinations. I’m just trying to play a trick on her.”
Since she’s originally timid, who knows what kind of hallucinations she’ll see and what kind of fuss she’ll make, but it’ll be quite a sight to see.
Just like she got scared at the tea party and fell off her horse.
“So, you just do what you’re told, got it?”
Birna’s face was full of her usual lovely malice.
“Right, the fall from the horse… That’s when it started. That’s when she started acting strange.”
It seemed that her cousin had lost her nerve, so she had to imprint it on her small, pretty head once again.
Samon, who saw her leisurely smile, approached and murmured lowly.
“Birna, what are you trying to do again?”
It was the same with the fall from the horse. Whenever Birna made such a mischievous expression, Medeia’s accidents happened.
Of course, Samon also desperately wanted his cousin’s reputation to hit rock bottom, but today was different.
“Not today.”
Samon frowned.
Did she know how many people came here today?
If something happened, they wouldn’t be able to cover it up and move on as easily as they did back then because of the eyes watching.
“Don’t do anything unnecessary. Do you understand?”
“What did I do?”
Birna raised her eyebrows as if she was wronged. Samon glared at her as a warning and left.
“Hmph, it’s already too late, though?”
Birna stuck her tongue out at Samon’s back.
\ \ \
As the banquet was in full swing, a glass was held out in front of Medeia.
“Your Highness, aren’t you thirsty?”
The courtier was smiling brightly. It happened to be Medeia’s favorite berry wine.
As Medeia stared at the swaying red liquid, she spotted Birna watching her from afar.
Even if the excessively strong berry scent wasn’t there, Medeia would have noticed that there was something wrong with this glass of wine.
‘As expected, you never fail to meet my expectations, Birna.’
Was this Birna’s first time playing such a bad ‘prank’? The way she immediately used her hands when she got angry was quite natural.
She picked up the glass for now. And naturally turned around to rejoin the conversation with the dignitaries.
The courtier wanted to confirm that Medeia drank the glass, but since she had taken the glass, she couldn’t stay there any longer and retreated.
Minister Etienne came into Medeia’s sight as she continued her conversation with the dignitaries.
“Excuse me.”
The long-awaited protagonist to decorate today’s banquet had appeared.
Medeia looked down at the wine. At some point, a plan flashed through her mind.
‘I can use Birna’s gift, can’t I?’
It seemed like it would add a richer effect to her plan to end Etienne today.
\ \ *
Count Etienne, the Minister of the Palace Affairs, widened his eyes when he saw Medeia.
“Who is this? Isn’t it Her Highness the Princess?”
“Minister Etienne, it’s been a while. How come you seem to have gotten bigger since I last saw you?”
Surprisingly, the Minister chuckled.
His flushed cheeks trembled, and the champagne he was holding soaked his hand.
He was so drunk that he didn’t even notice the princess’s mockery of his body.
“Ah, I was impressed today, Your Highness. To speak so bravely in front of so many people without trembling even a little. This Etienne was moved. So Saint Esther must have been very pleased with Your Highness and poured out the stars like that, right?”
Etienne squinted and looked down at the princess.
It was a condescending attitude, as if an elder was coaxing a child.
“Did it seem that way? Well, Saint Esther is said to hate those who lose sight of their duty and only pursue greed, and she pierced their bellies with spears. As you said, I’m still young and pure, so she must have looked kindly on me.”
The princess also smiled kindly and replied. But somehow, her choice of words was strange.
“……”
‘Is this bitch mocking me right now?’
Saint Esther’s eccentric anecdotes were well known on the continent.
Etienne’s alcohol-soaked head soon dismissed it as him just being sensitive.
“But, Minister.”
“Yes, please speak, Your Highness.”
“With whose permission did you hold this party? Can a palace event be held without the approval of the royal family?”
The Minister’s squinting eyes blinked.
