5 - The Crown I Will Take from You
Episode 5
Did the Princess really just strike the Head Maid’s calf with a Switch?
I couldn’t believe it, even with my own eyes.
The Maids hastily lowered their heads, fearing they might catch stray sparks, but they were still dumbfounded.
“Kuh……”
A groan escaped the Head Maid’s lips.
Although she was a commoner, she had grown up pampered, never having lifted a finger. She had never experienced such violence before.
“Zena.”
“Y-Yes?!”
Amidst everyone’s astonishment, only the Princess remained calm.
“Don’t mind me, just continue.”
“……”
Zena’s mind went blank. Was she going to get disciplined next after the Head Maid?
“I said continue. The punishment shouldn’t be weakened. I don’t want to encroach on the Head Maid’s territory.”
However, Zena could no longer wield the Whip as strongly as before. Seeing the once-imposing Head Maid being struck filled her with fear.
Snap.
The Whip, now much weaker than before, cut through the air,
Whoosh-!
The Switch danced even more fiercely.
Unlike Zena, Medeia had no qualms about her actions.
Zena hesitated, torn between the Head Maid and the Princess, and eventually, the Switch was swung three times for every strike of the Whip.
However, the Princess didn’t seem to care at all about the mismatched, alternating order.
“Ugh……”
Neril’s groans grew louder with the increased Switch strikes, but the Princess didn’t even bat an eye, continuing her actions.
“Aaaah-!”
Eventually, the Head Maid couldn’t endure it any longer and collapsed.
“Head Maid-!”
As the Maids tried to approach, Medeia raised a hand. The Maids hesitated.
“Stand up straight.”
The calm voice was enough to send shivers down one’s spine. As if she didn’t see the Head Maid’s calf, stained reddish with blood.
With a chillingly expressionless face, Medeia calmly picked up the Switch again.
“Your Highness-!”
At that moment, the Head Maid knelt. She could no longer endure the beating.
Her legs felt like they were on fire. Her reason blurred, and only the instinct to avoid pain moved her.
“I… I yield. Please forgive me.”
The Head Maid finally succumbed.
In front of everyone.
Before the day was over, everyone in the Royal Palace would know about this. The taste of blood and deep humiliation filled her mouth between her bitten lips.
As she glared murderously, Medeia’s fingers, holding the Switch, twitched again.
“Y-Your Highness. Please-!”
Words burst out without her realizing it. Hunched shoulders. Lowered head and downcast gaze.
It couldn’t get any more humiliating than this.
“……”
Instead of answering, Medeia released her hand. As if the punishment was over, she broke the Switch.
Snap. The sharp sound pierced everyone’s ears.
The Princess’s eyes turned to Zena.
“Bring Neril.”
“Yes!”
Zena jumped as if burned and threw away the Whip.
“We’re returning to the Royal Palace.”
“You will… regret this.”
The Head Maid looked up at Medeia with fierce eyes.
“We’ll see.”
That’s something we’ll have to wait and see.
With those quiet words, the door closed.
\ \ \
“Go back.”
As the Royal Palace came into view, Medeia ordered. Zena, who had been watching her, bowed politely and disappeared like a shot.
“……Your Highness, why……”
Neril, who had regained her senses, tried to steady her staggering body while trying to hide her worry.
“Lean on me.”
The dignified tone from earlier was gone, and she was the young Princess she knew.
“The Head Maid… has a grip on the Royal Palace. She will surely… try to retaliate against Your Highness. Even now… I’ll go back and try to smooth things over……. Keuh……”
Medeia grabbed Neril’s shoulder. The blood that had soaked through her clothes stained Medeia’s hand as well.
“I’m sorry.”
A single tear ran down her pale face.
In her past life, Neril probably died like this.
Trying to protect her, not wanting to leave her side, she was struck down by their schemes.
Unaware of this, Medeia was deceived by her enemies and resented Neril for leaving irresponsibly.
“……Your Highness?”
“It’s because of me. Because of me, you’re going to……”
Neril was confused.
She didn’t know that the missing word in the middle was death.
“Neril, I’m sorry for not recognizing you, for being so foolish.”
She couldn’t have known that Medeia’s apology was a lament encompassing her past life.
“Why did you just stand there and get hit? You should have fought back. Where’s your Knight Title?”
Neril could only smile awkwardly.
Medeia knew the reason as well. Neril didn’t want to give them another excuse to kick her out of the Princess’s side.
“Don’t do that again. Just do what they want you to do. If you had said you would leave my side, I would have let you go quietly.”
“……I can’t…… do that. I have to serve Your Highness…… Where…… would I go?”
Medeia hugged Neril even tighter.
Neril, why didn’t I know that even in this vast Royal Palace, there was you who cared for me, that Peleus tried to protect me?
Why did I only think that everyone hated me?
Another tear fell.
As the moisture shimmering in her green eyes flowed down her clear skin, a sorrowful sadness pierced the hearts of those who saw it.
“This will never happen again. I promise.”
“Your Highness, please……. Stop……. The tears……”
Neril didn’t know what to do. She didn’t realize that the girl’s voice was somehow resolute.
‘My master.’
The Princess had saved her once again.
She would never forget the small, frail back that protected her.
Neril deliberately turned her gaze away, trying to hide her reddening eyes, and said,
“Still…… please don’t do this again. Your Highness will get hurt. I…… I can protect you well…….”
“That’s a very trustworthy thing to say in this state.”
“Your Highness……”
“Let’s go. You need to get treatment first.”
Neril, not realizing that the Princess hadn’t answered, was grateful but also increasingly worried.
‘If they ever try to lay a finger on Your Highness, I will give everything to protect her.’
\ \ \
District 2 of Baldina’s capital.
At the innermost part of the upscale residential area where wealthy people, including high-ranking nobles, mainly lived, there was a white mansion.
It was a building that boasted a delicate and beautiful aesthetic, with blooming rose vines enveloping the white stone walls.
However, the walls were built so high that even if an outsider craned their neck as much as possible, they could only see one or two roses.
With no one coming or going, and the owner of the mansion nowhere to be seen, several emboldened burglars climbed the high walls.
Many entered, but none returned.
Rumors spread. The owner of the White Mansion was a famous arms dealer who traveled across the continent and commanded a fearsome Mercenary group as if they were his limbs.
Only then did people nod in understanding. And no one ever wondered about the inside of the mansion again.
“Oh my god. Do you know what I just read?”
On the third floor of the White Mansion.
Under the window where the sunlight poured in most abundantly, Gallo shook a piece of parchment.
A scar drawn on his handsome face caused a boisterous yet fierce energy to surge.
His wavy, straw-colored hair and attractively tanned skin seemed more suited to a sun-scorched beach than the cold Baldina.
“Boss, it’s hot news from Baldina Royal Palace. The Head Maid got hit with a Switch by the Princess. Can you believe it?”
Gallo kept looking at the parchment and chuckled.
“Apparently, she tried to send away the Princess’s Maid as she pleased. Since she was once a disciple of the Royal Guard Commander, the Regent Duke’s side must have felt uneasy. Anyway, the Princess found out and came and wielded the Switch. Invoking an old royal law.”
“……”
“The Head Maid’s confidante whips the Princess’s Maid, and the Princess whips the Head Maid. And then the Head Maid gave up and fell out! Hahaha!”
Gallo laughed so loudly that the chair fell backward.
A young man, who had been looking down at a map of the continent, raised his head.
Jet-black hair as dark as night and a straight nose. Sparkling yet cold, deep eyes.
His clear eyes seemed to allow not even a speck of dust, let alone call him a youth.
However, his well-built physique for a boy and his arrogant gaze as if looking down on the world were strangely sensual.
The man’s gently upturned lips and sharp jawline were as exquisitely crafted as if a sculptor had painstakingly carved them.
“Was there a Princess in Baldina?”
The man’s one eye slightly curved upward.
