68 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Episode 68
Cesare, too, saw the sphere shimmering behind the Hydra, and even the scroll within.
‘So that’s why the Princess came here today.’
The Hydra guarding the sphere. That scroll must be the Regent Duke’s weakness. Cesare could easily deduce that.
However, even considering the necessity, Medeia’s action of jumping into the swamp where the legendary Demon Beast was menacingly present seemed more like recklessness than courage.
Moreover, the Hydra was a tricky monster that even an 8-star knight would struggle with, due to its potent venom and the characteristic of growing two new heads in place of one that was cut off.
It was not something an ordinary person, let alone someone who wasn't a knight, could handle alone.
However, Medeia calmly pushed Cesare’s hand away and readjusted her Crossbow.
Then, as if she didn’t hear him, she loaded an arrow.
“Princess, at this rate, you’ll die before the Regent Duke.”
Cesare warned solemnly.
How many reckless heroes had he seen, confident in their talents, only to disappear into perilous situations?
This situation was also not an easy place or target for the Princess of Baldina to jump into, trusting only in her own wits.
“The Regent Duke isn’t someone you can face while risking death. You should know that.”
Only then did her indifferent face turn to look at Cesare.
“If I were you, I would have said the same.”
Her green eyes were as calm as a black surface of water. But they reflected a resoluteness that wouldn’t waver even if a tsunami came.
“But as you know, the powerless, foolish Princess of Baldina doesn’t have many cards to play. So, I have no choice but to make the most of what I have.”
“Including your own life?”
Instead of reacting to Cesare’s blunt mockery, Medeia wore a self-deprecating smile.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
And she aimed the bow at the Hydra’s neck.
Cesare paused.
The small, thin arrow looked ordinary at first glance.
But he, who had lived on the battlefield for a long time, noticed the changes in the arrow.
The arrowhead was coated with a black liquid, presumably poison, the shaft was treated with stiff wax, and the small pouch attached to the fletching emitted the smell of gunpowder.
“So, you had another trick up your sleeve.”
A hollow laugh escaped him. It was because he realized that he had once again shown an unsightly appearance by jumping to conclusions.
He swore he wasn’t a kind person who worried about someone’s safety.
Rather, he used the situation of an opponent in danger to his maximum advantage.
But in front of this Princess of Baldina, he had offered cheap sympathy several times already. He had even acted before he was aware of it.
None of it was like him. Perhaps Terrence’s warning was right.
An unknown, strange tension, a mixture of interest and displeasure, flowed between his handsome eyes.
“Step back.”
Medeia, who couldn’t possibly understand Cesare’s inner thoughts, silently passed him.
With the sound of cutting through the wind, the Crossbow aimed at the Hydra accurately hit its neck. Cesare narrowed his eyebrows.
‘There was no report that the Princess could use archery.’
Even Facade’s top-notch intelligence network had failed to fully reveal the Princess’s true nature.
When would he ever be able to fully understand this small girl?
Kaaack-!
The Hydra twisted its head to break the arrow, but the wax-treated shaft only painfully dug into its flesh.
Then, boom-! It exploded.
Far from a clean cut like Cesare’s earlier, the cross-section where the head had disappeared due to the gunpowder explosion was tattered as if someone had roughly torn it apart with their hands.
Kyaaaaack-!
The swamp was filled with the Hydra’s screams.
Two heads should have grown back on their own, but the gunpowder ash left in the exploded spot prevented new heads from growing.
She raised the Crossbow again and aimed at the second head.
Cesare watched as the Princess destroyed the second head.
For some reason, he was dissatisfied.
He was here, yet the Princess was completely excluding him and facing the Hydra alone, which was as good as saying that she didn’t even consider Cesare.
‘She’s underestimating me too much.’ A sinister smile spread across his handsome face.
Cesare drew his sword.
Medeia’s green gaze briefly touched him.
“I’ll help.”
She didn’t say that her pride didn’t need any help.
His skill in blocking the Hydra’s surprise attack and cutting off the first head earlier was definitely not a lie.
“Congratulations, Princess. You’ve made me move.”
She decided to simply ignore his arrogant reply.
“What should I do?”
“Cut it vertically.”
Medeia ordered briefly.
She intended to fire the Crossbow into the vertically split gap, so that the arrow could penetrate deeper inside.
“As you command.”
He straightened his back. His slender yet sturdy body exuded a languor like a beast stretching.
Cesare’s feet lightly kicked off the ground.
Just as he seemed to fly over the Hydra’s severed cross-section, a flash. A silver line was drawn in the air.
As the third head staggered, split vertically, the Crossbow pierced through the gap like lightning.
Kyaaaaack-!
The remaining heads bared their teeth and straightened their bodies. Black venom dripped down.
But it was an unnecessary tension. Before they could even properly open their mouths, another one died.
Finally, one remained.
‘They said that the Hydra’s last head is immortal and cannot be killed.’
However, before Medeia could take out the trick she had prepared, the last head collapsed with a thud.
The swamp violently shook like a turbulent wave.
Medeia looked at him with surprised eyes. It was because Achares’s skill was far beyond her expectations.
‘How is such a powerhouse working as a mercenary for Facade?’
Cesare suppressed a laugh at the eyes that couldn’t hide their astonishment.
It was the first time he had broken through that indifferent face and elicited such a clear emotion. For some reason, a base sense of satisfaction bubbled up inside him.
‘There are times when the Primordial Darkness is useful.’
What had subdued the Hydra’s last head, which was said to be immortal, was the darkness melted into his blood.
No matter how strong a monster was, it couldn’t resist the primordial.
Cesare shrugged his shoulders. Even in his light movements, arrogance and composure overflowed.
“As you command.”
He had acted.
She could understand the omitted words. Medeia nodded.
\ \ *
The two returned to Etienne’s office.
Medeia carefully sealed the Sealed letter and put it in her bosom.
And she damaged the Magic circle drawn on the floor with the arrowhead. It was a countermeasure in case the Duke tried to retrieve the Sealed letter.
The swirling Golden eyes watched her the whole time.
Except for the beginning, he had stepped back and watched her actions as if observing them, with a hint of interest.
Medeia, who was about to get up from her seat, paused.
Cesare’s eyes narrowed as if he had sensed something as well. The atmosphere of the Residence was chaotic.
Crash-! The windows were shattered all at once.
Then, arrows flew in through the broken windows and pierced into the couch, bookshelves, and walls.
An unpleasant smell of oil stung their noses. The ends of the arrows had cloths soaked in oil and set on fire.
The embers spread to the curtains by the window.
“Kyaaaa-!”
Clear screams echoed throughout the Residence. Medeia looked down at the Residence below the window.
Men in black clothes roaming around the Count's Residence were indiscriminately killing the Minister’s family.
Those inside the Residence were dragged out into the garden, including the Minister’s mother and his siblings.
The Minister’s mother looked almost unconscious.
“Who are you! Who are you people!”
“How can you kill people so ruthlessly! My son you’re looking for isn’t here, he’s in the Royal Palace!”
“Mother! Moth-!”
A flash of a blade and the mother and son fell.
It was no different from the fate of the butler, who was the first to die trying to stop the intruders.
“Aaaack-! Save me!”
Just a brutal massacre unfolded. The splendid Residence, reminiscent of the Royal Palace, seemed to have been transported to hell.
