71 - The Crown I Will Take From You
71
The woman reluctantly unwound the filthy bandage. A sticky sound came as the blood and cloth clung together.
Only after the shadow discovered the vivid, horizontal wound did it lower its guard.
The smell of blood must have been from that wound.
Still, a lingering unease remained, and the woman chattered on.
"You said you were from the Royal Guard, right? My husband's brother also works in the Guard. If it's not too much trouble, could you deliver something for me? He asked me to wash it. His name is Ryan Enold-"
"I'm on official duty, so that would be difficult. Then, I'll be going."
The shadow hurriedly retreated before its identity could be exposed.
"Towards the North Gate-!"
The shadows left the street.
\ \ \
Cesare regained consciousness around the time the Empress's shadow, disguised as a guard, knocked on the door.
Thump-! Thump-!
Startled by the noise, he snapped his eyes open.
He reflexively touched his face. The mask was still tied on, not removed.
It seemed the Princess wasn't curious about his face. Her attire and condition were still the same as when she had lost consciousness.
Cesare blinked. His vision was hazy.
What had been put over him?
Soon, he realized that the faint smell of mustiness and dust, and the rough texture of the cloth, were covering him like a bundle.
"……."
He pondered for a moment. He had been raised with utmost care his entire life.
Cesare, who was born and raised as an emperor, had never even covered himself with a dirty blanket during his mercenary life.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind: wouldn't it be better to kick off this blanket right now, shadow or no shadow, and reclaim even a shred of his dignity?
But then, a frail voice was heard.
"I'm sorry, but my husband isn't home right now."
Hearing the voice so naturally refer to a husband, when she probably hadn't even held a man's hand before, brought a hollow laugh.
When she said she had hurt herself cutting cloth, he tensed, wondering if she had been attacked while he was unconscious. When she lied about her family being in the Guard to mislead the shadow, he was impressed.
Soon, the shadow left, and a faint, panting breath, like a small animal gasping, caught his ear.
He could tell how nervous she was.
As soon as the door closed, Medeia collapsed, leaning her back against it. Her vision blurred, and she closed her eyes for a moment.
"There's nothing the Princess can't do."
Medeia raised her head.
He had already gotten up and was untying the dirty bandage on her hand.
"I didn't know you were so good at acting."
The mercenary's eyes were still pale, but his voice was laced with amusement.
Her mind snapped back to reality at the cool sensation of his long, straight fingers touching her.
Medeia tried to pull her hand away, but she paused at the stinging pain.
In the meantime, he took out a vial of medicine from his pocket and poured it on the wound. Unlike when he was fiercely wielding his sword, his touch was surprisingly careful.
The pain immediately subsided with a cool sensation.
"I'm in your debt."
The cut on her white hand was red and deep. The smile that had lingered in his Golden eyes disappeared.
He looked down at the wound intently and said,
"Princess, you saved me, so I will repay this favor someday."
His voice was softer than ever.
Medeia and the man were close enough that she could examine his face.
Even with the mask on, his sharp jawline and elegant bone structure could not be hidden. His long, straight hands tied a clean handkerchief around Medeia's wound.
A deep, rich woody scent came from somewhere. Along with it was a faint coolness, like a handful of wind blowing through a dense forest.
"How enchanting would he be outside?"
Why did she remember the words of a noblewoman who had muttered at a banquet sometime?
"Wipe off the blood you spilled before you speak. You look terrible."
Medeia stifled a hollow laugh as she soon realized that the scent belonged to the man.
'Truly, his presence is annoying in every way.'
He was just an outsider, after all.
"We have unwelcome guests."
The mercenary seemed to have already anticipated the arrival of the thugs.
The Empire's thugs were also targeting only the mercenary. Had he drawn them in?
Since when had her country, Baldina, become a playground for Kazen people?
Soon, her calmly green eyes coldly scanned him.
"Then I'll tell you what I want now. Stop stirring up Baldina any further."
It was a cold voice, as if they hadn't just dealt with a Demon Beast together, and as if she hadn't even injured herself to hide him.
Displeasure was evident on her slightly raised, haughty chin.
He answered with a look that seemed to smile and not smile at the same time.
"I'll keep that in mind."
As if that was all she needed to say, Medeia rose from her seat.
"See you again. Princess."
Thump-! The door closed without a reply.
\ \ \
The street, where the thugs had disappeared, was deserted.
"Your Highness!"
Medeia was soon able to meet Neril.
"I saw the signal. I should have come sooner... It took time to get out of the chaos."
Neril, who was in the carriage, took care of Medeia. Her face darkened in surprise when she saw the wound on her hand.
"Did you get hurt while dealing with the Demon Beast? How did you treat it? It might leave a scar. Should I call the Court Physician?"
"It's okay. Don't worry too much. It only looks like this on the outside, but it's almost completely healed inside."
Medeia patted Neril's shoulder as if to say she was fine.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. No matter what you say, I should have moved with you from the beginning..."
"It's okay. If you had, the situation would have been worse."
Because the head of Facade was waiting in the office.
"Yes?"
"No, I'll tell you the details later. By the way, what about the fire at the Count's Residence?"
"It's still burning fiercely. The Guard and fire brigade belatedly gathered, and the entire street near District 2 is paralyzed. Almost all of the people at the Count's Residence are also dead. They either burned to death or died at the hands of the assassins."
A moment of silence flowed at Neril's words.
"But Your Highness... you don't look well. Could it be that the Regent Duke's name wasn't on the Sealed letter?"
"No, look. It's at the very top here. Below that are Samon and all his cronies' names."
Medeia took out a scroll from her pocket.
"With this, we can depose the Duke. Keep it safe."
There was a separate time when this Sealed letter would be decisively used.
When the rebels crossed the Royal Palace, this would be revealed to the world, exposing the Regent Duke's ambition.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Neril, who received the Sealed letter, once again examined her master's face.
Tonight, even amidst the vast variables of the fire at the Count's Residence and the intrusion of thugs, the Princess had clearly gotten what she wanted.
But the Princess's expression was full of worry.
"Do you remember the assassins who came into the Count's Residence with white headbands?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It seemed to me that their swordsmanship was extraordinary."
"You saw well. They were using the Imperial Family's swordsmanship."
They were trying to kill the head of Facade.
"Baldina's insignificant power cannot compare to the Empire, so these loaches are acting as they please as if it were their own. Peleus must return here as soon as possible."
Medeia sighed, rubbing her temples.
Looking up outside the carriage window, the dim dawn sun was rising.
Peleus would be somewhere under that sky.
"I need to find a way to help Peleus end the war quickly."
\ \ *
Duke Claudio's Residence.
The Regent Duke, who belatedly heard the news, slapped Samon's cheek hard.
"Do you even know what you've done?"
Clang!
The teacup that the Regent Duke threw shattered into pieces.
"I told you not to act rashly-! I clearly said to only burn down the residence!"
"He was going to be executed by Grandmother anyway. If that disgusting man hadn't been taking advantage of the servants as playthings, this issue wouldn't have grown this big! Father, don't you even remember what that man did to us siblings at that big banquet?"
Samon revealed his true feelings.
"Even so, you shouldn't have been so cruel! How do you think the remaining people will talk about your father now? Didn't you even anticipate that they would think of him as a shameless man who killed all of his allies' families?"
Was he such a short-sighted child?
The Regent Duke rubbed his throbbing head.
