74 - The Crown I Will Take from You
74
‘Is this little bitch deliberately trying to piss me off?’
However, seeing the look of genuine reassurance in her eyes, it didn't seem like she intended to mock her.
Seeing Medeia's clothes and the waiting carriage, Catherine forced a friendly tone.
"What brings Your Highness out for a trip?"
"Ah, I'm going to see a play in District 2. My grandmother heard it was interesting and told me to go and see it."
Medeia drooped her eyebrows again.
"It would have been so nice if Birna could have come with me."
Catherine bit the inside of her cheek and barely managed a smile.
Every time her daughter's name came out of Medeia's mouth, she felt a fire burning inside.
"Your Highness, don't worry too much about Birna. She'll be back around the time the delegation arrives anyway. As a mother, I can't bear to leave my child for too long."
Then she went on and on about how much she cherished and loved Birna.
It was a base desire to see Medeia, who had no mother, look envious, even if it meant resorting to such childish tactics.
However, instead of looking thirsty, the Princess unexpectedly said something out of the blue.
"Oh, has that day already come? I'm worried about how to greet this delegation. The late Minister was so good at that sort of thing."
"Pardon?"
"Etienne, I mean. I never imagined that someone so healthy could go so suddenly. If I had known, I would have sent a physician."
Catherine flinched, feeling guilty.
"...Don't worry too much, Your Highness. When you reach the Minister's age, it's common for your condition to worsen suddenly in a day or two."
She soon regained her composure.
"Rather, I'm more worried about you, Princess."
A look of concern appeared on the face of the beautiful noblewoman, like a single flower.
"You never know what might happen in this world. Always be especially careful. If something terrible were to happen to you, my precious Highness, this aunt would not be able to bear it."
It was a concern that carried a somewhat sinister aura.
"That's right, Aunt. Even the Minister, who was said to make birds fall from the sky, died, so I must never forget your advice."
Medeia smiled brightly and left the room.
‘...Yes, enjoy yourself to the fullest, because your luxury won't last long.’
Catherine glared with bloodshot eyes until the Princess's carriage disappeared, then turned sharply.
\ \ *
Downtown Baldina District 2.
The play was held in a huge theater located in the center of Baldina District 2.
The VIP seats on the third floor were surrounded by thick curtains.
The stage and actors were visible at a glance from the VIP seats, but the structure made it difficult to look inside from the stage or other seats, so VIPs who did not want to be exposed especially favored them.
The curtain of the play rose.
As the main characters began to appear one by one, a lithe woman appeared behind the curtain.
"I have come to escort the Princess."
There was no sound, and the posture of bowing was both disciplined and polite.
‘Is that Facade's shadow?’
Medeia nodded slightly.
"Saya, you stay here."
"Yes. Don't worry, Your Highness! I'll make sure no one knows you're here, or even that you exist at all."
Leaving Saya, who was clenching her fist firmly, Medeia followed the woman with Neril.
They passed through a small passage hidden behind the VIP seat curtain.
Finally, the door opened and bright light poured in.
The mahogany-colored, antique interior came into view.
A cheerful, straw-blond man stood up with his arms wide open. It seemed he had been waiting for them.
"Welcome, Princess!"
The light from the lamps reflected off Gallo's cheek above his brightly opened lips, illuminating the faint scar.
Neril did not take his hand off the scabbard, as if wary.
"Gallo (Lord)."
Medeia nodded.
An antique round table. Gallo and Cesare sat on one side, and Medeia and Neril stood on the opposite side.
"Is your injury okay? I heard you saved my subordinate last time."
Gallo placed his hand on his chest and greeted her politely. He looked every bit the master who cared for his subordinates.
"I, Gallo, should have visited Your Highness first to express my gratitude."
Medeia looked at Cesare instead of Gallo.
His shapely mouth moved.
"Stop it. She already knows."
Knows what? Gallo's eyes widened.
Then, he saw the Princess sitting in front of Achares and opened his mouth as if he had realized something.
"Boss. Don't tell me, you told her everything?"
"She already knew."
Cesare turned his face and stared at Medeia.
A complexion as pale as white and slender arms. Hair like shattered moonlight.
No one would imagine that this little girl was the same person who had pierced the Hydra's neck with a Crossbow that day.
The unwavering eyes. The unhesitating movements and the surprising wit.
Every move the Princess made that day remained in his memory like a brand for a long time.
"So, what's the reason my benefactor wanted to see me? Have you thought of a 'reward' you want to receive?"
"I'm going to make a deal with Facade."
Medeia gestured to Neril.
With the movements of a disciplined knight, Neril took out a heavy pouch and placed it on the table.
"If you want a private conversation, we'll leave."
"It doesn't matter."
Medeia looked at Gallo.
He was the face of Facade instead of the leader, so he would know about this anyway.
"There's something I want your mercenaries to do."
Gallo quickly replied.
"Do you want us to support the King on the battlefield? We have refused Siseo (Lord)'s request before, but... if it's Your Highness's request, we will do our best."
"No, I'm not planning to send you to the plains."
Cesare, who raised his eyebrows as if amused by this, said.
"Go on. Surely both the Princess and the King on the battlefield need new weapons."
It was also a reference to the dagger that Medeia had returned.
Neril unfolded the map he had brought.
Medeia's white hand placed a small horse with a flag stuck in a part of the west of the map.
"Here is the Rasai tribe's granary. Soon, a convoy carrying new military rations will depart from Osof."
The midpoint between Osof and the western plains where the war is now taking place.
"Here. And here."
Medeia's hand struck the flag. Thud, the flag broke.
"I want Facade to strike them and burn the rations."
All the rations stored in the warehouse and the newly transported rations.
"……."
A sense of tension filled the room at the Princess's words.
"Your Highness, are you trying to bring the war forward?"
"Yes."
"If you want to end it early, it's right to destroy the enemy's warships, but..."
Gallo looked back at Cesare. His expression was asking for an answer.
Cesare was simply staring at the map, seemingly unfazed.
Golden eyes of unfathomable depth slowly turned to stare at Medeia.
"Princess, weren't you curious about me back then?"
A straight finger tapped the white half-mask he was wearing.
"Would I have had the leisure to take off your mask while being chased?"
Even at the sudden question, Medeia quickly realized what he was talking about and answered indifferently.
"……."
He then turned around and poured warm tea. It was a clear leaf tea.
Like recognizes like, Cesare knew the girl in front of him.
These people don't move recklessly.
From establishing herself as an unwanted Princess to silently cutting off the Regent Duke's arm, everything so far had not escaped her calculations.
‘But she saved me.’
That was certainly not part of the Princess's plan.
The fact that I was included in that unexpected variable was ridiculously satisfying.
Then it's not strange for me to make an exception as well, is it?
A soft scent of tea filled the room, where a chill had been lingering.
"Okay. Facade will 'repay' you. But, on one condition."
Medeia frowned at the ambiguous answer.
"Give me the answer first. The condition is after-"
Then, something sweet entered her mouth.
"Three bites. Then I'll answer."
He had rudely scooped out a spoonful of custard pie and put it in her mouth.
