93 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Chapter 93
"Kuh……!"”
In an instant, red lines appeared around his neck, temples, and eyes. It was a position where his breath could be cut off with a single blow.
“Haa. He’s completely toying with Jared.”
Ciseo muttered lowly. The people agreed. The Facade mercenary was even vicious in nature.
He could end it with one blow, but he was giving such humiliation as if playing with a toy.
Even though the opponent was a renowned general of a nation, a nasty malice was felt that completely shattered the reputation he had built up until now.
The faces of the Kazen delegation watching this scene also turned red with humiliation.
However, Jared, the person involved, had no time to feel ashamed. It was difficult for him to protect himself from the sword every moment.
There was no gap to be seen at all.
A thick fear of death rippled from Jared's toes.
It was as if he was facing a huge black wave.
No matter how much he struggled, he felt a hopeless and suffocating feeling that he would be submerged and drowned by the high waves.
Jared had only felt this feeling once in a duel.
‘When I crossed swords with the First Prince.’
His body recognized the terrible déjà vu first.
‘But, isn’t he dying now? Then who is this person in front of me-’
At that moment, as if Jared's suspicion was a mistake, the Sword aura changed erratically.
Unlike the First Prince's noble yet overbearing swordsmanship, he felt the murderous intent of a survivor who had gone through all sorts of hardships from the bottom up.
‘What, which one is real?’
“Draw your Aura, you idiot!”
The 4th Princess, seeing Jared being helplessly pushed back, shouted. He was about to lose, was this the time to worry about face?!
Jared's sword, wrapped in gray Aura, barely opened a retreat for its owner.
“Haa, haa…….”
As befitting a 10-star, it was a strong and threatening Aura. But Cesare was still just bare-handed.
‘Right. It doesn't matter how I win, as long as I win.’
At that moment, Jared sniffed. The blood vessels in his temples bulged.
‘……Damn it, why now…….’
Jared wiggled his fingers at the faint discomfort he felt in the hand holding the sword.
‘It’s about time the drug takes effect.’
Medeia hid a faint smile in the crowd. A strange light flashed in her green eyes.
In the past life, Jared was undoubtedly the most outstanding warrior in the expedition.
Medeia had been with the expedition for many years and had observed him for quite a long time.
Everything from his habits to his quirks.
A long time ago, Jared had suffered a major hand injury during his knighting ceremony.
It was a major injury that almost cost him his fingers, and even after the treatment, he still felt a faint pain.
So he always carried water infused with a black fruit called Belladonna and drank it from time to time.
Belladonna was a poisonous plant that could cause death if you ate just three berries.
But if the amount was well controlled, it could be an effective anesthetic that made you forget the pain.
Except for one major, yet-to-be-revealed weakness.
‘If you smell Violetta's scent while under the influence of Belladonna, the drug's potency increases.’
It goes beyond anesthesia to cause paralysis.
In the past life, this fact was only revealed to the world after Iason ascended to the throne.
At that time, Medeia used this method to eliminate one of the famous generals who threatened Iason in the past life.
The flowers that decorated the banquet hall today were an offering prepared for Jared from the beginning.
An offering to be offered at the funeral announcing the death of Jared as a warrior.
Medeia made eye contact with Cesare, who was glancing at the crowd.
‘He noticed too.’
She nodded slightly. As if to say that what you thought was right.
The well-shaped mouth under the white mask drew an arc.
Meanwhile, Jared was very anxious as his hand stiffened.
“Damn it…….”
As the direction of the sword kept subtly shifting, Jared irritably readjusted his grip.
It was already a difficult fight with a healthy hand, but at this rate, defeat was inevitable.
He would lose miserably and shamefully.
‘No. I can’t let that happen.’
Jared, driven to the corner, bit his lip and took something out of his pocket and threw it at Cesare.
The chain with sharp thorns was a trap-type weapon that blocked the opponent's movements.
Its use was prohibited in duels, but he knew that if he just won, the 4th Princess would somehow smooth things over.
The chain sprang up like a black snake.
‘Now!’
Taking advantage of the gap, Jared's gray Aura fiercely rushed towards Cesare's chest.
It was full of ferocious murderous intent to pierce the heart.
Cesare quickly swung his sword.
A silver Sword aura flashed.
At the same time as the severed chain lost its power and fell to the floor, the sword that Jared had dropped fell to the floor.
Clang-!
“Aaaagh-!”
Jared screamed, clutching his hand. The place where his fourth finger should have been was empty.
“Aagh! My, my hand…… my finger…….”
“Kneel.”
A leisurely voice commanded. Unlike the overbearing Sword aura, it was full of composure.
Thud. Jared knelt down as if collapsing.
However, even his desperate scream stopped at Cesare's blade, which was cutting his throat.
Cesare, who had a cold look, turned to Medeia. As if nothing had happened, his handsome mouth wore a relaxed smile.
“I wonder if the Princess will like the gift I offer.”
It was a clear victory for Baldina.
\ \ *
Silence flowed through the hall.
It was for a different reason than the Princess's duel, which had left everyone dumbfounded a little while ago.
One was bloody and wailing, and the other was perfectly fine without a speck of dust.
The result of the duel that had taken place in an instant was so terrible that they didn't know what to say.
“Waaaaaaa-!”
But soon, a thunderous roar erupted.
“The Facade mercenary won! He completely crushed the general!”
“Our Princess won! Our Baldina has won again!”
Didn't the Kazen general commit a foul by throwing a trap when he was at a disadvantage? He fell for his own trick, so he deserved to be hurt.
Amid the cheers of the people, Medeia walked towards the Kazen people.
“4th Princess, are you satisfied now?”
“Th, this is…….”
The 4th Princess's face turned blue. Her head went blank from two consecutive defeats.
No matter what she did, she couldn't overturn the victory or defeat of the duel. Hadn't she seen it clearly with her own eyes?
Moreover, compared to the mercenary who hadn't broken a single rule, Jared had even thrown a forbidden weapon and committed a foul.
The 4th Princess trembled.
The Kazen people were the same.
“Wh, why…….”
What had happened? They were shocked.
Iason was also startled to see the Facade mercenary overwhelming Jared, but he wasn't as dazed.
‘Angelique is the one who escalated things this far.’
Most of the delegation members he brought were supporters of the 4th Princess.
Except for Jared and Kensington, they were insignificant people, so there was no reason to feel regret.
‘Angelique will be pushed far away from the succession because of this. Then I should reach out to the Eastern Royal Concubine.’
The Eastern Royal Concubine would not try to put other princes and princesses, who had been enemies until now, on the throne.
Then the only alternative left for her would be me.
It was when Iason's eyes sparkled at the thought of picking up the scraps of the falling 4th Princess.
“Grand Duke Castulo.”
Iason flinched.
The Princess of Baldina was looking at him.
“I hope that the Grand Duke, who is the judge and guaranteed this duel, will give a definite answer of victory.”
Her eyes were still as calm and soft as before the duel. The dried bloodstains that had not yet been treated aroused pity.
Nevertheless, Iason was very embarrassed.
He was so happy about the 4th Princess's trouble that he overlooked the fact that he too was participating as part of this match.
‘I guaranteed the duel because I was sure that Kazen would win.’
Baldina had won, so what should he do?
Cesare, who was watching this, swallowed his laughter. To dig a trap to embarrass Iason even until the moment when victory was clearly confirmed.
It became clear. The Princess was aiming for his cousin.
Medeia said.
“You swore to God that you would judge fairly and faithfully, so I trust the judgment of the Grand Duke and God.”
“…….”
Iason looked around.
The 4th Princess was glaring and shaking her head violently as if telling him not to admit it under any circumstances.