94 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Chapter 94
The Kazen people also sent signals to somehow deny the outcome of the duel.
'What do you want me to do when you guys lost in this state!'
Iason almost lost his temper and burst out in anger. He struggled to use his head.
'If I confirm the defeat here, Angelique will not forgive me.'
Naturally, the Eastern Royal Concubine's power will also be gone. She would never cooperate with someone who put her daughter in trouble.
However, if he takes the Princess's side and forcibly undermines Baldina's victory, his reputation will be in trouble.
His Seal is clearly stamped on the pledge guaranteeing today's duel.
There were hundreds of Baldina people's eyes here. They will never stand still.
If the rumor spreads across the continent that the noble and benevolent Grand Duke Castulo actually has no Divine Physician and obeys the imperial family like a dog, he will be the only one who suffers the damage.
Who would trust him and try to make him emperor?
No matter which one he chooses, he has to lose one.
Iason, who was cleverly trying to get both fruits in both hands, felt a pain in his bones.
'If I had known this would happen, I would have just stayed still.'
Even if he regretted it, he had no time or wit to find a way out now.
"Surely, Your Highness the Grand Duke will not acknowledge it either?"
Medeia shot another arrow at Iason, who was hesitating.
It was a vicious question urging a person standing on the edge of a cliff to fall quickly.
"Of course not."
Iason reflexively denied it, then bit the inside of his cheek and barely answered.
"The duel... the Princess won. Baldina's... victory."
His chest felt stuffy as if he was cornered in a dead end.
"Wowww-!"
The Baldina people applauded so loudly that the banquet hall was about to collapse.
"Thank you. The Grand Duke's righteousness is as well known as it is."
Medeia sent a superficial thank you. And as if that was all she needed from Iason, she turned around neatly.
She faced the 4th Princess.
"As promised in the pledge, I will be waiting for you to send twice the amount of relief supplies from Kazen. Baldina will never forget the 4th Princess's generosity."
Even with her pale face from bleeding, Medeia's eyes were vividly alive.
"...Ha!"
The 4th Princess trembled and left her seat.
The Kazen people also hurriedly followed her, dumbfounded.
The Baldina people were thrilled, as if flying in the sky, at the sight of their pathetic appearance.
"We won! The relief supplies have doubled!"
"It's all thanks to Her Highness the Princess! Who in Baldina has ever done this to Kazen?"
Not only did she flatten the nose of the arrogant Princess who insulted the Late King, but she also relieved the breath of the people in crisis.
And that was done by the half-blooded Princess who was only ignored as a nuisance and an empty can of the royal family!
"Long live Her Highness Medeia!"
The atmosphere, filled with emotion and vitality, was very rare in Baldina.
"Your Highness the Princess."
A shadow fell behind Medeia as she watched the Kazen people leave as if fleeing.
"Ah, Ciseo. You've come."
"Let's see the Court Physician first."
Ciseo's face frowned briefly as he checked the dried bloodstains on Medeia's arm behind his monocle.
"No."
Medeia shook her head and grabbed his arm.
Without noticing that Ciseo had stiffened when her delicate hand touched him.
"Make a public announcement and proceed immediately so that they can't say anything else. We have to move quickly."
She gestured to the pledge.
"Are you talking about this? This pledge is a generous decision of the empire that has demonstrated humanitarianism regardless of nationality, so I am thinking of sending a copy to the temple to widely publicize and commemorate their favor."
As expected, there was no need to tell the brilliant prime minister the next step separately.
Medeia suppressed a smile.
As Ciseo said, if this pledge falls into the hands of the Holy Kingdom, Kazen will not be able to withdraw the relief supplies any further.
Because the Holy Kingdom, which maintains a subtle competitive relationship with Kazen, will intervene.
"Good, move quickly."
"Medeia!"
Queen Dowager hurriedly came down from the platform and looked for Medeia.
"You reckless fool. Are you trying to shorten this old woman's life?"
Unlike the stern scolding voice, the wrinkled hand holding her hand was trembling.
"Grandmother."
"Don't throw yourself like this again. Do you understand? You are a Princess. You should be stepping back as befits your precious blood, what are you doing stepping forward!"
Mrs. Pinatelli sighed, lowering her eyebrows.
'She was so worried about Her Highness the Princess that she tore her handkerchief.'
However, Queen Dowager's scolding could not continue.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, Grandmother."
Because Medeia reached out and held her hand in return.
"I can't promise that I won't do this again. Until Peleus returns upholding the Late King's will, I have to protect this country properly."
"……."
Looking at the wounds left on her granddaughter's arm, Queen Dowager struggled to hold back her reddening eyes.
"Mother. Before being your son, I must take responsibility for the future of Baldina as the King of this country.
We need the plains to break away from Kazen's interference and seek a new future. Shouldn't I cut off this tiresome leash in my generation?
This war will be the cornerstone for the next hundred years.
So Mother, please forgive this unfilial son who is leaving like this."
The resolute words of her dead son, who left for the battlefield someday, came to her mind.
"……Okay. This old woman has shown a disgraceful sight."
Queen Dowager regained her composure and returned to her dignified face. Even her granddaughter was doing this, so she couldn't just stand still.
"You go back to the palace now. Leave this to your grandmother."
After sending Medeia back first, she gave separate rewards to Facade as well.
"I don't think Facade needs more wealth from this old woman, I think it would be better to give them a chance to help their business. How about granting them the right to enter the palace for every royal event?"
Gallo's face brightened.
If he was granted the right to enter, he would have more opportunities to freely enter and leave the palace and find the Morning Dewdrop.
"How can a merchant refuse the opportunity to sell goods. I can only be grateful for Queen Dowager's generosity."
He bowed down, disregarding his dignity.
"That's a relief. I hope it will be helpful."
A faint smile lingered on Queen Dowager's lips at his humble yet not hateful cheerful appearance.
Facade was about to step back.
"Was it Achares?"
Queen Dowager suddenly called the white half-masked mercenary.
When Cesare stood still, Gallo poked him in the side as if telling him to come forward.
"Your Majesty Queen Dowager. I-"
"No."
Queen Dowager handed Cesare the brooch that was attached to her chest.
"Thank you for standing up for my granddaughter."
Her voice was very low, so only Mrs. Pinatelli and Cesare next to her could hear it.
Cesare looked down at the old woman in front of him.
Since they are in a grandparent-grandchild relationship, it is natural for her to express her gratitude on behalf of Medeia.
Nevertheless, a faint unpleasantness arose for some reason.
"Cesare, are you really my son? Did your mother deceive me, pretending that the Late King's seed was mine?"
"Conquering the continent! As expected of my son! It's my blood!"
Only after proving his usefulness could he finally be included in the framework of kinship.
His father, who had been wary and oppressed him all along, but was happier than anyone else and cherished him when Cesare conquered the continent, overlapped with Queen Dowager.
The one who hated and oppressed Medeia all along, now?
Still not knowing anything, not even knowing that all these results today were achieved by the Princess's scheme.
Only he knew. It was not Queen Dowager, but he, who planned and executed the Princess's plan together.
It is this old woman, not him, who exists outside the Princess's line.
A clear anger darkly filled Cesare's mind.