Translator: Nox

58 - The Crown I Will Take From You

Episode 58

Instead of sending it to Duke Claudio as the Minister desperately shouted, he crumpled the used paper and threw it into the fireplace when people weren't looking.

Umberto looked relieved after finishing the letter.

And he calmly rejoined the scene.

"Hurry up and delete it!"

"What are you doing, not tearing up the documents!"

"Freeze-! Anyone who moves from now on will be considered an accomplice. Everyone, move to the Royal Palace!"

In the chaotic scene where the Royal Knights and Count Etienne's people were confronting each other, Umberto disappeared without a sound.

\ \ \

Because Umberto lightly chewed up the letter, news of the Count's family reached the Regent Duke much later.

"The Royal Knights raided and arrested Minister Etienne!"

It was after the Royal Knights had already swept through the Count's family.

"What? What for?"

The Regent Duke's face turned red when he learned of the Minister's charges. Of all things, getting caught with his toys and getting caught by the tail?

"Damn it, Etienne! I let you play as you liked, you should have cleaned up properly!"

Smash! The ornament that the Regent Duke threw shattered.

If he had been in front of him, he wouldn't have been satisfied even if he ground him to powder.

However, this situation was not entirely the Minister's fault.

"When investigating the Minister's slush fund, traces of it flowing into the Black Eye Merchant Guild were discovered. As the investigation continued, they even found the trafficking of children. We should have stopped it from the beginning when we knew..."

"Damn it!"

The Regent Duke's head throbbed when he realized that he could have covered it up sufficiently if he hadn't pretended not to know, engaging in a pointless power struggle with the Minister.

"Now is not the time for us to fight among ourselves. First, we need to see the Minister. Where was he taken?"

"The situation is not good. The Minister was immediately transferred and isolated. It's not easy to approach him from our side either. Ciseo, that guy seems to have prepared thoroughly this time."

Samon reported. He had also sent his men to find out the situation as soon as he heard the news.

The charges hanging around the Minister's neck were heavy, one by one.

"Violation of military law. Ciseo, that bastard used a trick!"

Even if the first two charges could be excused as his quirks, the crime of selling people to other countries could be seen as treason against the Royal Family.

Moreover, they were preparing for real treason. They were planning to secretly raise rebels to attack the Royal Castle.

"Ciseo is sifting through the Minister's residence and continuing the investigation. Father, the tail of the uprising won't be caught, will it?"

"For now, everyone has scattered and disappeared, so they will be waiting until we communicate."

But there was no point in dragging out the time. They had to get the Minister out of prison as soon as possible.

"What's the situation in the Royal Palace?"

"Pinatelli, that woman, has weeded out so many people that there are few of my contacts left in the palace now. The Minister's side also seems to be flustered and doesn't know what to do."

The Regent Duke frowned. Deep, indelible wrinkles formed between his eyebrows.

"Ciseo, that cunning guy, wouldn't miss this opportunity, what should we do..."

At that moment, Samon slyly raised the corners of his lips.

"But, we have Medeia, don't we?"

\ \ \

The butterfly effect of Ciseo drawing his sword was significant.

In a wartime situation where even a scrap of information could determine the outcome of a war, the crime of smuggling out dozens of people from the Royal Palace was a grave offense.

The Minister, those who helped or condoned him, officials, nobles, and merchants were all taken into custody.

Naturally, most of them were Duke Claudio's forces.

As Etienne's fate became as precarious as a candle in the wind, Duke Claudio sought out the savior he had always used.

"Your Highness, Duke Claudio has arrived."

"Medeia! We're in big trouble!"

Claudio exaggerated the situation in an exaggerated tone, even wiping away tears.

In summary, Minister Etienne was innocent and had fallen into a malicious trap to slander him.

All his crimes were false.

"Here, put your Seal on this, so we can help the poor and righteous. Your Seal will be a salvation for justice."

Ah, Uncle.

Medeia once sincerely respected him.

There was a time when she thought those glib words were a belief and a truth.

But now, after returning from a tumultuous past life, she could see through the essence of her uncle, no, the Regent Duke.

'Claudio is just a loud-mouthed idiot.'

Medeia indifferently looked down at the stiff paper that the Regent Duke had handed her.

"What is this?"

"It's to pardon the innocent. They are also Baldina people. As a Princess, will you reject the people of Baldina? The position of the King's proxy is not such a position. In place of Peleus, you must show compassion-"

"Uncle. I don't understand difficult things like slush funds or violations of military law. But there's something I've learned this time."

Medeia interrupted her uncle and covered the paper he had handed her.

"The former Head Maid Cuisine, Minister Etienne, and even the Maid who took care of me all my life, they all took kickbacks. But I, who helped and saved them, have nothing left."

Medeia shook her hand with the Seal ring in front of Claudio.

"As you said, Uncle, I can do anything with this Seal. To try to take this precious and powerful force without any compensation... Ha! How ridiculous have I been seen until now?"

She turned away coldly.

"Go back, Uncle. If they want to find their place again through you, tell them to know. I, Medeia, will no longer squander cheap sympathy and recognition."

"Me, Medeia? Does that mean..."

The Regent Duke had prepared several repertoires to persuade Medeia, but he had not expected this in his dreams.

Medeia had become strange after the fall from the horse, was she really crazy?

Barely hiding his embarrassment, he asked.

"Th, that means how much do you need?"

"Well. How can someone who gives help put a price on a secret request? It's up to the person asking."

Saying that, Medeia casually touched the jewelry box placed next to the table.

"I heard that these days, gold bars are also stored in Chests like this..."

It was a precise request to put gold in Chests. The Regent Duke was speechless.

"...Then, how many Chests...?"

Instead of answering, Medeia picked up a pen on the table.

The Regent Duke was shocked when he saw the number and jumped up.

"Isn't thirty Chests too much...!"

'That stupid girl is full of greed in her belly-!'

But Medeia's power was essential to smooth things over.

The Regent Duke struggled to suppress his rising anger and gave an awkward smile.

"Ahem, I understand your intentions, but I don't know how much someone who has had their assets confiscated can gather. Don't expect too much."

"Ahaha."

Medeia snorted.

If there hadn't been innocent freshness in the laughter bursting between her shapely lips, Claudio would have thought his niece was mocking him.

"Uncle, all of their wealth is my, no, this country Baldina's money. If Brother returns, Etienne will not only lose his position, but his head will fly off. And I will gladly cover it up, how much could be too much?"

She pronounced the last sentence, cutting off each word.

"..."

"But, thirty Chests is too much. No matter how noble and wealthy the Minister is-"

"Ha, Uncle. Do I have to show you the evidence myself? Exactly how much he embezzled?"

"..."

The Regent Duke, who had given up on persuasion, tried to lower even the amount of the bribe, but even that was not easy.

The gentle and soft Princess was gone, and it was like facing a usurer from a high-interest loan market.

'This child wasn't like this before... Could it be because of Cuisine?'

She had to sell her jewelry because she had no money, so she must have been driven to the edge.

"Ah, I understand. I'll do as you wish."

The Regent Duke cursed the dead Cuisine and nodded.

Medeia, as if she had never been cold, smiled and patted the Regent Duke's arm affectionately.

"Uncle, now that it's come to this, please squeeze as much as you can out of Etienne. You're on my side, right?"

In the end, Duke Claudio returned without gaining anything.