Chapter 100

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 100

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take from You

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Claudio Ducal Residence, Birna's room.

"Birna, you can't speak to your godfather like that. Don't you know it was thanks to him that you could return from the convent so early?"

Catherine scolded her while gripping Birna's arm.

"Hmph, and I even greeted him, didn't I? He should be grateful I didn't completely ignore him."

"Birna!"

Birna scowled.

"Mom, I hate that man. And why is he staying at our house anyway? He has money and power—doesn't he have anywhere else to go?"

"That man? Birna, Count Laju is a noble of the empire. The emperor of Kazen holds him in high regard. Do you know how impressive that is? He's on par with a duke of Baldina."

Catherine laid it all out for her.

No matter what her mother said, to Birna it all looked like some lowly Baldina commoner trying to cozy up to her now that he'd risen in the world.

'How much sweet-talking has that creepy guy done to my parents?'

The way his face lit up like the moon whenever he saw her, fawning over her, trying to win her favor with gifts—it all seemed utterly pathetic.

As if the daughter of Baldina's Regent Duke would stoop to mingling with such pitiful blood?

"Ever since he arrived, he grabs Dad every night and they just drink! I hate that too! Dad's not some drunkard, but he's getting wasted every day! He must have some ulterior motive."

Birna pouted.

"A maid said she heard a woman's moans from his room a few days ago. It's disgusting and filthy. What the hell is he doing in our house?"

Birna spat out her irritation without realizing she was slapping her mother's cheek in the process, then paused and looked up at Catherine.

"Mom, why is your face like that?"

"Huh? W-what do you...?"

Catherine fussed over her cheeks, flushed with embarrassment.

"They're bright red, like you've been drinking."

"I-it's just hot with the door closed. And you—don't say such rude things in front of guests. You mustn't be impolite. Have you forgotten all the ladylike etiquette I taught you?"

Birna grew frustrated with her mother, who wasn't listening at all, and slammed the pillow down in a fit of temper.

"In the end, what can you expect from lowly commoner trash? He even sold out our country to get where he is. Once I become the Grand Duchess, I won't even associate with traitors like him."

Birna pictured Jason's handsome face.

The Grand Duke of Kazen, whom she'd only heard about, was strikingly handsome. Just recently, he'd visited the ducal residence and given her a kind greeting.

That perfect appearance, noble bloodline, and gentle manners.

Only then did she understand her mother's words that there was no match for her in Baldina.

"Mom, by the way, when is Grand Duke Castulo coming? He won't be coming here again, will he?"

Catherine could read her daughter's mind.

"Then treat Count Laju with all due respect. He's a close aide to the Grand Duke—if you ask nicely, he might bring him around again."

"Eee! Got it!"

If it meant seeing Jason again, she could put up with that greasy moon-faced creep a little longer!

As Birna buzzed with excitement, Catherine asked with a darkened expression.

"Birna, you just said you hated your godfather a moment ago, but now that he might bring the Grand Duke, you've changed your mind?"

"Of course. You think I'd grovel to some lowly commoner when I have no other prospects?"

"You really... He's not a commoner—"

"His blood is still common no matter how you slice it. I get it, so stop nagging. I won't let it show in front of him. Happy now?"

Catherine swallowed a sigh as she watched her daughter sparkle with joy, admiring her new dress.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

As Akarres had said, a new maid soon entered the palace.

"You helped guide us at the theater last time, right? Thank you."

Zeta swallowed her surprise.

To recognize her at a glance—even though she'd been in disguise then. The princess's eyesight was remarkable.

"What's your name?"

"...Zeta."

"Are you unhappy about being transferred from your master to me? You can go back if you want."

Zeta hesitated for a moment before answering calmly.

"I don't mind. My original master wasn't Akarres, but his grandfather. I've been ordered to protect Your Highness, and I simply follow that command."

Medea sensed the aura of a seasoned warrior from the calluses and faint scars on the maid's hands.

She stood politely, but there were no openings.

Yet she concealed that presence with expert skill.

Her vague eyebrows and hair color seemed deliberately muted to downplay her presence.

"Forgive me, but may I ask for a spar?"

Medea wasn't the only one who'd noticed Zeta's skills.

Neril, who'd been watching her closely for days, made the request, and Zeta glanced at the princess as if seeking permission.

Medea nodded.

"Lady Neril, I'll let you have the first move."

"I won't hold back."

Bam—! But before they could exchange more than a few blows, Neril went flying.

'As expected of Facade's crew.'

Her silent movements were those of an assassin, her swinging blade those of a knight.

Zeta flinched, gauging Medea's reaction.

'Oops, I should have held back a bit... but she came at me so seriously...'

Yet Neril charged back in, her eyes shining brighter than ever.

'A true warrior.'

Facing Zeta quenched a burning thirst.

'To keep up with Her Highness, I need to get even stronger.'

"One more round, please!"

For a while, the clanging of steel echoed nonstop from the small training ground behind the Princess Palace.

Meanwhile, Medea's other maid, Mariyu, was quite busy herself.

She couldn't refuse the summons from her lover of long standing.

"Mariyu! You idiot...! How could you pull off something this huge—let alone botch it so badly—without even consulting me?"

After being ousted alongside Lady Quizin for scheming against Medea, Samon had cut off contact in a rage.

He hadn't even checked on his lover, now bereft of her connections.

Yet here he was, back as if he'd never forgotten her.

"D-darling, take it easy—"

"Shut your mouth?"

Her lover handled her roughly, like a tyrant. Was he taking out his frustrations with the princess on her?

Still, it was fine. If it meant he wouldn't abandon her, Mariyu could endure it.

"Oh my god, Samon. What are all those wounds?"

A moment later, after their rough reunion ended, Mariyu looked up at him with loving eyes and widened hers.

She'd spotted the fresh bruises and cuts peeking through his disheveled collar.

Come to think of it, his face looked a bit flushed too, like someone had slapped him.

"Who dared hit you?"

Was that why he hadn't undressed?

"Are you crazy? This is the palace. Don't touch me carelessly."

Slap. Samon irritably swatted away her concerned hand.

His pride stung at the thought of this lowly maid discovering how the Fourth Princess had treated him like a dog.

Mariyu hastily withdrew her hand.

"S-sorry. I just... I haven't seen you lately, so I got worried and..."

"Out of my way. I don't need your nosy worries—just do your damn job."

Samon exploded and stormed out.

But in his agitated movements, something small tumbled from his pocket.

"Wait, Samon, you forgot this—"

Mariyu picked up the shiny little object and froze.

'...A hair pin?'

It was an exquisite hair pin studded with rubies.

The intricate, ornate craftsmanship didn't look like something an ordinary woman would wear.

Mariyu's eyes wavered uncertainly for a moment.

'No way. He's only got me. Only me...'

Mariyu shook her head hard and tucked the hair pin tightly into her bosom.

She wished she could crush the rising anxiety and doubt just as firmly.

Baldina Royal Palace, Grand Duke Castulo's lodgings.

Jason's advisor, who'd been busy coming and going from the palace for days, whispered to him.

"Your Grace. It seems the princess secretly airlifted a pack of wolves along the relief supply route. Even Kensington didn't know—they brought them in covertly."

Jason froze in place.

"Wolves...?"