Chapter 101

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 101

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Steal from You

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"Yes. Aren't they holding a friendly hunting tournament soon? It's a small event just for royalty and the delegation, and it seems they're planning to release them there."

"Ha, they've got some nerve. Angelica still thinks she's right in the heart of the empire."

Jason shook his head, but a smile played on his lips.

"Perfect. This'll give me a chance to shine."

Jason had no trouble guessing who the Fourth Imperial Princess's wolves were targeting.

"Medea."

The beautiful and refined princess of Baldina.

"What a pity for the princess. To cross paths with Angelica of all people."

His advisor's eyes widened in brief surprise.

"Your Highness, aren't you going to stop it?"

He'd assumed Jason, trying to win the princess's favor, would preemptively shield her from any danger.

Jason gave a slight shake of his chin. His gaze held a haughty disdain for the advisor.

"Why should I? Do you think a woman with that kind of spirit would fall for me without some real peril? It'd have to be more than just being chased by a pack of wolves."

A vivid scene unfolded in his mind.

A lush forest, the princess left alone and pursued by a ferocious beast. In that desperate moment when her life hung in the balance, a man steps in front of her, slaying the wolf.

Those emerald eyes looking up at him like a hero. Himself, holding the frightened girl close, stroking her slender back to comfort her...

Just imagining it filled him with deep satisfaction.

Jason ordered his subordinate to sharpen his sword to a razor's edge.

The first button might have been fastened wrong, but he had no doubt he could weave the rest perfectly around him.

The day of the friendly hunting tournament dawned.

The royal hunting grounds, where the event was held, were half a day's carriage ride from the palace.

It was a dense forest, but the hunters had managed it for so long that dangerous beasts had long vanished.

Strict bans on public access also made it a pristine, unpolluted area.

Soon, Baldina's royals and the Kazen delegation arrived at the grounds. Medea stepped down from the carriage following the Queen Dowager.

A clear blue sky and the cool, tickling scent of the forest greeted her.

In the center of the flat clearing stood a large tent for the royals, flanked by rows of smaller tents for those not participating in the hunt.

"I figured from their situation they'd cancel this tournament, but they insisted on going through with it, so here we are."

Yet the Queen Dowager's sullen demeanor made it clear she could barely stomach even looking at the Kazens.

"We greet Your Majesty the Queen Dowager and Your Highness the Princess."

Those who had arrived first and were waiting offered their greetings.

The Queen Dowager nodded, then spotted the Kazen delegation across from them and scowled.

The Fourth Imperial Princess and Jason were both dressed in fine hunting attire, exuding the confidence of seasoned hunters.

The rules of the hunting tournament were simple.

Pair up in twos and hunt animals in the forest. Rankings were determined by the rarity of the beasts' species and coloration.

"Your Highness, please draw a lot."

The feather Medea drew was blue. Her emerald eyes glanced sideways.

The Fourth Imperial Princess held a pink feather matching one of the delegation members, while Birna had a yellow one like Jason's.

"Oh my, Your Grace! We have the same color feather!"

Good heavens, what luck. Birna couldn't hide her joy, looking ready to jump for joy any second.

Unaware of the flicker of disappointment in Jason's eyes, she drooped her brows and subtly checked his expression.

"What shall we do? I'm worried. I'm not very good at hunting, so I wouldn't want to be a burden to Your Grace."

"Not at all. It's just a friendly match meant for participation's sake, so please don't worry too much, Lady Claudio."

Even as he gave the exact response Birna wanted, Jason's eyes kept darting around, searching elsewhere.

"......"

As everyone bustled about finding their partners,

"Medea."

She looked up. Samon was approaching with a feather of the same color.

"Looks like you and I are teamed up."

Only then did Medea smile.

"What a relief. I can just rely on you, big brother."

"That's my line. I saw your swordsmanship when you took down the Fourth Imperial Princess last time."

"You know that was just luck."

Samon laughed at Medea's words.

"Don't worry. Just trust this big brother of yours. I'll keep you safe no matter what."

But Medea didn't miss the chill in his curving eyes beneath the smile.

At that moment, Sise, eyeing Medea and Samon's pairing suspiciously, made a proposal.

"Your Majesty the Queen Dowager. The grounds are not small. Two people alone might get lost, so how about allowing one knight escort per pair?"

'A knight would ruin our plan.'

The Fourth Imperial Princess and Samon's faces hardened. The princess spoke up first.

"Let's keep it friendly and light, as it's meant to be. Surely there aren't dangerous beasts requiring bodyguard knights? Or are you perhaps targeting me?"

Her tone was still provocatively challenging.

The Queen Dowager looked down at the Fourth Imperial Princess impassively, then smiled indulgently.

"Of course not. You're a precious guest who brought us double the aid for Baldina. We wouldn't let some beast harm you."

That old ginger witch! The Fourth Imperial Princess trembled with rage.

In any case, knight participation was forbidden for the sake of fairness.

"Please return here after hunting until midday!"

Bang-!

With the crack of fireworks shattering the clear sky, the hunting tournament began.

Nobles of Baldina's high society had joined the royals and delegation as spectators today.

Beneath a grand tent shading the sunlight, tiered seating was arranged.

Facing a flat area for laying out game, it was the perfect spot for watching the tournament.

"Duke Claudio, I trust you've been well."

Sise offered a leisurely greeting.

"Indeed. You look well yourself."

The Regent Duke's eyes scanned Sise's face meticulously.

'Why is he still fine?'

Hallus should have started affecting his brain by now...

Was the drug's effect too weak, or had Sise built up a tolerance? The man before him showed no mania—in fact, he seemed sharper and more refreshed than usual.

"Yes, Your Grace is perceptive as always. Truth be told, I was suffering terribly before—my head felt so heavy, foggy, dizzy, like I was going mad."

Sise, sensing the Regent Duke's doubt, let a deep smile curl his lips.

"But with the palace rats gone and Kazen's aid solving the famine, all my worries vanished. My mind's clearer than ever."

"......"

The Regent Duke stared intently at Sise.

"Well then, that's fortunate indeed. It would be a disaster if Baldina's Prime Minister collapsed."

"Quite. That's why I've even started taking holy water lately. I've realized nothing serves this country better than me assisting His Majesty for years to come."

Sise provoked him steadily.

"Ah, the Queen Dowager is calling. In that case, Your Grace, I hope you enjoy the tournament peacefully."

"......"

The Regent Duke swallowed his fury, trembling.

"That green whelp... When I become king, I won't let him live. I'll rip out his tongue and hang it from the walls!"

"My lord, compose yourself."

A dull ache throbbed in the nape of his neck.

"......It's fine."

The Regent Duke forced calm for his subordinate, hiding his surging humiliation.

His eyes gleamed with rage and murderous intent.

"We'll see if you're so smug later."

Would that clever mouth still wag before Medea's corpse, torn apart by wolves?

He spotted his son preparing in the distance. The Regent Duke snapped open his black fan.

Samon nodded as if understanding the signal.