Chapter 106

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 106

Chapter Title: The Mercenary's Fury

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'Damn it, how far into Baldina is this guy wandering?'

Medea scowled at the sight of Cezare.

Never imagining he'd come all this way to find her, she assumed it was just another chance encounter this time.

She was about to ask how he'd gotten here when the mercenary suddenly twisted his face into a grimace and strode toward her.

The leisurely smirk he always wore was contorted, his sharp jaw clenched tight as if grinding his teeth.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

"Medea."

And then a firm embrace filled her vision with darkness.

Medea was so startled that she forgot he'd brazenly called her name without honorifics.

In her daze, the mercenary's raw fury poured down on her.

"Why are you so foolish? Why do you keep acting alone? Not using the tools at your disposal—isn't that just barbaric?"

Medea couldn't comprehend why the mercenary was yelling at her like this.

She looked up at him with bewilderment.

"Akkares, have you lost your mind?"

"There was no need for you to go this far. What about your clever maids, your prime minister, the Queen Dowager? Why must you always sacrifice yourself alone!"

Cezare's reason screamed at him to stop, but his instincts wouldn't let him.

Damn it, who does this woman remind me of?

Do I want to help the princess, or save that lonely child I once was?

I want to make her understand she's not alone.

That someone understands her, that her outstretched hand can be grasped.

At the same time, Cezare realized it.

Just as he hadn't believed or accepted those words, neither would the princess.

"Why should I?"

As he'd predicted, the princess asked with clear eyes. Her calm expression was like a still pond without a ripple.

"If you're not seeing me as a woman, you'd better let go of this arm soon. Or this poison needle you gave me might pierce your throat."

Only then did Cezare notice the small metal needle pressed under her chin.

With a sharp chuckle, the arm that had wrapped around Medea like a vice loosened.

"......"

A short intake of breath. Enough time for Cezare's reason to return.

"......I lost my composure."

"Good that you know."

"......Ha."

Her frank response, neither denying nor affirming, scratched at his lofty pride.

Silence fell.

"What's the situation at the palace?"

Medea asked casually. Cezare replied with disbelief.

"Princess, are you treating me like a messenger now?"

She glanced at him without answering, sweeping her eyes over Cezare.

Moonlight filtered into the cave, revealing Akkares in full view.

Hair matted with sweat, dirt and leaves clinging to his limbs, a pale face.

And darkened, bloodied hands peeking from under his sleeve cuffs.

Medea couldn't grasp everything he'd said, but she understood one thing: this mercenary had come searching for her.

He'd leaped off the cliff and tracked down her hidden traces to find her. Strangely, no wariness rose in her.

Perhaps because she'd read the worry for her in those fierce golden eyes.

As if coming to his senses, Cezare stepped back from Medea a beat late.

"Sit. I was just about to have dinner anyway."

Medea withdrew her gaze and offered him a spot.

"I'll do it."

Cezare took the dagger from her hand after staring at the small scratch on her pale, delicate fingers.

Medea watched him silently, observing as if studying him. A flicker of interest passed through her green eyes.

Soon, a savory aroma filled the cave.

"I thought you were just good with a sword, but you're decent at cooking too."

Medea complimented him impassively.

Perhaps from wandering as a mercenary, he had a talent for making passable dishes from scant ingredients.

"Just eat."

Despite his curt reply, he snapped off the end of the branch skewering the rabbit meat so it wouldn't prick her hand, then handed it over.

"......"

Cezare felt inexplicably irritated seeing the princess's small face, as if she'd fully embraced life outside the palace with campfires and all.

"The emphasis is always key."

"You came very well-prepared, didn't you."

Cezare said wearily upon seeing Medea sprinkle salt on it.

"Want some?"

"No."

A cold refusal came back.

Medea shrugged and bit into the meat.

It wasn't bad.

Baldina Royal Palace.

"Did you hear? At the hunting grounds, Her Highness the Princess—"

"Ha! Of course! Everyone knows the culprit. It was Young Duke Claudio who killed Her Highness!"

The unfortunate incident at the hunting grounds quickly spread to the palace.

"You villains! Bring back our princess!"

"What have you done for Baldina, anyway?!"

The rumors spread like wildfire, reaching even the common folk on the streets, who all learned of Medea's disappearance.

The Fourth Princess clicked her nails together sharply.

Things had spiraled out of control before she could react.

'What do I do? I didn't expect the Queen Dowager to regain her senses so quickly.'

Even worse, the Queen Dowager already seemed to suspect her as well. Her gaze on the Kazen delegation was razor-sharp.

'If they find out I released the wolves in the hunting grounds, I'm done for.'

An emissary from a visiting nation attempting to assassinate a direct royal? Even a small kingdom like Baldina wouldn't stand for it.

'Samon, I shouldn't have trusted that idiot. He couldn't even handle one simple thing!'

The Fourth Princess's nerves frayed as she paced between rage and anxiety.

'Father won't let me off. What if they find out what I did? But there's no evidence. How could they know—'

"Your Highness."

A voice calling her made the Fourth Princess jump. Kensington was staring at her intently.

"......Surely not?"

"W-what?"

"This incident. It's definitely got nothing to do with Your Highness—"

"W-what nonsense! How absurd!"

Caught off guard, the Fourth Princess snapped.

"Count Kensington, don't go accusing innocents. What does the princess's disappearance have to do with me?"

She huffed and stormed out.

"Captain, the Fourth Princess is acting strange. Shall I look into it?"

"No need. Leave her be."

Umberto's words drew a sigh from Kensington as she waved it off.

"Even if it was the Fourth Princess, what could we do? If I try to clean it up, we'd just end up sharing the blame for the princess in this mess."

She sighed.

"I've always done my utmost for anything involving Kazen. But that doesn't mean they can use me however they please."

The Fourth Princess, the Grand Duke, and even her lord the Emperor.

Doubt shadowed her face.

"Captain...?"

"If you have the energy for that, look into the princess's situation instead."

Kensington gazed intently at the map of the forest where she'd vanished.

Her eyes lingered on the thick green patches.

"The princess wouldn't go down that easily. She must have another plan this time too."

"You mean...?"

"The problem is, I don't know who she's targeting."

Regent Duke Claudio? The Fourth Princess? Grand Duke Castulo?

Or all three?

She could only hope it wouldn't sweep them all away with one flap of her wings.

Kensington sighed, staring at the Princess Palace visible through the distant carriage window.

Deep into the night, the forest air grew chilly.

Crackle, crackle. The campfire's warmth heated the air.

"When do you plan to return?"

"Who knows."

A curt reply. Cezare paused, facing Medea.

He'd spotted the shadow settling in her green eyes as she stared blankly at the crimson flames licking the logs.

Crackle, crackle.

"So, what's your plan going forward?"

Medea shot him a look that said, Why would I tell you?

"You know you can't stay hidden too long anyway."

The mercenary was right.

Time would fade memories and emotions.

She needed to reappear when suspicions against the Regent Duke were at their peak.

Reading her intent, Cezare proposed,

"Let's say the Mage Tower found you. That'll make your return smoother."

The Mage Tower was strict with certifications. A reclusive group that rarely intervened in worldly affairs or politics.

But their prestige and influence across the continent were undeniable.

'It's already been several days since I vanished. When I return, I won't escape the rumors.'

Especially the Claudio Ducal House—they'd slander her, claiming she'd hidden on purpose to trap Samon, all to save themselves.

'But if the Mage Tower vouches for me,'

the Regent Duke would have no room to argue.

Medea nodded. No reason to refuse such a good card.

But a question arose.

"Akkares, why do you keep helping me?"

There was no such thing as kindness without reward. The mercenary before her didn't seem the type to offer it lightly.

After staring at Medea's face with sunken eyes for a while, Cezare finally spoke.