Chapter 110

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 110

Chapter Title: Audience with the People

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The audience hall of Baldina Palace.

An extraordinarily long line stretched out in front of the white marble building, longer than ever before.

They were all commoners who had gathered to see Medea.

How heartbroken and anxious they had been upon hearing that the princess who had protected their kingdom against the Kazen Empire had been chased away like a dog.

Yet just recently, she had returned alive and unscathed to the royal castle.

Overflowing with gratitude and emotion, they had mustered their resolve, crossed the lofty palace grounds, and come all the way to this hall today.

From herbs they had personally dried upon hearing rumors of her injury in the hunting grounds, to patchwork quilts meticulously embroidered in hopes of her safe return—gifts praying for the princess's safety and health, offered willingly.

"Next!"

Inside the hall, on the red carpet, a plainly dressed woman in an apron stood hesitantly.

When her turn came, she stepped forward tensely and carefully set down the wooden basket she had been cradling.

"Oh, it was Your Highness the Princess who ordered relief supplies distributed all the way to the outskirts of the fourth district. Thanks to you, my children didn't have to go hungry."

The woman bowed deeply in gratitude and offered the wooden basket.

"Our household is so poor that I have nothing proper to give Your Highness... I feel ashamed. But I just couldn't sit idly by..."

As she lifted the cloth covering the basket, fluffy chicks poked out their tiny beaks.

Medea glanced alternately between the woman's humble attire and the chicks.

Chicks were not particularly expensive livestock.

But to struggling commoners, they were precious assets that could be raised into chickens for food or income.

The fact that there were only three spoke volumes about how difficult a decision this had been.

"What adorable chicks. But if I take them like this, they'll end up as dinner for the cats I raise in the palace... What shall we do?"

Medea pretended to ponder for a moment, then clapped her hands.

"How about this? That basket is exquisitely made. I'll consider it a token of your heart. Take the chicks back and raise them into chickens."

Medea gave Neril a look, and she promptly took the basket while placing the chicks into a sturdy wooden box and returning it.

"Thank you so much. Your Highness... You truly are Baldina's light."

The woman's face was filled with emotion.

She had realized the princess was saving face for a lowly peasant like her while considering her circumstances.

Medea warmly greeted each and every commoner who had come to see her in the hall, inquiring about their hardships.

"Th-thank you, Your Highness. And I'm so sorry, Your Highness..."

The commoners felt both overwhelming gratitude and guilt at the sight of their kingdom's sole princess bending down to meet their eyes at their level.

Despite the slander that she sucked the blood of the people, the young princess had not hesitated to risk her life to open a path to survival for them.

She had even faced mortal threats from her vicious uncle.

The pitiable fate of the young princess, who had never known a peaceful day, tugged at their heartstrings.

"Your Highness, you must never fall to scum like the Regent Duke!"

"Goddess above, protect our princess from the clutches of those pig-like villains!"

Their words were rough, their gifts modest.

But as if understanding they had given their all, Medea nodded with a smile.

Moved by her gracious heart, they praised the princess even more fervently and raised their voices in condemnation of the Regent Duke.

'To think the positions of my uncle and me would swap like this. How ridiculous.'

Medea's green eyes gleamed coldly as she maintained her smile until every last petitioner had departed.

From the moment she returned, the people's view of the princess had shifted.

Now, no matter where one went in the castle, praises for Medea and shouts denouncing the Regent Duke echoed everywhere.

'I wonder if my uncle can endure this change.'

Medea recalled the Regent Duke submitting to the Queen Dowager's command to flog Samon on the day of her return.

More precisely, the fist he had clenched and hidden beneath his sleeve, trembling with rage.

'He's not the type to tolerate it. He'll surely try to turn the tide.'

To paint her as the villain once more and himself as the hero.

But with his impoverished imagination, he would find only one solution.

'That would be...'

At that moment, a profusion of vibrant blossoms filled Medea's vision.

A sweet floral fragrance tickled her nose.

The soft, beautiful pink roses were so dazzling they hurt the eyes.

"Princess."

The voice of the last remaining guest rang in Medea's ears.

Jason stood on the red carpet, holding a lavish bouquet, smiling.

"May I also request an audience?"

Handsome features, a rich voice, refined elegance.

The epitome of imperial perfection, without a single flaw.

"...What brings the Grand Duke of Castulo here?"

"I heard I could see the princess if I came here, so I took the liberty despite the impropriety. With everyone offering such heartfelt gifts, I couldn't very well come empty-handed..."

Jason lightly brushed his bangs aside with a sheepish smile.

The maids around couldn't tear their eyes from the sight of the striking man bashfully holding flowers.

Jason took another step closer to Medea.

"I hope it pleases you."

His words were humble, but Medea, who had lived her entire life with him, detected his confidence.

"Neril."

Medea nodded toward her, and Neril stepped forward to accept the bouquet in her stead before withdrawing.

A faint stiffness crept into Jason's picture-perfect expression.

He hadn't expected her not to even touch the flowers he had given.

"I'm so relieved you're safe. I was truly worried."

But Jason quickly regained his composure.

"I can't tell you how much I regretted it on the day you disappeared. If only I'd been more vigilant, you wouldn't have suffered such trials..."

His voice dripped with anguish, his eyes brimming with sincere concern.

Jason in her previous life had been the same.

His tenderness had seemed to quench the thirst of affection-starved Medea.

Back then, she had lost herself to that hunger. Foolishly, pathetically.

"Why would the Grand Duke of Castulo care?"

Medea's soft tone prompted Jason to think he had found an inroad to her heart.

'She's hurt that the Regent Duke she trusted tried to kill her.'

"Princess, I understand. We're so alike in that way. I too was betrayed by the family member I trusted most."

As he comforted her, a surge of joy welled up from deep within Jason's chest.

He relished the fact that he shared this bond with the beautiful girl before him.

"Medea, call me Jason. We can be friends who understand each other's pain."

As if drawn by some force, Jason took yet another step closer.

"...Grand Duke of Castulo, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Far from moved, a chilling voice descended over him like icy water.

Puzzlement was plain on the princess's face.

Her indifferent gaze, as if asking what any of it had to do with her, clawed at Jason's heart.

"It's your prerogative to play the philanthropist saving a 'friend' like this."

A brief pause hung in the air, then a low voice continued.

"But my brother—the one I trust most, His Majesty the King of Baldina—has never betrayed me, not once."

The princess gave a slight smile.

"He's no powerless fool driven by empty ambition, no parasitic hypocrite, no beast that harms his own blood."

A fleeting glint in her beautiful eyes—was it hatred? Mockery?

It passed too swiftly for Jason to be sure.

"So please, don't link us with talk of 'understanding' each other."

With that, the princess turned and left.

"......"

Left alone, Jason's fingertips trembled.

Though her words weren't aimed at him, each one stung like a lash across his cheeks and back.

"Urgh..."

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed at his heart, making Jason clutch his chest and stagger.

The inexplicable agony lingered, tormenting him as if that were its sole purpose.