Chapter 113

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 113

Chapter Title: Sardinia Island

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Medea's words made the Fourth Princess flinch, swallowing her surprise.

Sardinia Island. This modest islet off the southern coast of the Kazen Empire, bordering the Kingdom of Baldina, had been a fifteenth birthday gift from her maternal grandfather, the Eastern Commandant.

Small in size though it was, Sardinia boasted its own iron mine capable of producing iron on-site, making it a prime piece of territory.

The Fourth Princess pondered for a moment, weighing the island's value against the gravity of the situation in her mind.

Then she shook her head.

"...That won't work."

"..."

"Name something else. I'll grant it... to the best of my power..."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller under that unwavering gaze fixed upon her.

"Fourth Princess, did my request sound like a mere plea to you?"

"..."

"I've forgiven you for trying to kill me. I've turned a blind eye to your faction's schemes. I've even shown you how to shake off suspicion. And telling you who's targeting you? Well, that was just extra."

The Fourth Princess flinched.

"No matter how I look at it, I don't think I'm asking for too much."

Those green eyes stared at her coldly.

Silence descended.

A thick, oppressive pressure bore down like it could crush a person. It felt like being trapped in the coils of a serpent wrapping tighter and tighter around her body—chills raced across her skin.

"..."

The Fourth Princess averted her eyes without realizing it.

A short while later.

"Then take care on your way, Fourth Princess."

At Medea's gentle words of dismissal, the Fourth Princess bit her lip and stormed out. Only when the Princess Palace was out of sight did she claw off her jewelry and hurl it away.

"Aaaah! Damn Baldina! I never should have come here!"

"I never thought the princess would hand it over so readily."

Neril gazed down at the transfer deed for Sardinia Island, stamped with the Fourth Princess's seal.

"It's regrettable, but she must have decided it was better than getting stabbed in the back by the Western Consort."

But there was one fact the Fourth Princess didn't know.

'Sardinia is a golden island brimming with vast mithril deposits.'

That truth only came to light after the Fourth Princess lost her bid for the throne and even her grandfather, the Eastern Commandant, passed from illness.

By then, Jason had already ascended as emperor, so the immense fortune from Sardinia's mithril flowed straight into his coffers.

Medea had no desire to fatten Jason's purse with so much as a single coin.

"Still, letting her off like this is infuriating. She clearly targeted Your Highness, yet she not only escapes punishment but walks away with her life intact..."

"Don't worry. Angelique won't emerge unscathed."

Mithril was a heavenly resource that no amount of money could buy.

Even for his own beloved daughter, Perdiccas II would never forgive the one who handed rising Baldina such powerful wings.

By that time, the Fourth Princess would realize she'd been duped by Medea and crave nothing more than to tear her limb from limb.

"Do you really think I'd settle for a single island from someone who came after my life?"

She had plans to deliver far greater despair upon the Fourth Princess.

No trace of pity colored Medea's flat tone toward her.

"That aside, Grand Duke Castulo turns out to be far more cunning than he lets on."

Neril seethed with anger. As a knight, she despised those who harbored schemes and sacrificed others for their own gain.

"He knew of the danger to Your Highness and still feigned ignorance to protect his own interests, didn't he?"

She recalled the repulsive grand duke, who had fretted over the princess with the most sincere face of all at the convention hall.

'That's exactly the kind of man he is.'

Medea leaned back in her chair, exhaustion plain on her face.

The clash with the Fourth Princess, combined with the past-life memories surging deeper than usual today, amplified her fatigue.

'At least returning through the Magic Tower leaves the princess and Jason with no pretext to exploit.'

Her thoughts tangled one after another.

Magic Tower. Jason. And Facade...

Medea, who had closed her eyes for a moment, soon opened them again.

"Zeta, tell your master I wish to see him."

"..."

But no response came. Looking at Zeta, Medea saw uncharacteristic fluster on her face.

"What's the matter?"

"It's just..."

Medea suddenly realized she hadn't seen any of Facade's mercenaries since her return.

Even Garo, who regularly appeared at palace events, had become scarce lately.

"The leader... is not in Baldina right now."

Zeta answered after hesitating.

She couldn't bring herself to mention that Cezare's condition had rapidly worsened after returning to the royal palace.

"No more. Your condition is far too dire. We need to see the Master."

"Don't make a fuss, Terence."

Once even Terence proved powerless, they had departed in haste for the Magic Tower.

"Zeta, say nothing to Baldina's princess. Keep playing the shadow, as always."

Zeta hesitated.

She couldn't defy her lord's orders, yet she wasn't sure if staying silent like this was right either.

"Lord Akkares... departed Baldina a short while ago."

Zeta added the explanation within the bounds of not outright disobeying.

Departed? Medea paused.

She recalled the mercenary flashing that languid smile.

She knew he was capricious and that an arms dealer naturally wandered between nations, but she hadn't expected him to vanish so abruptly without a word.

"...Will he return?"

At Medea's question, Zeta thought of her lord's state.

To return to Baldina, he'd need at least some sign of recovery—but in his current state...

A pang of regret stirred within her.

"...I'm sorry, Your Highness. I can't say any more."

Reading Zeta's troubled expression, Medea nodded as if she understood and dismissed her.

"..."

Medea set down the object she'd been toying with onto the table.

Two small cylinders, each engraved top and bottom with a goddess statue and a water droplet sculpture.

'When I found these, I made replicas just in case. I had a feeling someone would eventually come for this sacred relic.'

One was the Dawn's Dewdrop she'd obtained from the Sage's Stone. The other was an exquisite fake indistinguishable at a glance.

'I was hoping to connect with the First Imperial Prince through Facade rather than the Magic Tower.'

But now that he'd left, that plan was all but impossible.

Medea opened a small drawer and placed one cylinder inside.

'...You slip away like the wind, silent to the very end.'

A subtle sense of emptiness shook Medea. Had she grown fond of that brazen mercenary over time?

She recalled that deepening night in the herb-scented forest, the crackle of burning firewood, the warmth of the campfire—and the quiet peace she'd tasted for a fleeting moment.

Medea shook her head at once.

'You're too comfortable. Having the luxury for such pointless thoughts.'

In this second life, filled mostly with familiar repeats, Medea had learned something new for the first time.

Comfort made her weak.

'I don't need this. I won't expect anything.'

The blade she drove into her enemies had to remain forever sharp.

Snapping from her reverie, Medea looked up.

"Neril, any progress on what I asked for?"

Neril approached and whispered her report to Medea.

"You wanted me to monitor those who signed the petition earlier. They're returning to the capital."

"Are they?"

Medea lifted her head and stared at the castle walls beyond the window.

Her green eyes gleamed with a violet light, as if they'd never dimmed.

"Neril, I need to step out beyond the palace walls for a bit."