Chapter 21

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 21

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take from You

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While everyone present was lost in their own tangled thoughts, she remained utterly composed throughout.

The Queen Dowager's expression darkened even further.

"Are you denying it? Do you really need to be punished before you'll speak the truth?"

"If punishment is to be given, I will gladly accept it. But I cannot claim falsehood as truth just to escape this moment."

Medea's face was resolute.

Even after her private life had been laid bare, there was no trace of shame, humiliation, shock at betrayal by a trusted maid, or sense of betrayal.

If she truly had nothing to hide, could she stand so confidently? Perhaps they had gotten it all wrong.

As doubts began to creep into people's minds, Medea continued calmly.

"How convenient it is. Lady Quizin was the one I flogged just recently for breaking palace law, and Mariyu is the girl I removed from duties and kept at a distance after her repeated troublemaking."

"......"

"The very people accusing me of having a man are these two. Grandmother, can you truly be certain they are speaking the truth?"

The Queen Dowager turned her head toward the head maid and Mariyu.

"N-No!"

They cried out in unison.

"......We have witnesses!"

At that moment, in Sise's office.

Steam rose from a teacup on the somewhat austere wooden table.

"So, when are you going to tell me? The real reason you came to Baldina."

Cezare, standing by the window, slowly extended his hand.

His straight index finger traced the window frame, where the sunlight shattered into fragments.

"Hmm, shall we say the weather here is just too beautiful?"

"Better to say the war's aftereffects drove you mad."

Sise snorted.

"Oh dear, do you think I lack even the sensibility to appreciate beauty?"

"Nonsense."

Sise set down his teacup.

"If you were that sentimental, you'd have died back in the White Night Tower."

"Whoa, whoa. Why so harsh?"

Garo, who had been admiring the mantelpiece decoration, chuckled as he approached.

The White Night Tower.

An academy of all nations at the edge of the continent, admitting only a select few students, with its entire curriculum shrouded in secrecy.

Its existence only came to light as graduates spread across the continent and made their mark, but it still largely remained hidden beneath the surface.

Cezare's origins, age—everything was veiled in mystery. He always wore that bizarre mask, so no one knew his face.

"Sise. Aren't you curious about my face? You're the only one who never asks."

"And if I did ask, would you take off the mask?"

"No."

"Then what's the point of asking a question that won't be satisfied? It's inefficient."

"Bro, you'd probably tell the carpenter to cut your coffin to the exact efficient size later, huh?"

"Shut up, you."

Their time together had been brief, yet the three were quite close.

And after graduation, years had passed with no word since they scattered.

Now Cezare had returned as the infamous arms dealer across the continent.

Garo was the public face of the Facade Company, and Cezare his mercenary—or so it was known.

But Sise knew Cezare was the true mastermind.

'Who could lord over someone like him?'

Even back in the Tower, Cezare always hung back a step, but no one could easily surpass him.

Sise brushed away the faint memory.

"Explain why Facade's mercenaries are digging through the palace everywhere. Now."

Public and private had to be kept strictly separate. A chill lingered behind his monocle.

"You know it's absurd to let you stay here in the middle of wartime."

"And I know the Prime Minister of a nation has the power to smooth that over."

"Cezare."

"Tell me what you want, Sise."

Cezare spread his arms wide.

Though clearly the guest, he exuded the leisure of the room's owner.

Sise frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"We really don't get along."

Cezare's eyes remained serene, as if to say, So what?

"Bro, you think our boss would bat an eye at that? Just curse him out. Might make you feel better."

"Garo, your yapping mouth is as annoying as ever."

"Too harsh on me alone?"

As Garo clutched his chest in mock shock, Cezare's languid voice rang out.

"Enough reminiscing, Sise."

Sise sighed.

He could feel the sharp edge lurking beneath Cezare's relaxed spectatorship.

"I need your support."

So now the truth had to come out.

If he kept up the charade knowing he'd been seen through, Cezare would tear down the curtain.

"If Facade handles the rear, we can end the skirmishes before spring arrives."

The prolonged war had pushed Baldina to its limits inside and out.

'And the Regent Duke's power has grown too strong.'

Even nobles were joining his side, swelling his forces sharply.

'We must end the war as soon as possible. His Majesty needs to return to the capital to steady the shaky throne.'

Princess Medea, the king's only sister, might have helped, but the young princess had long fallen for the Regent Duke's manipulations and become his puppet.

'His Majesty shouldn't have given her the seal.'

His attempt to protect his sister had backfired into a noose around the king's own neck.

"My dear Sise."

Sise turned his gaze.

Beneath the silver half-mask, a smile curved like a crescent moon.

"Does Baldina even have the funds to pay? I can't let it slide on friendship alone."

If not for the chilling tone, he might have mistaken the man before him for someone enjoying himself.

"And that's not all you want, is it?"

The air in the room grew cold.

The scattering words seemed to drop and shatter on the floor.

"Why pass over the Empire and come to us specifically?"

"......"

"Ah, borrowing my mercenaries while using us as a shield against them too? Well played on all fronts, Sise."

He had instantly seen through Sise's intent to prop up Facade to fend off Kazen's interference for a time.

"Thanks for the memories. You're the only one still alive who tried to use me."

"Then kill me."

Sise replied with a blank face.

"If Facade moves according to my plan with just my head, it's a bargain for you."

"Ha."

It was unclear if it was a scoff or a sigh. The chill lifted.

"Bro, that thing on your neck must be a pain—want me to lop it off?"

Garo sneered with an incredulous look.

Cezare leaned against the wall and gazed at his old friend.

"Sise. No need to offer your neck. Swear loyalty to me, and I'll move as you wish."

"I've already sworn mine to His Majesty the King."

There was no change in Sise's expression. Cezare, who had anticipated rejection from his stubborn nature, lifted the corner of his mouth.

"Want to shake off Kazen's meddling? Then slaughter the entire delegation and send them back."

"Are you joking? Start another war? Baldina has no strength for that—let alone against the Empire......"

Sise glared at him through his gleaming monocle. Cezare replied indifferently.

"They lack the strength too."

When you try to half-escape, the opponent gets spooked and presses harder.

Cezare knew well that momentum, not troop numbers, decided the tide of war.

If Baldina had captured and killed even one imperial noble from Kazen, they wouldn't be ignored like this.

Sise sighed.

"That's why we don't match."

"Yeah, yeah. You always picked the weak side."

"Weak? After seeing Baldina's cavalry?"

"Those who can't be ruthless, Sise. The world calls them weak."

"......"

Sise looked at his old friend.

"Cezare, you're truly...... running straight to the end of recklessness."

If he were an ordinary man, he would have admired that cold-blooded figure. It would have been hard not to.

Boundless arrogance, backed by overflowing talent and ability—it captivated anyone.

But he couldn't gamble the kingdom's fate on such perilous stakes.

"Besides, this delegation includes Kazen's imperial princess, grand duke, and general. Massacring them without the Royal Guard would be difficult."

"Change the target."

Cezare shrugged.

"How about the First Prince? They say he's just waiting to die."

"Kazen's First Prince? Are you in your right mind?"

The war demon who had conquered dozens of small kingdoms before even turning twenty?

Sise thought he was too arrogant.

"Ahem, ahem!"

Garo coughed loudly.

His eyes flashed toward Cezare with a Are you insane? glare.

Crack. Tap, tap!

"Your Excellency! Her Highness the Princess!"

At that moment, the office door burst open.