Chapter 33

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 33

Chapter Title: Grandmother's Gift

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"If the teacher doesn't suit you, you can just change him."

As if to end the conversation there, the Queen Dowager shot a glance at Marchioness Pinatelli.

"Anyway, Medea. For this kingdom's one and only princess, your attire is far too modest."

A plain-patterned dress. Her only accessory was a single strand of small pearls.

Medea's outfit stood in stark contrast to Birna's, who was dressed to perfection from head to toe, drawing the Queen Dowager's attention even more.

'She's a princess, after all. I can't just leave her like that. Medea doesn't have a mother like Birna's to look after her... so I suppose I must.'

At that signal, Marchioness Pinatelli approached and opened a large velvet box.

Dazzling jewels wrapped in royal purple velvet came into view.

'Isn't that Grandmother's jewel box?'

Birna, who had been peeking from the side, widened her eyes. She could only catch a glimpse of them during national ceremonies.

"Medea, pick one that catches your eye. This old lady will give it to you as a gift."

It was an indirect apology for past events.

Medea gazed quietly at the Queen Dowager, as if gauging her intentions.

The Queen Dowager felt as if she'd been slapped upon seeing her granddaughter scrutinize her rather than rejoice at the gift.

'Have I been so cold to her that she acts this way?'

"Don't worry—just choose."

Only after the Queen Dowager added those words did Medea nod.

"Thank you, Grandmother."

Her careful inspection of the jewels inside the box was as cautious as a kitten's.

Birna was furious.

The jewel box the Queen Dowager had opened contained even the tiara and necklace for the coronation that she had begged to have when she eventually married.

'Why give such precious things to the likes of Medea!'

Every time Medea's eyes landed on a jewel, Birna grew anxious, as if it were being snatched from her own possession.

She didn't want to give even a fingernail-sized pearl to Medea.

What if that gloomy girl took the best one first?

"Sister, if nothing catches your eye, I'll pick first."

In the end, Birna couldn't hold back. She shoved Medea aside and quickly claimed the spot in front of the jewel box.

As if Medea might snatch it away, she grabbed a large necklace.

"Grandmother, I like this sapphire necklace! Don't you think it suits my eye color perfectly?"

At that moment, the Queen Dowager's eyebrow twitched.

"Insolent!"

"G-Grandmother...?"

Birna's eyes widened in circles.

Her grandmother, who had never raised her voice in her entire life, was suddenly scolding her?

"I didn't say it was a gift for you. It wasn't even your turn, so where did you learn such rude manners—daring to lay hands on the princess like that?"

"B-Because Sister wasn't choosing... I just..."

Her lips pouted, and her panicked eyes filled with injustice.

"Sister? Address her properly as 'Your Highness'! Birna Robin Claudio!"

Thud! The Queen Dowager slammed the table.

'Earlier, when Medea entered, Birna didn't even greet her—she just lounged on my lap the whole time.'

Acting like a superior receiving deference from an inferior.

"Do you think you're from the Baldina royal family just because you're in this palace? Medea is your mistress, first and foremost, beyond any kinship."

"G-Grandmother...!"

"How long did you plan to act so recklessly? Does the Claudio House not know the rites of lord and vassal?"

The icy reprimand pierced her heart like a dagger.

Birna had never imagined that her doting grandmother would point out the disparity in their statuses.

"Apologize at once. Show proper respect to the princess."

Birna bit her lip at the Queen Dowager's words. Her eyes brimmed with rage-filled tears.

Being scolded in front of Medea was humiliating enough, and now she had to apologize to that wench?

And with full decorum, no less?

'What on earth did I do wrong?'

She was the daughter of a royal prince and a duke's daughter, after all.

Far nobler blood than that half-breed with a mere dancer for a mother.

"How could you do this to me, Grandmother? That's too much!"

Birna ran out, glaring resentfully at the Queen Dowager.

"That... immature child. Tch."

The Queen Dowager clicked her tongue and turned to Medea.

"Your Highness. Shall I fetch Lady Birna Claudio back?"

Marchioness Pinatelli asked worriedly.

"Leave her be. She needs to learn the difference in their stations now. How long can I let her run wild like that?"

The Queen Dowager grumbled.

Though she no longer favored the Claudio mother and daughter as before after the palace incident, her lingering affection was evident in not summoning her back for further scolding.

Medea, who had been watching the Queen Dowager silently, spoke up.

"Grandmother, please understand Birna. We've always shared everything since we were little."

"Hm?"

"What I had, Birna had too. And what Birna didn't have, I didn't either. So Grandmother's words must have come as quite a shock to her."

'What Birna didn't have, Medea didn't either?'

The Queen Dowager paused, furrowing her brow before speaking firmly.

"Childhood is one thing, but things must change now. You are a princess. Your paths diverge."

Medea asked calmly.

"Grandmother. Birna has spent more time in the palace than in her own duke's house. Would a dog raised in a wolf pack understand if you told it it's not a wolf?"

"......"

"Would the other beasts sense that the dog, born and raised among wolves, is truly just a dog?"

The Queen Dowager was at a loss for words.

She fell silent for a long while, lost in deep thought.

Having planted a dilemma heavier than a boulder in her grandmother's mind, Medea leisurely examined the jewels.

"Grandmother, may I take this one?"

Medea picked up a purple fan at the edge of the jewel box.

"A fan? Isn't that too modest? Pick something better."

"I like this one."

Medea toyed with the cold handle of the fan.

'Damascus steel.'

Damascus steel was hard enough to cut rock yet flexible enough not to break, making it excellent as a weapon.

'Perfect. I needed a weapon anyway.'

It would be handy to carry around and use for self-defense when needed.

"Very well, if that's what you want."

Medea thanked the Queen Dowager and left with the fan.

"......She's right. I shouldn't have let them into the fold from the start. Birna... nor Joaquin."

The Queen Dowager let out a deep sigh.

'Is Birna the only one mistaking her place?'

Her granddaughter's words from moments ago had awakened her vigilance.

Her wrinkled hand tapped the table anxiously.

"Your Highness......"

Marchioness Pinatelli watched the Queen Dowager. There was no trace of her usual smile on her face.

"I must send a letter to my nephew Montega. Tell him to return to the capital."

That night, a carriage carrying the Queen Dowager's letter to the royal kin departed the palace.

Claudio Ducal House.

"Birna? What's wrong? Stop crying and tell me."

When her daughter returned home sobbing uncontrollably, Duchess Catherine Claudio raised her fine eyebrows.

She had sent her to the palace alone today since she couldn't go herself—what on earth had happened?

But as Birna poured out the whole story, her expression hardened.

"How could you run out like that? Even if Grandmother dotes on you, do you think she'll overlook such rudeness right in front of her?"

She scolded her immature daughter.

"And what did I tell you? Don't give people any ammunition to slander your conduct."

Of all times, in this chaotic period, to throw a tantrum in front of the Queen Dowager.

"Do you think this is a situation where you can act however you please? Why are you so thoughtless!"

The fact that no word had come from the palace even after Birna stormed out like that spoke volumes—the Queen Dowager's feelings had changed.

"And now there's Medea too. You're not the only granddaughter to your grandmother anymore."

Instead of doing something endearing, she had only piled on offenses. All the effort Catherine had put into frequent palace visits to mend relations with her mother-in-law had gone to waste.

Catherine nearly forgot her composure and struck her daughter.