Chapter 56

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 56

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take from You

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"Permission? Do I look like I'm asking for your permission?"

"Birna... that girl is still too young to be talking about marriage!"

"Isn't it truly astonishing? How could such a young girl harbor such a horrific idea? What do you think the Queen Dowager would say if she knew about this?"

The Regent Duke glared at the minister. His handsome eyes narrowed.

"Is that illness of yours... really because of Birna?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"No, given your usual behavior, it might have been for some other reason. But now you're singling out my daughter, so of course I feel wronged."

This time, it was the minister's turn to glare at Duke Claudio.

"Duke, don't forget what I have in my hands."

"Are you threatening me right now? Do you think I don't have any leverage on you?"

"I'm simply reminding you that we're allies who must stand together for a long time. It seems you've been blinded by your blood ties and failed to see that."

"You're the one who's lost your senses over something this trivial!"

"Trivial?!"

Neither side yielded an inch, locked in a tense standoff.

"Where is Birna?"

Returning home, the Regent Duke demanded sharply.

"Ah, Father..."

Spotting his daughter scrambling awkwardly to her feet at the sight of him, he strode over.

Slap!

Birna clutched her cheek, her eyes widening. It was the first time she'd ever been slapped by her father.

"Darling!"

Even Duchess Catherine's eyes flew open in shock.

"Do you even know what you've done? Why did you go and provoke Medea unnecessarily, causing all this mess!"

The Regent Duke unleashed the pent-up anger he'd forcibly suppressed in front of the minister.

"Didn't I tell you to hold back even after the fall from the horse? Do my words go in one ear and out the other?"

"I... I..."

"Don't you dare say a word. You're grounded—no going anywhere for the time being. I can't even stand the sight of you!"

Birna burst into tears.

"How could you hide something so serious!"

Having learned the full story belatedly, Catherine scolded Birna first.

"The situation isn't good, Mother. He's claiming his disability is Birna's fault and demanding her hand in marriage."

"What? That's absurd!"

Birna, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, threw a fit.

"No! I'd rather die than do that!"

"Be quiet!"

Catherine snapped at her before turning back to Samon.

"What did your father say?"

"Of course he said absolutely not, but the minister's side is being extremely aggressive."

"..."

"We can't afford to fall out with the minister like this... What on earth should we do?"

After losing Head Maid Quizin, the Regent Duke who had firmly secured the palace with his strong arms was gone.

To wield the same influence in the palace as before, they had no choice but to keep Interior Minister Etienne tied to their side.

"Minister Etienne has never failed in a negotiation. We need to act before your father gets persuaded."

Catherine quickly headed to her daughter's room.

Birna's close maid, Shila, was cleaning up the mess Birna had made in a rage.

"Ma, Madam...?"

"Seize her."

Catherine's maids grabbed Shila, pinning her in place.

"From now on, write exactly what I tell you."

She forced a quill into Shila's hand and made her write a confession.

"I-It's done, Madam. I'll beg for forgiveness on behalf of Lady Birna, so please, just once—"

Catherine's eyes gleamed coldly.

"Yes. It's your fault for failing to serve your mistress properly, so blame your own shortcomings."

"Spa-Spare, mmpf—!"

Before Shila could even beg for her life, Catherine's maids poured poison down her throat.

Birna froze.

Shila had been her close maid who had cared for her since childhood.

She thought at worst she'd get a beating or have her pay docked for a few months, not killed on the spot like this.

Her always gentle mother had disposed of her own maid without batting an eye.

"M-Mother..."

"It was Shila who administered the poison, not you, Birna. When you got in trouble, she confessed out of fear and took her own life. Got it?"

Catherine recited it calmly, as if committing it to memory.

"I hope you've come to your senses now, Birna. It's about time you grew up."

"..."

"Birna, pack your things. You leave tonight."

The maids efficiently packed Birna's belongings.

"W-Where to?"

"Stay at the convent for a while. And you lot, send that body to the minister along with the confession."

Catherine spoke firmly and left the room.

"Lady Birna seems quite shocked. Is it alright to leave her like that?"

"It's fine. Let her cool her head. Assign maids who can keep their mouths shut."

"She's been raised so delicately her whole life... It'll be such a hardship living in a barren convent..."

The head maid wiped her eyes worriedly.

"Hardship or not, avoiding the minister's eyes comes first right now. After voluntarily leaving for the convent, would he dare drag our Birna back?"

She didn't relish sending off her fresh young daughter either.

But now was the time for bold action. They had to avoid the worst outcome of marrying her off to the minister.

"None of this would have happened if that child had just listened to me properly once."

Catherine sighed.

"Is it because she takes after him, charging ahead without thinking, all fire and no restraint? Passion is good, but oh dear, really..."

The head maid looked puzzled.

Passionate? Duke Claudio seemed more like cold water than a blazing fire, no matter how you looked at him.

"What can we do? She can't just swallow all the good and spit out the bad, so as her mother, I have no choice but to look after her."

In any case, Catherine doted on her children fiercely.

She treasured her son Samon like her own life, and her daughter Birna, who took after her so closely, even more so.

Catherine headed to her husband's study.

"Darling, are you really going to give in to the minister's demands?"

Having exhausted himself overnight, the Regent Duke looked a decade older.

"Birna..."

She was a spoiled youngest daughter he cherished deeply, despite her ignorance of the world.

No matter how grave her mistake, he could never send her to the minister.

'Etienne, with that twisted personality of his, might use one of his countess relatives as a surrogate to continue his bloodline instead.'

He saw women as little more than breeding vessels.

Claudio slammed his desk.

"I won't let my daughter live like that her whole life. I absolutely refuse to hand her over to that monster!"

Catherine felt greatly relieved.

She had worried he might yield and offer their daughter, but thankfully, he was protecting his own.

"I've sent Birna to the convent."

"What?"

"We'll return the dead maid to the minister as an apology. It's a desperate measure, but since we've found and delivered the real culprit, he can't demand Birna as his bride anymore."

"Well done. As expected of you. You acted more wisely than I did."

The Regent Duke praised his wife's bold decision.

Catherine lowered her eyes submissively and gently patted her husband's arm.

"So let's negotiate well again. The minister will want to find common ground at some point."

Princess Palace.

"Your Highness, Tom says a carriage from the Claudio Ducal House left the royal castle late last night."

Birna must surely be riding in that carriage.

Had they smuggled her out ahead of the minister's clutches?

Her aunt certainly had quick instincts.

Medea stared at the dim lamplight illuminating the twilight evening.

"Auntie will try to wrap it up like that."

She didn't care about other people's lives if it secured her daughter's future. It was only pitiable for the innocent maid who died.

"So what happens then? Does the conflict between them just fizzle out?"

"As if."

Medea would exploit this situation for as long as she could.

"Send a letter to Umberto informing him. Birna has fled to the convent."

How far would the minister's pride, toyed with right under his nose, tolerate it?

"And about Birna's dead maid. Check if any of her family wants to enter my uncle's service."

There were no more reliable allies than those sharing a grudge.

They would become Medea's ears, reporting on the ducal house more zealously than anyone.

Neril bowed her head.

"Yes, Your Highness."