Chapter 62

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 62

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take from You

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"You think I'm some kind of fool, do you?"

However, the princess merely glanced down at the floor, let out a snort, and stormed out.

Etienne was flustered.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Please hear me out! I beg you, come back!"

He belatedly grabbed the bars and shouted after her, but his words echoed emptily in the cold prison cell.

As they left the prison where Etienne was held, Saya, who had accompanied Medea, tilted her head in confusion.

"Your Highness, why didn't you take that certificate? There are rumors that the minister scraped together every valuable item in the palace. With that money alone, even the Claudio Ducal House wouldn't be a threat... Why...?"

Saya stopped in her tracks again, her face full of bewilderment.

"Should I go back and fetch it now?"

"No need. It's a trap."

"Pardon?"

Medea kindly explained to the girl, whose eyes had gone wide.

"Now that the minister's been locked up, everyone who knows him will be desperate to find his hidden slush funds. If I take that out and use it, it'd be like painting a target on my back for all to see. Above all, my uncle would come sniffing around first."

"Th-then, offering all that wealth..."

"He figures he can just take it back from me anytime once he's back in power. That's why he can afford to be generous."

"My goodness."

Saya's mouth fell open.

"Isn't he insane? Begging you to spare his life on one hand while laying poison on the other?"

"Etienne's a sly one. Even in this mess, he's scheming to drag me down with him. Looks like prison life's still too comfortable for him—I should make sure he enjoys it more."

"Of course. I have to tell all my friends about this."

Saya nodded solemnly.

Claudio Ducal House.

The Regent Duke stared down at the crisp certificate. It was a voucher proving funds equivalent to thirty chests filled with gold coins.

He had dashed all over the capital until his feet blistered, barely scraping together the amount Medea had demanded.

In the middle of it all, he had gone to her with the chests in tow, only to be turned away empty-handed.

"Uncle, what were you thinking, bringing it like this? Are you trying to announce to the world that I took a bribe to release the minister? How could someone as experienced as you act so foolishly?"

Her scornful glare had been the icing on the cake.

'If only I'd paraded that chest-laden cart outside—at the very least, I could've fueled rumors of Medea's extravagance.'

His scheme exposed, the Regent Duke had no choice but to nod reluctantly.

"That girl told me to convert the gold coins into bearer certificates from the moneychangers."

Moneychangers were those who exchanged currencies used in trade.

Those operating in the shadows specialized in smuggling and black-market dealings, making them experts at handling funds discreetly.

Bearer certificates were commonly traded on the black market.

"Ha! How does a girl who's never left the palace know so much about this?"

Catherine scowled and replied.

"She must've overheard it somewhere. Would a girl brazenly demanding kickbacks not know about this?"

The Regent Duke snorted derisively.

"Anyway, I've done as she asked and converted it into a certificate. Now Medea has no more excuses. My dear, let's head to the palace."

Catherine was joining him today as well.

"If Medea weaves her three-inch tongue and bewitches you again, you step in."

Having been swept up by Medea twice before and returned empty-handed, the Regent Duke had no intention of repeating the mistake.

"Of course, dear. I'll handle that child smoothly without any trouble and make sure Medea stamps the minister's petition."

With preparations complete, the ducal couple boarded their carriage. Burning with fierce determination, they vowed not to back down this time. They would persuade and coax Medea by any means necessary to get her seal on the document freeing Interior Minister Etienne.

Princess Palace.

"Your Highness. The Regent Duke and Duchess Claudio have arrived."

Before the maid could finish speaking, the ducal couple strode boldly inside.

So fixated on not getting ensnared by Medea, they failed to notice the unusual atmosphere in the Princess Palace.

The servants' demeanor was more solemn and disciplined than usual.

"Medea!"

"Uncle. Oh, Aunt too."

"We truly need you now. I can't bear to watch that poor minister suffer any longer."

The duke puffed out his chest imperiously and pulled a golden certificate from his bosom, placing it down.

"Seven thousand gold coins. The minister and his retainers poured in their entire fortunes. An outrageous sum, but your uncle here scraped it together for your sake—do you have any idea how much effort it took?"

He launched into a lengthy speech about the hardships he'd endured gathering the money.

Medea examined the certificate and widened her eyes in apparent surprise.

"Uncle, you're really giving this to me?"

"Yes, it's yours now. What wouldn't we do for you? Take it."

The Regent Duke's fingertips trembled slightly as he handed over the certificate. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

'Not only can't I wrest this fortune back from Medea, but I'm handing it to her myself.'

Yet he suppressed the instinct to snatch it from her grasp. The money could be taken back later.

But if Etienne crumbled now, it would be as good as losing his last remaining arm.

The grand undertaking was right around the corner. Losing the Royal Head Maid was one thing, but Etienne too would throw their grand plan into chaos.

"Come now, take it. And just stamp your seal here."

Along with the certificate, the duke presented the petition.

"Etienne might die in there. Do you know how that scheming Sise is tormenting him?"

"Exactly, Your Highness. It's urgent. We can't delay any longer."

"Uncle, I..."

But Medea looked troubled, not taking the certificate.

What's this wench stalling for now? What more does she want? The Regent Duke fumed inwardly.

After all this, with this massive sum, she still wanted more?

"Oh dear, how should I put this to you both...? I wasn't being sincere. As a princess, how could I demand private gain—let alone such an enormous bribe—in a matter of Baldina's public affairs?"

At that moment, Medea lowered her brows and spoke.

"It was that serious, so I hoped it would make you change your mind, Uncle. The minister's guilt is already clear. Witnesses keep coming forward."

"That's...! A misunderstanding! There must be some mistake. Sise told you that? That man's been eyeing Etienne like a hawk. What can't a bloodthirsty beast like him say?"

"So the remains found in the minister's estate are fake too?"

As the duke faltered at Medea's question, Catherine stepped forward.

"Your Highness. There's more to this incident than meets the eye—things even you don't know. You mustn't judge by appearances alone. Political interests and conspiracies lurk beneath."

She persuaded the princess step by step in a gentle voice.

"The minister's life hangs in the balance, so please stamp this release first, and we'll explain everything in detail. His fate rests on your fingertips. Whatever the truth, if a loyal servant of Baldina dies due to your hesitation, how will you bear the consequences?"

She subtly pointed out the potential blame the princess might face later as a royal.

The old Medea would have yielded to Catherine's urging out of impatience.

But not this Medea.

"No, Aunt. I'm still young and foolish, but I know right from wrong. I truly can't understand why you wise uncle would defend such a wicked man when Etienne's crimes are proven."

Medea shook her head as if baffled.

As the ducal couple closed in on her heatedly, the princess took a step back.

It was a resolute stance, leaving no room for compromise.

'So this wench refuses to stamp it now?'

The Regent Duke's face twisted into a savage scowl.

After she'd shamelessly demanded gold first, and now this?

Images flashed of how they'd run themselves ragged catering to the princess's absurd demands.

His mind filled with rage, his judgment began to cloud.

'No more!'