Chapter 70

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 70

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Snatch from You

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"Was that bitten earlier?"

It was the arm that had struck down the Hydra lunging for Medea.

She had thought he'd dodged it just in time and severed its head, but it seemed he'd actually been bitten.

Hydra venom was known as a deadly poison that could kill a person with the slightest graze.

Is this guy tough, or just foolish?

Even in that state, he'd taken care of the Hydra and then the assassins. His shoulder bore the wound from Medea's flying dagger as well.

How had he moved so freely until now? She couldn't comprehend it.

"I need to detoxify you."

Medea tore his clothes to bind the wound and prepared to draw out the poison.

"No need... Princess."

He shook his head.

"My body doesn't succumb to poison. It's just... a bit tiring, and unsightly."

The curse of primordial darkness had devoured even the Hydra's deadly venom.

Though the clashing energies had triggered a sudden seizure, Cezare knew he wouldn't die from the poison.

"Princess, how did you know about this passage?"

Medea didn't answer. Sensing he wouldn't get an easy reply, Cezare cut to the chase.

"Get out of here on your own. They're persistent, so watch your back."

Even in this situation, his arrogant tone issued commands as if it were natural.

"You seem confident you can make it out of here in that condition."

The assailants had clearly been after this man.

Cezare let out a short chuckle at her cool question, delivered in a calm voice.

Medea first used the cloth she'd torn earlier to bind his arm—bitten by the Hydra—and his shoulder, pierced by her flying dagger.

Cezare found it strangely fascinating to see the princess, who had likely never tended a wound in her life, treat it with such familiarity.

Separately from that, the sensation of her small hands brushing his skin was vividly intense.

Cezare felt his face flush like an awkward adolescent boy.

"I said... no need..."

He twisted away to evade her, but his stiffened body couldn't manage it. His previously relaxed eyes darkened deeply.

If the seizure relapses...

He didn't want her to see him like that—and with that thought, he lost consciousness.

"Akares?"

With a thud, his hand fell away. Medea called to the mercenary. His eyes, which should have gleamed brilliantly, were firmly shut.

She placed her hand on his neck. A faint pulse beat there. It seemed he'd passed out from his injuries.

What do I do?

Could she really leave him here? Medea hesitated.

If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have been poisoned.

In truth, this mercenary could have simply let the Hydra bite her. But he hadn't.

Despite his threats to choke her and never let her go alive, he'd astonishingly protected her.

Whatever the reason, it didn't change the fact that she owed him a debt.

"..."

Medea bit her lip. Excluding her family member Peleus, he was the first man to try protecting her.

"Medea, get away quickly! It's dangerous!"

"You okay? That was close—you almost got in big trouble. You should've been more careful, Medea."

"All talk and no bite, that bastard."

Her husband Jason had always prioritized his own safety first whenever they encountered dangerous beasts on expeditions.

When they'd faced a dire monster, he'd even abandoned their son Lian and fled.

After that, Medea never let her guard down around Lian's safety.

She'd instinctively realized that Grand Duke Jason—known for his generosity and kindness—was the type who valued his own life above his family's.

Compared to him, at least Akares was a man of loyalty.

"Ha."

Medea let out a hollow laugh.

Comparing him to her loathsome ex-husband only confirmed how disastrously wrong her choice had been, no matter who it was against.

Lian, if only I'd protected you better...

Medea, lost in longing for her child, shook her head and snapped out of it. This wasn't the time for reminiscing.

"..."

Medea looked down at the unconscious mercenary.

No, not a mercenary—he's the true head of Facade.

Even setting aside the debt, if word got out that she'd abandoned their leader here, Facade might take it out on her—or worse, the royal family.

One must know which cards to discard and which to keep. For now, there was ample reason to move with him.

Medea scanned her surroundings.

Right next to the alley they'd entered stood a shabby house.

Peering through the broken window, the interior looked empty. It seemed like an abandoned home.

Crash.

A sharp breaking sound echoed through the alley. Medea lightly vaulted through the window.

If Duke Claudio saw this, he'd probably bellow that the princess was breaking into empty houses.

Moments later, Medea emerged from the door, dragging Cezare inside.

Drag. The sound of a heavy object scraping over stone pavement accompanied the closing door.

The street fell silent once more.

Bang bang!

"...there... search..."

"Open the door..."

Noises and voices echoed through the street.

They've already tracked us this far.

Steadying her ragged breath, Medea first laid the mercenary on the low platform near the bed.

His massive frame meant his legs stuck out, but covering him with a tattered blanket and draping a thin cloth nearby made it look, at a glance, like mere piles of luggage.

Rummaging through the interior, she found women's clothes. Medea shook off the dust and slipped them on.

She didn't forget to stuff her inner garments to bulk up her figure. She smeared soot from the fireplace on her face and tousled her hair.

The faded mirror reflected the perfect image of a commoner housewife.

As she checked the spot where she'd hidden Cezare, she froze.

Damn, the blood from his injuries...

In an unoccupied house, the scent of blood stood out sharply. Assassins would surely notice.

This won't fool them.

Thud-bang!

The door-opening sounds grew closer.

They seemed to be checking houses one by one, starting from the upper ones.

"..."

She'd sent a signal to Neril, but it would take time for her to arrive here.

More importantly, she couldn't let Neril face them alone. Her decision came quickly.

Whoosh! Medea gripped a flying dagger.

She rebound the wound with nearby cloth. The white fabric quickly soaked red.

Bang bang!

Someone knocked right then. Her heart nearly leaped out.

"Royal Guard! We're pursuing an escaped prisoner—open the door!"

Bang bang!

Medea stood by the door and let out a frail voice.

"Sorry, my husband's not home right now, so I can't open the door..."

"We're just searching for an escapee. Unless you want to be charged with obstruction, open up and cooperate."

She opened the door, and a man with a Royal Guard armband looked down at Medea.

Pretending not to notice his murderous eyes swiftly scanning the interior.

"Oh dear, what to do? You must be working hard on official duties, but our home is so poor, we have nothing to offer..."

"Did you see anyone suspicious just now? Tall, agile, but injured and in poor condition."

The shadow, finding no obvious clues in the shabby interior, asked Medea.

"Sorry, I've been focused on work that must be finished by tomorrow, so I haven't paid attention outside."

Medea blinked innocently, trying for a naive tone.

Not here.

The shadow turned to leave but suddenly stiffened.

He'd caught the faint scent of blood in the air.

His predatory eyes swept the house again, then fixed on Medea.

"Wh-what is it...?"

The young-faced woman blushed. The shadow noticed her bandaged hand.

"What's that wound?"

"Oh, this? I cut myself while cutting cloth earlier..."

"Show it."

"It's ugly—you won't want to see—"

"Now!"