Chapter 79

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 79

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take from You

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In the outskirts alley of District 3 in Baldina Royal Castle.

Clack, clack. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet street.

Medea quickened her pace.

She knew she had to wait there until Neril returned from the errand she'd sent her on, but she simply couldn't stay in that place with him.

Even sharing the same land, the same sky, the same air felt like a noose tightening around her throat, making her want to retch.

"Ha, haa, haa..."

Medea clutched at her chest.

To run into Jason here of all places. The first time he'd shown his face in Baldina as part of the delegation had been at the welcoming banquet for the envoys.

'Why is he already inside the castle?'

The unexpected encounter, ahead of schedule, had made her lose her composure in an instant.

Her husband from her past life—and her mortal enemy.

The man to whom she'd given everything, only for him to strip her of it all.

"Excuse me, might I have the young lady's name?"

When she'd faced Jason again,

Medea had to exert every ounce of strength not to smash in the face of that young, vibrant husband from her memories.

Her fingers twitched so violently that she'd clenched them into fists, tears welling up from the effort to hold back her rage.

Those scars etched into her memory. She hadn't forgotten a single one.

She would return every last one of those wounds, soaked deep into her blood.

Loving Jason had been the greatest mistake and stain of her life.

A nightmarish blemish she wanted to carve out of her flesh even if it meant slicing away like a brand.

'But what about the children?'

The sudden question froze Medea's body.

'Those children... my children aren't a stain.'

They had been the only breath, the only reason that kept her alive.

In this life, if she brought Jason down, she would never see those children again.

Medea staggered without realizing it.

Like standing before a cliff, she couldn't take a single step forward.

Her pale hand groped desperately for something to lean on but found nothing, clutching only at her skirt in vain.

Veins bulged on the back of her bloodless hand.

'Lian, Lea. This foolish mother is abandoning you again.'

"Mother. I don't want to go to the imperial palace. Can't I stay by your side?"

"Mother, don't worry. Just wait a little, and I'll come fetch you myself."

Her brave and bold son, Lian. She'd pushed that young child's back with her own hands and sent him away.

That small face that kept turning back to etch her features into his eyes as he left,

that little hand waving brightly while wiping away tears so his mother wouldn't worry—she would never see them again.

"Mommy, don't cry. Lea will hug you. Is it because you miss big brother?"

The chubby hands that wiped her tears. The faint milky scent that tickled her nose when held close.

The anxiety and worry in those young eyes watching over her mother.

After losing her son and descending into madness, she'd never once been a proper mother to Lea.

"No! I don't want to go! I want to stay with Mommy!"

The child throwing a tantrum, kicking and screaming.

Peeling away those tiny arms clinging desperately to her waist and thrusting her into Birna's embrace. That tear-soaked face was the last she'd seen.

She would never see her children again.

The realization, which she hadn't acknowledged since her regression, struck Medea like a blow.

Perhaps she'd put it off precisely because she knew it would shake her like this.

'In this life, if I destroy Jason, not even traces of you will remain. And yet, this foolish mother can't give up her revenge.'

You'll resent me forever from that place.

She could almost hear the silent screams of her children.

Her vision blurred. The ground seemed to sink beneath her feet, pulling her down.

Everything was pitch black. What lay at the bottom of that abyss?

What if Lian and Lea were down there, crying and waiting for her? Then she...

Just as she was about to collapse, a firm hand caught her waist.

"Breathe."

A low voice rang out.

"Slowly. Inhale."

She didn't know how. How did one inhale? How had she been breathing all this time? She couldn't remember a thing.

Couldn't she just stay like this? The darkness was comfortable, requiring no thoughts.

"Now."

A calm voice urged her on.

Thump. Thump. A faint vibration tapped lightly on her wrist.

Thump. Thump-thump. Slowly tapping.

"Hear that?"

"...Haa... yes."

A ragged voice escaped between gasping breaths. As if praising her, another hand patted her back.

Tap.

"Two..."

Tap. Tap.

"Three, four."

In the pale darkness, Medea focused only on counting numbers.

The arm firmly gripping her waist was the only support she could lean on.

The voice counting slowed bit by bit.

"Good job."

With those praising words spreading softly above her head, she finally lost consciousness.

When Medea opened her eyes again, she was in an unfamiliar place.

A seductive fragrance wafted to her nose. The smooth cream-colored sheets softly tickled her cheek.

'This isn't the Princess Palace.'

She bolted upright.

A beat later, the room's opulent interior came into view. Not a single decorative item scattered about was ordinary.

As if sensing her presence, a man wearing a white half-mask approached from behind cream-colored curtains.

"You're awake."

"Why am I here..."

"I erased the traces. Does Baldina's princess enjoy danger that much? I'd be more cautious."

A cup was offered to Medea.

Habitually, she checked its contents. It was just clear water.

The cold water sharpened her vision. His words brought back her last memory.

The moment she'd faced Jason and tumbled into the abyss, the firm hand that had caught her as she fell.

Had this man before her carried her here after she collapsed?

"Princess, isn't it too soon to let your guard down?"

At the languid remark, Medea bit her lip. She'd thought she'd completely shaken off the traces of her past life.

'I overestimated myself.'

If her identity had been exposed to the delegation in that situation, it would have been disastrous.

'But why doesn't this man ask anything?'

Green eyes filled with wariness fixed on Cezare.

The man, who seemed utterly out of place amid the palace-like splendor, blended in astonishingly well.

"Sorry, but I'm not so idle that I can follow you around."

The voice, having caught her caution, was relaxed.

"I sent word, so your maid should be here soon."

"I showed you an unsightly side."

One corner of the man's eye arched faintly.

"I'm hurt. Didn't we get on the same side when you took out that assassin for me?"

"That doesn't mean I intend to help you and make an enemy of the Kazen imperial family."

Cezare's eyes gleamed as if probing.

This princess had apparently figured out even that the assassin who'd raided the count's estate came from the imperial family, all in that short time.

"So, does Baldina's princess, who has no intention of opposing Kazen, go out to greet the imperial delegation in advance?"

"..."

Cezare's straight fingers traced a line across the table. Then he set the cup at his fingertip.

"Comrade or foe. To me, people are mostly one or the other. Kazen's delegation is the latter."

Thud. The pushed cup fell to the floor. Crack. It shattered cleanly without much noise.

"Princess, don't you think we want the same thing?"

"...I'll repay this debt later."

Instead of answering, Medea rose from her seat.

She composed and straightened herself with astonishing speed, as if determined not to show any more weakness.

"Suit yourself."

He shrugged. His golden eyes leisurely followed her slender back.

Click. The door closed.

Soon, only the faint crackling of the fireplace logs echoed.

Dusk's darkness crept into the white mansion as well.

"Cezare, I brought your medicine."

"Leave it there."

Terrence set the steaming cup on the table and eyed Cezare.

But the golden eyes of the man standing by the window stayed fixed outside, lost in other thoughts.

"Even so, bringing her all the way to the mansion? What if the princess suspects your real identity?"

"Has the princess met Jason before?"

Cezare asked an off-topic question as if he hadn't heard Terrence at all.