Chapter 82

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 82

Chapter Title: The Crown I Will Steal from You

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"The lodging for the Kazen delegation is—"

As the event concluded and Prime Minister Sise moved to guide the Kazen contingent, the Regent Duke swiftly intervened.

"Come now! I shall personally escort the distinguished guests from the Empire. This way, if you please."

This was his first chance to make an impression on the Kazen nobles.

The Regent Duke had no intention of letting such a crucial role be snatched by some green whelp.

"Your Imperial Highness, how much hardship you must have endured, gracing our rugged Kingdom Baldina with your precious self."

He hurried to the imperial party's side under the lofty pretext of showing them the palace.

"That building over there is the main palace where Your Highness will reside. Among all the guest quarters in Baldina Royal Palace, it is by far the largest and most splendid—"

"Not impressive. It's smaller than the annex in my own Imperial Palace."

Evidently eager to salvage her bruised pride from moments earlier, the Imperial Princess was haughtily dismissive. The Regent Duke received her words with unflagging courtesy, betraying no hint of irritation.

"Of course, our humble Baldina, with all its hardships, can hardly compare to blessed Kazen, where gold and jewels flow like water."

He resembled nothing so much as a leech latching onto power. Baldina's retainers shook their heads in dismay.

Even the Regent Duke's own faction thought the same.

His obsequious posture made him look every bit the servant...

No matter that Baldina was a minor kingdom—in a thousand years of history, it had never once become a vassal of Kazen.

Not even once!

The Regent Duke remained utterly oblivious. He had no idea that his fawning demeanor was stirring the patriotism of every Baldinan present...

"What are you thinking, Your Highness?"

Medea gazed quietly at the departing delegation's backs.

"Just... wondering when they'll finally leave."

"Exactly. I wish they'd hurry up and go. So arrogant on the very first day—it's giving me a headache already."

Saya let out a heavy sigh. The Kazen interlopers, who had rampaged fearlessly even in the slums, were utterly exasperating.

"Don't worry."

They wouldn't be leaving in as grand a fashion as they'd arrived.

Kazen delegation's lodging.

Jason stood by the window in the elegantly appointed residence, staring out.

The parlor held only Jason and his advisor.

Jason's crimson eyes fixed intently on the darkened view beyond the glass.

"I hadn't heard that Baldina's princess was such a stunning beauty. Even in Kazen, women like her are a rarity."

Jason nodded in agreement with Jared's assessment.

Beautiful women tended to lack mettle, while those with mettle rarely matched such beauty.

"Grand Duke, these days spent here will be thrilling. It looks like he's finally met his match."

Jason's lips twisted as he recalled the lecherous stare of the man who had trailed the princess right to the end, chuckling all the while.

How dare some thieving cur set his sights on a princess.

Even he had been shocked to learn Medea's true identity at the welcoming ceremony.

The girl who had lingered so persistently in his memory was Baldina's princess, of all things.

'This must be a sign from the heavens.'

His heart thudded with a heavy rhythm.

Baldina might be a petty kingdom next to the Empire, but it was renowned for its elite warriors.

Especially the king's personal guard, the Agema—their overwhelming prowess was legendary. If they stood at his back...

"Escorting the Emperor would be child's play. We could even seize the capital."

"But, Grand Duke... you know the true power holding the capital isn't the Emperor."

His advisor doused his enthusiasm.

"Fool. What is there to fear from some terminal case cursed by ancient malediction!"

While seeking ties to the Holy Kingdom, he had uncovered the First Prince's true affliction.

That was when Jason had begun his serious machinations.

"The First Prince may have left the palace due to illness, but his faction still holds strong in the capital."

The advisor's concern was hardly unfounded.

For Cezare's influence to endure three years of his absence meant the man's power ran deep.

Without that curse, Jason could never have returned to the capital—let alone aspired to the throne.

'The First Prince's blade would have claimed his head first.'

"He's a man whose luck defies all rivals. Everyone thought him dead after his first battlefield foray, and again when he unified the southern forces. Perhaps this time as well..."

Laid low by illness now, coughing his lungs out, First Prince Cezare's brutality was infamous across the continent.

His followers clung not out of loyalty, but terror.

Who knew when he might return to poison their wine.

"Nonsense. If you doubt me, trust in a thousand years of Kazen history—no, central continent history. Has a single soul ever survived the ancient curse?"

Jason snapped irritably.

"I'm not the only one gunning for the First Prince. Even the Emperor fears his return. Once he's gone, how long can his faction last?"

"..."

Jason clapped his subordinate's shoulder with brash confidence.

"Devour his faction, secure General Jared and Baldina's princess on my side—that's victory assured."

Troops sweeping in from the northwest could stand against the Emperor.

Once Cezare fell, his remnants would kneel.

"God is just. Life has its peaks and valleys. His peak was my abyss; now it's reversed."

Jason gazed wistfully at the rosy future unfolding before him.

Oblivious that this grand ambition, in his past life, had begun with Medea—the small girl who had left such a mark.

"Dig into the princess. Likes, haunts, companions—everything."

"Your Excellency... but she's Baldina's princess. To set your sights on her..."

"Ridiculous. Have you ever seen me act without purpose?"

Even as he spoke, the girl's poised face refused to fade from Jason's mind.

By rank, the Fourth Imperial Princess and Grand Duke remained in the palace, with Count Kensington staying on to advise them—or tidy up after the princess.

"Where to, General?"

Raju eyed the lingering General Jared.

His sycophantic air oozed that signature oiliness.

"If you have no prior engagement, why not accompany me to the Claudio Ducal House? The Regent Duke has long admired your valor and would deem a meeting a great honor."

Jared grinned, plainly amused.

"Claudio Ducal House, eh... Now that you mention it, I hear the Duchess and her daughter are among Baldina's famed beauties..."

Raju's heart plummeted.

"Ah, I forgot to mention—they're both away from the ducal house at present. They haven't returned from the Queen Dowager Palace."

He had been so fixated on winning Jared over that it slipped his mind.

Even Kazen's Emperor had marveled at Jared's debauched escapades.

This man ranked among the Empire's top ten Star Knights. Once he cut loose, no one could rein him in.

"The Duchess is at the Queen Dowager Palace, and the Young Lady is recuperating abroad."

With his interests nowhere in sight, Jared shook his head, interest visibly waning.

"Forget it. This battered old body of mine can't stand stuffy protocols. I'll make it back to the palace in good time—don't fret."

Only after he departed did Raju exhale in relief.

No matter that this man was the decisive blade in the throne's struggle—no.

He had nearly dragged a monster into his own lair.

"To the Claudio Ducal House."

"Yes, my lord Count."

As if his fawning before the princess had never happened, Raju straightened proudly. Through the carriage window, Baldina's sunset sky stretched out.

"This godforsaken backwater's still stuck in the mud."

It paled beside the Empire's streets, alive with dazzling spectacles and endless diversions.

Dust and the scent of earth and wilds carried on the breeze. Raju wrinkled his nose at once.

"Light some incense."

Only as the refined aroma favored by Kazen nobles wafted through did he finally relax.