Chapter 93

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 93

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take From You

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"Kuh...!"

In an instant, red fissures cracked across his neck, temple, and the corners of his eyes. They were spots where a single blow could end his life.

"Haa. He's completely toying with Jared."

Sise muttered under his breath. The onlookers nodded in agreement. Facade's mercenary was vicious down to his very nature.

To drag out what could be finished in one strike, humiliating him like a child playing with a toy.

Yet his opponent was a general of an empire, and this malicious intent felt like it aimed to shatter every bit of reputation he'd built up.

The faces of the Kazen delegation watching this spectacle flushed with humiliation.

But Jared himself, the one at the center of it, had no time to feel shame. Dodging the sword that closed in on him every instant was challenge enough.

There wasn't the slightest opening.

A thick dread of death rippled up from the tips of Jared's toes.

It felt like facing a massive black wave.

No matter how he struggled, it was a hopeless, suffocating sensation of being swallowed whole by that towering surge.

Jared had felt this exact emotion just once before in a duel.

'When I crossed swords with the First Prince.'

His body had recognized that horrific sense of déjà vu first.

'But he's dying right now, isn't he? So this guy in front of me—'

In that moment, as if mocking his suspicions, the sword's trajectory shifted irregularly.

Unlike the First Prince's elegant yet domineering swordsmanship, this carried the raw killing intent of someone who'd clawed their way through countless battles from the very bottom.

'What the hell? Which one's the real deal?'

"Unleash your aura, you fool!"

The Fourth Princess shouted as she watched Jared get pushed back helplessly. They were on the verge of losing—did he have time to worry about face right now?!

Jared's sword, now cloaked in gray aura, barely carved out some retreat for its master.

"Haa, haa..."

True to his 10-star rank, it was a powerful, menacing aura. But Cezare still wielded his bare blade.

'Fine. Win however I have to—as long as I win, who cares how.'

At that instant, Jared wrinkled his nose. Veins bulged thickly at his temple.

'...Damn it, not now of all times...'

Feeling a faint discomfort in his sword hand, Jared twitched his fingers.

'The drug's effects should be kicking in by now.'

In the crowd, Medea hid a faint smile. Intelligence gleamed in her green eyes.

In her previous life, Jared had been the expedition party's undisputed top warrior.

Medea had spent years by his side, observing him closely for a long time.

All his habits, his quirks—everything.

Long ago, during his knighting ceremony, Jared had badly injured his hand.

It was a grave wound that nearly cost him his fingers, and even after treatment, a dull pain lingered.

To cope, he always carried water infused with belladonna, the black berry, and sipped it frequently.

Belladonna was a deadly poison—three berries alone could kill.

But in carefully controlled doses, it made an effective anesthetic to numb the pain.

Except for one massive drawback that no one knew about yet.

'Smelling violet's scent while under belladonna's influence amplifies the drug's potency.'

It went beyond numbness into full paralysis.

In her previous life, this fact only came to light after Jason ascended the throne.

That's how Medea had eliminated one of Jason's threatening veteran generals back then.

The flowers decorating the banquet hall everywhere today had been prepared from the start as tribute for Jared.

Tribute flowers to offer at the funeral of a warrior's death.

Medea met eyes with Cezare, who glanced back toward the crowd.

'He figured it out too.'

She gave a slight nod, as if to say he'd guessed right.

Beneath the white mask, his fine lips curved into a graceful arc.

Meanwhile, Jared grew intensely anxious as his hand stiffened.

"Damn it..."

As his sword's aim kept veering subtly off, he irritably readjusted his grip.

It was a fight that taxed even his good hand; like this, defeat was inevitable.

And it would be a miserable, humiliating loss.

'No. I can't let it end like this.'

Driven into a corner, Jared bit his lip and pulled something from his bosom, hurling it at Cezare.

The chain with its sharp barbs was a trap weapon designed to bind an opponent's movements.

Though banned in duels, he knew the Fourth Princess would smooth things over as long as he won.

The chain lashed out like a black serpent.

'Now!'

Seizing the opening, Jared's gray aura surged ferociously toward Cezare's chest.

It brimmed with savage killing intent to pierce the heart.

Cezare swiftly swung his sword.

A silver sword-flash gleamed.

As the severed chain fell limp to the floor, Jared's neglected sword clattered down after it.

Chaaang-!

"Aaaagh-!"

Clutching his hand, Jared screamed. The spot where his fourth finger should be was empty.

"Agh! My... my hand... my finger..."

"Kneel."

The languid voice commanded. Unlike the domineering swordplay, it dripped with leisure.

Thud. Jared dropped to his knees as if collapsing.

But even his agonized scream was cut short by Cezare's blade at his throat.

Cezare, his eyes cold, turned toward Medea. As if nothing had happened, his fine lips bore a relaxed smile.

"I wonder if the Princess is pleased with the gift I offer."

It was Baldina's unequivocal victory.

Silence blanketed the hall.

Not for the same reason as the Princess's duel earlier, which had left everyone stunned.

One lay bloodied and wailing; the other was spotless, without a speck of dirt.

The duel had ended so swiftly and brutally that no one knew what to say.

"Woooaaahhh-!"

But soon, thunderous cheers erupted.

"Facade's mercenary won! He carved up that general!"

"Our Highness won! Baldina triumphs again!"

Hadn't Kazen's general thrown a trap when he was at a disadvantage? He got what was coming to him.

Amid the crowd's roars, Medea walked toward the Kazens.

"Fourth Princess, are you satisfied now?"

"Th-this is..."

The Fourth Princess's face drained to a sickly blue. Two straight losses had left her mind blank.

No ploy could overturn the duel now. She'd seen it with her own eyes.

Moreover, against a mercenary who'd followed every rule, Jared had resorted to a banned weapon.

The Fourth Princess trembled violently.

The Kazens were the same.

"Wh-why..."

How could this happen? They were aghast.

Jason had been startled to see Facade's mercenary overwhelm Jared, but he hadn't lost his composure like them.

'Anjelique escalated this mess herself.'

Most of the delegates she'd brought were her supporters anyway.

Aside from Jared and Kensington, they were nobodies, so no real loss.

'Anjelique will be pushed far from succession after this. Time to reach out to the Eastern Imperial Consort.'

She wouldn't try seating her fellow enemy princes and princesses on the throne.

Her only remaining option would be him.

As Jason's eyes gleamed at the thought of picking up the Fourth Princess's scraps,

"Grand Duke Castulo."

Jason flinched.

The Baldinan Princess was looking at him.

"I ask the Grand Duke, who served as judge and guarantor for this duel, to declare the victory definitively."

Her eyes were still as serene and gentle as before the duel. The dried bloodstains, untreated, evoked pity.

Yet Jason felt deeply disconcerted.

In his glee at the Fourth Princess's plight, he'd overlooked that he was part of this duel too.

'I guaranteed it, certain Kazen would win.'

But Baldina had triumphed. What now?

Watching this, Cezare swallowed a laugh. She'd dug a pit for Jason even after victory was assured.

This confirmed it: the Princess was targeting his cousin.

Medea spoke.

"You swore to judge fairly and honorably, upon the gods. I trust in the Grand Duke and divine judgment."

"..."

Jason glanced around.

The Fourth Princess glared fiercely, shaking her head as if to say absolutely do not acknowledge it.