Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Translation: godsn
"Look. They're searching for you to capture and kill you!"
Smoke was already rising from various corners of the palace. Proof that the rats the Regent had first released into the palace were fulfilling their roles perfectly.
"Me?"
"Are you not the only princess left in this kingdom now? Without you, they can establish a new dynasty. In the end, this is a battle of legitimacy."
His voice sounded gravely solemn and chilling.
"If you're captured, this royal family will be in peril. Those cruel rebels will take you hostage and use you to threaten your brother."
"......"
Gazing down at her bewildered emerald eyes, the Regent gripped his niece's shoulder with his thick hand as if pressing down on it and met her gaze.
"Medeia, I know you misunderstand me. But I swore to your late father. No matter what happens, I will keep you safe."
Medeia barely managed to reply, her lips trembling.
"Th-then... what will you do, Uncle?"
"I..."
The Regent answered with resolute eyes, as if prepared for death.
"I must hold this place. Even I must remain to deceive their eyes, don't you think?"
The Regent's eyes gleamed with solemn determination, as though he would not hesitate to sacrifice himself for his niece.
"Medeia, flee at once. I've prepared an escape route for you to slip past the bandits and leave the palace safely."
The Regent jerked his chin toward the knight standing behind his shoulder.
"My knight will protect you until you reach a safe place."
A burly knight clad in armor emblazoned with the crest of the Duke Claudio bowed deeply to Medeia.
"I pledge my life to escort Her Highness the Princess safely to her destination."
"......"
Yet the princess remained rooted in place as if she hadn't heard the knight's words.
Her slender shoulders trembled visibly.
"You must be frightened. You couldn't have anticipated they'd overturn even the royal palace."
As if suspecting she might reconsider, the Regent pressed on with authoritative emphasis.
"Do you intend to stay here and become their puppet? Surely you don't mean to hand over this nation, the very land your brother risked his life to protect?"
"...I understand, Uncle. I'll follow your instructions."
Medeia nodded. Her shimmering green eyes were brimming with tears, as though the slightest touch would send them spilling over.
Perfect. Perfect! The Regent inwardly cheered, then shot the knight a meaningful glance.
'Once you take Medeia outside through the secret passage, hand her over to the rebel army. And don't forget my final request.'
'Yes, Your Excellency.'
The knight stiffened slightly as he recalled the Regent's words before entering the princess's quarters.
"The rebels must carve a deep scar across that child's face—whether it's her lips, cheeks, anywhere will do. Even gouging out an eye wouldn't be bad."
The Regent had noticed Iason Castulo's unusually deep interest in Medeia.
"Later, Grand Duke Castulo will likely rush to save Medeia. We must nip this in the bud before his feelings grow any deeper."
The position of Grand Duchess rightfully belonged to his daughter, Virna.
Though the knight inwardly clicked his tongue at the Regent's depravity—not content with usurping his niece's throne, he sought to ruin her future as well—he soon nodded, remembering the promised reward.
"Then, Dea, you must survive."
After gripping Medeia's hand tightly one last time and uttering those anguished words, the Regent turned away.
"......"
Medeia did not move from her spot until her uncle had vanished from sight.
The Duke's knight urged her impatiently.
"Your Highness, we must move quickly. There's little time left."
"...I can't bring myself to leave, worried as I am for my uncle."
Unaware that he was leading her to her doom, the princess fretted over the Regent even now. The knight clicked his tongue in disdain at the foolish, weak-willed princess.
"Where are the rest of my family? My aunt? Samon and Virna? I can't just flee and leave them behind."
The princess was stubborn despite the urgency, and the knight couldn't hold back a slightly irritated tone as he replied.
"The other three have already taken refuge, so they'll be safe. His Grace prioritized Your Highness's safety above all else. Please hurry."
"No."
At that moment, the princess muttered softly through pale lips.
"Virna is here in the palace."
"Pardon?"
The knight doubted his ears, as if he'd misheard.
Why would Lady Virna of the Claudio Ducal House—who should be safely at the ducal residence by now—be in this chaotic palace?
"I used Iason to summon Virna. No, to be precise, through a maid."
"Pardon?"
The moment the knight repeated his question, his vision went dark.
"Zeta."
Medeia signaled to Zeta, who appeared behind the collapsed knight.
Zeta swiftly hid the knight's body under a pile of brush and stripped him of his armor. Then she donned the plate mail herself, emblazoned with the insignia of the Claudio Ducal House.
"Let's go to Virna."
Royal Palace of Valdina, Diplomatic Mission Quarters.
"Leader, what's the matter?"
"We must leave Valdina. A rebellion has broken out."
Count Kensington's face paled as he clutched the missive.
"They're rallying under the banner of overthrowing the royal family and marching north. They'll reach the royal castle soon."
There's no time. Can we evacuate the entire diplomatic mission before then?
Kensington bit her lip. The delay in confirming communications from the Red Fox Group had been a fatal mistake, leaving her momentarily paralyzed by helplessness.
"Leader, why the rush? We should assess the situation further—"
Kensington could no longer hold back and snapped.
"This rebellion could very well be her scheme too!"
Between the hunting grounds incident, the Regent, the Fourth Imperial Princess, and even Iason—far from gaining anything, their own position had only grown more precarious.
Simply for threatening her, the princess had ensnared them all like flies in a spider's web.
What was even more astonishing was that no one—not even the wretchedly exiled Grand Duke Castulo—had realized this entire affair had been orchestrated by the princess's hand.
She caused that mess with just a handful of wolves, and now a rebellion? Just how far is she planning to go this time? Who is her target now?
A shallow shiver crawled up her spine.
Then, in that instant, a sudden realization struck her like lightning.
If she'd wanted to, she could have hidden this from me too. So why reveal it?
A princess who could strike the backs of Valdina and Kazen's three most powerful figures without a sound wouldn't leave careless traces behind.
Which meant if Kensington had managed to catch her trail, Medeia wanted her to.
"You need a better master to serve."
"Leader?"
"Ha..."
Only then did Kensington understand Medeia's intent and let out a hollow laugh.
The princess was tempting her. Discard those pathetic, ungrateful wretches and follow me instead.
"In all my years, I've never been courted like this before."
Even her own liege, Perdiccas II, had never shown her such... consideration.
Should she be grateful for that consideration, or as a citizen of Kazen, wary of it? She couldn't tell. This woman was truly the strangest she'd ever met.
"...First, inform Her Highness the Fourth Imperial Princess and the diplomatic mission. Tell them to prepare to leave this royal castle immediately."
"Leader... aren't you coming?"
Umberto tilted his head, noticing the hesitation in Kensington's demeanor.
"Not yet."
Her calm voice echoed softly.
"I think I'll stay and watch a little longer. It's not hard for me to slip away alone."
Kensington crossed her arms.
"We'll see soon enough."
Perhaps this time, too, she might get to witness the puppets dancing on the stage the princess had set.