Chapter 119
Chapter 119
Translation: godsn
The Royal Palace of Valdina.
"There's nothing here! Are you absolutely certain the Grand Duke left any belongings behind?"
Virna snapped in frustration as she stood in the empty diplomatic mission quarters.
"Damn it, this worthless wench. Can't you do anything right?"
She muttered sullenly, thinking she'd have to give the maid a thorough beating when they returned to the Duke's estate.
Not long ago, Grand Duke Castulo had secretly visited Duke Claudio's residence again.
But perhaps ashamed of having fled the Valdina Palace like a coward, he had merely nodded at Virna in passing without a word.
"Um, my lady... I overheard the Grand Duke's servants talking... It might give you a reason to request an audience with His Highness..."
Amidst this, a new maid had secretly come to the palace after hearing through the grapevine that Grand Duke Castulo had left something behind in his haste to depart.
"Hmph, Shilla was utterly useless, but you've got some wits about you. Keep this up, and I'll have you promoted to lady's maid soon."
Virna tossed out the praise without noticing the icy glint that flashed in the maid's eyes.
'If it's a keepsake from the late Empress, this is no trivial matter. The Grand Duke will be deeply grateful.'
She was certain this could reopen the stalled conversation between them, but the quarters were completely empty with nothing left behind.
As Virna stormed out of the lodging in a huff, she suddenly froze. She sensed the unusual commotion within the palace.
"What's going on? What's happening?"
The clanging of steel against steel and distant black smoke rising from both the Administrative Palace and the Queen Mother's Palace.
Instinctively, she felt danger.
"Virna!"
At that moment, someone came running toward her.
"Y-Your Highness?"
Fluttering silver hair, beautiful green eyes. Virna blinked in stunned silence.
"Thank heavens you're here! Oh gods, thank you. You have no idea how long I've searched for you. I thought you'd already been captured."
Medeia placed a hand over her chest as she gasped for breath.
'Why is this girl looking for me? And what does she mean by captured?'
Virna was utterly bewildered by her words.
"Come quickly, we need to get out of here."
"What's going on? Explain!"
"A rebellion has broken out! They'll storm the palace any moment. Hurry!"
Medeia grabbed Virna by the wrist and pulled. Her face was filled with urgency.
Her grip was slick with sweat, as if she were terrified.
"A... a rebellion?"
Virna's eyes widened.
"Uncle showed me an escape route. Come with me, now."
As if there was no time to explain further, Medeia hastily led Virna toward the gardens.
Virna hesitated, about to shake off her grip, but when she spotted the crest of Duke Claudio's house engraved on the armor of the knight standing beside Medeia, she obediently followed.
'If Father sent a house knight, this must be serious.'
Had there been any real danger in going where Medeia was leading her, the knight would have stopped them long ago.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the back of the royal gardens. Pushing aside the thick ivy covering the wall revealed a small hidden door.
Thunk. The knight wedged his scabbard into the gap and twisted, making the door creak open.
Inside lay a long, narrow passage—chilling and pitch-black. An impenetrable darkness where anything could be lurking.
"I-I don't want to. Your Highness should go first."
Virna took a step back and pushed Medeia forward.
"Very well."
The knight lit a torch as if to reassure them.
Only after watching the knight and Medeia enter without incident did Virna finally step into the secret passage.
The tunnel reeked of damp earth and something putrid. Virna covered her nose.
'This is the worst.'
The floor was soggy from moisture, and the air was stale.
Cough, cough. Just the thought of breathing in this foul air made her throat feel like it was rotting.
"This passage connects to the outside of the royal castle. Someone will be waiting to help us escape, so just bear with it a little longer, Virna."
The princess spoke with surprising maturity as she comforted Virna.
Then—
"Ruuun!"
"Aaaaahhh!"
From somewhere far away, blood-curdling screams echoed. The palace had turned into utter chaos.
"Have the rebels already arrived?"
Virna bit her lip. She could tell from Medeia's words that the royal palace had been thrown into complete chaos.
'A rebellion? Why on earth didn't Mother and Father tell me about something this huge?'
She realized now—the Grand Duke's visit, the way they had confined her these past few days, whispering among themselves in the study—it was all because of this.
Virna trembled with betrayal.
'Medeia went to save them herself, but she didn't even bother to look for me, her own daughter? Just left me behind?'
How long had they been walking through the passage?
As they moved farther from the palace and the immediate danger faded, the resentment she had pushed aside began to rear its head in her chest.
Because of this, she was a step late in noticing Medeia's slowing pace beside her.
By the time she snapped back to attention, the sound of the princess's footsteps beside her had vanished.
"What's wrong, Your Highness?"
Virna whirled around.
About five paces away, Medeia stood motionless under the dim torchlight.
"I can't do this. I have to go back."
"What did you say?"
"I am the Princess of Valdina. How can I flee like this while the palace is in ruins? Even if I escape the royal castle, my heart won't be at peace."
That's your problem! Virna's face twisted.
'Even if you're soft-hearted, there's a limit! You still want to play the saint in this situation?!'
"It'll be fine. What could we even do if we went back anyway?"
She tried hard to persuade her cousin to keep moving, but Medeia was adamant.
"They might slaughter all my ladies-in-waiting and the palace servants."
"......"
"And Grandmother? What if the Queen Dowager isn't safe? At her age, the shock must have been unbearable..."
"Fine. Then go back, Your Highness. I'll keep going."
Finally, Virna's patience reached its limit.
"But this knight must come with me. I'm already indulging Your Highness's stubbornness."
"Virna, Uncle said guards would be waiting at the end of this passage. If we just keep going... But I—"
So, she wanted the knight for herself? Absolutely not.
Why should she have to traverse this pitch-black passage alone for Medeia's sake? Why should she extend such kindness?
'I'd rather you go back alone and die—get caught by the rebels still in the palace!'
The image of blind blades running that girl through—cruel yet satisfying—flashed through Virna's mind.
'Then I absolutely can't give him up.'
"Forgive me, Your Highness, but he's our family's man. Surely, as royalty, you wouldn't think of taking him from me?"
"Virna..."
"The armor he's wearing, the sword—all of it belongs to our Claudio. Even his wages come from our family's coffers. So protecting me, the daughter of Claudio, is his duty."
If not for Medeia, Virna wouldn't even have had this chance to escape.
But far from feeling grateful, she was dead set on sending Medeia back unguarded.
Virna shot a sidelong glance at the torch-bearing knight.
His face was hidden beneath his helmet, but his silence suggested he knew exactly who his true master was.
"I'll share the torch, though. The way back is quite dark."
Her tone dripped with false magnanimity.
"Very well, Virna. Then... stay safe."
Medeia stepped forward and clasped Virna's hand tightly. A faint tremor, as if from fear, passed through her grip.
For a moment, Virna wondered if she had gone too far, but she quickly eased her guilt with empty words.
"...Just wait a little, Your Highness. I'll go ahead and send the knights back to the palace. Don't lose hope."
"Just hold on a little longer, Sister. I'll get Lea to safety and send people to rescue you. You must endure until then."
The hollow promise, devoid of sincerity, was sweet and smooth—just like when she had once held Medeia's daughter and made her vow.
"I'm glad, Virna. That you haven't changed."
Medeia nodded.
"Huh?"
"I'll wait."
Torch in hand, Medeia turned and walked away.
In the dark passage, the torchlight grew smaller, her figure vanishing as if swallowed by the shadows.
"Hmph. Who'd stop someone rushing to their death?"
Once Medeia was out of sight, Virna stuck out her lip petulantly.
"Let's go."
"......"
They resumed their journey through the passage.