Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Translation: godsn
"While I appreciate the sentiment, I must decline both offers this time as well."
Regarding the downfall of House Claudio, Medeia had no intention of allowing any outside interference except her own.
As if he'd anticipated Medeia's refusal, he raised both hands in surrender.
"Understood."
Medeia studied the mercenary. She concealed her rising suspicion beneath a faint smile.
'Zeta clearly said he'd left Valdina. So why has he returned here now?'
That brief moment of respite she'd felt with him in the forest had been like a heat haze—vanishing the moment she opened her eyes.
Though she'd grown quite familiar with Acares through their shared experiences, Medeia had never once forgotten he was the leader of Facade.
'He must be taking advantage of the chaos from the Regent's coup to search the Royal Palace. Looking for the First Prince's antidote that the Magic Tower mentioned.'
Tears of Dawn.
It seemed both the Magic Tower and Facade had discovered it was somewhere within Valdina's Royal Palace.
Medeia's gaze flickered briefly past Cesare's shoulder.
Her eyes lingered on the unchanged scenery before her. A faint light flashed through her jade-green irises.
'He didn't come alone.'
She'd sensed the presence of those who'd slipped into the palace in hiding.
She had no intention of stopping Facade's shadows.
Not only could Medeia not handle them alone right now, she had a far greater and more pressing task—tightening the noose around Claudio's neck.
'Good thing I made a replica to hide away.'
They wouldn't find what they wanted today anyway.
Because the Tears of Dawn were already in Medeia's possession.
'This belongs to Valdina. If it can save the First Prince, the price should be paid to Valdina. Not the Magic Tower.'
The Tears of Dawn would be given to whomever she chose, whenever she chose.
There would be no exceptions.
So Medeia pretended not to notice their presence or intentions, slightly narrowing her eyes.
"Acares, take care on your way back then."
Leaving behind this perfunctory farewell, she turned without hesitation.
There wasn't a trace of reluctance in her steps as she walked away from him.
"Your Highness, I've brought your horse— But that person..."
"Hurry, Neril. We don't have much time. Hyah!"
Medeia mounted her prepared horse.
Her movement as she turned the horse toward the castle walls was flawless.
In moments, the three of them had exited the palace grounds.
"Boss!"
Cesare couldn't tear his gaze away from the retreating figure of the princess.
That small back heading straight for the castle walls without a moment's hesitation.
Could even death stop that girl?
"Report."
Cesare kept his eyes fixed on the direction where the princess had disappeared as he issued the command.
"We're searching the Royal Palace. But she might have precognition. The rebellion actually happened just like I said."
Gallo's face was flushed with excitement.
His words had borne fruit—the chaotic palace provided the perfect opportunity to infiltrate. Moreover, with everyone rushing toward the castle walls, their search would be even easier.
"Gallo, you reckless idiot. What were you thinking bringing Cesare here? His treatment isn't even finished yet—"
Terence scolded.
Cesare's condition was so poor that even the Tower Master had clicked his tongue in amazement that he was still maintaining his sanity.
The black curse marks coiling across his chest were now clearly visible to the naked eye.
Gallo bit his lip and cautiously glanced at Cesare.
"What choice did we have? Even the Magic Tower threw up their hands. Got any better ideas?"
During their journey to the Magic Tower for Cesare's worsening condition, he'd suffered another attack.
It had only been a few days since Cesare had barely regained consciousness after reaching his limit.
"I thought we were witnessing the rise of a once-in-a-generation genius, only to see him wither away like this. What a pity."
The Tower Master had shaken his head and clicked his tongue in lament.
Gallo's rough hands clutched a piece of parchment—news from Valdina.
"Boss, a rebellion's broken out in central Valdina. The rebel army is currently marching toward the Royal Castle."
"......"
"Their leader is some peasant named Horols, but digging deeper, his original name was Bacaro. About five years ago, he was a mercenary from the Rephalian pirates."
Despite Terence's objections, Gallo had relayed this news to Cesare.
Because he'd known—whether it was for the Tears of Dawn or any other reason—that upon hearing this, Cesare would inevitably drag himself to Valdina.
And Cesare had done exactly that.
"The Regent's paying off troops to empty the Royal Palace for us—why would we pass up such a golden opportunity? Right, Boss?"
Gallo caught sight of the bulging, bluish veins on Cesare's forearm and spoke with grim determination.
"This time, I'll sweep through every last place we haven't been. Thoroughly."
"......"
"...Boss, you listening?"
Gallo tried to mask his impatience as he prodded Cesare, but there was still no response.
Just then, Alpha arrived with a report.
"My lord, I believe we've found it."
"What? Really?"
Gallo cut in first, his face lighting up.
"Yes. We discovered a hidden chamber behind the King's study. It appears to connect to the royal vault where the Sage's Tome was stored."
"Great! Let's go, now! Hurry!"
He let out an excited cry.
The Sage's Tome. The vault. A hidden chamber. Could there be any place more likely to hold the Tears?
Gallo, brimming with energy, was about to dash off when he suddenly halted and turned back.
"Boss, aren't you coming?"
"......"
Cesare, who had been fixated on one spot, finally took a step forward.
Facade's mercenaries swiftly subdued the knights guarding the King's quarters.
Unlike the usual tight security, only a minimal force remained, allowing them to move without much commotion.
"Don't hurt them."
At Gallo's reminder, the Shadows nodded.
The hidden chamber discovered in the King's study led to a spiral staircase.
The entire tower-like space seemed to serve as the Valdina Royal Family's vault.
Swish. Swish.
With silent footsteps, the burly men stepped inside.
They examined each of the ornaments and treasures placed between the staircase walls one by one.
But nothing resembling a vessel containing the Tears was in sight.
Finally, they reached the end of the staircase.
Beyond a small door lay a circular space at the tower's peak.
At its center, atop a pedestal, rested the massive chest that had once held the Sage's Tome.
Gallo carefully inspected the chest.
Finding nothing inside or out, he let out a sigh.
"Nothing. It's not here."
He groaned in frustration.
Could it be that the Tears didn't exist? Had they been chasing a mirage all this time?
"Wait."
Then, Cesare pressed lightly on the bottom of the chest.
With a creak, a small drawer popped out.
A hidden compartment.
The moment they spotted the tiny cylinder resting on the velvet lining, adorned with droplet patterns, everyone held their breath.
"......"
Cesare bent down and picked it up. The liquid inside the small cylinder sloshed gently.
"...The Tears of Dawn."
The goddess statue engraved on the cylinder glittered in the sunlight as if welcoming him.
"We found it, Cesare! We found it! Finally!"
Terence, whose noble temperament had never once allowed him to raise his voice, forgot all decorum and cheered.
Though his laughter burst forth brightly, his eyes were reddened.
"It—it was real. All this time... after scouring the entire continent, and now here in Valdina—"
Gallo dropped to his knees before the cylinder. Then, bending over, he pressed his lips to the floor repeatedly.
He seemed so overwhelmed with emotion that he hardly knew what he was doing.
"Thank you... Gods of Valdina, ancestors, royalty, everyone who lives here... I'll never forget this mercy. Facade will repay this debt for the rest of our— Damn it, why am I crying...?"
It seemed the days of anxious waiting had been too many.
Why am I like this? Even as he wondered, Gallo couldn't hold back the tears welling up from sheer emotion.
Even Cesare's Shadows couldn't conceal their joy. Alpha, who was second to none in stoicism, trembled with elation.
"Now we can return to Kazen. You can reclaim your rightful place as His Highness."
The return of the First Prince Cesare—something everyone had feared and tried to prevent.
How long had they waited for this moment?
The Empire was still teeming with those who would stop at nothing to erase his name.
Now, they would have to content themselves with the brief illusion they had enjoyed.
"...My lord?"
Yet Cesare's expression was inscrutable.
Whether he was happy or sad, the half-mask he wore concealed it entirely.
A man who rarely showed emotion, his subordinates couldn't be sure what he was thinking.
"...Right."
Cesare gripped the cylinder. The cold touch of the engraving seemed to cling to his palm.
This was the moment when the Curse of the Beginning—the affliction that had tormented his life for three years and filled it with despair—finally knelt before his resolve.
Cesare lifted his head.
In the distance, white castle walls were visible.
Even as the time he had fervently sought drew near, he couldn't fully grasp the joy of it.
He didn't understand why, nor could he pinpoint where this urge to rush toward those walls instead of staying here came from.
Truth be told, he didn't comprehend it at all.
The golden-eyed man holding the cylinder sank into deep contemplation for a moment.