Chapter 128
Chapter 128
Translation: godsn
"How remarkably convenient that all of you are gathered here as well. Larc Etienne, Aprius Edein, Salier Paken, Axim Razoma—"
The reading of the signature document showed no sign of ending.
The faces of those whose names were called turned as pale as if struck by ice.
'Why is that here?!'
'How did that document fall into the princess's hands?!'
They had no idea why the signature document—which should have been burned to ashes—was now present in this very place.
The crowd buzzed with murmurs.
The clear crest of the Claudio family stamped on the document was unmistakable even to their eyes.
Nothing could be more definitive proof of treason.
"Medeia, you...!"
The Regent, now as white as a blank sheet of paper, stared at Medeia in disbelief.
The niece before him felt utterly unfamiliar.
The signature document in her hand, the cold voice accusing him and his faction of crimes, her indifferent expression—none of it resembled the foolish niece he had once known.
"You... you mean to tell me you've been hiding your true self all this time, like a rat? You deceived me?"
"Deceived you? That's hardly something you, who've concealed treasonous ambitions, should say to me."
Samon, trembling uncontrollably, glared alternately at Medeia and the document in her hand before shouting,
"So it was you! You're the one who's been sabotaging our family all along!"
It was as if a veil had been lifted—Samon's mind finally became clear.
The downfall of the Head Maid and Etienne, the duel and rescue involving the diplomatic mission, the hunting competition, and now this rebellion—he realized Medeia had been present at every single moment when the Duke of Claudio's plans had gone awry.
Samon gritted his teeth.
He should never have dismissed his rising intuition, nor should he have underestimated the princess as a dim-witted fool.
Had he known she had been wearing that thick mask all along, toying with his family...
"Joaquin, I had hoped your mother's fears were unfounded... But it seems you truly sought to grasp what you should never have touched."
Pushing down the despair and sorrow that threatened to tear at her chest, the Queen Dowager now gazed at him not as a son, but as a full-fledged enemy.
"Arrest them all. The Regent included—every single name on this signature document. The charge is treason."
"Mother!"
"Do not call me that. I have never had a traitor for a son!"
The Queen Dowager's aged voice trembled with pain.
"Claudio, you hypocrite! Fraud! You incite rebellion and then claim you came to save Valdina?!"
"The Regent?! What right does a vile wretch like you, who would ruin this nation, have to such a title?!"
The enraged nobles and commoners further cornered the ducal faction. His allies, whose names were on the document, panicked, unsure of what to do.
'How—how did it come to this?!'
The Regent's face twisted in fury.
There was no room left for excuses. With the signature document exposed, there was no way out.
His grand ambition, which had soared toward the heavens, now plummeted headlong, laid bare before the world.
Like Icarus's melting wings, the prestige he had built over a lifetime was crumbling apart. His throne was no exception.
'I cannot fall like this. Not I, Joaquin Claudio!'
Realizing he was cornered, the Regent's face twisted into something demonic. The grip on his sword tightened.
"Ah—Her Majesty the Queen Dowager!"
In an instant, Madame Pinatelli's scream rang out.
The Regent kicked the woman aside and pressed his blade against the Queen Dowager's throat.
No one had expected that, even in desperation, he would threaten his own mother. Caught off guard, the Queen Dowager was subdued in an instant.
"If Mother has forsaken me, then this son has no choice but to act accordingly."
At his signal, the knights of the Claudio faction swiftly overpowered the Queen Dowager's guards and soldiers.
Simultaneously, the Regent's hidden private soldiers emerged, surrounding the crowd from behind.
"Regent! What is the meaning of this?!"
"Joaquin, how can you—wearing human skin—how could you...?"
The Queen Dowager could not believe that her own flesh and blood now held a sword to her throat.
Her vision swam. Had she not clung to her senses, she would have already fainted.
But the Regent had no regard for his suffering mother.
With bloodshot eyes glaring at the assembly, he barked orders at his faction.
"What are you all standing around for? Do you intend to end things like this?"
The nobles of the Regent's faction, snapping to their senses, drew their swords to threaten those around them.
"Take one more step, and I'll slit your throats. Stay still as dead mice."
"You bastards...!"
Margrave Montega tried to leap from his seat but was restrained by the Regent's knights.
"Make one move, and not only the Queen Dowager but all of you will die here," the Regent said, pressing the sharp blade against his mother's throat.
"Do you think this ends just by eliminating those rebels? My private army is stationed throughout the castle. With a single gesture from me, this Royal Castle will be reduced to ashes."
Yes, what did it matter to wear the mask of a hero?
Once seated upon the throne, the means could always be concealed and suppressed.
Why should he be the one to surrender? Why must he be the one to fall here?
The sky was so clear, and his ambition still burned as brilliantly as ever. It couldn't be extinguished before it even had the chance to shine.
If it won't come to me, then I'll seize it myself!
The Regent pulled a scroll from his sleeve and threw it at Medeia.
"Stamp the royal seal, Medeia."
"What is this?"
Medeia remained composed even under the glint of steel.
"How brazenly you feign ignorance—your cunning truly knows no bounds, does it?"
Disgusting. Just the thought of being deceived by that pale face made his blood boil.
The Regent gritted his teeth.
"It's an abdication document, transferring the throne of Valdina to me, Joaquin Claudio. With the Rebel Army bringing calamity upon the Royal Castle, you are formally requesting my aid."
Originally, the plan had been to have Medeia stamp the document after "rescuing" her from the rebels' clutches.
"Don't do it, Medeia! You mustn't yield to this villain's threats! My days are numbered anyway!"
The Queen Dowager shrieked.
Even if coerced, once Joaquin ascended the throne with this document, where would all the resentment go?
He intended for Medeia to bear the full brunt of the rebellion's infamy. The pettiness of her son's scheme made her shudder.
"Mother, please...!"
The Regent gnashed his teeth, tightening his threat against his own mother.
"Keep your mouth shut. Can't you see I'm barely holding back?"
His patience had run dry. He no longer had any intention of hesitating.
"Now, Medeia. Take out the seal."
The moment Medeia stamped the document as the King's proxy, she would become the Regent's accomplice.
Even if Pelleus later returned to reclaim the throne, Medeia, too, would have to be punished.
She would stand beside him on the execution block as a co-conspirator in treason—would that brother, who doted on his sister so dearly, ever allow it?
Absolutely not. As long as Medeia lives, his leash will forever be in my hands.
Medeia bent down gracefully and picked up the scroll.
Her impassive face betrayed no trace of panic. She merely spoke with calm detachment.
"So you've finally shown your true colors, Uncle. What a waste of time. Only now do I see your real face."
"Shut up and stamp it already!"
The Regent roared.
The girl's unflinching expression filled him with bitter resentment.
Samon, his face pale, stepped forward toward Medeia.
He knelt, unfurling the abdication document as if playing the part of a caring brother.
If this wench was going to feign idiocy, he could play the hypocrite just as well.
"Medeia, all I really need is your hand holding the seal. If you keep resisting, I'll have no choice but to cut it off."
His tone was coaxing, but the words were cruel.
"We're family—let's not spill each other's blood, shall we? Don't you worry how heartbroken Pelleus would be to see your hand severed?"
Medeia's lips curled faintly.
"Samon, do you have time to worry about me? Shouldn't your abandoned little sister come first?"
Her gaze lowered to meet his petty eyes.
"Why are you still here instead of saving poor Virna?"