Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Translation: godsn
The Queen Dowager had sternly silenced all who had witnessed that day's events.
Thus, the shameful incident that could have brought disgrace upon the royal family never spread beyond those present.
Yet when the princess was suddenly seen kneeling in prayer for hours before the royal chapel, people could guess that something significant had occurred.
Sturdy maids surrounded the princess on all sides.
Their sharp eyes vigilantly monitored whether anyone approached her or attempted to offer water or refreshments.
Once it became known these were the Queen Dowager's personal attendants, people thought to themselves:
'Ah. The princess is being punished again.'
For the punishment to be carried out so publicly—she must have truly fallen from grace.
Just how much did the Queen Dowager despise her eldest granddaughter?
"It's already been half a day, hasn't it?"
"Her Majesty ordered her to kneel until the Goddess delivers divine revelation."
"Divine revelation? It'd be easier waiting for lightning from a clear sky."
"She'll keep her kneeling until her own anger subsides, that's all."
Near the royal chapel, one could frequently spot those who had come to witness Medeia's humiliation.
A nation's princess, punished before everyone's eyes.
Medeia understood—even the shame and embarrassment a young girl who hadn't even made her debut would feel was all part of the Queen Dowager's calculations.
'I can't yield now.'
If she yielded, the Queen Dowager would soon forget about her.
She would unwittingly fall for Claudio's honeyed words and end up aiding them.
'This incident will drive a wedge between them.'
Making the Queen Dowager doubt the loyalty of her second son—whom she trusted above all others.
That was the final outcome Medeia had planned for this affair.
The sun set, and night fell.
As if to compound matters, the autumn temperature dropped sharply, bringing an icy wind.
Midnight passed. The spectators had long since departed.
Medeia wore only a single muslin dress.
The thin fabric provided no protection against the cold.
"The weather is too harsh. You came out unprepared. Please, at least let me give her this."
Neril pleaded with a blanket in hand, but the Queen Dowager's maids shook their heads.
"Her Majesty has not permitted it. She said to tell Her Highness—if she seeks the Goddess's merciful forgiveness, then she shouldn't consider this a true punishment."
"This is going too far—"
"Neril."
Medeia stopped Neril's protest.
Though her face was bloodlessly pale, her gaze remained sharp.
"Don't render my saving you meaningless."
"Your Highness..."
"Go back. Don't return until I call for you."
Neril had already provoked the Queen Dowager's displeasure once by protecting her.
For pride's sake, she wouldn't be spared a second offense—it was better to stay completely out of the Queen Dowager's sight.
"Do as I say. If you trust me."
At the firm command, Neril bit her lip and withdrew.
'This too must be part of Her Highness's plan. Just as she used the Head Maid and Mariyu's schemes against them.'
She couldn't bring herself to leave easily.
The young princess kneeling alone before the vast chapel looked small and lonely.
Moonlight fell upon Medeia's gaunt face as she prayed toward the statue.
'If the merciful Goddess truly exists.'
Neril prayed fervently.
'Please, watch over our princess.'
Only after a long while did Neril finally depart.
As the night deepened, even the maids keeping watch began nodding off.
Only Medeia remained, her clear eyes gazing up at the Goddess.
Unlike Neril, her emerald eyes held not a trace of resentment or complaint.
When the gods had given her this chance for vengeance against her enemies, what more could she ask for?
Everything was proceeding according to her design.
How much time had passed?
Fatigued by the biting cold and exhaustion, Medeia closed her eyes for just a moment.
At that instant, light burst forth from the fingertips of the Goddess statue before her, enveloping her like wings.
The chapel's sun blazed down mercilessly.
Medeia remained in place, her entire body scorched by the searing sunlight.
Her deathly pale complexion and parched lips—no one could help but feel pity.
[End of Episode]
"Hah, still stubborn as ever?"
The Queen Dowager snorted through her nose.
She too knew the punishment she'd imposed was unreasonable. That's why she'd left room for compromise.
"Not a single drop of water shall be given to this child until she realizes what she's done wrong. Understood?"
In other words, this meant she would forgive Medeia if the princess came to her first to beg for pardon.
She'd fully expected the girl to come crawling back tearfully within a day, at which point she'd planned to pretend reluctance before relenting.
"It's already been three days, Your Majesty..."
"I know full well it's been three days!"
She hadn't anticipated the girl would hold out this long.
Rumors had spread widely about the Queen Dowager's harsh punishment of the princess. Even among the palace staff, people were beginning to whisper—just what grave offense had the princess committed to warrant such prolonged suffering?
"That reckless little brat must be trying to pull her wild antics on me too. She thinks she can outlast this old woman."
The Queen Dowager pressed her lips into a thin line before continuing.
"Pinatelli, ensure no one approaches that girl. Even if she still hasn't realized her mistake, she'll understand by the time this old woman is lying in her coffin!"
"Your Majesty..."
At Head Maid Pinatelli's troubled gaze, the Queen Dowager flared up in anger.
"And why are you looking at me like that? Don't disappoint me."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
Head Maid Pinatelli bowed deeply, concealing her pity.
Cesare returned to the palace.
"The room has changed."
It was a different location from their previous meeting.
Since their last conversation had concluded their negotiations, the agreement was reached swiftly.
Facade had obtained permission to remain in Valdina's territory—for a price.
The astronomical sum offered would easily extinguish the kingdom's pressing emergencies, and even Siseo had ultimately consented.
His request for rear support had been denied.
However, they'd agreed to publicly expose Facade's presence until the Imperial delegation departed.
This outcome was more successful than Siseo had anticipated.
Facade, being an underground arms dealer, was notoriously reclusive.
'Just the theatrical implication that we're involved with Facade will make the Empire nervous. They won't be able to act as recklessly as usual.'
"Proceed then."
As the agreement was being finalized, something caught Cesare's eye.
Through the window, he could see the white edges of the palace grounds. And quite nearby stood the chapel.
From this angle, he could see the princess kneeling before the statue.
Now he understood why their meeting location had changed.
"Siseo."
Ignoring Gallo's snide remarks about how expensive they were, Cesare abruptly asked Siseo:
"Are you worried about the princess?"
"Tch. Pointless."
The reply ended there, as if no further words were worth wasting.
But the original Siseo wouldn't have responded so quickly to such a provocation.
The princess and Siseo?
Cesare's eyes narrowed momentarily before returning to normal.
"Speaking of which, rumors are spreading through the castle. Brother, it's already been three days, right?"
Gallo clapped his hands together.
"I thought only the Kazen Imperial Family was this cruel, but Valdina's no joke either. The Queen Dowager must really despise her own granddaughter, huh?"
With the tedious negotiations concluded and this interesting topic arising, he grew animated, his tanned face gleaming.
"Still, the princess has stamina. I thought she'd collapse much sooner."
At Gallo's words, Siseo frowned.
He couldn't comprehend why the princess would ignore the clear escape route the Queen Dowager had left for her.
"Stamina? More like foolishness. Stubbornness will only earn her more disdain."
Then came a sudden chuckle.
"Boss, why are you laughing?"
"Who knows? Maybe that's precisely her aim."
Having survived countless schemes and traps in the Imperial court, Cesare had become adept at using emotions to turn situations around.
Whenever the Emperor grew wary and tried to tighten his leash, Cesare would actually provoke his father further.
When hatred grows excessive, forgiveness becomes more potent too.
That young princess who crushed the Head Maid's ambitious schemes seems to be exploiting that very gap.
Siseo raised an eyebrow as if asking what he meant. Cesare merely shrugged and turned his head.
Through the carriage window, he could still see the princess sitting before the chapel.