Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Translation: godsn
Medeia gazed at the distant mountain ridge shrouded in darkness.
'Neril is doing well.'
The agreed time was when the great bell tolled eight times.
The White Light Bombs and Siege Cannons had already been transported via Marquess Gilifos's airlift.
Medeia had already completed preparations to escape Duke Claudio and his wife's trap.
"The Spear of Saint Esther—it seems the heavens have finally answered your fervent prayers."
Medeia had completely rewritten the purpose of the banquet.
"Does this not signify that Valdina will surely emerge victorious?"
As the war dragged on, fatigue had settled deep among Valdina's people—commoners and nobles alike.
Yet it wasn't that they didn't desire victory.
No, in truth, they yearned for it more desperately than anyone.
They had desperately hoped for even the smallest certainty that Valdina would ultimately triumph after enduring these arduous times.
With the Spear of Saint Esther, Medeia had quenched their parched longing.
Even if it wasn't real.
"Saint Esther has descended upon Valdina!"
"The star of victory shines upon Valdina!"
Those overcome with emotion murmured in rapturous joy. The attendees, steeped in the lingering awe, finally understood the reason behind today's magnificent banquet.
"Indeed, when praying for victory, how could our devotion be lacking? Had it been, the goddess would never have granted us an answer like today."
With the fate of the war hanging in the balance, no measure of devotion to the gods could ever be excessive.
The Regent scowled.
"What nonsense is this about Saint Esther?"
The will of the goddess? It was nothing more than one of those bizarre phenomena that occur by chance.
What grand meaning could it possibly hold?
Moreover, the star of victory? As someone who wished for the King's triumph least of all, Duke Claudio found it unbearably unsettling.
"Uncle, did I misunderstand?"
Medeia didn't miss his words, raising her delicate eyebrows.
"You and Aunt Virna prepared this banquet at the ducal residence, so as Valdina's loyal subject, I assumed this was the sole reason you hosted today's event..."
All eyes turned toward the Regent.
The corners of his mouth, stretched in a forced smile, trembled faintly.
To deny it here would be no different from admitting the ducal house had ulterior motives.
"Of course not. It's just that you're so clever, seeing right through your uncle's heart—I'm merely astonished."
Medeia smiled and raised her glass.
"His Majesty will never forget the devotion of you and the ducal house. As Valdina's princess, I shall convey my gratitude in his stead. Now, everyone, raise your glasses."
Golden champagne shimmered.
"A toast to Claudio, Valdina's loyal subject!"
"To Claudio!"
As if illuminating the rotting heart of the Regent, dozens of golden champagne glasses rose in unison like candle flames.
"Haha, Claudio, the star of victory?!"
Margrave Monte's voice boomed through the banquet hall.
"I owe you an apology for thinking you a coward! I thought you'd holed up in the royal castle like some frightened rabbit, but it seems the fire of ambition still burns in your chest! Magnificent!"
With undisguised admiration, he clapped the Regent on the shoulder repeatedly, his words teetering between insult and praise.
Duke Claudio clenched his teeth so hard his gums ached.
The Queen Dowager also praised her second son.
"Joaquin, to think you had such a brilliant idea. Truly worthy of my son."
Then she turned her gaze to Medeia.
"Medeia, was this why you wore black today?"
"Yes, Grandmother. I wished to pay my respects to the soldiers fighting for Valdina on the battlefield."
Medeia placed a hand over her heart and offered a solemn bow.
"How thoughtful. You've not forgotten your duty as a princess."
The Queen Dowager nodded approvingly.
Then she glanced at Virna standing beside her. A reproachful look flickered across her eyes.
Virna, meeting her grandmother's icy stare, grew even angrier.
Why—why had this outcome happened even after she'd seized the best hand?
Why was everyone looking at her with pity instead of Medeia?
She couldn't comprehend it at all.
The banquet hall buzzed after the Queen Dowager and her granddaughter's exchange. A subtle shift rippled through the attendees.
"We couldn't bring ourselves to dress lavishly in times like these either."
"And yet look at those revelers. Tsk, tsk. To think they call themselves citizens of Valdina—utterly pathetic."
Even as they disparaged one another, the undisputed focus remained the princess, today's protagonist.
A crowd swarmed around Medeia.
Despite her youth, they lavished praise on her, marveling at how deeply she embodied a royal's concern for her people.
Even those who had remained neutral were now craning their necks to greet the princess.
The Regent trembled violently.
His face flushed crimson with barely contained fury, startling those who had been approaching him into stumbling backward.
Just as he turned to lunge toward Medeia again, a thick hand barred his path.
"Enough. Any further and you'll arouse suspicion."
"...Minister."
The Regent's jowls quivered as his beady eyes, buried under sagging flesh, glared contemptuously at Duke Claudio. Can't you read the tide?
Minister Etienne had been privy to Duke Claudio's scheme today and had assisted him.
Which was precisely why he now watched the young princess, who had so deftly sidestepped their trap, with a bitter taste in his mouth.
But unlike the Duke, Etienne had already shaken off his frustration.
To him, the princess was nothing more than an insignificant pawn—not even worthy of being a piece on the chessboard.
Today's failure was merely a matter of whether they crushed her today or tomorrow.
"Tch. This round's lost. We'll aim for the next one. Why must you act so unbecomingly?"
At the Minister's click of his tongue, Duke Claudio nearly exploded. He almost forgot Etienne was his ally and nearly roared in fury.
Of course you wouldn't be upset!
Medeia had publicly declared this a "banquet prepared by the Ducal House."
She had repeatedly emphasized—even confirming it with the Queen Dowager—that the royal family would not forget the Duke's efforts.
Which meant all expenses incurred today would fall squarely on the Ducal House.
We spared no luxury, preparing this banquet intending to leech off the royal coffers—only to end up squandering our own wealth celebrating that damned nephew Pelleus's victory!
Duke Claudio felt as though he might vomit blood.
"Ha. Excuse me—I need a moment in the lounge."
Suppressing his boiling rage, he stormed out of the banquet hall without so much as a nod to the Minister.
"...Virna, come with me."
Catherine, too, hastily dragged her daughter away, nearly yanking her as she fled the scene.
Etienne shook his head in exasperation.
"Honestly. Such a temper... Bring me more wine. The expensive, strong kind."
With their scheme foiled, he resolved to enjoy what remained of the night.
His greedy eyes swept across the banquet hall as he downed his drink.
The vibrant youth under the dazzling lights set his blood aflame.
Imagining the desperate screams of those arrogant nobles once they were mercilessly crushed sent shivers of anticipation through his entire body.
His dark red tongue flicked out, licking his lips and leaving behind a sickly sheen.
"At once, Master."
The attendant with the Red Fox badge, Umberto, bowed deeply.
"It hurts! Mom, you're hurting me! Let go of my hand!"
Catherine, who had dragged her daughter all the way to the lounge, was seething with rage.
"Virna, have you lost your mind? Why on earth did you wear that? Why?!"
"......"
"What did I tell you? I specifically said to let Medeia wear it! Was that so difficult?! Why did you have to go and covet it?!"
But Virna was not in her usual state of forced composure either.
The humiliation she had suffered at the banquet was overwhelming. And now, instead of defending her, her mother only berated her, fueling her resentment.
Catherine, no longer willing to indulge her daughter's stubbornness, thrust out a new dress.
"Change into this immediately. We're going back to the banquet."
Virna bit her lip at the sight of the plain pink muslin dress.
If she changed now, wouldn't it be tantamount to admitting she had stolen Medeia's dress?
"No."
"...What? Are you really going to be this stubborn? Have you no thought for your parents' dignity?"
"You just can't stand seeing me happy for even a moment, can you?"
Virna stared at her own dazzling reflection in the mirror.
No matter how much scolding and condemnation she endured, one undeniable truth remained—this diamond-studded dress was breathtakingly radiant.
I won't take it off. It's mine. I'll never give it back to Medeia.
Defiance flared hot in Virna's chest.
"No! If Mom won't consider my feelings, I'll do as I please!"
"You can't! That dress is—!"
Before Catherine could grab her, Virna bolted out of the room.
"Ugh."
Her temples throbbing, Catherine clutched her forehead and swayed unsteadily.
"That stubborn, unbreakable pride—she takes after her father, no doubt."
Muttering to herself in exasperation, she suddenly bellowed.
"What are you standing around for? Find Virna and bring her back quietly, now!"
Medeia watched silently as the Claudio family retreated from the banquet hall.
She was still staring when she sensed movement behind her and turned around.