Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Translation: godsn
"The Kazen diplomatic mission's lodgings are—"
As the event concluded and Siseo moved to guide the Kazen delegation, the Regent swiftly intervened.
"Now then! I shall personally attend to our distinguished guests from the Empire. This way, please."
This was his first opportunity to make an impression on the Kazen nobility.
The Regent had no intention of letting some greenhorn snatch away such an important duty.
"Your Highness the Princess, you must have endured considerable hardship traveling all this way to our humble Valdina in your precious royal person."
He quickly attached himself to the imperial family members under the grand pretense of giving them a palace tour.
"That building over there is the main palace where Your Highness will be staying. Among all the guest quarters in Valdina's Royal Palace, it's the largest and most beautiful—"
"Rather disappointing. It's smaller than the detached palace of my imperial residence."
Perhaps trying to recover her bruised pride from earlier, the princess acted supremely arrogant. The Regent showed not a hint of displeasure as he humbly accepted her words.
"Naturally, our modest Valdina cannot compare to the blessed Kazen where gold and treasures flow like water."
He resembled nothing so much as a leech clinging to power. The Valdinan officials shook their heads in dismay.
Even members of the Regent's own faction thought to themselves:
The way the Regent grovels... it's as if he's become their servant.
Though Valdina might be a minor kingdom, in its thousand-year history it had never once become Kazen's vassal state.
Not even once!
The Regent remained utterly oblivious to how his obsequious behavior was awakening the patriotism of every Valdinan present...
"What are you thinking about, Your Highness?"
Medeia quietly watched the retreating backs of the diplomatic mission.
"Just... thinking about when they'll be leaving."
"I agree, I wish they'd leave already. To act so insolent from the very first day—it's infuriating."
Saya sighed. Even back in the slums, the Kazen people had been notorious for their brazen misbehavior without fear of consequences.
"Don't worry."
They won't be leaving as grandly as they arrived.
The Kazen diplomatic mission's quarters.
In the elegantly appointed residence, Iason stood gazing out the window.
Only Iason and his advisor occupied the reception room.
Iason's crimson eyes stared fixedly at the darkened world beyond the window.
"I'd never heard that Valdina's princess was such a beauty. Even in Kazen, finding a woman like her would be difficult."
Iason agreed with Jared's assessment.
Beautiful women typically lacked backbone, and strong-willed women usually weren't that beautiful.
"Grand Duke, I look forward to our stay here. This dog has finally found his master."
Remembering the lecherous gaze of that chuckling wretch who'd stared at the princess's backside, Iason twisted his lips in distaste.
How dare some lowborn thief set his sights on a princess?
During the welcoming ceremony, he too had been shocked to learn Medeia's true identity.
That girl who'd lingered in his memory all this time was actually Valdina's princess.
'This must be divine providence.'
His heart pounded heavily in his chest.
Though Valdina was a small country compared to the Empire, it was renowned for its exceptional warriors.
Particularly the King's Royal Guard, "Agema," was famed for their overwhelming martial prowess. If they stood behind him...
"Guarding against the Emperor would be trivial. I could even dream of capturing the capital."
"But Your Grace the Grand Duke. You know the true threat in the capital isn't the Emperor."
At that moment, his advisor poured cold water on his ambitions.
"Foolish. What fear should I have for some terminal patient afflicted with the Curse of the Beginning!"
While searching for connections with the sacred kingdom, he'd discovered the true nature of the First Prince's illness.
Iason's serious movements had begun precisely after that revelation.
"Though the First Prince left the palace due to illness, his supporters still remain strong in the capital."
The advisor's concerns weren't unfounded.
The fact that Prince Cesare's faction remained powerful despite his three-year absence from governance spoke volumes about his influence.
Had Cesare not been cursed, Iason wouldn't even have been able to return to the capital.
He wouldn't have dared dream of the throne either.
"Otherwise, I would have had my head severed by the First Prince's hand long before that."
"But when it comes to sheer tenacity, he's truly peerless. When he first went to the battlefield, when he unified the southern factions—each time, everyone thought he was dead. Perhaps this time too..."
Though he was now bedridden by illness, the First Prince's ruthless temperament was well known across the continent.
The reason his faction couldn't easily abandon him wasn't out of loyalty—it was fear.
Who knew when he might return and slip poison into their cups if they betrayed him?
"Nonsense. If you don't trust me, then trust Kazen—no, trust the thousand-year history of our Central Continent. Has there ever been a single person who survived the Curse of the Beginning?"
Iason snapped irritably.
"I'm not the only one targeting the First Prince. Even the Emperor is wary of his resurgence. Once he's dead, how will his faction survive?"
"......"
Iason confidently patted his subordinate's shoulder.
"Once we swallow his faction, with General Jared and Princess Valdina on my side, we'll have more than enough chances to win."
With the northwestern forces rallying behind him, he could stand against even the Emperor.
Once the First Prince was dead, the remnants of his faction would have no choice but to kneel.
"The gods are fair. Life has its ups and downs. Just as the First Prince's rise was my hell, now the tables have turned."
Iason gazed faintly at the rosy future unfolding before him.
Unaware that, in his past life, this grand ambition had begun with Medeia—an unassuming little girl who had left a lasting impression.
"Find out everything about the Princess. What she likes, where she frequents, who she associates with—everything."
"Your Grace... but she is Princess Valdina. To set your sights on her—"
"Don't be absurd. When have you ever seen me act without reason?"
Yet, for some reason, the image of that stiffly standing girl refused to fade from Iason's mind.
Due to their status, the Fourth Imperial Princess and the Grand Duke stayed in the royal palace, while Count Kensington also remained to assist them—or rather, to clean up after the Fourth Princess.
"Where are you headed, General?"
Laju cautiously observed General Jared, who had stayed behind.
His obsequious flattery carried a distinctly greasy air.
"If you have no prior engagements, why not accompany me to Duke Claudio's estate? The Regent has always admired your valor and would be honored to meet you."
Jared grinned, as if amused.
"Duke Claudio's estate, huh... Come to think of it, I've heard the Duchess and the Duke's daughter are renowned beauties in Valdina..."
Laju's heart sank at those words.
"Ah, I must have forgotten to mention—neither of them are currently at the estate. They haven't returned from the Queen Mother's Palace."
In his eagerness to win Jared over, he had overlooked this detail.
Even the Emperor of Kazen had been left speechless by Jared's reckless antics.
The man was one of the Empire's top 10-Star Knights. Once he set his mind to something insane, no one could stop him.
"The Duchess is at the Queen Mother's Palace, and the Duke's daughter is recuperating abroad."
Hearing that all the interesting prospects were absent, Jared shook his head with a bored expression.
"Forget it. As a man who lives freely, I can't stand tedious formalities. I'll return to the palace on my own—don't worry about me."
Only after Jared left did Laju finally exhale in relief.
No matter how exceptional a blade the man was in the struggle for the throne, this was unacceptable.
He had nearly invited that monstrosity into his own sanctuary.
"Let's head to Duke Claudio's estate."
"Yes, Count."
As if his earlier groveling before the Princess had never happened, Laju straightened his chest. Through the carriage window, he caught sight of Valdina's sunset sky.
"This damned backwater is as outdated as ever."
It couldn't compare to the Empire's streets, dazzling with their vibrant spectacles.
The scent of earth and nature carried by the wind made Laju immediately grimace.
"Light the incense."
Only when the refined fragrance favored by Kazen nobles filled his nostrils did he finally relax, as if restored to his rightful place.