Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Translation: godsn
As an oppressive silence hung in the air, the Fourth Imperial Princess's eyes gleamed like a wolf's.
She had to drag Medeia back into this game no matter what.
'Just win. If I can win again this time, that's all that matters.'
Unbeknownst to her, a flicker of amusement had risen and vanished in Medeia's emerald eyes at that very moment.
The black eyes of the malice-filled princess glittered.
"Princess, does this mean that while the honor of your late father is important, you couldn't care less whether the starving people of Valdina live or die?"
Medeia lifted her head and met the princess's gaze.
She remained composed. An unyielding presence, as though facing an immense stone wall, radiated from her without a single step back.
"Since you've staked the lives of Valdina's people, I have no choice but to comply."
Got her! The Fourth Imperial Princess swallowed the urge to laugh aloud.
With a cruel glint in her eyes, she spoke.
"This time, General Jared will take my place. That's fine with you, isn't it, General?"
The Fourth Princess turned her body to stare at Jared.
Though anyone might have been flustered by her sudden move to drag him into this, Jared grinned eerily and nodded.
"Kehehe, how could this lowly one refuse the opportunity to cross blades in place of Her Highness, the noble princess?"
As if mocking her, he smirked slyly—and Medeia returned a silent greeting in his direction.
'Long time no see, Jared.'
"Princess, if you enjoyed playing with fire with the Grand Duke, how about this one? Just between us, without your husband knowing, eh?"
As a 10-Star Knight, he had been a fierce general of Kazen since the Late Emperor's reign. However, his debauchery and excessively cruel temperament were infamous.
Even in the previous life's expedition, he had constantly set his sights on Medeia.
After being rejected by her time and again, he nursed a deep grudge.
It became routine for him to provoke her at every turn or deliberately steer Magic Beasts toward her, throwing her into danger.
"Medeia, endure it. I know you're suffering. But Jared is essential for slaying the Evil Dragon—he's indispensable to this expedition. You mustn't antagonize him."
So she gritted her teeth and bore it. No matter how he taunted her or endangered her life, she never once voiced her resentment.
"Why do you keep staring at me like that, Princess? Does this beastly form of mine fascinate you so? You lose yourself every time I draw my sword—kehehe."
'Because I want to slit your throat.'
A retort she swallowed every time.
But one day, as years passed and Jared's unchangingly vicious games finally turned toward Rian—
When she saw him seat young Rian atop a jar teeming with venomous snakes and throw daggers at him as target practice—
"Rian!"
"Mommy, waaaaaah—!"
Medeia could endure no longer.
"Have you lost your mind, Medeia? What will we do if Jared dies! Who will slay the Evil Dragon without him?!"
"I almost lost Rian. And that's all you have to say to me?"
That day, Jared drank the poisoned wine Medeia offered him and died in agony.
Iason had been furious. It was the first time she had seen his face contorted in rage.
She should have realized it then—his revolting, hideous nature.
"Both of you, stop being nuisances and leave. If being slightly agreeable is so difficult, it's better if you're gone."
"......I'll slay the Evil Dragon myself. Will that satisfy you?"
She should have left with her child. Not achieved his damned accomplishments in his stead.
"Medeia, slaying the Evil Dragon?! You're truly incredible! The throne is ours now!"
"Wow, Princess, how did you—Ghk."
Medeia raised her head.
Over the image of the present Iason watching this scene, the dying Jared of her past life—slain by her hand—superimposed itself.
'Jared was cruel, but he wasn't stupid. Would someone as quick-witted as him have targeted Rian for no reason?'
Back then, Iason had already been preparing to remove Medeia and her son by the expedition's end.
A flash of killing intent surfaced and vanished in her emerald eyes.
Then, as though unable to wait any longer, the Fourth Princess asked:
"So, Princess, who will you choose as your proxy?"
The faces of the Valdinans froze.
At present, Valdina had no one who could stand against General Jared.
The 10-Star warriors are currently away at war, and the veteran generals remaining in the royal castle have waning vigor. They would be no match for Jared in his prime.
Medeia glanced around.
Among the crowd, she spotted members of Duke Claudio's household watching the scene as if it were someone else's affair.
'Well, Neril will be the one fighting anyway...'
But she couldn't pass up this chance to tear off her uncle's mask.
"Samon."
Medeia turned to face Samon.
"Help me. Please. Fight in my stead to save the people of Valdina, won't you?"
Unlike her usual composed demeanor, she now appeared fragile—as if placing all her trust in her dear family member.
The Regent was startled.
How could Samon possibly face that 10-Star monster? Was Medeia seriously asking him to throw his precious son into the jaws of death for her sake?
"No, absolutely not, Medeia!" he roared, his protective instincts overriding reason.
"Uncle...?"
Seeing Medeia's puzzled expression, the Regent finally regained his composure.
"Haha, your heart is in the right place, but Samon recently injured his leg severely during martial training. He won't be able to participate in the duel, I'm afraid."
The Regent put on a regretful expression, claiming he couldn't possibly risk national interests by forcing an injured man to fight.
"Y-yes, that's right. I'm sorry, Medeia. If not for these lingering effects, I would have gladly borne this honor in your place..."
Samon, who had absolutely no desire to face a 10-Star General on Medeia's behalf, promptly began limping exaggeratedly on one leg.
Since when had his perfectly fine leg become a problem?
It was such a flimsy, transparent excuse to avoid the fight that even a child could see through it.
The people of Valdina, witnessing the true colors of their supposedly righteous and benevolent Regent, were deeply disappointed.
After all his pretense of doting on his niece, the moment his own son's safety was at stake, he discarded her without hesitation.
The Queen Dowager also struggled to suppress her rising sense of betrayal and fury.
'Medeia stands alone against them for the sake of the nation, while you lot only care about saving your own skins...'
Medeia, too, swallowed a laugh and cast a sidelong glance at Neril standing in the distance.
'I knew you'd show your true colors.'
She had already prepared for everything.
After her duel with the Fourth Imperial Princess, she had anticipated that the princess—unable to accept defeat—would send Jared to demand a rematch.
And today, within Medeia's plans, Neril—a 7-Star Knight—would crush Jared, a 10-Star General.
But those unaware of her schemes were on edge, wondering who would step forward as the princess's champion.
As Siseo listened to the Claudio father-son duo's pitiful excuses, he began unbuckling his wristwatch.
Beside him stood Facade's group, who had approached earlier under the pretense of congratulating the princess.
"What are you doing, Siseo?"
When Cesare glanced down at him with that question, Gallo gasped in alarm.
"Wait, you're not thinking of stepping in, are you? Even if you're sharp-witted, you're no fighter. You were terrible at direct combat even back in the Tower. You can't face that bastard."
"...Fetch my armor."
Siseo ignored him and ordered a servant instead.
Meanwhile, as no opponent emerged from Valdina's side, Jared grew increasingly smug. Look at these cowardly mice from a petty kingdom, tails tucked between their legs at the mere sight of him.
"Who will face me in place of Valdina's princess?!" he bellowed arrogantly, running a finger along his blade.
"I'll accept any challenger! Step forward now! Or shall I force your noble princess to face my sword?"
He even threw in a taunt for good measure.
The princess of Valdina would soon regret her grave mistake of overlooking and disrespecting a warrior of his caliber.
And when she saw her champion shattered beneath his might, she would tremble in fear.
Just imagining those beautiful green eyes drowning in terror made his blood sing with excitement.
"Last chance! Is there truly no one? Are there only weaklings in Valdina?"
As Jared roared with full bravado, Medeia signaled Neril with her eyes.
Just as Neril nodded and took a step forward—
Whoosh! A golden dagger flew through the air and landed with a soft thud at Jared's feet.
The scabbard bore Facade's insignia.
"......"
The crowd fell dead silent.
"I'd like to take that duel, if you don't mind."
Jared's body froze mid-boast.
A white half-masked mercenary from Facade's group was grinning cheerfully at him.