Medea walked forward as if she didn't feel the eyes of the people on her.
The hem of the black dress that had been billowing shallowly stopped in front of Joaquin's coffin.
"Yes, how did you..."
Catherine looked as if she was seeing a ghost. Her fingertips were trembling and she couldn't meet Medea's gaze.
After the attempted kidnapping, Catherine was unable to contain her hatred for her niece.
Her instincts sounded the alarm before her reason.
'Not only did she kill Jared, but she also dragged in Katzen's black demon...'
The fact that she had never won a single battle against Medea and that each time her daughter and son had made painful sacrifices, took Catherine's breath away.
Surely, maybe this time too this girl...
Could Medea have been involved in the series of events that led to her lover's husband's murder?
The Princess's face was covered with a black veil, so her expression was unreadable, but it seemed as if she was smiling beneath the veil.
It really gave Catherine goosebumps.
Now, just imagining it sends a chill down her bones.
Unlike his mother, who was afraid of Medea, Samon was still burning with hatred.
This was especially true because this was the first time he had encountered Medea since his accident.
"..."
However, due to the power of the Agemas standing behind Medea, he did not dare to open his mouth.
He bit his lip. His flesh was rippling with the acrid taste of blood.
Medea continued to look down at Joaquin as if she didn't even notice their presence.
Her expression was hidden behind a black veil over her face.
"..."
There was a deathly silence for a long time.
No one dared to break the Princess's vacuum.
This was her land, and everyone felt it in their hearts that she was the master.
Medea, who had been looking down at the coffin, reached out her hand. As if she had been waiting, Saya quickly handed her a flower.
A single black rose that had been swaying from the tip of a white finger was placed on the half-open coffin, not in Joaquin's arms.
The black rose placed on the white silk was out of place.
It seemed out of place, like the life of a deceased person who died while searching for an ill-fitting coffin.
Medea's eyes, looking down at the black rose, were slightly distorted. But soon her expression returned to a blank expression.
Medea retreated.
The priest officiating the funeral began the service by reciting Joaquin's life story.
The voice was dry and the content was formal.
It is said that one can usually see what kind of life the dead person has lived at a funeral.
A half-hearted memoir and a desolate, empty hall. No one was there to truly honor Joaquin.
This was the true face of Joaquin Claudio, who had been parasitizing on someone and everything he had extorted had disappeared.
So, what he's saying is, there was nothing.
***
The priest finished reading.
When the Princess, who had been quietly watching the ceremony, was leaving, the attendees also stood up from their seats.
"Your Highness the Princess is truly a warm person. I never dreamed I would see her here today."
"It is because she is such a generous person that the people trust and follow her. She even embraces the dead who threatened the royal family as if they were her blood relatives."
"Why not? Well, I think the late Queen Dowager will think that we have been polite enough to this extent. This old man must go now."
The patience of the old ladies, who could no longer bear the gloomy atmosphere, ended here,
"I'll go with you. By the way, how can someone who was once crowned regent say such shabby things? You never know what will happen in this world."
They were people who had seen and experienced with their own eyes the Regent family, who would have made them drop birds just three years ago.
"Well, His Majesty spared their lives in mercy. If Claudio had known his place and exercised self-restraint, it wouldn't have ended like this."
"That's right. Ever since they set foot on this strait, they've been plagued by misfortune. The son lost his leg, and now the head of the household is dead. Maybe they've incurred the wrath of the goddess."
Claudio's evil deeds were so profound that it was not at all surprising that God was angry.
An empty chapel where even a few attendees have left.
Samon had already left midway through the meal with Marieu, using his bad leg as an excuse.
It was the last resort of a coward who could neither hide his hatred for Medea nor dare to confront her.
So, only mother and daughter Birna and the undertaker who would perform the remaining formalities were left in the chapel.
"I don't think there will be any more people coming, so let's end it here. I have somewhere to go too..."
Catherine's impatience was evident as she tried to wrap up the funeral quickly.
"Where is Mom going... Wait, you're not going to see that guy, Raju, are you?"
When Birna asked, Catherine, who felt stabbed, stopped.
"That guy. Aren't you speaking too rashly? Birna, but he was so good to you..."
"Mom, are you crazy? That guy is the murderer who killed Dad!"
"I said it was a mistake! If you treat that person like that...!"
Catherine spoke in a strident voice, suppressing her voice.
"Birna, how long are you going to be angry? The living must live. I want you to see who you really need. Do you think your dead father will feed us? Come to your senses."
At that moment, the undertaker said, he wanted to get away from this mother and daughter who were as bloody as flames.
"Madam, the funeral home you mentioned is currently overcrowded and will take some time. So we will plan to transport the remains in half a day."
"Yes, please do."
Catherine nodded, seemingly agreeing with the idea.
"Wait a minute. Funeral house? Are you going to burn Dad right now?"
Instead, Birna was shocked and intervened.
According to the doctrine of Catholicism, which believed in the salvation and resurrection of the soul after death, continental people believed that the soul could rest in peace only if the body was intact.
Cremation, which involves burning the body, was known to cause the soul to wander the world without enjoying eternal rest and was, therefore, a funeral method reserved for heretics and sinners.
"Mom, what on earth were you thinking? Do you know that too? We discussed it..."
"I wish he were warm at least when he leaves, since he is a cold person like blue blood. Is that a problem?"
Birna really couldn't understand her mother.
"Mom, why are you doing this? Why are you insulting Dad like this as if we're mortal enemies all of a sudden...!"
Catherine's gaze changed at her daughter's scream.
Catherine felt a surge of emotion surge through her, and the past unfolded before her eyes.
The days she shed blood, sweat, and tears to make Joaquin the King of Valdina.
The time when she ignored her love and ran around the palace and the social circle with her feet swollen.
All the shame and hardship she had suffered over the past three years because she was Claudio's wife.
'But instead of thanking me, that bastard Joaquin ignored me and insulted me!'
She suddenly felt a strong hatred for her dead husband.
The medicinal properties of the monga leaves made her emotions more vivid and raw.
"Ahh!"
Catherine grabbed Birna's arm and pulled her towards her.
"Birna, don't be sad anymore. Your anger and tears are a waste for me."
"Mom!"
Catherine's nails dug painfully into Birna's delicate flesh.
"You may not understand it now, but you will soon understand. When you arrive in Katzen. Then Mom will explain everything to you."
Catherine licked her lips, then realized that there were still people around.
Remembering Raju's request, she barely suppressed her impulse. Her grip on Birna's arm tightened.
"...!"
At that moment, a familiar silver hair caught Birna's eye over her mother's shoulder. Birna stopped.
'Didn't you just leave earlier?'
Medea raised her hand when she realized that Birna had found her.
And then she slowly turned around and walked away, her voluminous black dress billowing as if saying goodbye.
Medea must have been laughing at her from beneath the black veil that covered their faces. Birna was sure of it.
Her face suddenly became distorted.
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