Crimson Karma - Ch. 18

[Pocky8]

This was so sad 😢
Tasel is a good man who cares for his subjects. Also, I hope Kasia can get her humanity back, bit by bit, as she stays by his side.

And... the legendary sword. That must be on the cover. I'm eager to know how she'll get it. And I have a feeling the magician in disguise in Tasel's camp is Zeke. I might be wrong, though 🤔

 

[Svelandria]

@Mai_loves_icecream She believed news of her death would reach her son relatively quickly, especially considering that some of the maids/guards were sent by her son(it was mentioned in a previous chapter that one of the knights guarding her who was personally connected with the prince was killed recently. It was probably because the knight found out about the queen's death and was silenced.). The fact that her corpse was reduced to bones means that she was dead for probably a couple years(although google search suggests it could be as little as a few weeks for an exposed body to decompose to that extent depending on the circumstances). It's possible that she killed herself soon after the war started in the hope that he wouldn't have to be at constant risk of dying for much longer. Sure, she knew the emperor, but in the way a captive got to know their captor after several years. Depending on how often they interact there is only so much one can learn about the other.

Regardless, she was betting on someone, anyone, spreading the news despite what the emperor would want. Unfortunately, the emperor managed to seal the place tight and silence anyone that knew. I bet none of the current guards that were there even knew the truth, and were likely swapped out constantly to avoid suspicion since I doubt anyone would be delivering food to the queen.

 

[Karakuri1812]

That kind of man ( the emperor) is the hero? Just imagine how terrible the villain is or maybe he's actually a villain who posed as a hero. RIP Queen Elena 😢

 

[Nogoodimaginativename]

FFS

I. JUST. WANTED. A. HAPPY. ENDING*.

*Maybe resolution is a better word here... you get the drift

 

[lurkingFluff]

*sniffs* T^T

 

[TheGodEmperor]

What a dumb move by that queen.

 

[Spookie]

@TheGodEmperor She was a hostage. The prince wouldn't be able to make any moves if the emperor threatens to harm his mom. Her death means he doesn't have to hold back.

"Why didn't he just rescue her?" Well they don't have the skillset for a silent infiltration and that's where Kasia comes in.

 

[TheGodEmperor]

I still find it a pretty dumb move. She should have thought it through that the type of dick that Emperor is that he'd keep the death hidden from the son. There'd be no guarantee how long it'd take. So she'd just make things worse in dying. At least staying alive there are always more potential options to come up.

 

[lolhahaha]

Can't wait for the day the Emperor gets what he deserves!

GIVE HIM ALL TYPES OF STDs!!! 🙄🙄🙄

 

[vierseason]

what tasel said is good for kasia's character development.

 

[Acyberg]

omg, seeing him in tears is heart wrenching...

 

[KimmyChii]

Thanks for translating

 

[Vofuro]

@TheGodEmperor
of course it wasn't the ideal or most logical move. it was a desperate move. she was so heavily abused and isolated, I doubt she was even able to imagine a free life or freedom along with her son. She was mentally abused as well, so she most likely thought she'd be a burden on her child, too, if she were to live on, even if she were free of her abusers. At least that's my take on her, based on her characterization. So taking action for freedom wasn't an option.

So no. It wasn't her best idea. But I still wouldn't call her dumb, more like desperate. And either she thought the emperor couldn't keep news of her death hidden - prince apparently did have supporters, someone should have noticed she was dead, it's a surprise that never got out - or she naively thought he wouldn't do that to them.
It's probably the first one, after all, she would need stuff to live, people would notice something off, people usually can't keep secrets hidden, something would have spilt with alcohol and loved ones. I'm actually surprised there weren't any rumors about her dying hidden away.

 

[angry_noodles]

this is a little calculative, but the empress's death makes things hit more realistically. it's not a feel-good, being-OP-gets-you-everything story.
the futility of the empress's death is profound- she could have been saved! she wouldn't have been a bargaining chip! it's so frustrating! but then we think about her and her context. the 2nd prince waited a long time before deciding it was worth it to save her. there was also no MC Kasia before the empress died. the empress was captive, after suffering abuse, not only separated from her only joy and reason for living but also being used against him. she made a very human decision. human decisions aren't always rational or streamlined for success. this story gives you that depth of emotion.
there are people complaining that it would have been more useful to have her die later. i have no complaints about using this for plot at this point of the story. of course the "fridge your women" trope, dead parent trope is... a trope, but i think it was executed well. It allows the story to smoothly address Kasia's ability, her "machine" mentality, AND her developing self-awareness and yearn for humanness. It flows better than what I can imagine would develop if Kasia were able to save the woman.

 

[Yuraine]

@angry_noodles so true

 

[koia]

thank you for the update

 

[sonyaism]

Get a man like Tasel in your life. He's like a life coach right now.

 

[ivies]

I almost cried 🙁thanks for the chapter!

 

[berryoragami]

That's just too sad
Thanks for the chapter!

 

[gigiemmyxo]

i feel this moment with the mother shows a sense of selfishness and selflessness. she might have ended her life partly for her own self bc of the abuse she received (totally rational) as well as her selfless love for her son. i actually like to believe it could be both. she hated her life and lived for her son and for her son she would sacrifice her life to help him live is life. thus even in ending her own life she’s happy, her pain is over and her son might mourn but he will find happiness. maybe i’m reading too far into it but i just love this chapter. i feel like we’re about to witness something great with both our prince and kasia