Chapter 17: If Someone Hits You, Stab Him With A Dagger
It was a cool evening, and the air was crisp with the onset of autumn. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Your Highness Vita!”
At the entrance of the annex, the lady’s maidss, who had been bustling around, froze when they saw Adeline returning late.
“How could you—”
“How could I what?”
“Where have you been? Is it true you went to the Hall of Glory? How could you—!”
Adeline removed the tiara that had weighed heavily on her head and carelessly twirled it around her finger. She then strode into the group of maids, who were furiously berating her. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Princess!!” Collin was waiting in her room, her once-neat hair now a tangled mess from anxiously searching for Adeline. The look in her eyes was filled with resentment, as if Adeline had betrayed her.
Collin rushed to her, letting out a stream of anguished complaints, asking why on earth Adeline would do such a thing and pleading with her not to do it again.
Adeline’s gaze shifted, noticing a man standing in the center of her room. She immediately understood why Collin was so distressed.
“Are you just now returning?”
Richard Selmore stood there, his face contorted with fury. His grip tightened on his long sword as if he might strike her down.
“I am Richard Selmore, assigned to guard Her Highness Vita starting today.”
‘Cesare, you’ve acted quickly, haven’t you?’ Adeline thought, recognizing Cesare’s swift reaction. Clearly, he was enraged and had sent Richard Selmore to shackle her.
“You won’t be able to take a single step outside this building without my permission,” Richard said coldly.
“Says who?” Adeline scoffed, gesturing to her bandaged shoulder. “You’re here to guard me? Or are you just here to deliver me to those assassins?”
“Your Highness Vita!” Richard snapped.
“You’ve already failed once. Don’t you see this wound?” Adeline retorted. “Just admit it—you’re here as a watchdog.”
“I’m just following orders,” Richard responded through gritted teeth. Adeline clenched her jaw as well. They both understood the real reason Richard had been assigned to her.
Richard Selmore was a third-class commoner, unlike Cesare’s other knights, who hailed from influential noble families. This made Richard blindly loyal to Cesare, seeing him as a noble who disregarded class and status. To Richard, Cesare must have seemed like a true aristocrat, noble in both spirit and action. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
‘Idiot,’ Adeline thought, her eyes cold. ‘Look at him now—guarding a former slave princess.’
**
“Collin, what happened to your face?” Adeline had slept soundly and woke up late, still pleased with the blow she had dealt to Cesare and her father the day before.
But Collin had been unusually quiet all morning. She avoided making eye contact with Adeline, behaving in a way that was completely unlike her usual bold and lively self. Head down, she kept staring at the floor, turning her back or trying to leave the room as if she were guilty of something. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Adeline got up from her bed and approached Collin. “Lift your face.”
“Pri-Princess…” Colin stammered.
“I said, lift your face.”
With her eyes squeezed shut, Collin slowly raised her face. A large, red bruise marred her round, young face. This wasn’t just a slap; it had been a fierce blow from a strong man. The bruise covered half of her face, and at the corner of her eye, a small drop of dried blood clung to the torn, tender skin.
Collin cupped her swollen cheek, crying and gritting her teeth as she looked at Adeline, who stood silently for a moment. “I’ll go and prepare breakfast…” Collin mumbled.
“Collin.”
Princess, I’m fine. Please, don’t worry.”
Adeline didn’t appear particularly concerned about Collin, though she didn’t need to ask who had hit her. It was obvious that this was Cesare’s doing. Collin was supposed to be a watchdog, yet she had failed to prevent Adeline from slipping into the Hall of Glory. This beating was Cesare’s punishment for her failure.
But in truth, it was just Cesare’s way of venting. Whenever he was angry, he always took it out on the weak.
“Collin.”
“Princess, the chef won’t cook for you anymore, so I have to do it.”
“You… quit this job.”
“What?” Collin looked up, confusion written across her face. She didn’t understand Adeline’s command. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Stop being a maid and go back to your hometown.”
Collin’s watery eyes wavered. She looked so pitiful, like a puppy that had been abandoned. If Adeline were still the same as she was eleven years ago, she would have wept, embraced Colin, apologized for it being her fault, and urged her to run away.
But Adeline knew better now.
When Richard had come to Nova to take her back with 60 knights, Adeline had kept an eye on Colin. Collin, who was particularly young, had stood out awkwardly among the other maids. She seemed more interested in following Richard, as if she saw him as her superior. Whenever Adeline did something, Colin would glance at Richard, who would either shake his head or nod in response.
“Princess… what do you mean by that?” Colin’s voice trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.
Adeline climbed back onto her bed, her bare feet padding lightly on the floor. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“You heard me.”
“I-I have to serve you. I’m the one you’re most comfortable with. The other maids hate you. I—I wouldn’t ever do anything to harm you!” Collin’s words sounded like concern for Adeline, but Adeline knew better. Collin was worried about herself, afraid of what would happen if she lost her job as a watchdog.
“It’s okay. I won’t kill you.”
“What?”
“Just tell them this: you’re sick of serving a slave who thinks she’s a real princess. You swear to leave this country and never come back. That’s how you’ll survive.”
Collin instinctively took a step back. She couldn’t bring herself to respond to Adeline’s chilling advice. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
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