Chapter 18: If Someone Hits You, Stab Him With A Dagger
Adeline lay sideways on the bed, wrapped in her blanket. “If you don’t run away now, you will definitely die someday.”
Collin’s round eyes were full of tears, but they didn’t fall. Her clenched fists shook as she awkwardly gripped and released the hem of her skirt. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“I… I’m…”
Adeline watched as those tears slowly dried up. Her maid turned out to be stronger than she had expected. Adeline remained cold, lying on the bed as she observed Collin gathering her scattered thoughts.
“I am the Princess’s maid.”
Adeline had given her a clear warning. She didn’t want to see an innocent girl disappear after being used by Cesare.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll serve the Princess here.”
‘So, Cesare must have found her weakness.’ It wouldn’t have been difficult to look into Collin’s background. Adeline knew people who were experts in gathering intelligence, but they wouldn’t lift a finger just to save the life of a maid. They were cold-hearted.
“Collin.”
“I accidentally fell and hurt myself. It’s fine.”
But how could Adeline ignore a face like that, walking around in front of her? She wasn’t a heartless murderer. She didn’t find violence entertaining. In fact, she despised those who did. “So, you’re going to keep watching me and run to Cesare every time something happens?”
Collin, who always responded even while crying, remained silent. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Adeline continued, “I’ll keep slipping out of your sight, so how will a maid, who’s only good at running errands, manage that?”
“Princess….”
“I could give an order right now—Collin, go out there, close your eyes, and count to one hundred—what if I disappear in the meantime? Will you keep coming back, slapped by Cesare and crying every time?”
“What should I do?” Collin had stopped crying, trembling as she clutched her skirt with both fists. “I can’t disobey the Princess’s orders, nor His Highness’s. I’m just a maid.”
“That’s why I told you to quit.”
“How can I?” Collin looked utterly lost. She knew the reality. Cesare was a man who could kill or save a maid with just a word. “Princess… I… I want to live.”
‘So it’s fear, not weakness?’
“Please, Princess, I beg you. I’ll do a great job. I’ll treat you better than any of the Queen’s palace maids who ignored you. I’ll help you wash every day, do your hair, and bring you delicious food, even if I have to confront the chef. So, please… please don’t disappear suddenly. Don’t defy His Highness the Crown Prince, please?”
Adeline found it absurd. Collin was trying to hold her hostage. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“It’s really not that hard for me to do all those things, Princess. As long as you stay still, looking pretty, everything will be fine!”
“Why should I do that?”
“What?”
“You’re not someone precious to me. Why should I care?”
Collin’s tear-streaked face twisted in frustration, her eyes filled with resentment. “Are you serious?”
“Does it sound like a lie?”
“You’re a terrible person.”
“Do you think so?” Adeline lay back on her bed, resting her chin on her hand. “Why are you mad at me for getting hit by Cesare? I wasn’t the one who ordered you to spy on me, and I certainly wasn’t the one who slapped you for not following my orders. I even advised you to run away because I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“But, but!”
“Collin, think carefully. Cesare can’t kill me. when he gets unbearably angry, you’re the one who’ll die, not me.”
There was nothing more to say. Adeline motioned for the trembling Collin to leave. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
**
Collin locked herself in the maid’s dormitory. The lady’s maids from the Queen’s palace were busy whispering among themselves after seeing Colin return with her face clearly beaten by someone. They wondered who on earth had hit her, leaving her looking as if she were dying.
“I’ll read the newspaper to you.”
The head lady’s maid often felt embarrassed when asked to do this, but for some reason, she appeared on her own and opened the newspaper. It wasn’t even the weekly magazine that specialized in personal lives, which the lady’s maids preferred, but the usual newspaper read by nobles.
Adeline nodded, intrigued by the head lady’s maid’s attitude.
Then the head lady’s maid began to read the article with a sinister smile. “Adeline Vita, the disgrace of the Marmas royal family, has returned. Many people know her as the noble courtesan….”
‘Aha. Right.’ It was clear to Adeline that the head lady’s maid had deliberately chosen the newspaper that harshly criticized her. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
The head lady’s maid’s voice was unusually loud when she read the terms “Royal disgrace” and “Noble courtesan.”
Adeline waited, resting her chin on her hand, until the head lady’s maid finished reading the article.
“Snout.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Do you know what my father, the King, called me yesterday?”
The head lady’s maid’s satisfied expression froze.
Adeline smiled and informed her, “He called me his beloved daughter and the great martyr, the joy of the empire.”
The lady’s maids had eyes and ears; they must have heard it all. Everything happened in the Hall of Glory.
“I guess you think differently?”
The head lady’s maid seemed at a loss for words, as no matter how she phrased it, it would be an insult to the royal family. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“I just read the newspaper.”
“I know.”
“Then I’ll leave now.”
“Stay there.”
‘Where is she trying to run away to?’ Adeline caught the head lady’s maid attempting to leave her room. There were already several advantages to Collin not coming out of the dormitory, so Adeline planned to use this maid until she collapsed from exhaustion.
***
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