Chapter 34: Just The Two of Us
Adeline had confidently stated that he wouldn’t come today, but seeing him show up made her appear caught in a lie, especially when Collin cleared her throat while standing behind Adeline. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Why did you come?”
He chuckled upon hearing Adeline’s words without realizing it.
This man had been going in and out of Adeline’s palace as if it were his own home, and thanks to him, the drawing room was becoming more and more extravagant. Everything from tablecloths to curtain decorations, flowers, and candle holders changed every day.
Adeline had never seen her maids so diligent. She pitied them because he didn’t even notice their hard work.
As soon as the Lion King entered her drawing room, without even sitting down, he approached her and offered her his hand.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“There is a place to go.”
Adeline unexpectedly burst into laughter, then took his hand.
Collin swiftly fetched Adeline’s outdoor attire. She entered the dressing room and returned with a hat and a pair of shoes for Adeline to wear outside. After placing the shoes in front of Adeline’s feet, Collin politely stepped back. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
The maids arrived late and behaved as usual. They scolded Richard who was mumbling outside the drawing room feeling annoyed for being disturbed. They rushed in and asked in a sweet voice if he would return for dinner and if they should prepare a meal in advance.
The maids had a sweet, refreshing fruit scent—it was lime.
“Wah…”
“What again?”
“No, even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand,” Adeline replied. She stood up, changed her shoes, and put on her coat.
Collin moved efficiently, almost like an extension of Adeline’s hands and feet. She placed a hat on Adeline’s head, tied a ribbon, and hurried out to prepare an umbrella in the carriage, saying it might rain.
As the Lion King took Adeline’s hand and they moved away, the remaining maids dispersed like a school of fish, creating a path for them.
Adeline remarked admiringly, “Living in this world must be easy for you.”
“What?”
“No. Forget it. Let’s go.”
For some reason, he came in a carriage. Adeline had no idea where he got it, but it was a sturdy Marma-style carriage.
She had not expected this man, unfamiliar with local customs, to assist her into the carriage. Thus, she opened the carriage door herself and lifted the hem of her skirt. However, the Lion King unexpectedly grabbed her waist tightly from behind with both hands, lifted her up, and placed her gently into his carriage.
This was the second time he had done so.
“Ahh!”
It was the maids who screamed.
Adeline was dumbfounded. As soon as she was placed inside the carriage, she looked back. It was her who was lifted like luggage, yet it was her maids whose faces were red. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
Adeline looked at him. His broad shoulders quickly filled the carriage as soon as he was in the carriage. She sighed and leaned back against the backrest.
“Let’s go quickly. I’m suddenly tired.”
The carriage departed, and the two people remained silent for a moment.
Adeline wanted to understand why her maids were so fond of this man, so she studied his face. At the same time, the Lion King also stared at her: the dress she wore, the cloak wrapped around her body, her hat, and the ribbon.
Anyone who saw them would have thought they were on the verge of fighting.
“What?”
“What is it?”
They spoke almost simultaneously.
He leaned back against the backrest, gesturing her to speak first.
“Do you resemble your mother or your father?”
“What? I was wondering what you were going to ask… Well, I don’t know either.”
“Why don’t you know?”
“I don’t know who my father is. My mother has brown hair and brown eyes. That means I must resemble my father as I do not look like her… But I don’t know who is my biological father because she has multiple husbands.”
He said amazing things with a casual expression. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
When Adeline could only respond by blinking her eyes that opened so widely, not knowing what to say, he only chuckled and elaborated further.
“My mother was a chieftain. She has about twelve husbands.”
“Wow.”
“I know that she still lives very well at the end of the desert, with whoever young man she takes as her husband.”
“Damn. I should have been born in the desert.” Adeline muttered, a jealous expression on her face.
The Lion King chuckled softly. “If you want to be a chieftain, you can’t just survive.”
“Why?”
“Once a year, you have to fight constantly and win against challengers. Only a strong warrior who can protect the tribe qualifies as a chieftain.”
It was a primitive but effective method. That must have been the case in a desert where there were many battles between tribes.
Adeline nodded, trying to understand his thoughts. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“You said one wife is enough for you. Is it because growing up not knowing who your father is?”
“What? No.”
“Then why?”
He looked at her with a perplexed expression, clearly not understanding her question at all. “A king should only have one wife. Even though I am new to being a king, I know the basics, so don’t test me with strange questions. A king sets an example for the people. Having several wives and breaking their hearts—what kind of example is that? A leader must be strong, and at the same time, must have a character worthy of respect.”
It was a reason that she had never considered before. It was so bizarre that Adeline was left speechless. Among the numerous royal families that had ever existed on this continent, no one lived by this ethical conduct.
Adeline could barely move her stiff mouth. “You are a model student.”
“I suppose you’re an underachiever.”
“I’m not?”
The Lion King laughed out loud seeing her looking at him angrily. He leaned back against the backrest, tilting his head to one side and supporting it with his fingers. His dark green eyes blinked slowly. His eyelashes matched the sandy color of his hair—pale yet intense and rich. The same could be said for his deep eyes and the eyebrows that arched above them.
Funny enough, the moment he blinked, Adeline seemed to understand why her maids admired this man so much. It is human nature to yearn for something that cannot be easily tamed. Even though they knew he was beyond reach, they still desired him, although they were unsure of how to attain him. This phenomenon was akin to facing stormy seas, clouded peaks, or brutal and beautiful wild animals. This guy was similar in that sense. He was rough and beautiful. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
As she pondered this, the carriage departed from the imperial forest and entered the outskirts of the capital. Rolling hills adorned with well-maintained forests passed by.
“Where are we going?” Adeline asked.
“To my house.”
It was a grand mansion where the Lion King and his men resided. He had come to Marma at the emperor’s invitation and had been granted a residence in the capital.
Upon hearing his explanation, Adeline could already envision the house before they even arrived. It likely was an ancient, glamorous, luxurious, and spacious mansion.
He opened the door first and jumped off. There was no butler or guard awaiting them at the entrance. The carriage had ventured deep into the garden, stopping at the front of the building.
“It’s a nice house.”
“Is that so? There are so many useless things. Just like your clothes.”
“Really? Like what?”
“Dressing room, accessories room, decorative sword room, tea room, drinking room, nap room… In addition, there is a separate reception room, living room, and drawing room.”
Adeline was very curious about how this man was using those specific-purpose rooms. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“The Starkeeper wants to meet you.”
He opened the door with one hand.
“She said she won’t open her mouth unless it’s you.”
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