Chapter 36: The Stars on the Road [unedited]
“Please take me to your palace, Your Highness.” The same Gypsy who once treated Adeline as a future murderer grabbed Adeline’s ankle as she turned around and tried to leave. “Please, take me with you.”
Adeline left her palace without eating, and venting her long-held emotions made her hungry. The growling sound from below her chest was pitiful. But she pretended to ignore it. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Adeline grabbed the arm of the Lion King who was guarding the door and led him outside. Since her fake chef still couldn’t even make a simple salad, she was going to get something to eat here.
“Your Highness, I could pretend to be a maid, or if you want me to be a slave, I’ll do that. Just let me stay by your side. You had bought me for 300.000 gold coins. You have to take a responsibility.”
Adeline stopped in her tracks. It was absurd. Why did she keep being surrounded by such unreasonable people? She spoke to the Starkeeper. “That wasn’t even my money, and I have no intention of taking you. If you have nowhere to go, just stay somewhere. It would be better if you went back to your hometown. If you want to be a maid, you can work for the Lion King here since he considers gypsies as his people.”
“He’s not my King.”
‘Then, are you saying I am your King?’ Adeline couldn’t say the question as if it was stuck in her throat. She forced her trembling body to turn around and face the Starkeeper directly. Having different colored eyes might be attractive to slave collectors, but not to her.
“What are you up to?” Adeline asked.
The Starkeeper bit her pale lips and took a step closer. “Your HIghness Princess Adeline.”
“I asked what you’re up to.”
“I have nowhere to go. I will serve you as I serve the stars. I will never betray you and will protect you with my life. Please, take me with you.”
“And you expect me to believe that?” Adeline had no intention of dragging out this futile argument. Ignoring it would be enough. However, this time, the Lion King stopped her steps as she turned to leave. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Adeline.”
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
“You need trustwoprrthy companions. I’ve told you before.”
“Wht are you saying this too…?”
“In that vast palace, the only person you can trust is Ordo’s errand boy. But he can’t be considered a true ally because he’s only cooperating with you because he has his own agenda.”
Adeline knew better than anyone that this was true, even without being pointed out. “So you’re saying I can trust her?”
“Give the Stargkeeper a name. I’ve heard that once you name them, they can never betray you, even in death.”
It was the first time Adeline heard such a story. The Starkeeper, being such a mysterious entity, was surrounded by legendary tales. However, the Lion King’s words didn’t seem any different from the notion that a Starkeeper belonged to the person who named them. Just how a person became a slave.
Adeline looked at the gypsy with suspicious eyes.
“Please give me a name, I will be your Guide.” That Starkeeper knelt before her again.]
The Lion King laughed softly at the sight. “Adeline, trust me. Take her with you. If the twelve chiefs of Odium witnessed this scene, they would be incredibly jealous of you.”
Adeline didn’t know hoe extraordinary the Starkeeper’s abilities were. She only knew that they weren’t something to be used recklessly. The rest were just assumptions or baseless rumors she had heard. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
The Lion King spoke again. “You need companions.”
Even though Adeline had known him not long ago, she was well aware that he was surprisingly cautious. He was so careful that he even scrutinized everything she ate and drank. Thus she was curious why someone who was so vigilant advising her to take the Starkeeper whom they had only recently met. There must be a compelling reason behind it.
“I don’t have a hobby of collecting people.” Adeline murmured.
The Starkeeper lifted her head while still kneeling. Her two differently colored eyes shimmer with an eerie longing as they look at Adeline.
“Your name….” Adeline decided to take the Lion King’s advice. “Let’s call you Nabi.”
The Starkeeper nodded.
“Not just anyone can be a palace maid. They thoroughly investigate your origins and backgrounds. They also won’t take you as a guard just because you know how to fight.”
“I’m okay with being a slave.”
‘Don’t talk nonsense. I disdain those who call human slaves.”
Adeline helped the Starkeeper up and invited her to eat with her. However, this Lion King, with a troubled expression, informed her that there wasn’t a single cook in this vast mansion. Even his subordinates were not properly stationed and were wandering outside because they had been stuck in this mansion, restless. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Adeline muttered weakly in response. “So I have to eat Ringo’s miserable cooking? I’d rather go out and buy something.”
“What are you good at?” The Lion King asked.
After hesitating for a while, the Starkeeper carefully spoke, “if it’s cooking… to some extent?”
‘Ah, then I need to take her right now.’ Adeline decisively grabbed her hand firmly.
***
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