The Lion and the Royal Princess - Chapter 7
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The lady-in-waiting took the spoon and stood stiff.
That was what an unexpected blow was like. Adelaine lay in bed and said with her arms folded.
“It’s an order.”
Uncomfortable silence filled the room. The lady-in-waiting could neither listen to Adelaine’s order nor could she rebel.
Whatever Adelaine did what that soup, it would only become a source of amusement for them. But so were they.
“Eat. Eat it all. Say it was very delicious because the chef made it personally.”
“Your Highness Vita…”
“Don’t leave the room until you empty that bowl.”
After completing her business, Adelaine turned her head. She then shouted towards the door. It was to call Collin. The door opened and one of the ladies-in-waiting outside poked her head in.
“Call Collin.”
The lady-in-waiting’s face quickly stiffened upon seeing her colleague.
This is unexpectedly amusing.
Adelaine did not bother hiding her laughter. After enduring various things for too long, even a small incident like this felt satisfying for her.
Collin entered the room after a while. Her attire was neat but her complexion was not good. As she was still young, she was inexperienced in managing her expression. She had a sullen face as the ladies-in-waiting from the Queen’s palace acted territorial to her.
Why did Cesare consider this girl suitable for my surveillance?
Adelaine became curious.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry for being late. I had to escort the doctor. I’ll quickly go to the kitchen and have another meal prepared.”
Adelaineed nodded with a smile.
Collin rushed to the kitchen and the doctor came into the room. Just as before, he treated her wounds with an indifferent attitude. However, seeing him disinfecting the wound and applying a new bandage, it seemed he had not forgotten his duties entirely.
“It’s all done.”
The doctor packed his back and stood up. Adelaine found out that the head lady-in-waiting, who was standing with a bowl of soup, silently left the room while the doctor treated her. She could called her back to bother her but she chose not to. After all, this was just the beginning. There was plenty of time ahead.
“Princess.”
A while later, Collin returned from the kitchen. She was pushing a small, mobile tray, and on it were dishes that looked rather fancy.
Adelaine imagined how the chef might have felt while preparing the dishes.
“There are two newspapers today.”
“Do you bring them from your quarters?”
“Yes. there are a few more but they didn’t allow me to take it.”
Marma had a variety of newspapers. Most were tabloids that sensationalized the private lives of famous people like novels. Still, quite a few people read them.
She scooped up the soup, took a spoonful, and opened the newspaper that Collin had brought.
“Collin.”
“Yes, princess!”
Collin responded with a slightly louder voice each time Adelaien called her name. If Adelaine were an ordinary princess and Collin were a lady-in-waiting who genuinely liked her, it would be a pretty scene like a fairy tale. A princess and a lady-in-waiting who cherished and respected each other. But the reality was different. They were merely a twisted princess and a tattletale lady-in-waiting.
“Bring this back.”
“Pardon?”
Collin looked puzzled.
Adekaine dropped the bowl and smiled gently.
“Tell them I can’t eat it because it’s too disgusting.”
The dish looked glamorous but it tasted terribly bad.
The chef had to make new dishes again. Collin had been running back and forth between Adelaine’s room and the kitchen twice now. Her face, which was already dark, looked utterly exhausted.
Adelaine thought while lying down.
Which one would be faster—the ladies-in-waiting ran to the chief lady-in-waiting to tell her about this or Collin ran to Cesare to report everything about her?
Which side had more patience?
Either way, the winner was already decided.
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Surprisingly, that day was very peaceful. Which meant, nobody told anyone about the incident. However, that did not make Adelaine feel relaxed or comfortable. She knew better than anyone that this was the calm before the storm.
Meanwhile, Collin had gone outside the annex to get the Royal News. Through the newspaper, Adelaine could see why Cesare did not find her.
“An engagement ceremony?”
The Royal News primarily conveyed news about the royal family. Naturally, it featured updates on the popular Crown Prince Cesare Dixon.
“The banquet will be held for a week from the day after tomorrow. It will be held at the Hall of Glory in the main palace. The nobles are already bustling inside the royal palace… Hmm.”
Collin, who was muttering next to her, abruptly shut her mouth. The lady-in-waiting who brought the dinner glared at Collin and clicked her tongue.
Adelaide chuckled as she observed the silent battle between the two.
“A week, huh?”
She pushed the Royal News aside and lay down on the bed. Although her wound was still healing, the pain was manageable with strong painkillers. The lady-in-waiting, who had been silently watching her, quickly left the room.
“Hmm.”
A banquet to celebrate the Crown Prince’s engagement.
That was the reason Cesare locked Adelaine in the annex and did not come to find her. It meant to shut up and sit tight because she was embarrassing. When she was sold to Nova, she was treated like such a precious princess but when she came back, she was treated the same way again. It was as if they did not realize they avoided war thanks to someone. Her lips were twisted. A sharp and strong thought invaded her mind.
An engagement ceremony for the Crown Prince.
Quite an excellent stage for the entrance of the mad princess.
“Princess? What are you thinking?”
Collin asked. Adelaine twisted her lips.
“Evil thoughts.”
She decided to advance her plans a little.
After dinner, Adelaine went to bed early and woke up in the deep dawn. The effect of the painkillers had worn off and her shoulder ached.
No one was in the bedroom. So was the drawing room outside the door. In this regard, it was comfortable and nice to be treated with contempt.
Collin left behind nine candles. Three were on the decorative shelf and the rest were randomly placed on small tables and by the window. At least four of them were extinguished. She picked the longest candle, placed it by the window, and blew out the others.
Then, she waited for a while until the errand runner arrived.
Her room was on the second floor of the annex. Outside the window was a big tree, and the stone pillars and stone walls with bird embossings were covered with lush vines.
The errand runner suddenly appeared. No sound was heard. Not even a shadow was visible. It was just a subtle shimmer in the d darkness. The window was rising but even the usual squeaky sound was absent.
“Hello, princess.”
When the errand runner entered the room, he immediately sat on the floor.
“I’ve been waiting for when you’d call.”
“For that, you’re quite slow.”
“I’m sad. This is already quite fast.”
He chuckled and made a joke. He mentioned that it was a good idea to pre-oil the window, and since she said her room was on the second floor of the annex, he had not expected to really meet her there.
She did not have time to joke. She had to tell him her business and send him away quickly.
Adelaine sat on the bed and said.
“Bring me one thing I left with you.”
“Thing you left with me? There are so many things. Which one should I bring? poison? The royal palace’s secret maps? Stolen wills? Classified diplomatic documents? Or… a person?”
The errand runner’s eyes sparkled in the darkness. He seemed really excited. He was looking forward to what she would do from now on.
Unfortunately, his guess was all wrong. All Adelaine wanted was a dress.
“The red box. White among those in it.”
“Huh?”
“They’re all good so don’t try to choose. Just bring the most fancy one.”
The errand runner’s face quickly turned grim. He crouched down with his knee up and rested his chin.
“Princess, are you going to a banquet.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“That seems like an incredibly grand and terrifying plan… you know, there’s no one on your side in this country yet. Shouldn’t you avoid attracting too much attention?”
He spoke with a tone of genuine concern. Adelaine tilted her head and listened to his words.
“These days, the errand runners even worry about their clients too.”
“Hey, Princess. Even though I’m just a small fry, I have a pretty sharp mind. No one has lost by listening to me.”
“Then, you must be good at choosing a dress.”
It was no use urging him to go quickly. He continued sitting by the window and mumbling. He mumbled about the hardships of becoming an Ordo member but his first mission was to choose a dress. He complained that the client was too harsh and he could not find any affection for her.
“Red box. White. Most fancy one? Got it.”
The errand runner finally stood up. Adelaine gestured towards the window.
“Go quickly.”
“Oh, princess.”
“Still have something to say?”
Even though Ordo was known for its discretion in handling information, he was unexpectedly talkative.
“Don’t be so harsh. I’m the only one on your side in this country after all.”
“How do you know that?”
“You’re cold. So cold. Ah, it’s freezing.”
“Stop playing around and go.”
“Here, take this.”
He got up and threw a small pouch. There was powdered medicine and ointment in it.
“That’s really expensive. Aren’t you thankful?”
She would have been grateful if he did not show it. She took a mouthful of the powder without saying a word.
“Don’t get hurt anymore.”
As he said so, he opened the window without making a sound as he did when he appeared. When his body was halfway out of the window, Adelaine decided to speak on a whim.
“Adelaine.”
“Huh?”
“It’s Adelaine. Stop with the princess nonsense.”
His eyes focused narrowly on her. He hung outside the window and stuck his tongue out.
“No. I like princess more.”
That cheeky bastard.
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