Chapter 6. The Star on the Road
“Please take me to Your Highness’s palace.”
One moment she was treating someone like a future mass murderer, and the next, the gypsy was grabbing Adeline’s ankle just as she was about to turn and leave.
“Take me with you.”
She hadn’t eaten and had just spilled long-held emotions—her stomach growled so pathetically it was almost embarrassing.
She decided to pretend she hadn’t heard. Adeline grabbed the Lion King’s arm, who was guarding the door, and led him outside. Her fake cook still couldn’t even make a simple salad, so she was determined to at least get a decent meal here.
“You can disguise me as a maid or make me a slave if you wish. Just let me stay by Your Highness’s side. You bought me for 300,000 gold coins, didn’t you? You have to take responsibility.”
Unbelievable. Why did she always attract the most willful people around her?
Adeline stopped and turned to the Star Keeper.
“That wasn’t even my money, and I have no intention of taking you with me. If you’ve got nowhere to go, settle down wherever. It’d be best to return to your homeland. With the Lion King here, who treats you gypsies as his people, you can work for him as a maid if you like.”
“He is not my king.”
Then are you saying I am your king?
A question caught in her throat, unspoken.
Adeline forcibly turned her trembling body to face the Star Keeper head-on. Her mismatched eyes might be attractive to slave collectors, but not to Adeline.
“What’s your game?”
She asked. The Star Keeper bit her pale lips tightly and took a step forward.
“Princess Adeline.”
“I asked what your game is.”
“I have nowhere to go. I will serve Your Highness as I served the stars. I will never betray you—I will protect you with my life. Please take me with you.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
Adeline had no intention of dragging this pointless back-and-forth any longer. She could just ignore her. But this time, it wasn’t the Star Keeper who stopped her from walking away—it was the Lion King.
“Adeline.”
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
“You need someone you can trust. I told you this before.”
“Don’t you start, too…”
“There’s only one trustworthy person in that vast palace—Ordo’s errand boy. He’s helping you because he has his own motives. He can’t really be called a companion.”
She didn’t need him to point that out—no one understood it better than she did.
“And you think I can trust her?”
“Give the Star Keeper a name. I’ve heard that once a Star Keeper is given a name, they can never betray that person—even in death.”
She had never heard of that before. Since they were such mysterious beings, she’d only ever heard legendary tales. But the Lion King’s words meant that naming a Star Keeper essentially bound them forever.
Was she really offering to become a slave?
Adeline looked at the gypsy with a skeptical gaze.
“Please give me a name. I will be your guide.”
The Star Keeper knelt again before her. Seeing this, the Lion King chuckled.
“Adeline. Trust me. Take her with you. If the twelve chieftains of Odium witnessed this scene, they’d envy you dearly.”
Adeline didn’t know how great the Star Keeper’s prophetic powers really were. She just knew they weren’t something that could be recklessly used at any time. The rest were mere rumors or unconfirmed hearsay.
The Lion King spoke again.
“You need a companion.”
She was curious why he was so insistent. Though their time together had been brief, Adeline already knew he was far more cautious than he seemed. This was the man who even questioned everything she ate or drank. So for him to recommend taking a stranger along meant there must be a good reason.
“I don’t have a habit of picking up strays.”
Adeline murmured.
Still kneeling, the Star Keeper lifted her head. Her two differently colored eyes glowed with an intense, strange longing.
“Your name is…”
Adeline decided to accept the Lion King’s advice.
“…Let’s call you Navi.”
The Star Keeper nodded.
“Not just anyone can become a palace maid. They conduct thorough background checks. And it’s not like you can serve as a bodyguard just because you know how to fight.”
“I’m fine with being a slave.”
“Don’t say such nonsense. I despise those who call others slaves.”
Adeline helped the Star Keeper up herself and invited her to eat with her. But then the blasted Lion King confessed, looking troubled, that there wasn’t a single chef in this massive mansion. Apparently, even his subordinates couldn’t sit still and were always out wandering.
Adeline muttered weakly.
“Do I have to eat Ringo’s miserable cooking again? I’d rather eat out.”
“What can she do well?”
The Lion King asked. The Star Keeper hesitated for a long while before answering cautiously.
“Cooking… to some degree?”
Ah. She had to come with them, no matter what.
Resolute, Adeline seized her hand firmly.
“Where on earth did you pick up that woman!?”
She had expected Ringo to be annoyed, but not to this degree. Barely a day had passed since Navi entered the palace, and Ringo had already stormed into Adeline’s bedchamber, shaking all over like a wet dog.
“I told you to get along.”
“She took over my kitchen! Spices go here, spicy seasoning goes there, recipes under the shelf… I worked for days organizing everything, and she just flipped it all upside down!”
“Oh, so that’s why your cooking was so bad—because you were busy organizing.”
“What?! No… Princess! That’s so unfair. Nobody starts off good at cooking! If I keep practicing, I’ll get better!”
“I don’t think that’s the problem. Your salad smelled like fish, and your soup smelled like face cream.”
Frankly, the fact that she didn’t have to eat Ringo’s atrocious food anymore was enough reason for Adeline to support Navi. When she heard that Navi had taken over the kitchen from him, she had honestly wanted to dance.
“Who said she’s any good at cooking?”
Ringo demanded. It was clear he wanted to defend his territory. But was this really something to get that mad about? Adeline rested her chin in her hand and stared at him.
“Why are you so obsessed with cooking?”
“Because I want the princess to eat delicious food.”
“So why?”
“You already know I like you. Do you have to keep teasing me like this?”
Ringo twisted and squirmed like a worm.
Adeline pointed toward the door with a smile.
“Get out.”
“You’re so cruel.”
“Out.”
“At least come downstairs with me. Something terrifying is happening right now.”
So this was his real purpose.
Dropping the pitiful act, Ringo reached out his hand toward her. Adeline, who had been leisurely reading the noble’s daily that Collin brought early that morning, reluctantly got up and followed him.
“Prepare to be shocked.”
Ringo grinned slyly. Adeline tightened her robe and scoffed.
The guard waiting outside the reception room straightened up in surprise when he saw her. At first, they had been ashamed to be working at her palace. But now, gripped by fear that an assassin could strike at any time, they were more tense than anyone, standing on constant alert.
“This way.”
Ringo now adopted an unusually polite manner and led her down.
Her palace was a very quiet place. It was surrounded on two sides by a vast forest and stood far from the main palace. Being long abandoned only added to the silence. If she remembered correctly, it had once belonged to the mistress of a long-forgotten king. Thanks to that, the structure itself was spacious and beautiful.
“So few people living in such a huge palace.”
Ringo clucked his tongue.
“Did you know, Princess…”
“What?”
“Since the assassination attempt, the maids don’t sleep here anymore.”
“I know.”
Except for Collin, the maids had started working shifts—arriving in the morning and leaving by evening. But Adeline didn’t blame them. Even if the assassin wasn’t stupid enough to confuse the princess with a maid and kill indiscriminately, the fear alone was enough.
Ringo leaned in and whispered as if revealing a grand secret.
“Princess, you know… Navi, or whatever her name was.”
“What about her?”
“She doesn’t get along with the maids. Like, really, really badly.”
The two of them stopped in front of the door to the inner kitchen. She’s in there? When Adeline asked with a look, Ringo smirked and nodded.
Smack—!
A loud sound erupted from inside.
Frozen with her hand on the doorknob, Adeline was beaten to it as Ringo quickly opened the door.
“What the…?”
On one side of the spacious kitchen, Navi and the maids were tangled in a brawl, clawing at each other’s hair.
“Let go, you vulgar cook!”
“And you’re an insolent little maid who doesn’t know her place!”
“Argh!”
Adeline could not believe the scene unfolding before her eyes. She rubbed them with the palm of her hand—but the scene remained unchanged. The legendary Star Keeper and the graceful maids who had always acted like noble swans were now shrieking and yanking each other’s hair.
“Hehehe!”
Ringo chuckled, his shoulders shaking with amusement.
Adeline pressed a hand to her forehead and spoke.
“Break it up. Now.”
“What? Why? This is entertaining.”
“Now!”
“Watching a fight is the most fun thing in the world… Ah, fine! I’ll go!”
Muttering under his breath, he ran toward the fight, arms flailing.
“Oh dear! What’s going on here?! Stop fighting, everyone! The princess is here!”
No use.
“Don’t you hear me? I said the princess is here!”
Only when Ringo’s voice echoed loudly enough to shake the kitchen did the women turn to look.
Adeline had thought it was just a hair-pulling match—but up close, one maid had a nasty bruise blossoming across her eyelid. How Navi, with those slim arms, could deliver such force made Adeline blink in surprise.
The maids were still fuming with rage, but Navi, utterly calm, straightened her clothing and knelt before Adeline.
“I apologize.”
Her posture was flawless—graceful and without unnecessary flair. The other maids, suddenly feeling awkward by comparison, began to fidget.
“Care to explain why you were fighting?”
Adeline sighed as she spoke. The maids immediately launched into a tirade against Navi.
“This arrogant cook—!”
“She’s just a commoner! Your Highness, this is the Imperial Palace! How could someone so crude—!”
The cause was simple.
In the palace, managing the expensive fruits and ingredients delivered daily was the chef’s responsibility. But the maids had been going in and out of the kitchen as they pleased.
They likely wanted to claim the best fruits and desserts for the Lion King, who visited frequently. Navi, on the other hand, believed everything delivered to the palace was meant solely for Adeline. So she blocked them outright—and had the nerve to mock them for wagging their tails for the Lion King.
“She even hit me!”
One young maid held up her swollen hand.
At this point, it was hard to tell who was the aggressor and who the victim. After all, it had been three maids against one Navi.
Still, it was surprising Navi hadn’t been completely overwhelmed. Her hair was disheveled and her face bore scratch marks, while the maids had red, puffy hands and cheeks.
Adeline gave Navi a long, unreadable look.
So even a “legendary” Star Keeper isn’t exactly graceful.
She needed to finalize her plan to catch the slave hunters, but the palace had become too noisy for her to concentrate. Honestly, none of them were helpful. Of all times, why start pulling hair during such a critical moment?
Eventually, Adeline called for Collin and ordered him to make sure no one entered the drawing room. With a solemn nod, Collin—who wasn’t even a guard—stationed himself outside like a sentry.
The trafficking ring was operating across the borders, capturing valuable people and transporting them to the capital. Their numbers were too great to take down in one go. Adeline didn’t have the authority to mobilize knights or issue official orders.
That meant she had to play dirty too—just like them. She was going to abduct them, one by one.
“I need muscle.”
Exceptionally powerful warriors—slave hunters were born fighters. To overpower and capture strong freemen or barbarians, they had to possess enough strength and numbers.
She had no one to ask for help. There wasn’t a single noble in the country who’d join forces with her to raise a private army against slave hunters. Even if such a person existed, it would take too long to find them.
At first, she had considered teaming up with Ordo. But now, someone much stronger than Ordo was at her side. Someone who held a deep grudge against the slavers.
“Laçi El Baltica.”
Adeline said his name aloud.
“You want to kidnap the kidnappers?”
In broad daylight, the two met at a hotel and spoke over a lavish meal.
“I’m not one for noble revenge. I don’t have people to help me. I don’t even know if there are any decent officials left in this country. And I sure don’t have any real power right now.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying it’s impossible to formally charge them and see them punished.”
So it was an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Adeline handed the Lion King a sheet of paper. It was a map, recreated using Ordo’s intelligence and Navi’s memory. Red markings showed the buildings used as trafficking bases.
“It’s impossible to take down all the traffickers in Marma at once. But if we at least cripple their southern base, they’ll react.”
“And after we kidnap them, then what?”
“Do the same to them. Make them suffer just like the slaves they kidnapped and sold.”
She smiled, her expression dark.
The Lion King stopped eating, took the map, and fell into deep thought. While he deliberated, Adeline efficiently polished off the food on the table.
“This is our only chance.”
Cesare was busy appeasing his fiancée. The Emperor was pleased enough that Adeline remained by the Lion King’s side. No one would object if the two of them went on a trip to the south.
The Lion King said,
“Is it really necessary for you to go yourself?”
“What?”
“I could just send my men in masks to do it.”
He said it like he was proposing a rabbit hunt. He seemed nonchalant, but Adeline knew how difficult this really was.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
She let him ponder in silence. What surprised her was how few questions he asked. He simply unfolded the map and asked one serious question.
“Once this is over, will you join hands with me?”
His deep blue gaze poured over her.
She had no intention of lying.
Adeline nodded firmly.
“Most likely.”
“Is that a promise?”
“I’m not confident I can be the kind of loyal ally who’d stake her life. We still have too many secrets between us. What I am saying is—once this is over, at the very least, I won’t betray you.”
Whether that was enough, she didn’t know. This man had always demanded too much from her.
“Understood.”
The Lion King folded the map and tucked it into his coat.
If he had shown hesitation, Adeline had planned to persuade him with everything she had—even offering a worthy price. But he agreed with frustrating ease. He didn’t even ask for a detailed plan or timeline.
What was this?
Unable to hold back, Adeline asked,
“That’s it?”
“What? What more do you want me to say?”
“No, I mean—is that really the end of it?”
“I said I’d join you in this. What more is there?”
Just like when he said he’d handle things by sending his subordinates—his answer was simple. Watching him casually stuff food into his mouth again, Adeline let out a dry laugh.
“I didn’t expect it to be this easy.”
“What do you even think I am?”
“A man who proposed to me.”
He laughed with her. The low chuckle tickled her ears.
“Yes. The man who proposed to you. So just go with it.”
“…Do you… maybe love me?”
She blurted the question, only to regret it immediately. Adeline waved her hands and shook her head before he could answer.
“No, wait. Forget it. Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“Nothing. I was just talking nonsense.”
After that, they resumed their meal naturally. Adeline shared bits of idle chatter. The Lion King asked about the people in her palace. Sometimes he’d eat what she left behind, and other times she’d eat his leftovers. Having different tastes in food sometimes worked to their advantage.
As the meal was coming to a close, one of the Lion King’s subordinates waiting outside the hotel room knocked and entered.
“Baltica, I have something to report.”
“Come in.”
Adeline watched the man who entered the room closely. It was hard to guess his age. There weren’t many wrinkles on his face, but his hair was completely white. All the subordinates she had seen so far were dressed in armor, yet this man wore an ordinary shirt and trousers.
Just as the subordinate made a slight bow toward Adeline and was about to speak, the Lion King cut in first.
“You came at just the right time. Pick out a few men who’ve been itching for a fight and have them pack up.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Adeline says she’s going to give us a tour of southern Marma.”
The subordinate looked at Adeline with an expression that clearly asked, What is he talking about? The Lion King leaned back as if to say he had no intention of explaining further. Adeline, seeing the subordinate’s discomfort, added with a smile.
“Come travel with me.”
“…Excuse me?”
“A trip, yes. But you’ll want to pack weapons… And recommend men who are good at fighting.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I’ll cover all the expenses. You can buy anything you need.”
She could provide new weapons, horses, carriages, even fresh armor. She could feed them only the finest, most expensive food. And if needed, she could go above and beyond. After all, it was the Emperor’s money she was spending.
The subordinate looked between Adeline and the Lion King with a stiff expression, then let out a short sigh.
“You’ve finally succeeded, have you?”
The Lion King didn’t reply. He simply leaned back like a well-fed lion, lacing his fingers behind his head with a lazy smile.
The subordinate bowed deeply to Adeline once more.
“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Zakarian, his lieutenant.”
“Adeline,” she replied.
Adeline stood and extended her hand. Zakarian, with his white hair neatly combed, smiled awkwardly and took it.
“Zakarian.”
“Yes, my lady?”
Adeline asked if he had eaten, and whether there was anyone else outside. He was a gentleman, and answered her questions sincerely.
“Just call me Adeline.”
“I couldn’t possibly do that.”
“Why not? I’m going to call you Zakarian.”
“Even so…”
“Just do it. I don’t care if you speak informally. You probably noticed, but I’m not really the fussy type.”
After some hesitation, Zakarian finally gave in and spoke her name.
He had a cool, open laugh. Were all men of the desert like this? Even his hoarse voice was charming. If she brought him to the palace, the maids might silently scream in delight all over again.
Adeline and Zakarian continued chatting warmly for a while, until the Lion King, who had been silently observing, suddenly interjected.
“Why don’t you ever say my name?”
“What?”
“Adeline, you’ve never once said my name.”
He stared at her directly, with a gaze that demanded an answer.
Is he serious? Adeline smirked.
“What is your name?”
“What?”
“You’re the one who never told me in the first place.”
A sulky silence followed. The Lion King looked as if he’d been smacked upside the head. Adeline wore a mischievous smile.
Zakarian, rubbing his forehead, turned to the Lion King and asked,
“Baltica, is this true?”
“Well, I mean…”
“It’s basic courtesy to tell someone your name. Have you really never told Miss Adeline?”
He could search his memory all he wanted—it wouldn’t help. Because it was true.
Adeline turned her gaze from the troubled Lion King to Zakarian.
“It’s fine. We’re both royalty with not a shred of manners.”
The deeper Zakarian’s sigh became, the more the Lion King’s brows furrowed. Zakarian straightened his posture and buttoned his coat before addressing Adeline.
“Though late, may I introduce our king?”
“You?”
“I’ve heard that in Marma, nobles sometimes use their lieutenants to exchange names indirectly.”
“That’s an old, long-abandoned custom.”
Adeline sat back down in her chair, and Zakarian’s solemn voice filled the room.
“Laçi El Baltica. King of the warriors who rule the Odium Desert. Two years ago, he defeated the twelve tribal chiefs who had scattered across the land, uniting them through battle and securing the borders of the desert. It is thanks to Baltica’s leadership that Odium emerged as a nation and joined the Union…”
As Zakarian continued, the Lion King’s face grew more and more rigid. He looked as if he might explode, which only made Adeline more amused as she watched them both.
“Zakarian.”
“Yes, Baltica?”
“That’s enough. Get out.”
Now she understood—he was embarrassed.
Realizing this, Adeline had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. If he was embarrassed, shouldn’t he at least blush or try to deflect? But no—this man sat there with gritted teeth like he was ready to punch his own subordinate for singing his praises.
“Miss Adeline.”
“Yes?”
“If you have any questions about our Baltica, I’d be happy to answer whatever I can.”
Zakarian blatantly ignored the Lion King’s order and smiled at her.
Questions, huh? Of course she had some. But Adeline had read enough newspapers over the years that her room was overflowing with publications from the Nova Union, Marma’s noble society, and even the capital’s most notorious gossip rags. She probably knew more about the Lion King’s reputation than most politicians did.
“Laçi El Baltica.”
His name shot straight at her like a piercing arrow.
“I knew your name from the beginning, so I didn’t pay it much mind.”
“Just call me Laçi.”
“And the rest?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“Laçi El Baltica, you mean?”
‘El’ meant warrior. ‘Baltica’ referred to the sacred cliff symbolizing Odium. It was his heritage and status—things Adeline absolutely should know. But the Lion King just yawned like it didn’t matter.
“Do you have any questions?” Zakarian asked again, hopeful.
Did she? Of course.
Adeline held back laughter, pressed her lips together, and rested her chin on her hand with exaggerated elegance.
“Zakarian.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“How old is your king?”
Cough! Zakarian suddenly choked and began to cough violently. His face, usually pale for a man from the desert, turned beet red.
Adeline grinned impishly with an innocent expression.
“Why won’t you tell me? Want me to guess?”
“Miss Adeline…”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
Zakarian froze mid-cough. Judging by his stunned expression, he clearly hadn’t known. The Lion King looked just as surprised.
“What kind of man proposes without even knowing the woman’s age?”
Adeline said it in a sly tone, like a cheeky middle-aged uncle.
“You said you were twenty-four, didn’t you?”
Twitch. The Lion King and Zakarian both flinched.
It didn’t take long for the preparations to begin. When Adeline told the Emperor she would show the Lion King the “glorious heritage of Marma,” he was overjoyed. He even sent heaps of gold and luxury goods for the journey.
Richard, looking absolutely miserable, insisted on coming along, but Adeline shot him down instantly.
“If you were a stronger warrior than the Lion King, maybe I’d consider it.”
Richard left with a face like he’d swallowed a bug—no doubt off to run straight to Cesare.
Collin could only watch her helplessly, while Navi stayed focused on her tasks without reacting at all.
“Hehehe… Now, let me tell you about yours truly, the great Ringo! I ride horses like a pro, drive carriages like a dream, and I’m a superb fighter. Plus, I’ve got the wit to keep everyone entertained on the most boring of trips! I mean, really, what fun would you have traveling with that grumpy old Lion King? But imagine me, right next to you, pouring out the most amazing, hilarious stories the whole way!”
“Get lost.”
“Ack—how could you!”
“I said get lost.”
“You’re cold, so cold! How could you be so heartless to a man’s devotion!”
“You’ve got your own job to do.”
At her words, Ringo—who had been insisting he’d follow her even secretly—stopped whining and brightened.
“Princess, you’ve got something for me to do?”
“Cesare’s been too quiet. Find out what he’s up to. What’s he planning, what’s he interested in, anything.”
“Hm… He’s gone from crown prince to heir apparent. Maybe he’s partying every night?”
“He’s not like his father. I doubt he cares whether Marma is a kingdom or an empire.”
Adeline was stuffing sacks of gold coins into the luggage crates. The clinking weight echoed heavily on the floor. Ringo snatched two of the pouches with a grin.
“Got it. As the Princess commands!”
