Chapter 37

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 37

Chapter Title: The Star Festival and the Ashen Wolf (9)

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Roxiana offered Floyd a polite curtsy in greeting, but he didn't respond for a very long time. He simply stared fixedly at her, not even blinking.

His gaze made Roxiana feel uncomfortable and flustered.

‘Did I dress inappropriately?’

Unfamiliar with Torkan fashion, Roxiana had left herself entirely in the hands of the maids and Petria. The maids had braided her hair and selected her accessories, but it occurred to her that this might not be suitable attire for accompanying Torkan's lord.

‘Well, they're all maids who handle cleaning and laundry, so they might not know much about this sort of thing. Or...’

Roxiana glanced down at the exposed area around her collarbone. Petria had painstakingly covered the slave brand there with makeup, so it wasn't very visible, but it might still catch someone else's eye.

Or perhaps she had completely misunderstood.

He hadn't invited her to watch the circus together—he'd called her along as a slave to attend him. He might simply be taken aback by her fully dressed-up appearance.

Either way, she needed to smooth things over, so she opened her mouth to speak. But Floyd beat her to it.

“It suits you well.”

“Did I make a mistake?”

“A mistake?”

“I'm supposed to attend you...”

“Talking nonsense again. Every time you bring up ‘attending,’ I'll toss a frog at you. So watch yourself.”

“...How did you know I hate frogs?”

“You look like the type.”

Roxiana touched her face at his curt remark.

‘My face looks like it hates frogs? Is there really such a face?’

Floyd burst into hearty laughter at the sight.

“Princess, you're really something else.”

“Pardon?”

Roxiana couldn't tell what part of her he found so peculiar. A gentle smile played on his lips as he extended his hand toward her.

Not sure what he wanted, she just stared down at it. Floyd spoke up.

“Going to make me feel awkward?”

“Pardon?”

“Escort.”

“Ah.”

Of course, Roxiana knew the proper way to be escorted. Normally, one extended an arm with the back of the hand facing up, and the lady rested her hand lightly on the forearm. But she'd never seen anyone offer their palm upward like this, as if to hold hands.

She could barely even remember holding hands affectionately with her former fiancé, Lucas.

‘Is this Torkan etiquette?’

Roxiana hesitated, then—wanting to spare him further embarrassment—lightly placed her hand atop his. Ignoring her cautious approach, he gripped her hand firmly and flashed a grin.

“Your hand's small.”

“That's a first.”

Being rather tall herself, Roxiana's hands and feet were larger than most women's. Lucas, who was about the same height, used to laugh every time he saw her hands: “It'd fly right off if it fit in there.”

“Really? It's so tiny.”

In his grasp, it did seem small. His hand was large and long, with thick, sturdy joints.

Seeing her own hand completely enveloped in his massive one felt oddly strange. Her hand felt so slender and delicate nestled in his—like little Elise's small, adorable hands.

She couldn't understand why Lucas and Elise kept popping into her head now that she'd resolved to survive. Nor why words and actions she'd brushed off back then now made her chest tighten.

She didn't want to think about them. With so many other pressing matters right now, she just wanted to focus on recovering her family's bodies.

Floyd tugged her hand, pulling her from her reverie. He walked along holding it like an excited boy, leaving Roxiana a bit flustered as she glanced down at her dangling hand.

A carriage waited in front of Lily Palace. Plain in size with no crest, its interior was far more spacious, clean, and luxurious than it appeared from outside.

Floyd helped Roxiana in first, then gave orders to the coachman.

“Go slow. No bumps.”

Floyd sat across from her. His long legs brushed lightly against her knees. The carriage wasn't narrow, but it felt cramped for his large frame.

He shifted uncomfortably—clearly unaccustomed to riding in one lately—before addressing Roxiana, who was staring openly at him.

“Am I being too childish?”

“Pardon?”

“That look you're giving me.”

“No.”

She had thought his behavior lacked dignity, but not childishness. And since she didn't mind his disregard for propriety, she left it at that.

He studied her face before shrugging his shoulders.

“Forgive me if I trample all over princess etiquette. Wasn't taught any.”

“I'm hardly in a position to critique my master's manners anymore.”

“That again. Keep it up, and I'll start acting like a real master?”

Curious as she was about how he'd behave as a slave owner, Roxiana said nothing and lowered her gaze.

Floyd stared at her long lashes before chuckling and crossing his legs. Even with care, his toe brushed her skirt hem.

“Ah, sorry.”

“You don't need to apologize to me, Master.”

Floyd started to protest but fell silent at her impish expression.

‘Was that a joke? But that straight face... joke? Or serious?’

Roxiana rarely betrayed any expression—save for moments of surprise or protesting the “princess” title. Even when angry, the change was so subtle it was hard to tell if she truly was. Reading her mood was no easy task.

That must be why.

Why he felt so on edge around her.

As Floyd puzzled over whether her retort had been a joke or not, the carriage passed through the Grand Duchy's main gates. A knight on horseback pulled up alongside.

Floyd noticed immediately and opened the window to peer out.

“Hexston, what's this?”

“Escort duty.”

“Escort? For my carriage?”

“No. For the princess's carriage. As you know, I swore to protect her. So I will.”

“I'm right here.”

“The more guardians, the better. Festivals get crowded—who knows where danger might lurk? Plenty target you during times like this. Can't have any fallout splashing onto the princess.”

Hexston wasn't wrong.

As Floyd had risen young and swiftly, his popularity had soared—but so had the envy. Plenty had sent assassins to crush his unyielding spirit.

Floyd could fend for himself, but Roxiana needed protection. Hexston's judgment was sound, yet it irked him all the same.

‘Must be that damn grin of his.’

Hexston had been beaming since earlier, and the sight grated. He was a smiley sort by nature, but why did it feel so loaded today?

Floyd narrowed his eyes and glared before shutting the window.

While subtle tension crackled between Floyd and Hexston, Roxiana quietly parted the curtain on the opposite window to take in the outside view.

After leaving the palace grounds and riding for some time, a street aglow like starlight came into view. The sky was already dark, yet the road blazed bright as day.

“Mana stones.”

Floyd explained.

“We get them from slaying magical beasts. Instead of selling the low-value ones, Torkan uses them here. For festivals, they embed mana stones infused with light magic—looks pretty damn good.”

“Not just good—truly beautiful.”

Roxiana knew even low-value mana stones fetched high prices. Using so many just for a festival drove home Torkan's immense wealth.

The deeper they ventured into the bustling district, the more people filled the streets.

Merchants hawking wares, singers and dancers performing, orchestras and troupes putting on shows, crowds gathered around acrobats, boisterous storytellers clutching beer mugs, servers darting about with drinks in hand.

The vibrant scenes flooded in without end, overwhelming her senses.

The circus grounds lay in a wide field just off the main strip.

“Festivals mean fierce bidding wars for this spot. Theater troupe got it last year—this time, the circus troupe snagged it.”

Stakes lined the field, ropes strung between them to mark the boundaries. The carriage halted just before them.

Roxiana took Floyd's outstretched hand and stepped down. Holding his hand felt quite natural now.

Beside the colorful circus tents stood several iron cages. And inside them were all manner of beasts.

Wolves, rabbits, cats and birds, lions.

Roxiana halted at the sight. Hexston, following behind, explained.

“The stars of the circus acts. This troupe's animal tricks are a real spectacle.”

Roxiana surveyed the listless beasts trapped in their cages. The image overlapped with her own caged reflection.

They looked so pitiful, but knowing she couldn't take responsibility for them all, she bit her lower lip and kept her feelings hidden.

Then, the wolf cage caught her eye.

Inside the cage with two adult brown wolves, tiny shapes wriggled about. On closer inspection, they were wolf pups.