Chapter 23
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When Adrian came back to the Inn, he ordered one meal for the night along with one full glass of milk to be sent upstairs.
He entered his room & placed Rose's belongings to one corner.
He turned back to look at the doorway. The little girl that he brought here.
She had a vacant expression on her face as she stood where he left her.
Sighing to himself, Adrian moved towards Rose and held her hands, as he brought her to the bed.
After making sure that she sat properly, he sat by her side, as he wondered what to do.
Soon, the food was delivered & Adrian took it and placed it on the bed.
He scooped up a spoonful of the vegetable soup and brought it to Rose.
[Rose,.. you haven't eaten much today... Here, have this.]
The little girl didn't respond much. She looked at Adrian & slowly shook her head in denial.
At that time, the door was knocked twice as Drone enquired,
[Are you back, Young Master? I have something to talk with you about.]
Adrian looked at Rose worriedly, but since he couldn't do much, he went towards the door and went out of the room.
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As Adrian came to face Drone, he was reminded of how loyal Drone had been to him.
He also had flashbacks to when Leaf sacrificed himself & knew that even Drone would have done the same.
(...I cannot keep treating my people like this.. If they choose to follow me, then I must try to be a good Master to them...)
He looked straight at Drone's face, not avoiding it like earlier, & found that he didn't look as repulsive as before.
(...maybe something's wrong with my mind... I have been too judging of others.. especially their looks.. I didn't used to look great either after all...)
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Making up his mind, Adrian calmed his mind and said,
[What happened, Drone?]
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Drone could feel something different about Adrian, but couldn't put a finger on it.
[Young Master, we must get out of this village quickly!]
Adrian became puzzled. He wanted to stay for a while so that Rose could get used to everything.
[Why so soon? We just arrived recently, right?]
Drone looked especially nervous as he spoke,
[But! Young Master, the ones who attacked you yesterday belong to the City Lord's son! They were his personal guards. We can't even go to the City of Alonso now!]
[What? They were City guards?!]
[Yes! Young Master, I have already packed our luggage. Let's go quickly. Their men are already searching for us & would find us soon.]
Adrian became panicked at the sudden change. He never could have imagined that the ones he so casually beat up were guards from the city.
He realized the graveness of the situation & nodded to Drone.
[Alright. Let's get out from this place. But where should we go?]
A voice suddenly cut across the hallway.
[If you would like, then you can come along with me.]
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Adrian & Drone looked towards the direction of the voice. Adrian soon recognized the person & angrily pointed at her.
[Ah! It's you!! You're the one who slapped me!]
The lady in question, took off her mask as her face became instantly recognizable to Adrian.
However, instead of infatuation, anger erupted from inside him.
The lady bowed a little & replied,
[I have been observing you guys for a while. Earlier I suspected that you were making fun of my appearance, but now I realize that you meant no such thing.]
Adrian became cynical & smirked as he replied,
[OH? And how do you know now that I don't mean such a thing?]
The lady kept her calm & said,
[You don't seem disgusted by my appearance, unlike your guard there.]
Her eyes looking at Drone seemed frosty, but as they turned to look at Adrian, they looked curious instead.
[Before anything else, please tell me. Why did you call me beautiful?]
Adrian spat out as he looked at her menacingly,
[It's because your face looks attractive! But your personality.. it is rotten!!]
The lady graciously ignored the comment on her personality.
Her face blushed as she caressed her face and asked,
[Attractive? MY FACE?]
Adrian turned away from the lady & said,
[Don't get so cocky! My maid Ella is a thousand times better than you! You can never match her even if you try your best!]
The lady turned curious as she asked,
[Oh? Is she more beautiful than me?]
Adrian wanted to retort, but his inner self couldn't lie so out rightly.
[Well... her personality is better than you..]
The lady giggled to herself as she smiled to herself & said,
[I see, I see. I get it now. Alright! Come with me. I belong to a Mercenary group called the Eternal Flame Mercenaries. We don't belong to any nobles & would not discriminate against you. For now, this is the best option you guys have.]
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Drone listened to this conversation quietly so far.
He felt repulsed by the lady flaunting her face like that. But his experiences with the Guild Master & Young Master Adrian had taught him not to judge one by their appearances.
It didn't stop his sense of revulsion towards others however.
He knew that their circumstances were dire & they had no other place to go.
He had planned to take Adrian away to some place far away for some time, but the lady's aid came at the right time.
(...Young Master Adrian can train there as well. Soon... he would become a great warrior! I must seize this opportunity!!...)
Drone stepped forward & replied to the lady,
[Alright miss. We would go along with you.]
The lady smiled in satisfaction.
[Excellent decision. Let's go quickly.]
Adrian's face turned pale. He glared at Drone as he shouted,
[WHAT?! Hey, we can go somewhere else right?...]
Drone kept on ignoring Adrian, as he entered Adrian's room and carried all the luggage with him.
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Chapter 23 End