Starr Valentine by Abigail Drake

Author:Abigail Drake [Drake, Abigail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-14T06:00:00+00:00

Twelve

“Life’s uncertain voyage.” William Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens

Before flying back to Middleton, Julian took me to the Louvre Museum. He let me roam alone past ancient statues and priceless works of art while he followed a few steps behind. I could sense he didn’t want to crowd me, and appreciated it, since I needed this quiet time for myself.

I stopped in front of the Mona Lisa and tilted my head from side to side, trying to figure out what made the painting so special. Julian came up to stand next to me.

“What is this?”

“The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Her smile has inspired people for hundreds of years.”

“Why?”

I thought about it carefully. “Because it seems to show several emotions all at once. There is something about her expression, something sad and yet wistful. I don’t know what it is, but it stays with you.”

“Do you think she is beautiful?” He looked directly at me and not the painting.

“Not classically beautiful, but there is something about her that is lovely.” I gave him a little smile. “I’ve thanked you so many times already, Julian…”

“So don’t thank me again. Thou art my friend, remember?” I nodded, unsure about why those words made me sad.

Too soon, we arrived back in Middleton, and it was nearly time to go back to Vega. The night before our departure, I sat on the old swing in my backyard like I had with Astra many weeks ago, staring at the stars from a place I would never see them from again.

Julian joined me and sat silently next to me for a long time. When he spoke, his words shocked me so much I nearly fell off the swing.

“If you wish to stay here, Princess Starr, I will not force you to come back with me.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. He looked tired and somehow a lot older than eighteen all of a sudden.

“I no longer feel justified in making you return to Vega. This should be your decision and yours alone,” he said. “I want you to come back, and your parents want you to come back, but you must want it too.”

I stared at him a moment before I answered. “There is nothing for me here, Julian. I understand now. I love Earth and Paris and my home, and part of me will always miss living here, but I’d never be happy anywhere without my family.”

He heaved a massive sigh of relief so heartfelt I had to laugh. “Thank goodness,” he said, with a little smile. “If I had returned without you, the queen would have been most displeased.”

“Would she have chopped off your head?” I giggled since it was impossible to imagine my gentle mother hurting a fly.

“Her royal consort, your father, may have.” He stared at me in the darkness. “Wilt thou be happy there?”

“Where there is a wilt, there is a way,” I said, making him groan.

“We need to work on your Vegonian.” He put his arm on the swing behind me.

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