Chapter 100
Ionad is hot. Though there’s a small river, perhaps it’s worse being an inland basin far from the sea.
Adi’s work and rest periods didn’t overlap with the Ionad guard knights. As a result, there was no chance to become friendly. Even before that, they seemed to avoid Adi first. It seems asking if they knew how to dance had been a mistake.
Life in Ionad wasn’t much different. When wanting to move or spar occasionally, Ivan would be the opponent. Ivan’s skill was better than expected, and befitting his assassin background, he had underhanded aspects that made him tricky to face. Adi liked that much better.
After a bout of back-and-forth, watching Ivan leave for his attendant duties, Adi flopped onto the training ground and looked at the sky.
The lungs could be felt expanding with heavy breaths. Along with exhaustion came a strange satisfaction. Then the deep blue sky came into view. It was clear. At some point, weather changes had started properly registering and embedding in the mind. The feeling of being alive was distinct. Why hadn’t that been felt before?
Then a shadow fell over Adi. Looking up slightly revealed Lea Lintew holding a parasol. Lea Lintew was looking down at Adi with a puzzled expression.
“…Excuse me, but have we met somewhere before?”
She asked. It was a startling question.
“We’ve met many times. When you came to this residence, and at the ball.”
Adrina answered, raising their upper body. Lea Lintew’s parasol still shaded Adi.
“Ah, that’s not what I meant.”
Looking flustered, Lea then said, “You’re right, I must have been mistaken.” Something seemed to occur to her, but didn’t quite fit. Adi stood up.
“You’re still staying at the residence.”
Lea Lintew smiled. Was it the height difference? Her petite gestures and smile seemed particularly lovable. It felt like watching a small creature of a different species from oneself.
“Yes, His Grace told me to leave, but circumstances don’t allow it.”
“Is that so.”
Adi answered. As they dusted off their training clothes, Lea asked,
“Aren’t you going to ask about the details?”
“What should I ask?”
“About how circumstances don’t allow it.”
Adi pondered for a moment. How circumstances don’t allow it… Wouldn’t she have her reasons? They didn’t particularly want to pry into others’ situations. Moreover, it was bothersome.
“You must have your reasons.”
“…Aren’t you curious?”
“No, not really.”
After answering thus, seeing Lea Lintew’s expression harden, Adi added as if explaining,
“I tend not to be interested in others.”
“…Lady Connolly returned early.”
Lea Lintew said.
“Lord Connolly stays in a mansion in Ionad, not at court. Since I can’t stay alone with him in close quarters, I ended up staying by His Grace’s side.”
“That makes sense. Though you’re an adopted daughter, staying with an unrelated man could cause rumors. Especially before marriage.”
“…”
Lea Lintew looked up at Adi as if at a loss for words. Though it was correct…
Adrina Din seemed uninterested in her. Or perhaps didn’t care at all. Or could it be dislike?
Lea, who had shown goodwill at the ball that day, didn’t know how to react to Adi’s suddenly cold behavior. Just as she wondered if she’d revealed too much of her thoughts, Adi’s expression hardened.
“Adrina.”
Then an unfamiliar voice was heard. Adi’s face twisted further. Lea Lintew’s eyes widened at the disgust reflected on their face. Adrina Din seemed surprisingly unable to hide their expressions. Then their attitude toward her must have truly meant lack of interest.
“How did you come here?”
Adi’s voice was low. Then they moved back as if protecting Lea Lintew and her maid from the approaching man. Lea looked up curiously at Adi who blocked her view, then peered around to look at the approaching man. She recognized him too.
After all, Lev Jid was a famous knight.
“A colleague let me in,” Lev said.
“What were they thinking?”
“I’m originally from Ionad.”
“…This is why Ionad…”
You speak like someone from Palesa, Lea thought.
“I have something to say.”
Lev Jid said. Adrina turned to Lea Lintew and said,
“You’d better go up.”
“Ah.”
Lea was curious about this situation. And about the relationship between Adrina Din and Lev Jid. One was from the North, the other from the South. Though they clearly had no connection points, while they seemed to dislike each other, there was a peculiar closeness characteristic of long acquaintance. She wanted to ask what their relationship was, but she had no right to do so. Even if she said she’d stay and they shouldn’t mind her, they would clearly become wary.
“Yes, I should.”
Lea answered, bending her knees slightly in greeting. Then she turned without hesitation. Her maid also turned to follow Lea Lintew. Though the maid looked back once while entering the building, that was all.
Only after Lea Lintew left did Lev say, “Come.”
“Why should I follow you?”
“You don’t know the court layout.”
“…”
That was true. Adi only knew the Duke’s residence, not other places. Even this residence’s layout wasn’t clearly memorized, leading to getting lost several times.
“Can’t we talk here?”
“Didn’t know you wanted the situation exposed.”
Lev Jid said mockingly.
“Want others to know about your business?”
“Seeing how I became Adrina Din, isn’t it obvious?”
Adi retorted.
“House Woodpecker knows everything about my situation.”
“…”
“Spencer seems to have guessed already.”
“You just called His Grace…”
“Why? Should I show respect to Spencer?”
“If not respect, there’s still courtesy…”
That should exist. Especially since Spencer Grimaldi was Adrina’s father. Calling one’s father by name like that wasn’t good. And Adrina must know this. Since it was deliberate, pointing it out wouldn’t change anything.
“…What am I even talking to you for.”
“Right, what is there to say. Let’s just go our separate ways.”
“Let’s talk.”
Lev said. Strangely, his behavior showed desperation. Why? For what reason? Adi couldn’t understand.
“Please.”
“…How contradictory.”
Adi gave a slight laugh.
“Only now that I’ve finally become myself do people seem to treat me as a person.”
This was something they hadn’t experienced while living under Adrian’s name. Back then, people acted as if they could treat Adi however they pleased.
“You too, and the Count.”
As if punishing them for living under Adrian’s name while not being Adrian. Then why treat them this way now? At Adrina’s words, Lev’s lips moved. Lev Jid also looked like he didn’t understand why he was acting this way. There was clearly a difference between then and now.
Adi silently watched him. Lev wasn’t one to give up easily, and without agreement, he would clearly maintain this standoff.
“Where should we go?”
Better to end it quickly.
❖ ❖ ❖
Lea Lintew entered the building and climbed the stairs. But instead of going up to her room, she looked down from one floor above.
Adi and Lev were still talking. Whether they had managed their expression because of her presence, Adi’s face was much more twisted now. As conversation continued, Adi lowered their eyes then raised them. Their mouth was about to open. As she tried to read their lips to see what they were saying, they turned and moved away together.
What kind of relationship could they have, Lea wondered when she spotted Dimitri approaching from across the way. He looked puzzled about why she was on this floor.
Being of similar status, or rather, Dimitri’s status being higher now, he didn’t bow. A mere meeting of eyes seemed to substitute for greetings. Lea bowed her head to Dimitri. Since the paperwork hadn’t been processed and she didn’t yet have the Connolly name, it was proper for her to show courtesy.
As Dimitri passed by, Lea called out, “Dimitri.”
Dimitri stopped and turned around.
“If it’s not improper, could we talk briefly?”
“What is it?”
“About Adrina Din.”
Dimitri’s expression changed instantly. Seeing his tense expression, whether from interest in Adrina Din or wariness of something, Lea wondered if she should say this. But judging the situation didn’t seem good for Adrina, she decided it was best to pass on the information. She opened her mouth.
“Do you know Lev Jid?”
“…Yes, Grimaldi’s knight.”
“Just now he took Sir Adrina Din away. They seemed to have no connection, and Sir Adrina Din’s expression wasn’t good, so I thought I should tell you.”
At these words, Dimitri’s eyes widened, and he made a groaning sound.
“I see.”
Then he answered in a tone different from usual. Much gentler than before.
“Thank you for letting me know, Miss Lea Lintew.”
Just for passing on that one situation.
“I hope you have a comfortable stay here.”
It seemed she had somehow gained his favor.
Lilina
It’s a pity
Lea seems like a nice girl but she’ll probably get booted since she’s the villainess archetype here ☹️ I really like her though