Chapter 103
The Count’s duties ended earlier than others’. This was because the king had limited his authority, restricting the meetings he could attend.
While Spencer had expected this, he hadn’t anticipated returning quite so early. That would have been fine, but today seemed to be going poorly for Spencer in many ways. Lev Jid was standing in front of the reception room when he returned.
“I have something to discuss.”
“Unless it’s important, let’s do it later.”
“There’s something I need to confirm.”
The Count silently stared at Lev. Though his expression showed strain from things not going his way, Lev remained adamant. Spencer glanced at his attendant who was following behind, as if resigned to hearing what this was about.
“We’ll talk privately. Enter when Lev leaves.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Lord, come in.”
The reception room Spencer and Lev entered had its windows wide open. The outside breeze flowed in. Spencer couldn’t remember if the windows had been left open when he’d left. Perhaps it was for ventilation. Outside was so quiet that not even birdsong could be heard. The dark curtains gave the room a somewhat gloomy feeling.
“What do you need to confirm?”
Spencer asked while loosening his cravat. He wondered what could be so important to warrant such rudeness. Normally he wouldn’t be so sharp, but today Spencer was particularly sensitive. Perhaps it was the heat. Like Palesa, Ionad’s summers were hotter than Grimaldi’s. The thin cloth strangling his neck all day had been unbearably stifling.
“Adrina.”
So that’s what he wanted to discuss. The Count silently watched Lev, who continued speaking.
“Is it correct that you’re giving her to me?”
Spencer raised his eyebrows. Had he really stopped him just as he arrived at his residence for such a thing? Moreover, to see him continuing while standing, not even sitting on the sofa.
“You clearly promised then. That you would give Adrina to me.”
Spencer narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, you said you would exact payment from Adrina. Revenge for Adrian, wasn’t it?”
But it didn’t seem to be simply about revenge. Spencer looked Lev up and down.
Naturally, Lev had no right to revenge. The way he acted as if Adrian had been his own sibling seemed presumptuous.
The Count’s acceptance of Lev’s proposal then was likely just because he had been angry. Though it wasn’t wise in hindsight, at the time he hadn’t had the capacity to think it through.
He had been expelled from Ionad for opposing aid to another country—and to Türingen of all places, which had long been in conflict with Grimaldi—involving massive state funds, and his son had died. Unfortunately, all the misfortunes had come at once. And people had found their cause and target in Adrina. The Count had done the same.
He had needed to vent his anger, and besides, wasn’t she just a girl? She had clearly eaten away at her brother’s life, so she should bear at least that much.
However, that didn’t mean Lev Jid ranked higher than Adrina Grimaldi.
“Adrina has escaped.”
“And?”
“Shouldn’t we bring her back?”
“Why?”
“That’s—”
“True, I did make that promise. To give her to you. But wasn’t there a condition attached?”
The Count said.
“To conduct yourself properly.”
What had Lev done properly so far? As the Count pondered this, he recalled one thing: making Adrina appear properly as a man and knight. Lev’s contribution to developing those skills had been significant. But it wasn’t simply due to his teaching alone.
“You lost the child.”
His daughter must have put in effort as well.
Spencer belatedly had such thoughts. Yes, that child had worked to learn the sword, then arbitrarily taught it to others, and even managed to defeat Lev. That skill must have come from his bloodline.
“If you bring her back and claim ownership, I might consider it once.”
Wasn’t Lev Jid’s contribution just a part of it? The Count questioned as he asked.
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“Of course…”
“You lost to Gaillard, and you lost my daughter, yet now you say you’ll bring back Adrina who’s in Woodpecker’s grasp?”
“I can bring her back.”
“I’m not so sure.”
Lev had lost credibility. Lev, who had studied the Grimaldi sword style for over ten years, had lost to Roy Gaillard who had learned it for at most a few months, perhaps just days. His skill was questionable. In a way, perhaps it wasn’t that Lev’s skill was exceptional, but rather that the Grimaldi style itself was superior. Moreover, he had no legitimate grounds. How could he extract Adrina from Woodpecker?
She had abandoned the Grimaldi name and taken the Din surname.
“Go ahead and try. But I won’t help you.”
Even if he somehow brought her back, would that child really stay quietly? Of course, Spencer still had plans to bring Adrina back to Grimaldi. It was just a matter of how and in what way. After all, what Spencer wanted was just one thing: the Grimaldi bloodline.
A proper, flawless,
“If you fail…”
Perfect male child.
“It will be entirely your responsibility.”
At that moment, a sound came from not far away: “Kuk!” It sounded like either air escaping or laughter. Lev gripped his sword hilt alertly. Spencer, with an unmoved expression, called out, “Your Highness.”
Having spent so much time together, he could recognize who it was even from such a small sound. Besides, this was the Crown Prince’s palace, so it would be difficult for anyone else to be here.
“Ah, sorry, Count.”
Claude said as he raised himself. With his arm draped over the back of the sofa, Claude poked out just his head to look at the two men.
If only Lev hadn’t called for the Count, if only they had properly sat down, Claude wouldn’t have heard this conversation.
“Count, you’ve gotten quite dull. Not even noticing someone else’s presence.”
“What are you doing here?”
Spencer asked while retying his loosened cravat.
“Just having a bit of fun. I used to use this place for recreation before giving it to you. That’s how good the room I gave you is.”
Hearing Claude’s following words, Spencer thought it might have been fortunate not to have sat on that sofa. The idea of what “fun” might have entailed was unpleasant to imagine.
“I cannot use a room Your Highness values so much. I would appreciate being given a new room.”
“That’s no trouble at all.”
Claude readily agreed.
“But this is quite an interesting conversation.”
Then, staring at Lev, Claude asked, “Was Adrina Grimaldi the subject of the deal?” When neither answered, Claude, now certain that Adrina Grimaldi was indeed the subject of negotiation, smiled mischievously at Lev and asked.
“Hey, knight. If I offered you something better, would you switch to my side?”
“…Pardon?” Lev questioned.
Lev couldn’t understand what “something better” meant. Something better? Was he offering to raise his status? But Lev was a knight. Even with elevated status, there were limits to what a knight could achieve. Without a noble to support him and help establish his position at court, he would only receive an empty title.
Whereas Adrina…
“No. I will remain loyal to House Grimaldi.”
A knight’s loyalty was truly worthless and superficial; countless knights had abandoned their lords who had bestowed swords upon them to seek better masters. Of course, there was usually prior interaction, and they would announce their departure with their lord’s permission, but it was all mere formality.
Seeing Lev reject the offer without hesitation, Claude became certain.
“Your goal is Adrina.”
“…”
“You like her, don’t you?”
The Count’s gaze turned to Lev. Beside him, Claude nudged him saying, “Hey, Count. Looks like he’s in love with Adrina.”
“That’s not true.”
Lev’s panicked gaze wavered before he spoke.
“I hate Adrina.”
His voice trembled faintly.
“Because of Adrina, Adrian—”
“That’s enough.”
Spencer thought there was no need to hear more. Lev Jid’s feelings were of no importance to him. And he wasn’t an important figure in the current situation.
“Leave.”
The Count found it more important to speak with Claude now.
“Your Excellency.”
“Leave, Lord.”
Lev clenched his fist, then released it. Everyone here outranked him and was someone he served. Lev had no right. Though he tried to hide his bitter expression, it was already apparent.
As they watched Lev turn to leave, Claude whistled. Quite rebellious. It was Claude’s hobby to put such people in their place. As he was thinking about whether there really was no way to bring her back, Spencer called out, “Your Highness.” Claude fixed his gaze on Spencer.
“Are there others here?”
“They’ve already left, so don’t worry. I’m the only one who heard this conversation.”
Claude gestured with his chin toward the open door.
“More importantly, you should keep that one in check.”
He meant where Lev had gone.
“His eyes are brimming with desire.”
Left unchecked, he might cause trouble.
