Chapter 105
“You met with Lev Jid?”
There really were no secrets here. Though it wasn’t something that needed to be hidden, and there was no reason to hide it, Adi hadn’t expected such a direct question. Adi looked down at Yuls, who was perched on the bed.
“Well? Your answer?”
“Yes, I met with him.”
“What did you talk about?”
Adi hesitated.
“Is it a secret?”
“No. I was just thinking because I don’t remember well.”
It had been the same meaningless content as always. The difference this time was that Adi had questioned him in return. To Lev, who always only blamed them, they had asked why he had done that to Adrian.
“Lev told me I must pay the price.”
“The price?”
“The price for causing Adrian’s death.”
“Why would that be your fault?”
“Well… Perhaps he thinks if I had died from the beginning, Adrian wouldn’t have ended up that way.”
“That’s not your fault.”
At Yuls’s words, Adi, who had been quietly watching him, said, “I know.”
“It’s not solely my fault.”
He doesn’t seem to understand, Yuls thought. To begin with, curses don’t work that way. A witch’s curse had limitations. Unless it was some other creature approaching divinity.
“Adrina, it’s no one’s fault. Not even Adrian’s. So…”
As Yuls raised his head while speaking, their eyes met.
“…”
It was an expression he hadn’t seen before. Yuls had expected to see a hurt or pained face. If not that, then Adrina’s usual expressionless face that revealed nothing.
But this expression now, how should he describe it? It showed some kind of emotion. Almost like affection. Had they been looking at him like this all along? For some reason, his fingertips felt cold with tension.
Yuls averted his gaze and said, “No.” Adi looked at him questioningly before speaking.
“Your Grace.”
Yuls turned his gaze back. But somehow, he felt he couldn’t look at Adrina properly. There was affection in their expression unlike usual. Even though there was no reason for it.
“Are we not doing it today?”
“…Doing what?”
“What you usually do.”
After saying this, Adi said, “Ah, I should be the one to do it,” and moved forward. Yuls started and reached out his hand, saying,
“Stop.”
As always, Adi was diligent and good at following orders. It showed their virtue as a knight. Yet it brought a feeling of disappointment. If they really stopped when told to stop, no. No. It wouldn’t have been better if they had come closer.
“Stop for today.”
Adi wore an expression of incomprehension.
“I’m too tired.”
“What does being tired have to do with it?”
“…”
Well, when tired, it’s harder to maintain self-control. One reacts more easily and it’s harder to restrain oneself.
“There are such things.”
Yuls answered. Adi nodded without further question and stepped back. Though somehow it felt a bit disappointing to have such a reaction. The retreating steps felt regrettable.
“Just stay beside me today.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
Adi stopped after answering. They really were good at following orders… Finding the situation awkward, Yuls just wished to fall asleep quickly. Of course, things didn’t go according to his wishes.
Just as he was about to close his eyes after climbing onto the bed, there was a knock from outside. Adi, who had been standing near the door, approached and opened it. It was Dimitri. He called out softly through the partially opened door, “Adrina.” Then, as the door opened fully, he approached Yuls saying, “Your Grace.” He was carrying a robe. Yuls sat up again.
“What is it?”
“Lady Connolly has come.”
“At this hour?”
Even as he asked this, Yuls put on the robe Dimitri held up, moving like someone who had expected this. Adrina followed behind him.
❖ ❖ ❖
After passing through several corridors and rooms to reach the reception room, they found Lady Connolly rising from where she had been sitting on the sofa. She wore a pitch-black robe and had not brought even one lady-in-waiting. Unlike her usual self.
“Cat.”
Lady Connolly, who had spoken upon seeing Yuls, frowned at Adi standing behind him. At her deliberately displayed expression, Yuls made an annoyed face.
“Aunt, coming at such a late hour without notice.”
Despite the implicit question about her breach of etiquette, Lady Connolly stared at Yuls unperturbed. Rather, her face suggested she didn’t care. However.
“I would appreciate it if you would dismiss that guard knight.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Do you know who that knight is?”
“What if I do?”
At Yuls’s words, Lady Connolly barely suppressed a laugh that was about to burst forth.
“…No, you don’t.”
At her firm statement, Yuls wondered if she had noticed something. Even if she had noticed something, he couldn’t know where she had picked up on it.
“Do you trust Count Grimaldi?”
“The Count?”
Lady Connolly was clearly suspicious. How? Just because of the same name? Adrina Grimaldi had died several years ago. It was around when Yuls was coming of age, so at least six years ago. What reason was there to believe someone who died then was alive now?
“Did you come at this late hour to jest?”
“No, I don’t have time for that. I’ll be leaving Ionad before tomorrow morning.”
“You don’t need to leave so quickly. I have no intention of sending Lea Lintew away.”
“It’s not about that.”
If she didn’t leave today, who knew what the Count might do. He never dirtied his own hands. And he could sacrifice anyone. Just like Luigi.
“The Count’s reach extends far, right up to those very close to Your Grace.”
Surely he would understand with this much said? Adrina, the Count, and Bert Din who was close to Duke Woodpecker. It would be good if Yuls moved after realizing this, but what if Yuls too had joined hands with the Count to eliminate Luigi? What if he was her enemy? What if the promise to wait, to work together, was a lie?
So Lady Connolly considered other options as well.
“Tomorrow morning.”
Whatever the case, what Count Grimaldi wanted was for Claude to inherit the throne. Lady Connolly had lost one nephew, and her other nephew had no interest in that position. Then who should she support here? Someone who would oppose Claude and had the appropriate status.
“The royal family will be turned upside down.”
Such a person didn’t exist yet. So for now, she decided to create a flaw.
“Why?”
When there was a flaw, the king would look for a new person. Once the king decided on an heir, she could approach them.
“Because I’ve spread one of His Highness the Crown Prince’s secrets.”
Yuls frowned.
“I know some of the people who play with His Highness. You know Claude’s preferences, don’t you? He prefers ladies.”
“What did you do?”
“It’s something everyone knows, but has been kept from His Majesty’s ears.”
Claude’s tobacco, the alcohol he drinks.
“I’ve sent a letter informing His Majesty. He must be sleeping now, so he’ll read it in the morning.”
“Aunt, what have you done?”
“Cat, when you learn the truth, you’ll seek me out again.”
Having said this, Lady Connolly glared at Adi. It was certain now that she knew Adi’s identity. However, it wasn’t clear how she had found out. Was it because she had seen them in Palesa? Did she know they had lived as Adrian Grimaldi?
“Be good to Lea Lintew. Who knows what might happen in the future?”
Lady Connolly stood up after finishing her words. As she passed by Adi, she spoke in a low voice.
“Despicable thing.”
“…”
Adi showed no particular reaction. They had no connection with Lady Connolly to begin with. Though uncertain where she had found them despicable, it was clearly her misunderstanding.
As Lady Connolly approached the door, while waiting for the attendant to open it, she turned back to look at Adi again. How should they react? Not having received Dimitri’s etiquette lessons yet, they weren’t sure. Wondering what Dimitri or the Duke would do, Adi recalled how they would smile when faced with situations where words couldn’t suffice or when troubled, and offered Lady Connolly a smile. They also thought a smile might be perfect for clearing up misunderstandings, whatever they might be.
However, Lady Connolly’s response was to widen her eyes in anger before storming out.
“…”
Adi thought they should ask Dimitri how to handle such situations when they received court etiquette training.
As soon as the door closed, Yuls spoke.
“Tell Joel to go to Claude right now.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Dimitri answered.
❖ ❖ ❖
The palace was bustling from early morning. Knights and guards from the main palace moved en masse. Their destination appeared to be the Crown Prince’s palace. There seemed to be various discussions among the gathered servants and maids. Though people continued to gather at the sound of the commotion, no one seemed to know the exact details.
“So she finally made her move.”
Yuls said, looking out the window. Early in the morning, word had arrived from the king that the morning meeting would be postponed to the afternoon.
“Joel, how did it go?”
Yuls asked. Joel, standing behind him, answered.
“…He won’t know for now. However, what His Highness used would inevitably leave traces. If he had done something else, it wouldn’t have been noticeable, but this time I can’t guarantee anything.”
“We’ve done all we could for him, so he’ll handle it.”
He had done everything he could for Claude. Claude would know that too. What remained…
“Now it depends on how Count Grimaldi reacts.”
