Chapter 108
Though Adi said this, Yuls disagreed. It’s not easy for a woman to live alone. She would have been exposed to many dangers, and earning money wouldn’t have been simple. The Count’s house might have actually been safer. Physically, at least.
But staying there wouldn’t have ended with just mental collapse. Yuls repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands, which seemed to have grown cold. His palms and fingertips tingled, as if facing a situation he couldn’t just quietly observe. Wondering what this emotion was, Yuls soon realized.
Anger.
He couldn’t hide his anger toward Grimaldi. Right now, Spencer Grimaldi…
“Something I learned during my life as a knight is that quite a few squires are of common birth.”
Just as he was thinking about how to deal with him, Adi spoke. Yuls stopped his train of thought.
“One common-born squire had long hair. Golden hair that reached his waist. Since it was my first time seeing that during knight life, I risked being rude and asked about it.”
“Is growing long hair strange?”
Yuls questioned. He wondered if perhaps they disliked his own luxuriant hair. Perhaps shorter hair was more masculine? Though he couldn’t understand why, given that most men chose short hair, his long hair might indicate a lack of masculinity.
Just as he was considering cutting it, Adi shook their head.
“Growing long hair isn’t strange. However, knights and squires tend to keep clean-shaven and neat hair because they wear helmets in war. Long hair is rare. My hair is quite long too, so I plan to trim it soon.”
“…Leave it. I’ll make sure there’s no war.”
“Forgive my impudence, but that’s not something Your Grace can determine.”
“Even if war breaks out, you won’t have to go. You can just watch the situation from the safest place.”
“…”
“I’m not saying this because I underestimate you—I just want you to be safe. If you really want to fight… I’ll assign you mages and guard knights.”
Adi was about to point out that they were already a guard knight but somehow felt it wouldn’t get through. As silence fell, Yuls regretted his words. He seemed to have made things awkward by saying such things. He changed the subject.
“So, why did that golden-haired squire grow his hair?”
“He said it sells for good money.”
“…Sells?”
“Yes, golden hair fetches quite a price, they say. It’s used to make wigs for nobles. The lighter the color, the more it shines, and the longer it is, the more expensive it becomes. He said when he sold his hair as a child, it fed a family of three brothers for half a year.”
What was the price range for wigs? While Yuls had never bought one himself and didn’t know, quite a few people wore them. Both women and men. And they all had golden hair. Why golden? Actually, Yuls didn’t care what color hair was.
“I put my hair in Adrian’s grave.”
Just being Adrina would be enough.
“At that time, I suddenly thought: if only I had run away earlier, I could have lived by gathering in the forest and selling my hair when money was short.”
“You would have been labeled a witch.”
Yuls said.
“They eliminated women living alone in the forest by falsely accusing them of that.”
“Then that too would have been my karma. Since our family led those efforts.”
At Adi’s words, Yuls felt a surge of frustration rising up. Why are you blaming yourself for that? He couldn’t understand. Even if that family led such efforts, what did Adrina gain from it?
“You.”
Instead, that family treated Adrina terribly, claiming they were cursed.
“It’s fortunate you realized it late.”
Making them resign themselves to everything with an unharmed face, not even realizing their own feelings.
“At least when I can protect you.”
Yuls suddenly stopped after saying this. When he frowned strangely, Adi asked, “What’s wrong?” Yuls raised one hand to cover his forehead, as if just realizing something.
“That was a mistake. I forgot that I’m the one receiving protection from you.”
“…”
“Yes, it’s fortunate you realized when you had the strength to protect yourself. And that I could meet you and be in a position to help.”
What would have happened if Count Grimaldi hadn’t gone to see the king to confess his child’s crimes then? He would surely have thought them dead. His spine chilled. Just thinking about that possibility was frightening.
If that had really happened, what would he have thought? …No matter how many scenarios he considered, he couldn’t imagine it. Which probably meant he would have acted irrationally, losing all reason.
“Though I don’t believe in gods, this is one moment I feel grateful to whatever it is.”
Yuls said. Adi said nothing. Yuls too added nothing more after those words.
Though the ensuing silence should have felt awkward, Adi strangely found this situation not unpleasant. It felt emotionally comfortable. Even without speaking, just facing each other and sharing the same space seemed to create an odd satisfaction. And judging by his expression, Yuls didn’t seem particularly uncomfortable with the situation either.
How strange to feel comfortable with someone without conversation, strategy games like chess, or crossing swords. Yet not wanting to break this peaceful and pleasant silence, Adi kept quiet.
The dishes were cleared, and dessert plates and tea were placed on the table. Yuls naturally tilted his teacup. Adi had no habit of drinking tea. So they awkwardly lifted the teacup, glanced at Yuls once, and gently pressed their lips to the rim. Unlike the cups they usually used, this thin porcelain seemed to demand careful handling.
They drank tea in silence. A cool breeze blew. Just as their heart was beginning to relax into this inexplicable peace, Adi’s eyes caught sight of Joel approaching from afar. Their relaxed expression instantly hardened. Yuls noticed this change too.
As he turned his gaze, Joel, who had already arrived, bowed to Yuls and whispered something to Dimitri. After listening quietly, Dimitri nodded and said,
“Your Grace, though sudden, Viscount McCauliffe has requested a meeting this evening.”
“McCauliffe?”
“Yes, expressing regret about the cancelled meeting, he said he must see Your Grace. He also mentioned the report sent recently. If Your Grace permits, a servant is currently waiting in the reception room for an answer to his request to discuss details over dinner.”
To interrupt this time, of all times. Though he would like to refuse, one couldn’t always do as they pleased in high positions. Especially during assembly periods, meeting anyone was both duty and work.
“…Regrettably, we’ll end our meal here.”
Yuls said. Adi was about to stand up too but remained seated when a hand settled firmly on their head. Yuls’s hand stroked Adi’s crown before touching their hair.
“Beautiful.”
Hair that could feed five people for half a year. That would certainly be a fortune for commoners. But if that was the value of Adrina’s hair?
Not even close.
“I would pay its weight in gold for your hair.”
Adi’s lips parted. The statement seemed to lack context. But somehow their face felt hot. Whether from the summer heat or some other reason, they weren’t sure.
Yuls smiled and left with Joel. He told Dimitri he didn’t need to follow. Dimitri understood his intention.
Watching Yuls’s retreating back as he left, telling Adi to rest, they simply raised their head. It felt strange how peacefully the sunlight filtered through the dense trees. No, rather than peace… Something felt like it was fluttering in their stomach. Like fish, or butterflies.
But strangely, it didn’t feel bad, and the stability felt odd. As Adi wondered what it was, a shadow fell over them.
“Lord Adrina Grimaldi.”
Dimitri called to Adi. When they looked up, he was smiling. That smile seemed familiar from somewhere.
“Now it’s time for etiquette lessons.”
“…”
“Don’t stand up.”
Dimitri said to Adi, who was about to rise. Settling back down awkwardly, Adi looked up worriedly at Dimitri, who was staring intently at the table. He had been watching all this time, and seemed to be thinking about what they had done wrong. The length of his silence made Adi quite tense.
“Today I will teach you about dining etiquette and conversation methods.”
Dimitri finally spoke. At his glance toward the table, a servant approached to clear the dishes and set out empty plates and new utensils. Dimitri sat across from Adi.
“I don’t want to see you being looked down upon by anyone anywhere. So today’s lessons might be a bit difficult.”
Adi thought guarding the Duke would probably be easier.
