Chapter 110
Joel followed behind Yuls. As they passed through the corridors, Billy and Ivan naturally joined them. Joel branched off to the right in the corridor, heading elsewhere. As the attendants followed Yuls up the stairs, a guard knight fell in behind them.
Though not Yuls’s personal attendant, the servant who managed the Woodpecker residence in Ionad Palace bowed respectfully and said, “A servant from McCauliffe is waiting in the reception room.” Yuls nodded and headed toward the reception room.
The servant waited outside rather than entering the reception room. Yuls went inside. The attendants and knights followed, and finally, McCauliffe’s servant entered behind them.
Seated on the reception room sofa, Yuls looked at the servant. He bowed and spoke.
“Greetings, Your Grace. I am Felix, a servant from McCauliffe. It is an honor to face you like this.”
Yuls lifted his chin as if to say “enough.” At this gesture indicating he should stop, Felix halted his prepared words. Viscount McCauliffe. He was a newly risen noble from Dunbar, currently building his influence centered on Ionad.
McCauliffe had contacted House Woodpecker before.
While Yuls had responded appropriately, he had no intention of showing kindness. He knew how the nobles of Dalkatir viewed him.
Approaching him while knowing all the circumstances? That meant they had other motives. How many people had approached Yuls, who appeared young, in such ways? However, he wasn’t one to be easily fooled.
There was a second concerning point.
Felix. A Bellipera-style name. Like McCauliffe, this servant’s name wasn’t from Dunbar either. Only the surname was Dunbar-style. Was he really a Dunbar noble?
“Your message?” Yuls asked.
“If it wouldn’t be improper, my master requests dinner with Your Grace this evening in the palace.”
“Is that all?”
“Also, if Your Grace permits, he asks how this residence would be as the dinner venue.”
Yuls smiled wryly. A dinner was one thing, but in his residence on the same day?
“Continue.”
“Naturally, McCauliffe will prepare the meal.”
“I see.”
Yuls said. Though it was an affirmative response, somehow it didn’t feel positive. The servant studied Yuls’s reaction. Had he always had such eyes? While most nobles looked at servants as less than livestock, the Duke’s gaze was somehow different. Yuls spoke.
“I suppose Viscount McCauliffe sent you because he thought your neck was expendable?”
“…Shall I convey your refusal?”
“I haven’t refused yet. One should listen properly. It seems McCauliffe hasn’t trained you properly.”
“…”
“Why specifically here?”
“Because several people are expected to gather.”
“If several people are gathering, why my residence? This place is rather small for a palace.”
“That is…”
“Moreover, what’s with this attitude of assuming multiple people will definitely gather without even asking my intention?”
After saying this, Yuls glanced sideways. Though not looking directly, the knight entered the servant’s field of vision. The neck-cutting might not just be a metaphor.
“So then, Viscount McCauliffe doesn’t want to converse with me, but rather wants to rent the venue. And as a venue renter, he’ll graciously include me in it to show courtesy, is that it?”
It was a leap. No, not completely. The hidden intention was surely that.
“Strange,” Yuls said.
“If it’s a dinner, one can’t confirm it suddenly in a morning, so why not use the existing venue?”
“Circumstances arose.”
“Oh?”
What circumstances? It’s not like the rental venue suddenly disappeared. If they had wanted to arrange a meeting in advance, the court would have provided a place. Even if someone else suddenly needed to use it, there should be backup locations. But if that was impossible?
The only thing that had changed overnight was Claude.
Entry to the Crown Prince’s palace where Claude stayed was forbidden. No one except Count Grimaldi, who was already staying there, could enter. Because the king had warned against it.
“It was originally Claude’s place.”
Yuls was certain. He could see the servant’s agitation.
“Going to him now would reach the king’s ears.”
And the king would be wary. With parliament, the Privy Council, and numerous state affairs halted to isolate the Crown Prince, people going there? It would be conspicuous.
McCauliffe didn’t want to stand out. But the dinner seemed necessary. As if there were conversations to be had with many people. Did it have to take the form of a dinner?
There was clearly something. He wasn’t sure what.
“Your master is plotting something, isn’t he?”
But this much was certain. Yuls smiled as if looking forward to seeing how McCauliffe would move. The servant turned pale, however he had interpreted that smile.
“Very well, I’ll provide the venue.”
Yuls said. The servant’s expression quickly changed too. Seeing his relieved face, Yuls added, “However.”
“Don’t prepare my meal.”
“…Forgive my presumption, but does this mean you won’t attend the dinner?”
“No. Of course my seat should be there.”
He couldn’t be completely ignorant while providing a venue for such dangerous plotting.
“I just tend not to trust others.”
“My master isn’t that kind of person.”
“That’s not my concern. And it’s not for you to judge whether your master is that kind of person or not. McCauliffe and I haven’t built trust. At most, he recently sent a letter asking for help. It was written like a report, but actually wasn’t of much help to me.”
Yuls knew. That McCauliffe had contacted Claude’s side rather than himself. But what he had sent held little value for Yuls.
“If I ignored that, how would your master react?”
The servant didn’t answer. The situation was indeed suspicious.
“In such positions, it’s not easy to escape the risk of poisoning. Especially with such a sudden dinner.”
Yuls didn’t hide his suspicion of McCauliffe. The servant would probably report these words when he returned. Yuls intended this too.
“Billy.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Guide him to the kitchen. You’ll coordinate about providing an empty kitchen with them.”
It was ultimately acceptance. The dinner venue was set. Watching the servant’s apparent relief, Yuls felt a sharp feeling in the corner of his heart. No, he was openly annoyed. After all, they had ruined his intimate time with Adi just to ask for help with a venue for their plotting.
As Felix bowed his head as if in gratitude, Yuls spoke again.
“And go tell your master, Philix.”
For a moment, Billy, standing behind Yuls, froze. He wanted to reach out and correct the name but couldn’t. Billy’s hand fell pitifully before rising again.
“Next time.”
He still wanted to point out the mistaken name.
“Have Viscount McCauliffe come himself.”
But he didn’t seem to be in a good mood. Billy had reached this position through perception and discernment. Saying unnecessary things here would clearly not be good for him.
“And bow his head to me when asking.”
“…”
“Your head is still attached to your neck today because I’m in a good mood.”
Just what had put him in such a good mood? Though he didn’t know what it was, Felix thought it had saved him.
“Go.”
At Yuls’s words, Billy led the still-frozen, bowing Felix out. Watching him with suspicious eyes, Yuls told the guard knight, “Go tell Bert that we’ll need guards for tonight’s dinner.” The guard knight also bowed respectfully before leaving.
Only Yuls and Ivan remained in the reception room. Yuls sighed lowly and said, “Suspicious.” With nothing that wasn’t suspicious, he wondered what aspects he should consider first. Yuls spoke.
“Ivan.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Watch them.”
Ivan nodded and stepped back. Yuls sighed. Soon the presence seemed to disappear as a breeze blew in. When he turned his head, he saw the open window. Ivan had vanished.
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