Chapter 111
“The schedule has changed suddenly.”
Bert announced. The guard knights only gathered together for morning meetings. Adi, working the dawn shift, often missed these meetings, so the faces they saw now felt unfamiliar after so long.
“A dinner has come up for this evening. Many people will attend, so we need guards. Though they’ll bring their own guard knights, I think it would be good to have two from our side as well.”
After saying this, Bert looked down at his notebook. No one knew what was written there. After seemingly pondering for a moment, scratching his head with the pen tip, Bert asked, “Does anyone here have a close relationship with Pasalis McCauliffe?” When no one responded, he asked, “Then anyone who’s at least acquainted?” One guard knight raised his hand. Bert looked at him quietly before speaking.
“You’ll be excluded today.”
“…”
“Adi, you should be excluded too.”
Naturally, one person remained. All eyes turned to them. There was no reason to refuse, and since extra duty meant receiving a day off in compensation, there was nothing to lose. They said “I’ll prepare” and asked about the duty hours.
“From 8 PM to 10:30 PM.”
Bert said.
“They’ll all arrive at the residence by 7 PM. One person should stand by in the reception room.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Pasalis McCauliffe. A viscount from Dunbar who sought asylum in Dalkatir three years ago. The reason given was that he had been falsely accused in the Grand Duchy. The exact details weren’t known. The Grand Duchy kept the matter secret, while McCauliffe claimed to be a victim.
Julius Woodpecker was merely acquainted with Pasalis McCauliffe. They had seen each other a few times at meetings, but that was the extent of their relationship. They had never exchanged words. McCauliffe’s recent contact was his first, requesting support in parliament.
What gave him such confidence?
He was a man with an unclear past. Yuls didn’t want to get entangled with such a person.
He couldn’t understand why Claude had brought this man to Dalkatir, nor why the king had accepted him. But it wasn’t his concern. As long as there were no problems for Woodpecker, Yuls’s attitude was frankly that things would work out however they would.
However, looking at how things were unfolding, it seemed he couldn’t think of it so simply.
“The Viscount?”
“He’s waiting in the reception room.”
“Who else came with him?”
“Baron Peter Chenigudel, Baron Sayfeddin Bringly, and Viscount Adam Zauner, three in total.”
“The exile nobles have banded together.”
Yuls said while putting on his cravat. He had no close relationships with any of the three. Only McCauliffe would have ties to Claude.
Thinking he should meet with Claude after dinner, either through an official visit or secretly, Yuls asked, “Are the preparations complete?” Dimitri nodded. From behind, Billy helped Yuls into his jacket.
“Let’s move.”
❖ ❖ ❖
As nobles appeared one by one filling the reception room, Adi tried to memorize their faces. The purposes of those visiting Ionad Palace seemed markedly different from those visiting Palesa Palace, as did their attire and conversations.
“Will His Grace the Duke truly support us?”
These people were far more political.
“At this rate, Dalkatir is a sinking ship. We must join hands.”
“If only His Highness hadn’t suffered such a thing…”
“What exactly is the reason for restricting entry now?”
“There are no particular rumors from above.”
Among the ongoing conversations, one person remained notably silent. A man with an ambiguous expression leaned against the sofa’s back, watching as if observing the situation. When looking among people, you can tell who holds authority. There, it was that man. A man who felt like the key figure without any show of it.
Bert had excluded guards who were acquainted with McCauliffe. That meant this must be Pasalis McCauliffe.
When Adi’s gaze turned that way, the man seemed to notice and turned his head. Their eyes met.
The man’s appearance was unique. It was difficult to clearly define which country he was from. Though his name sounded foreign, he didn’t look much different from Dalkatir natives.
Pasalis McCauliffe made a strange expression while looking at Adi. Though one corner of his mouth turned up, his eyes weren’t smiling. His face seemed wary, as if aware they were listening to this conversation.
“Rather than discussing here, let’s talk properly after meeting His Grace. There are watching eyes, aren’t there?”
The man said. His tone suggested that having deep conversations where Woodpecker’s guard knights could hear wouldn’t be wise, causing others to close their mouths. Yet McCauliffe kept his gaze fixed on Adi. His face showed considerable interest.
“By the way, I didn’t know Dalkatir had female knights.”
Did that mean other places had female knights? Probably not in the West, but they might exist in the Northern Continent. They were said to have female hunters there too. But the man didn’t look like he was from the North.
Though Adi knew he was speaking to them, they showed no reaction. McCauliffe smiled and said, “Quite taciturn, aren’t you?” That smile contained displeasure. Adi likewise had no intention of liking someone who disliked them.
Looking at the nobles sitting with dismissive gazes, they closed their mouth and turned away. No more words were exchanged. Though they had been chattering as if forgetting this residence belonged to the Duke, they seemed to have finally realized the Duke’s eyes and ears were present.
The embarrassment was visible, but no one mentioned it. Fortunately, a knock soon broke the strange atmosphere.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Joel said as he entered.
“I’ll guide you to the dining room.”
The nobles all rose, adjusting their clothes. Adi’s gaze followed McCauliffe as he left.
The dining room Joel led them to was some distance from the reception room. When asked if they needed to go further, Joel explained it was prepared in a more private location, then continued walking down the corridor before stopping to indicate the direction. Guard knights followed behind the nobles. Joel’s gaze followed them.
Though the dining room was large enough to hold a ball, the round table was intimate. Like the set table, musicians who had been prepared in advance were playing. Woodpecker’s guard knights stood by the windows. The knights who had come with the nobles stood along the walls.
Dimitri guided them. Though a round table meant there was no head seat to worry about, one place still stood out. That must be the Duke’s seat.
After they were seated, Dimitri bowed and left. Then Julius Woodpecker entered the dining room. Everyone rose as he entered.
Yuls looked down quietly at those showing courtesy with slight bows, then gave Dimitri a glance. As Dimitri pulled out the chair, Yuls sat. The others then all took their seats.
Pasalis McCauliffe spoke first.
“This is our first proper greeting, Your Grace.”
“Viscount.”
Yuls said, looking at McCauliffe.
“I read the documents you sent well. Stockpiling rare metals, expansion and systematization of management. Did you work with that in Dunbar? It was well written.”
“Not metals, but I dealt with plants.”
“Plants…”
Given that Claude had brought McCauliffe to Dalkatir, and Claude’s condition had been poor since then, it was quite an unsettling situation. And now plants.
“Come to think of it, your name isn’t Dunbar-style. Are you from the North? Or the East?”
“My grandfather was from Kievina. He went to the Southern Continent collecting plants under the king’s orders, but was shipwrecked. Knowing he would face punishment if he returned, he settled in the Central Continent. Fortunately, Dunbar accepted him and he seemed to establish himself, but an unexpected incident led me to take refuge in Dalkatir.”
While listening to what followed, Yuls slowly shifted his gaze to those around them. Seeing how they all seemed to avoid his gaze, Yuls smiled and said,
“Yes, everyone must have their circumstances.”
How did these exiles come to join hands? What were their reasons for wanting to establish relations with foreign countries? Though it made sense they would try to build on their existing foundations, something seemed suspicious.
Dimitri entered again. He held a wine bottle. Yuls gripped the lower part of his glass. Wine with a faint green tint fell into the glass. Moving next to McCauliffe, Dimitri spoke.
“This is wine from Montepillier. Since only limited quantities are released externally, I thought you might not have had it in a while, so we specially prepared a wine from near Dunbar.”
Dimitri said while pouring. Yuls quietly watched McCauliffe. As McCauliffe commented that it had been a long time since he’d had this wine, Yuls narrowed his eyes. While green-tinted white wine was certainly a specialty of that region, these days it was produced in other areas too. The taste and aroma differed slightly.
Everyone watched carefully as he brought the wine glass to his nose to smell it.
“Well then.”
McCauliffe showed no particular reaction.
“Shall we chat leisurely?”
Yuls said, raising his glass.
“Or would you prefer to get to the main point?”
