Chapter 2
Adrian Grimaldi was a knight. However, he had only received the title of knighthood and had never actually performed the duties of a knight. After receiving his title, his health rapidly deteriorated, and Adi Grimaldi couldn’t even go on a knight’s journey, let alone become a squire. After receiving his title, he simply stayed in the Grimaldi mansion.
The same was true for Adrina. Unlike Adrian, Adrina, who had never been outside the Grimaldi mansion, remained quietly like Adrian’s shadow. But that’s all in the past now.
Adi’s gravestone was engraved by the most skilled artisan in the territory. The magnolia decorations surrounding it were entrusted to a famous artisan invited from the capital. The Countess shed tears throughout the making of the gravestone and ordered the artisans to do their best.
Adrian Grimaldi lived for eighteen years and was buried under Adrina’s name. No trace of Adrian remained anywhere.
Adi often visited Adi’s grave.
In spring, she would pack Adi’s favorite drink and go for a picnic; in summer, she’d bring summer fruits. In autumn, she’d toss books onto the grave, and in winter…
When winter approached and spring was on the threshold, just like when Adrian died, snow would fall as if the weather had gone strange. Adi would brush off the snow piled on the gravestone with her hand and quietly look down at her name.
Five years had passed since Adi died.
In that time, Adrina had grown taller and taken up the sword in place of her brother. Having formally started learning the sword she had always held in preparation to substitute for Adrian, she quickly surpassed his skill and was not inferior to most knights in the territory.
Adi’s grave was well-maintained.
If it had been the real Adrina buried here instead of Adrian, the grave would have been neglected, with wildly overgrown vegetation obscuring even its location, let alone any maintenance. No, would a gravestone have even existed?
Adi unfastened the scabbard at her waist and flopped down next to the grave, exhaling deeply. Right next to where Adrian lay. Then she turned to look beside her. It was as if she could see Adrian’s figure. But unlike the growing Adrina, Adrian was still an eighteen-year-old boy.
No, what lay beside her was not an eighteen-year-old boy, but a decayed and rotting corpse. Covered like a blanket with her own hair.
Adi looked up at the sky again. The pure white sky seemed like it would snow at any moment. Soon after, a snowflake fell through the air. As she felt the cold sensation on her cheek, Adi closed her eyes.
The snow, which seemed to fall slowly at first, suddenly came down in a flurry. Something as cold as Adrian’s already decayed body piled up on top of Adi. It was clear that she would get frostbite if she stayed lying like this, but she didn’t have the energy to get up.
At that moment, she sensed a presence not far away. Even with her eyes closed, she could tell that a shadow had fallen over her.
“Adrian.”
A man said. Adi opened her eyes. Although she couldn’t see his face clearly due to the backlight, she could tell who it was just by his voice.
“Lev.”
“The Count is looking for you.”
Adi just looked at him without answering. Lev, thinking she had understood, turned and walked away with heavy steps. Adi sat up. The man’s footprints remained on the snow.
Rising from her spot, Adi shook the snow off her body and fastened her sword to her waist again. It was clear that if she were even a little late, Spencer Grimaldi would be displeased.
Adi quickened her pace and untied the reins of the horse she had tied to a tree. Seeing Adi, the horse snorted and shook its head. Stroking between her eyebrows and nose while looking at the snow-white horse that had aged, Adi mounted it.
The mansion could be seen not far away. The fog made it look desolate. Soon the horse galloped. As the cold wind brushed against her cheeks and eyes, it felt so cold that tears might come out.
No one was there to greet Adi when she returned with her wet body. Although she lived with Adrian’s appearance and name, Adi and Adi were different in this mansion.
Unable to receive even a warm towel, Adi went straight up to Spencer Grimaldi’s study and bowed her head upon seeing Spencer looking at her with displeasure. Spencer Grimaldi abruptly threw a document. Adi picked up the paper that had hit her chest and fallen, which read ‘Appointment Document’.
“Go to Palesa Palace.”
Spencer Grimaldi said.
“……”
Adi didn’t answer. She wanted to ask with what intention or to what position she was being sent there, but Spencer Grimaldi did not allow questions.
“I’ve transferred you to the knighthood of Palesa Palace. They’ve accepted, so that will be your base from now on.”
Satisfied with Adi’s silence, Spencer pondered for a moment before continuing.
“There.”
He lowered his gaze slowly.
“You must stay until I contact you.”
Understood? Speaking in a low, soft voice while placing his hand on Adi’s shoulder, the Count pressed down firmly, gripping her shoulder. It wasn’t a suggestion.
What the Count always wanted was one thing:
“Yes, I understand.”
Obedience and nothing else.
* * *
Although the capital of the Dalkatir Kingdom was Ionad, 80 years ago, the monarchy was centered in Palesa. The previous king is evaluated as having had the strongest royal authority among all kings in history, and what he most strongly advocated was the relocation of the capital, eventually building a new palace on new land and moving the royal family.
The planned city of Ionad was said to be well-divided into districts and convenient for carriages to travel.
On the other hand, the old city of Palesa, while beautiful and full of majesty and tradition, had slums formed around the old royal palace, was frequented by riffraff, and due to its proximity to the sea, various people came and went through the port, with frequent fights between rough sailors and outsiders.
Perhaps the king could not endure this glamorous yet dirty city.
Palesa coexisted with pride in being the royal capital and an inferiority complex about being abandoned.
Adi Grimaldi stood in front of the building.
The enormous building had two spires and not a single window. The small holes were not enough for light to enter. They were originally small holes for observing enemy movements and shooting arrows.
It was an old castle wall. Like home.
As she stood quietly in front of the gate of the wall, the guards looked at her curiously. Judging by the tall stature of the person wrapped in a large robe, it must be a man, and looking up at the castle wall like this couldn’t be a good intention, they assumed.
A guard approached with his hand on his sword. Adi Grimaldi also put her hand on her waist. Becoming more wary at this gesture, the guard asked, “What business do you have?” Adi pulled out a metal plate and documents hanging at her waist and held them up.
“I am Adi Grimaldi.”
The guard blinked in surprise. It wasn’t easy to be unfamiliar with the Grimaldi surname, if nothing else.
“I’ve received transfer orders as of today.”
Saying this, Adi removed the hood covering her face and brushed up her hair. The guard took a sharp breath at the revealed face.
“May I enter?”
The guard alternately looked at Adi Grimaldi’s face, identity plate, and appointment order. Adi frowned slightly at the somewhat strange gaze, wondering why he was looking at her like that when there was no face drawn on the identity plate.
Thinking she didn’t expect to feel the local bias and discrimination that the people of the old capital were said to have right from the start, Adi lifted her chin and looked down at the man. The guard returned the appointment order and identity plate and said,
“…Please enter.”
Adi glanced at the man as she received her identity plate back.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
It wasn’t a welcoming face.
Neither the guard, nor this city. Nor the knights of Palesa Palace.
Even after several years.
“Adi Grimaldi!”
Inevitably, such incidents keep happening.
“Stop right there!”
Adi turned at the voice calling her. Young men, overcome with anger, looked at Adi while breathing heavily.
Looking around at those who had suddenly surrounded her, Adi surveyed her surroundings with an indifferent face. Three of them with hands on their sword hilts were knights, and one was a page just before receiving his knighthood.
Everyone looked on with interest at the incident unfolding in the middle of the courtyard of the building where knights and pages resided in the north of Palesa Palace. However, none of them thought to help Adi.
Adi didn’t expect their help either. She just didn’t like becoming a spectacle. But it couldn’t be helped. Adi Grimaldi always brought trouble, and being with Adi inevitably led to difficulties.
Moreover, how should one describe Adi Grimaldi?
“This is insubordination.”
In this place full of only men, she was likely to become a target.
“Who cares about insubordination, you son of a bitch!”
At first, it might have been because of her pretty face and slender body.
“Oh, really?”
In the end, this situation occurred entirely because of Adi Grimaldi’s personality.
“Yeah, really!”
The shouting page’s eye had a yellow bruise. Judging by the bluish color remaining around the edges, it seemed some time had passed and the bruise was healing. When was it that the man had rushed at her? Was it a week ago? It seemed like it might have been less than that.
“Take off your rank insignia and let’s fight, Adi!”
Adi, who had been lost in thought, chuckled at the man’s words.
Slowly approaching the man, Adi suddenly picked up speed. The man tried to draw his sword at the rushing momentum, but Adi was faster. Adi’s foot crushed the page’s face. As the man fell forward, the knights beside him supported him.
“You take off your rank insignia, you fucking bastard.”
With those final words, the other knights rushed at Adi. There were sounds of entanglement, collision, and impacts. People around cheered and encouraged the fight.
Adi Grimaldi laughed as if enjoying it. Dodging the flying swords and beating the page with her scabbard, Adi quickened her kicks even more at the sound of people rushing to stop the fight.
People grabbed her scabbard and seized both her arms to drag her away. Adi shook them off and pulled her body forward with all her might to stomp on the fallen man. Blood splattered onto Adi Grimaldi’s cheek. However, as if exhilarated by this situation, Adi even started humming, her lips curving up into a smile.
“That vicious bastard.”
Adi Grimaldi, the mad dog of Palesa Palace.
