Chapter 23
The day was no different from yesterday. Adi slept soundly until evening, then had dinner with Roy after washing up. If anything, sleeping too long had left their body feeling stiff. The reversed day and night schedule felt strange.
Duke Yuls Woodpecker was reviewing documents again today. It seemed he would work late into the night again before sleeping. Today the ink bottle sat safely on a tray, no longer precariously placed.
Adi stood by the window. This was the most suitable position for guard duty. It allowed them to prevent intrusion from outside while keeping an eye on the door to see who entered.
Unlike the sounds from outside, this room was filled with silence, with only the rustling of turning papers breaking the quiet. Then the Duke spoke first.
“How do you find life here?”
Adi looked at the Duke. Behind him hung a massive painting – a landscape. Normally, nobles rarely kept landscape paintings. They preferred symbolic paintings, family trees, or idealized portraits that emphasized their superiority and lineage.
However, such landscape paintings were apparently trending among wealthy merchants. Though nobles usually set the trends, this time was uniquely different – landscape paintings had captured the nobility’s attention.
In other words, this was a newly hung painting following the current fashion.
As Adi silently gazed at the painting, the Duke, perhaps thinking they were staring at him, prompted, “Well?”
“If you’re asking about life in Palesa Palace, it’s nothing special. Though the outer palace is quieter at night than here.”
“Is this your first time in the inner palace?”
“Yes. Usually, only the First and Second Knight Divisions have business in the inner palace.”
“You were from the Third Knight Division, weren’t you? Why? Your appearance and skills seem decent enough.”
“Because I wasn’t a page from Palesa.”
“So it’s because you’re an outsider. Who granted your knighthood?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Yuls fell silent at Adi’s words. Though it must have been in the investigation records, he hadn’t looked closely. Whoever granted the title, the final lord one served was the true master anyway.
Unlike in the old days of chivalry, most people didn’t care about such things now. Of course, some still did. Especially the Grimaldis.
Spencer Grimaldi had sworn loyalty to the prince who granted him his title, and ultimately helped put him on the throne.
Adi Grimaldi was that man’s child.
“…Have you met the Crown Prince?”
“I’ve never met him.”
Seeing Yuls’s expression that seemed to ask how they received the title then, Adi continued.
“Count Grimaldi brought the sword and title. I was too weak at the time. So it was kind of a fraud… a consideration.”
Yuls’s mouth fell open. Though Adi had corrected themselves, they had clearly said “fraud.” Regardless of the outcome, knights typically hold respect and gratitude for those who bestowed their titles. Having a high-ranking benefactor was fortunate, but even without that, knights were loyal because these were the first people to recognize them.
But what Adi Grimaldi just said…
“Should you be saying such things?”
“It’s widely known anyway. Can’t hide how I obtained the title.”
“Aren’t you ashamed as a knight?”
He hadn’t intended to ask such a question. But as soon as the words slipped out, Yuls realized his mistake. Adi looked at him for a moment before saying, “I…”
“Have no pride as a knight.”
“…”
“I simply do as I’m told.”
“You speak as if you’re just a puppet.”
“It’s not much different.”
“…”
How should I handle this person? Yuls felt like he was facing someone he couldn’t figure out for the first time in his life. A knight with no pride in knighthood, blood-related to someone who was his main enemy, yet still the type of knight he quite liked.
“How do you feel about staying by my side?”
Maybe I should try to win them over. According to Roy, things didn’t seem good with their family. Though the letters made them seem inseparable, especially the Countess.
“Thanks to your consideration, I’m doing well.”
“…I don’t recall showing you any particular consideration.”
“It’s pleasant to stay here.”
“I see.”
They seemed to have misunderstood the question. When asked about staying by his side, they spoke about their current experience instead. They probably wouldn’t be easily won over, and it was still risky to keep them close. If not for the Grimaldi connection, Yuls actually preferred this type. Since there was plenty of time, perhaps it would be better to watch them for a while longer.
Yuls lowered his head. Then, while flipping through documents, he spoke again.
“I look forward to working with you next year as well.”
“Pardon?”
“I like you. Unlike others before, you respond well to my requests.”
What had the Duke requested? There seemed to have been many. Though they might be demanding if counted one by one, nothing was particularly difficult if you just handled the basics.
“And you don’t smell.”
“…”
About that smell…
Regarding the knights’ smell, Adi had nothing to say. It was inevitable that those who trained and sweated daily would have an odor.
But guard knights were different. As they attended nobles, they took care of their appearance. Some even wore powder or perfume. That was closer to fragrance than smell.
As Adi remained silent, Yuls raised his head again. After quietly observing Adi, he said,
“You look like you have something to say.”
“I don’t.”
“Say it.”
“…”
Forcing someone to speak when they said they had nothing to say didn’t bode well for being a good master. After some hesitation, Adi spoke.
“I heard you come here every year.”
“Is it unusual for nobles to come to Palesa Palace? The king gave the palace to the nobles. Anyone who wants to vacation in Palesa can come here anytime.”
Yuls’s words were entirely correct. After moving to Ionad, the king had opened Palesa Palace to nobles free of charge. Though it was called free, all noble taxes flowed to the king anyway, so it amounted to the same thing.
“He clearly wants the nobles to use it because he doesn’t want to waste money on maintenance. That’s why there are so many who abandon their territories to play here, or newly ennobled families wandering the palace without homes of their own.”
After saying this, Yuls set the documents down on the bed. Then, with a face that suggested he would focus on the conversation, he said,
“I’m one of them.”
But to be “one of them” – wasn’t Woodpecker far too prominent to be compared with such people? A ducal house and the king’s nephew. An heir to the throne. How could someone said to live better than the king in their own territory be compared to such people?
“If I’m going to be served by such wastrels anyway…”
That expression.
“Wouldn’t it be more convenient to keep the same person?”
It was hard to read.
“…”
The expressions Adi knew were consistent. Though they represented different emotions, they all contained negative feelings toward her. That’s why Adi found it easy to read malice.
But the Duke’s expression was different. They didn’t know how to describe it.
That emotion seemed to evoke different sensations.
Yet even that remained beyond comprehension.
“If Your Grace wishes it.”
“Setting aside what I want, I asked for your opinion.”
“Whether I could truly be of help to Your Grace…”
As Adi spoke, they suddenly fell silent.
A rejection? As Yuls pondered this, Adi’s hand moved to their waist. Yuls flinched at the sudden movement.
Though he trained in swordsmanship himself, he wasn’t confident he could win against Adi, an adult male knight. Still, thinking that if they were planning something, they would take more time rather than act now, Yuls was caught off guard by Adi’s unexpected action and reached under his pillow.
—The sword wasn’t there.
“Your Grace.”
Adi strode toward the bed.
“What’s wrong?”
The Duke pretended to be calm. Adi had seen him slip his hand under the pillow. Usually, that meant gripping a weapon. Seeing this, rather than becoming wary, Adi actually smiled.
“Forgive my rudeness.”
Adi spoke while drawing a dagger. Simultaneously, Yuls shouted, “Gavin!” calling for the servant outside. Adi climbed onto the bed, raising the dagger. The bedroom door opened at the same moment.
“Your Grace!”
“Sir!”
Adi’s dagger plunged straight into the painting behind the bed.
The painting of the blue forest split apart under Adi’s gesture. Red blood flowed from between the tear.
Lilina
Haii hello
Heads up to translator but chapter 22 is locked while 23 isn’t..? 😭
catty
oops blaming viri because i asked them to post the chapters for me
Lilina
Thanks for updating 🙏