Chapter 26
Could even the heavens turning upside down be more shocking than this?
No, perhaps that would be more shocking, but this situation was certainly startling enough.
“An assassin? Against Your Grace?”
“Yes, last night.”
An assassination attempt here in Palesa? Not during the festival period, but now when there was little more than nobles’ nighttime revelry? Could Adi Grimaldi possibly be the culprit…?
“Adi did kill them, though.”
Apparently not.
“They’re injured now and probably won’t be able to work for a while.”
“How badly are they hurt?”
“They were poisoned.”
“Poison… Will they die?”
“Not to that extent.”
Bert said.
“And they better not die.”
“True. They’re Count Grimaldi’s only child.”
Roy answered.
Spencer Grimaldi could no longer have children. Some called it a curse, but he had injured his testicles falling from a horse during a jousting match, competing in place of the prince—now king. At that time, his wife was pregnant with Adi Grimaldi, and they hadn’t expected twins.
When twins—considered a symbol of ill fortune and a type of curse—were born, who knows what Spencer Grimaldi thought, but he publicly declared his children cursed. He didn’t even adopt any children. Those who knew Spencer Grimaldi would find it puzzling.
Even Roy, who didn’t know him well, found it strange.
Though Adrina Grimaldi had died, was it all right since Adrian Grimaldi lived? But if Adrian died too, the Grimaldi Count’s line would end. Of course, they could probably find nephews or other branch family members if they looked, but it wouldn’t be easy to educate and raise such people from scratch.
“They won’t stay quiet when they learn about the poisoning.”
At Bert’s words, Roy wondered whether the one who wouldn’t stay quiet would be the Duke or Adi.
“…Then what about sending word?”
“We’ll have to wait until they wake up first.”
“I hope they wake up safely.”
“Joel is watching over them, so it should be fine.”
“Joel—that’s the servant who briefed about what the Duke likes and dislikes?”
“Yes. He’s both servant and healer.”
More precisely, he was a healing magician, but there was no need to mention that yet. Once they went to the territory together, they would rely on him greatly.
“Wait and see. Or we could bring someone else temporarily until Adi returns.”
“…Here in Palesa?”
“Is there anyone suitable?”
At Bert’s words, Roy thought of his various colleagues. The Second Knight Division’s opinion of Woodpecker wasn’t good. If they’d maintained better relations normally, everyone would want to come, but now that they were looking for someone new…
Was there anyone who might come?
“If not, can you two handle it for a few days?”
“That would be fine.”
Better just the two of them than dealing with resentment.
“Then let’s do that. I don’t want to bring in new people needlessly either. Since the Duke has changed rooms, we’ll move our quarters too.”
“Understood. Then Adrian…”
“The servants will move their belongings. Since they can’t move.”
Is it that serious? If it were weak poison, they’d recover quickly, but if an assassin was involved…
“Where is Adi now?”
“In the room next to His Grace’s.”
“Pardon?”
“The bedroom’s side room.”
He’d heard correctly. But the location, the place! Wasn’t it too meaningful? Perhaps noticing Roy’s impure and suspicious expression, Bert added,
“We’re watching over them since they can’t die. Ah, what about the belongings? Will you let the servants move them, or do it yourself?”
“I’ll move them myself.”
“I’ll let them know then.”
* * *
The new residence was somewhat fresher than the previous one. It didn’t seem like the Duke’s taste. That must be why he’d used the previous residence. Being on the same floor, there wasn’t much change overall.
The Duke sat reading a newspaper on the reception room sofa. When Roy entered and saluted, Yuls folded the newspaper and said, “You’re late.”
“My apologies, Your Grace.”
“It’s fine. Bert must have told you various things.”
“About Adrian Grimaldi…”
Yuls looked at Roy. His gaze seemed to ask if they were close. It was ambiguous whether to say they were close or not. But they had been injured protecting the Duke…
“They won’t die.”
“I heard you’re keeping them nearby.”
“Because they can’t die.”
“…”
“They’re in the bedroom’s side room. You can visit if you’d like.”
“I wouldn’t dare…”
“Follow me.”
Yuls said, standing up. Would he really show him? Roy wondered, but Yuls casually entered the inner room.
The bedroom they reached after passing through various side rooms and corridors was decorated in pure white. If an assassin entered here, their appearance would be chilling.
The servant in the bedroom jumped up, startled by Yuls’s arrival.
“Open the door.”
Yuls said. The servant opened the side room door.
The side room was also pure white. Adrian’s exceptionally pale form lying there didn’t look out of place.
Being from the North, Adi was fairer-skinned and lighter-haired than others, and with only their head visible above the blankets, they looked even more delicate.
Seeing them like this, Roy felt strange. They didn’t look anything like Palesa’s mad dog.
“Adi.”
Roy said. Sweat-dampened hair was visible. Yuls clicked his tongue beside him.
“Adrian.”
When Roy called again, Adi slightly opened their eyes. Their brown eyes, visible through narrow slits, looked particularly clear.
“Adi, are you alright?”
Despite Roy’s question, Adi’s gaze was fixed elsewhere. Roy became aware of the Duke behind his shoulder. Adrian was also looking at the Duke.
“Adi.”
Adrian said. Both Roy and Yuls froze.
Reaching toward the Duke, Adi again said, “Adi.” Their voice was tearful. Perhaps from a hoarse throat, it sounded particularly thin. Yuls approached the bedside.
“Adi…”
Tears welled up in their narrow eyes before rolling down. Adi grabbed Yuls’s hand almost desperately, calling “Adi, Adi” repeatedly. Not understanding the situation, Roy asked, “Your Grace?” Yuls didn’t pull his hand away.
“They’re calling for their sister.”
Yuls said.
“I heard Adrina Grimaldi was also called Adi.”
That couldn’t be.
No matter how similar their names, they wouldn’t share a nickname. Adrina probably had no nickname. Either Adrian had arbitrarily called her Adi, or it was their private expression.
Aren’t twins’ souls one? Had they given their own nickname to their soul? Had Adrina called Adrian something different?
“It hurts.”
Adi said.
“It hurts, it’s hard.”
Tears poured down. It was the first time seeing someone’s weakness like this. Who knew a grown man would cry and say it hurt like this. But strangely, strangely…
Roy couldn’t describe this feeling. It was just strange. Like indigestion, or something blocking the middle of his stomach or chest.
“I’ll call the healer.”
Yuls said, rising. Adi tightly gripped Yuls’s wrist as he stood. Yuls couldn’t bring himself to shake off the weak grip that seemed like it would break at a touch.
“Don’t go.”
Adi said.
“Don’t go, Adi.”
Those words weren’t meant for him.
“I’ll protect you.”
They were Adrian’s words to their sister.
“I’ll definitely get you out of here.”
Perhaps Adrina had been small like Yuls himself. That’s why they were confused.
“So don’t die.”
While they themselves were in mortal danger.
“Don’t leave.”
Saying this, Adi brought Yuls’s hand to their lips and kissed the back of it. They kissed it several times before rubbing their face against it. Even for a child’s body, this hand was too large to be a woman’s. But Adrian, in their delirium, didn’t seem to notice even that.
“Don’t leave me alone, Adi.”
The raw emotion was palpable.
“You’re my only…”
How much Adrian had loved their sister.
For a moment, Yuls felt envious of the dead Adrina. To have someone who loved them this much. Though she had been cursed and died, Yuls thought perhaps she had been happy while alive.
Because he had never experienced this.
So he felt somewhat angry.
Though it wasn’t her fault Adrian’s sister had died, she had left someone who cared for her this much.
If such love had been directed at him.
If he had received such a thing in his youth.
A pointless hypothesis.
“Roy.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Call Joel.”
“Understood.”
Roy answered and went outside, asking a servant, “Do you know where to find the servant called Joel?” The servant nodded and offered to guide him. They glanced at the side room.
Inside were only Adrian and Yuls Woodpecker.
Outside were soldiers, and there was no one here who could threaten Yuls. Perhaps thinking it was alright to step away briefly, the servant told Roy to hurry back. The sound of footsteps faded away.
Yuls looked behind him once. In the empty room, even he could properly express his feelings.
“The nerve, feeling no guilt.”
Yuls said, looking at Adi’s face.
“How foolish.”
Though it wasn’t clear who he was speaking to, the words just slipped out unconsciously.
Lilina
Poor Adi 🥲 she’s delirious
She was always portrayed as somewhat indifferent but this is the first time it was overtly shown how much she misses Adi
It hurts