Chapter 32
Around this time of year, the Count was always away. This was the season of the final festival before the common people became busiest.
While Grimaldi had its own festivals, Adi had never attended them. Though the Countess had overseen Grimaldi’s festivals, after Adrian fell ill, they became perfunctory affairs.
Spencer Grimaldi would always go to Ionad during that time. Did he go there to assist the king before moving to Palesa? For several years before Adi came to Palesa, the Count hadn’t visited. Why?
Then why was he coming now? It was incomprehensible.
A festival. Something they had never attended.
“Adi?”
A knock sounds at the door.
“I’m coming out.”
Adi spoke while placing the unopened letters in a drawer and burning the “well done” letter in the candlelight.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Did you rest well?”
Both Adi and Roy nodded at Bert’s question. Though it was only two days, it felt like a dream. Adi’s rest had been longer, but that was acceptable given their injury. Bert nodded and scribbled in his notebook with a pen.
“Now then, I’d like to arrange new schedules. Roy, what time works best for you? Morning? Or afternoon or evening?”
“Morning would be best for me.”
“Right.”
That was expected. Most knights start early in the morning. It’s suitable to do some training before beginning official duties.
“Adi, is night alright for you?”
It wasn’t a good time slot. It would be difficult. But as essentially the newest member, Adi couldn’t complain about the assignment.
“Yes.”
“Excuse me, Sir.”
Roy raised his hand then.
“Is there a problem?”
“Adi has just recovered from an injury—wouldn’t night duty be too strenuous?”
“That’s true. Besides, since an assassin has already appeared once, we can’t rule out another attempt.”
“In that case, I’ll take the night shift until they’re fully recovered.”
“…”
Bert made a troubled face.
“I’m sorry, but, Sir.”
Though your concern for your colleague is truly admirable…
“His Grace specifically wants Adi.”
“Pardon?”
“His Grace wants Adi at night.”
“…”
Why did that statement sound so nuanced, no, strange, no… suggestive? Roy slowly turned to look at Adi. His face clearly asked ‘What do you know?’ Was this why Adi had made such suggestive comments earlier? Asking about the Duke’s preferences?
“Well then, that’s settled…”
Bert looked at Adi.
“I’m sorry, Sir. It’ll be tough.”
To Bert’s seemingly dejected words, Adi simply replied, “…Yes.” What exactly was there to be sorry about, and what exactly were they having to endure? Bert stood up, saying he would go perform his guard duty, and left. Roy, who had been left out, caught Adi as they were about to enter their room.
“What’s this about?”
Adi looked at Roy quietly.
“What?”
“What’s what?”
“What’s going on here?”
“…”
“Is it true?”
What could Roy be thinking?
“Are you, really? You and His Grace aren’t in some kind of, no, somewhat ambiguous, strange? For-forbidden love or something? Together, surely not together, no, I had my suspicions. At night! Together! Yes, at night!”
While something had indeed happened between Adi and the Duke, it wasn’t the scandalous affair Roy was imagining. Being together at night was just for guard duty. But explaining this situation…
It seemed best not to. About the curse and such. Though people knew about both the Duke’s curse and Adi’s curse, the idea of curses canceling each other out, or one curse negating another…
“Sir Adrian Grimaldi.”
Just then, a servant knocked on the open door. Adi and Roy both looked at him.
“His Grace requests your presence.”
Roy’s face turned pale. As Adi was leaving, Roy mouthed silently:
‘Is it con-consensual?’
“…”
Adi had no idea how to respond to that.
❖ ❖ ❖
The Duke was in his office rather than the reception room. This meant Adi’s range of access within the residence had expanded.
Adi didn’t really understand what exactly the Duke, Count, and other nobles did. Spencer Grimaldi had never taught Adi such things. They had only trained in swordsmanship to serve as Adrian’s substitute.
The Duke noticed Adi’s arrival and rose from his seat to greet them. Unsure whether to call this a greeting, Adi took the offered hand and now naturally kissed its back. But there was no change.
“What could it be?”
Yuls said, withdrawing his hand.
“It worked then, so why not now?”
“…”
“Should I try kissing you instead?”
Adi flinched. Though trying not to show it, their rejection was clear. By this point, one might suspect that the temporary lifting of the curse had a different cause, but the Duke showed no sign of considering that possibility.
“You may go.”
“Your Grace.”
And Adi wanted to tell him that.
“Might there be other possibilities you’ve considered?”
“There’s no one but you.”
“…”
That couldn’t be right. Initially, the Duke hadn’t even known what could break his curse. That’s why he had been searching through documents. Besides, it was supposed to be among items he already possessed…
While the timing of Adi becoming the Duke’s guard and the Duke’s growth might seem worth considering, shouldn’t they also consider the possibility that it wasn’t the cause?
“I’m certain it’s you.”
“However…”
“Why? Do I look too young for your taste? Don’t worry, I’m twenty-six. Older than you.”
But his face didn’t even look twenty. Moreover, until recently he had been completely childlike, and above all…
“Your Grace, does gender not concern you?”
“I spent half my life as a thirteen-year-old. Do you think whether someone is male or female matters in breaking free from a curse?”
If he had cared about gender, if he preferred women, Adi could say they couldn’t because they were a man, or if he preferred men, they could say they couldn’t because they were a woman. But this way, neither excuse would work.
“…”
“I don’t intend to force you.”
Yuls said. Yet even while saying that, he made Adi press their lips to his hand again today. Like some princess, he extended his hand expecting kisses as if it were natural. Though Adi wanted to rebel against this Duke, anything attempted would have to work first.
“If this action alone could break my curse, I wouldn’t ask anything else of you. So…”
For a moment, Yuls struggled with what to say next.
Offering wealth and glory wouldn’t work since Adi already had Grimaldi to inherit. Asking them to serve under him wouldn’t work because of Grimaldi again. Should he offer to help Grimaldi? The only help Spencer Grimaldi would want would be his death, and he couldn’t grant that.
Perhaps killing Spencer Grimaldi would be better?
The best way to solve a problem is to eliminate it.
…Though their relationship with Spencer Grimaldi didn’t seem good, wouldn’t killing their father be problematic?
“I’ll think more about what comes after.”
“…”
Adi thought it would be better if he spoke quickly. They feared what absurd proposition the Duke might present. But Adi’s possible responses were always limited.
“Yes, understood.”
“Come at a reasonable time starting tomorrow night. There won’t be much work.”
“Yes, I’ll visit tomorrow night.”
Adi answered. Yuls narrowed his eyes and said, “You may go.” Adi saluted and slipped outside. It was still Bert’s time.
As Adi left, a servant was outside.
Gavin, was it?
“His Grace…”
“Is inside.”
“You weren’t… harmed in any way, were you?”
“Nothing happened.”
Gavin’s face showed relief at Adi’s answer. Adi felt somewhat puzzled. These people were the Duke’s servants, so why did they seem more concerned about Adi than the Duke? As if there was something hidden that even Adi didn’t know.
Gavin knocked and entered. Adi returned to the knights’ quarters. Fortunately, Roy wasn’t there.
Back in their room without any interference, Adi took out the letters they had put in the drawer. After reading the Count’s personal letter’s greeting, instead of reading further, Adi immediately lit a candle and singed the letter.
Then the Count’s true intentions were revealed.
[I heard Roy Gaillard was assigned as the Duke’s guard. A mistake.]
First, a warning.
[Your duties there will be determined soon. Stand by.]
Second, an order.
[Boucher told me you visited on Adrina’s death anniversary. Don’t do that again.]
Third was…
“Adi.”
The Duke had asked. If they felt guilty about their sibling.
“Adrian.”
There was no guilt. Just… a slight feeling of emptiness.
How did he know about the visit to Adrian’s grave? It was just half a day, and in secret at that. They had only looked at the grave. Couldn’t even give a single flower, any warm words, nothing at all.
Has someone seen them visit? Were they being watched?
They had promised to help her escape that place, but it seemed only they had escaped. No, she hadn’t escaped either.
Adi set fire to the letter. Like the sparks from the burning paper, a tiny spark seemed to ignite in their heart. But what emotion it was, they didn’t yet know.
