Chapter 35
Yuls smiled at the man before him. The man did the same. While they seemed to be examining each other thoroughly behind hidden faces and intentions, it wasn’t apparent. That made their wariness of each other even more evident.
At a knock, the attending servant opened the door. Gavin appeared with tea and refreshments.
Gavin greeted both Yuls and Spencer Grimaldi.
“Where’s Adi?”
“They’ll be here soon. They were at the training grounds and said they needed to prepare first. Also, Your Grace.”
Gavin spoke while carefully covering his mouth.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
“…Already?”
“Yes.”
How had Claude arrived so soon? Normally he would have arrived late. Could it be related to Count Grimaldi’s arrival?
Yuls looked at Spencer Grimaldi. The man sipped his tea with an unperturbed face and smiled pleasantly. Though he smiled kindly, this man was a snake coiled underneath.
“We’ll discuss that matter in the evening.”
“Yes, understood.”
“You may go.”
After Gavin bowed and left, Yuls smiled at the man before him.
“Pardon the interruption, Count.”
“Not at all. You must be busy.”
Spencer Grimaldi replied with an even expression.
“The same must be true for you, Count. Now that you’re back in Palesa, everyone must want to meet with you.”
“No more than Your Grace. I’m honored to meet you like this, when I hear your schedule is set at least two years in advance. And you’ve even offered your residence.”
“Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to stay anywhere but the palace when visiting Palesa? Though things seem better now. After His Majesty’s mood soured then, you couldn’t be invited to Palesa’s May Festival, but now you’re back.”
Spencer smiled at Yuls’s words. He was clearly referring to the situation where Spencer had been invited to Palesa’s May Festival but couldn’t enter the palace. That expression confirmed Yuls’s suspicion. It wasn’t the king’s invitation but the crown prince’s. Had Grimaldi aligned with the crown prince?
“And as for Your Grace…”
But why hadn’t Claude let him stay in his own residence? To avoid revealing their alliance yet?
“I heard your curse was broken. Looking at you now, you’re certainly different from before. I never expected to see you so grown.”
“…Indeed.”
He hadn’t even pretended to be surprised or tried to gloss over it, but deliberately brought it up. Probably everyone would mention this change. The grown Duke of Woodpecker. Even more so once the balls began.
“Those who haven’t met you before wouldn’t recognize you.”
“Few would recognize my face anyway. And since it happened in Palesa Palace, all the palace people know about this change.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“If only your family’s curse could pass by as well.”
“Our family’s curse is already buried in the ground.”
Spencer said while lifting his teacup. Something felt off for a moment.
“You say the same thing.”
Adi Grimaldi had spoken like that too. As if it were completely natural. Was that Adi Grimaldi’s thought, or Spencer Grimaldi’s?
Spencer raised his eyebrows at Yuls’s words.
Say the same thing? With whom? Adrian? Had they become close enough to discuss such things? Though he had ordered Adrian to stop the Duke’s assassin and stay close, he hadn’t meant this kind of closeness.
“It seems you’ve grown quite close to my son.”
“Adi is quite impressive.”
Spencer’s expression hardened. Adi, Adi. He never expected to hear that name from another’s lips. Especially not here. He’d heard Adrian didn’t get close to others, but had they become close enough with the Duke to use such familiar terms? The Count concealed his thoughts and smiled.
“What about my son impressed you so?”
“Well. Perhaps how unpredictable they are?”
They showed little greed, as if they already had what they wanted in the future. They neither yearned for nor wanted anything. They seemed to merely endure this place quietly. Though what they were enduring remained unclear. They could leave this place if they wanted. But that couldn’t be said. Yuls spoke again.
“A pretty face, yet nicknamed Palesa’s bastard dog.”
Though it was actually “Palesa’s dog” rather than “bastard dog,” Yuls thought it amounted to the same thing. Spencer Grimaldi, however, looked taken aback, as if hearing this nickname for the first time.
“I thought they’d be some ruffian picking fights and getting into dog fights, but they’re actually quiet.”
“It seems my child has caused trouble.”
“Not at all. As you know, Grimaldi is my life’s savior.”
Spencer Grimaldi’s eyes settled calmly. Though he knew the Duke meant Adrian rather than himself, sometimes it seemed like they were referring to him. Especially in Ionad. Cases where they would address him as “Sir” like a knight despite his count’s title. Of course, he didn’t think the Duke had meant it that way. Even if he had, it was better not to take it as such.
“An assassin came, you see. Adi protected me even while being poisoned.”
“Poisoned… you say?”
“Yes, poison. They protected me even while being poisoned. An excellent knight. Though I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted that.”
“How could that be?”
The Count said. If nothing else, this was sincere. It would be troublesome if the Duke died now. However, he hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.
“I’m glad Your Grace is unharmed.”
When had the Duke grown? And why hadn’t Adrian mentioned the Duke’s growth? Did they think it was unimportant? Spencer soon stopped pondering.
He hadn’t taught Adrian how to think for themselves. They probably hadn’t even thought to mention it.
Though somewhat stupid, that made them easier to handle.
Adrian Grimaldi didn’t need to think deeply. It was better for them to remain an obedient puppet as they were now.
Just as Spencer Grimaldi was about to speak again, someone knocked from outside. Yuls told them to enter without even checking. Anyone who had made it into the residence would have already been verified anyway.
Watching the door open, Yuls said, “Finally here, it seems.”
“It must have been a while since you’ve seen each other?”
At those words, Spencer realized it was his son entering.
“Your Grace.”
Adi spoke while entering. They couldn’t see who was sitting across from the Duke as their back was turned. The Duke smiled and called out, “Adi.” It was an affectionate voice. Spencer’s eyes narrowed at the Duke’s changed attitude and Adi’s unfamiliar voice.
“Do we have a guest?”
Though the voice was low, it could be heard as either feminine or masculine depending on how one listened. Too androgynous. Probably wouldn’t last long.
They would have to recall them to Grimaldi within a few years. After finishing everything, that is.
“A guest you know.”
At Yuls’s words, Adi flinched. They didn’t know many people. In Palesa, practically none.
How…
They certainly hadn’t received any letter. Surely they would have mentioned when they were coming, so why this sudden arrival? Had a letter been sent but not arrived yet? Or was it deliberate?
Adi looked at the back of the man sitting on the sofa. Gray-streaked hair, familiar build. The man, Count Grimaldi, stood from the sofa.
“Adrian.”
The Count turned and called Adi.
“…Father.”
Spencer Grimaldi placed his hand on Adi’s shoulder. Yuls could see his grip tighten then relax. Looking at the creased fabric on the shoulder, he thought their relationship must be just wonderful.
Then Spencer said, “Your hair has grown quite long.”
“And curly.”
Grimaldi’s water was quite clear, coming from granite outcrops on cliffs. In contrast, Palesa’s water contained limestone, making hair limp and curly.
Adi had also found it strange when their hair became stiff and curly. When they asked a maid serving the Third Knights, she gave them a hair tonic. Though it made their hair smoother, it remained curly.
Normally this wouldn’t matter, but Spencer mentioning it was a kind of warning. Adi immediately said:
“I’ll cut it.”
“Good.”
That’s when Yuls spoke.
“Leave it.”
Both Adi and Spencer Grimaldi’s gazes turned to Yuls.
“It looks better long.”
Spencer Grimaldi smirked. Seeing that raised corner of his mouth, Yuls smiled too. Since the Grimaldi Count disliked it.
“It’s pretty.”
“…”
Yuls grew even more amused.
—
Lilina
Uwahhhh meeting father in law so soon
Damnit yuls BE SUBTLE ABOUT IT 😭😭