Chapter 38
“Why? Is there a problem?”
Yuls said. His brazen expression suggested he truly didn’t think his words were particularly wrong.
“House Grimaldi may have wanted you.”
His gaze, which had been lowering, rose again.
“And they might be grateful that you’re alive.”
Staring intently at Adi’s face, Yuls said, “I think it would have been better if Adrina Grimaldi had lived.” Adi’s lips moved slightly. It was the first time they had heard such words. Everyone else had thought it was good that Adrina had died.
Though Adi didn’t know with what intention or thought the Duke had spoken those words, it was truly the first time they had heard someone say it would have been better if Adrina had lived. Even Adrian probably wouldn’t think that way.
Why would the Duke of Woodpecker say such things?
Adi clenched their fist tightly.
“That’s impossible.”
“Yes, she would already be in the embrace of the death goddess.”
“What a shame,” Yuls said as he approached Adi. He had seemed tall at first, but now he felt small. Yuls raised his hand. His long fingers brushed Adi’s cheek. At the unexpectedly soft touch, Yuls narrowed his eyes. As always, Adi’s expression remained unchanged.
“It’s truly a shame that you’re Adrian, not Adrina.”
That would have been much simpler.
“With the same face as yours, she must have been quite beautiful.”
Both taking her away and making her fall in love would have been easier.
❖ ❖ ❖
Though Yuls had fallen asleep well past midnight, he woke at 6 AM sharp. He had slept an hour less than usual.
Adi, who always kept night watch and didn’t know the daytime schedule, wasn’t friendly enough with the servants entering early in the morning to ask why. Yuls told them to go to bed early since there was no need to guard with the servants present. Though this was reasonable, their usual pattern meant they wouldn’t go to sleep now.
When Adi returned to the knights’ quarters in the residence, Roy was just coming out of the bathroom. Roy startled at Adi’s haggard face.
“You scared me. Why do you look like that?”
Adi looked Roy up and down before saying:
“Put some clothes on.”
He had just finished bathing, what clothes? Besides, it wasn’t cold since it was spring. Roy yawned and said “You’re early today?” while opening his room’s door. Adi also stood before their own door.
“The servants came early saying there were preparations to make. I guess they didn’t want me around while they were changing clothes.”
“They probably don’t fully trust you yet. Want to get breakfast?”
When Roy said it wouldn’t take even five minutes to get ready, Adi stared into space and frowned. Roy chided them about what they could be thinking so hard about.
“…”
Of course they would have to pass through the corridor to reach the dining hall, and wasn’t there someone they might run into? Roy didn’t seem to like Count Grimaldi. Worried that meeting him might cause trouble, Adi called out, “Roy.”
“What? Wonder what we’ll have today? Hope it’s not rabbit meat.”
“You must have heard? About the Duke inviting nobles to the residence during the festival.”
Roy’s gaze fixed on Adi. It contained contempt.
“You don’t know?”
“…”
“I know. That Grimaldi has come.”
“We might run into him. He’ll be starting his day now too.”
“Do you know who my enemies are?”
“…Only that they’re the same as His Grace’s.”
“Right. So at least Grimaldi isn’t one. Grimaldi can’t be my rival. The people who hate you aren’t in the south but in the north. Because that’s where the massacre happened.”
Were they talking about the witch hunts?
“My dislike of Count Grimaldi is just instinctive, I don’t consider him my main enemy. If I did, would I be spending time with you like this?”
Roy’s words felt quite warm. It might have been an illusion. Taking a deep breath, Adi said:
“Alright, let’s go eat. I’ll change and come out.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Living with others, Adi had noticed several things.
They hadn’t known it in the Third Knights where they had no close friends, but surprisingly, people from the south maintained little personal space. Among close friends, skin contact or arm-linking was natural.
So Roy often put his arm around Adi’s shoulders. Saying their height was just right for it. Though Adi had initially pushed away his hand, they had grown used to it and now naturally offered their shoulder.
“Ugh, rabbit.”
Roy Gaillard was typically southern. Close physical distance, no hesitation, direct speech, and sensitive about food taste.
“Can’t you smell the gamey odor?”
Looking at the plate piled with rabbit meat, Roy turned his head away as if disgusted and filled his plate with eggs and bacon instead. Despite his delicate appearance, he had quite a manly stomach to eat so much meat from early morning. He would clearly go for seconds too.
“Eat some vegetables too, vegetables.”
“I have vegetables.”
“…Is potato a vegetable?”
“It is.”
“…”
Roy gave him a look as if staring at a barbarian before looking away. Fine, do as you please. Who am I to say anything about what you want to eat?
Meanwhile, Adi watched Roy decorating his plate with various colors and thought how someone built like a mountain could be so delicate. It wasn’t a positive or negative assessment. Looking at the plate full of green vegetables, Adi shuddered. Their tastes definitely didn’t match.
“Soup?”
“Can’t stomach soup in the morning.”
“Usually you wake up the stomach with soup.”
“Soup is nauseating.”
“What’s nauseating about vegetable soup?”
“If it has cream or milk that’s different, but vegetables? Makes my stomach churn.”
“Cream in the morning… Is your stomach strong because you’re from the north?”
Roy shook his head.
The residence’s dining hall was full of knights. As Roy was good at building relationships, people reached out to greet him whenever they passed by. This was why meals with Roy took so long.
Finding an empty spot to sit, Adi cut their meat with a knife and stabbed it directly. Watching this, Roy thought they were barbaric. How could someone eat like that in the palace, as if they were on a battlefield?
Shaking his head at how northerners needed manners, Roy turned his head at a gaze he felt from nearby.
There was an unfamiliar man. No, was he unfamiliar? The face seemed somewhat familiar. After pondering for a moment, Roy said, “Ah.”
“What?”
“Isn’t that Lev Jid?”
Adi turned their head. Lev was looking their way.
“You know him?”
“Of course. He was in Ionad. Saw him at the jousting tournament. He beat Ilyich from the First Knights.”
They didn’t know who Ilyich was. But being mentioned this way, he must have been a strong opponent. Especially being from the First Knights.
“So he went to Grimaldi. Well, his family’s estate is in the Count’s territory.”
Though Roy understood, he still thought it an incomprehensible choice. If he were Lev Jid, he would have gone somewhere else. Grimaldi of all places. The food must be terrible there.
“How skilled is he?”
“Very. The best in the territory.”
After answering, Adi thought for a moment before speaking again.
“In my memory at least. If no one new has appeared, he’s probably still the best.”
“Better than me?”
“I don’t know your skill level.”
Adi said. Sorry, but they hadn’t had a proper chance to see Roy’s skills. His usual lazy appearance didn’t suggest great skill, but being in the Second Knights meant he couldn’t be bad.
“He’s coming this way.”
Damn it. Of all times. If they hadn’t looked his way, he might not have come. Adi pretended not to notice and tore at the meat stuck to their knife. The action looked more barbaric than usual, making Roy frown.
Lev Jid stood beside their table.
“Adrian.”
That contemptuous downward gaze.
“Lev.”
As soon as Adi called his name, Lev spoke.
“I heard you worked at night.”
The words sounded suggestive. Especially considering yesterday’s events, Adi felt guilty wondering if Lev had seen that scene. The surroundings grew quiet. They could feel people’s gazes turning their way. The existing rumors would make it worse.
“I was just standing guard.”
“And who’s this person?”
“Roy Gaillard.”
“Sir Roy Gaillard. I am Lev Jid.”
“I know you, Sir Lev Jid. I saw you once in Ionad.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, during the jousting tournament between Ionad and Palesa. I was watching while on guard duty for the Second Knights. You won then?”
Roy stood and extended his hand. Despite Roy’s friendly gesture, Lev’s gaze remained fixed on Adi. Roy awkwardly withdrew his hand and continued:
“If you have time later, would you like to spar with me? You haven’t been to the Palesa training grounds yet, right?”
Adi watched their conversation while chewing meat. Lev, who had been looking down at Adi, turned to Roy.
“I’m not sure if I’ll have time.”
“What’s the problem? I finish at 4 PM, how about you?”
“Adrian…”
“Adi starts at midnight.”
“You use a nickname.”
“Adrian is too long. Everyone here calls them Adi.”
“…In the territory, everyone calls them Adrian.”
Right, because the name Adi belonged to Adrian.
“So what?”
Roy retorted.
“What does it matter whether I call Adrian ‘Adi’ or not, or what they’re called in the territory?”
Then, asking “Right, Adi?” Roy turned to them, and Adi smirked and answered, “Right.” Lev glared at Adi. As if saying how dare you use that name.
“It’s not your business what others call me.”
“Adrian.”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
Adi said, standing up. Their plate was already empty. Roy, who was about to point out how they could lose their appetite after finishing everything, remembered that they usually ate at least two plates and let it go. As Adi tried to leave, Lev blocked their way.
“Adrian.”
“Lev.”
Adi bumped Lev while saying:
“It’s not yours yet.”
“…”
What does that mean? Roy couldn’t understand the exchange between them, but he felt it wasn’t good to stay longer. Above all, the continued attention on them was uncomfortable.
“Well then, I’ll be going too, Sir Lev Jid. Since we’re in the same residence, we’ll see each other coming and going.”
Roy said this while arbitrarily grabbing and shaking Lev’s hand. Then saying “Adi, take it slow!” he walked quickly to catch up. Naturally putting his arm around Adi’s shoulders, Roy whispered something. Lev stared at his own hand before watching the two leave together.
Lilina
What’s not Adi’s yet? Could be the name Adrian and his position
Could be the title of scion of house Grimaldi, hell it could be ANYTHING
NO MORE CLIFFHANGER RAHHHHH