Chapter 45
After refusing Crown Prince Claude’s offer to provide his own guard, Yuls took Adi’s sword and returned with the Count. Though his face suggested it was fine since they were in the same residence, his true feelings seemed different. It was ambiguous. His intentions were hard to read.
“Hello, pretty one. We meet again?”
The Crown Prince before them was similarly unclear. Was it the darkness that made his blonde hair appear darker? The seemingly cheerful Crown Prince differed from the typical impression of royalty. He was casual. Duke Woodpecker appeared more dignified in comparison.
A single knight stood beside the Crown Prince. Unlike when he used to walk alone. Claude approached Adi, treating the knight as if invisible, and whispered in their ear.
“It must have been hard pretending not to know.”
He smiled as he pulled away.
“It would have been better if Your Highness had acknowledged me. After all, officially, you granted me my knighthood.”
“Indeed. I hadn’t thought of that.”
He added, “We should have met before.”
While everyone knew he hadn’t directly granted the title but done so through Count Grimaldi, Adi hadn’t expected him to say it so openly with others present. They glanced back at the knight, but he too was pretending not to notice the situation.
It was clear the relationship between the knight and Crown Prince wasn’t good.
More than not good—awkward enough to make that description seem inadequate.
“By the way.”
Claude looked at Adi with displeasure. More precisely, at their waist. Only a forearm-length dagger hung from Adi’s loose belt.
Everyone had seen Adi hand their longsword to Duke Woodpecker. Claude muttered “How dare you” in a low voice before meeting Adi’s eyes.
“Should a knight give their sword to just anyone?”
“Duke Woodpecker is my lord now.”
“Now, you say. But originally you’re my knight. Since I granted your title. And I gave you my sword.”
“That sword was provided by Palesa.”
“What about the sword I gave you?”
“It’s in Grimaldi territory. Being a precious sword.”
They had never even seen it. It was meant for Adrian, after all. They merely guessed Spencer Grimaldi probably had it. Claude stared at Adi silently before speaking.
“I’ll have to give you another sword soon.”
After speaking, Claude turned away. The knight followed, and Adi followed behind them. Maintaining some distance.
Though the Duke’s residence was splendid, the Crown Prince’s quarters were beyond description. Even the empty corridors were decorated with sculptures and ornaments, and the connecting paths were complex. Whether the staff had been positioned from the start or not, massive doors opened in sync with Claude’s footsteps.
Only after quite a long journey did the final door open. It was a reception room, but unlike the Duke’s quarters, heavy curtains blocked most light from entering through the windows.
The fabric was thin enough to tell it was daytime outside—had it been winter with velvet curtains, distinguishing day from night would have been difficult.
The knight naturally took position by the window, while the Crown Prince approached the center of the room and collapsed onto the sofa. The thud suggested someone whose entire body had lost strength. The composed Claude from moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
An attendant stepped forward from the wall to offer a pipe. It seemed already packed with leaves. Then a small flame appeared at the attendant’s fingertip. A magician. The royal family truly showed their status, using a rare magician merely as an attendant to light pipes.
After drawing on the pipe several times, Claude exhaled a long stream of smoke.
Perhaps sensing Adi’s gaze, he grinned when their eyes met.
“Tobacco?”
“No thank you, Your Highness.”
“Did that sound like a suggestion?”
“…”
His languid posture.
“If it’s an order.”
It didn’t look like ordinary tobacco. The attendant took the pipe from Claude, who was exhaling smoke with a dazed expression, and offered it to Adi. They put it to their lips, drew lightly, and immediately exhaled.
Claude smiled at the abundant smoke streaming out while drinking water brought by the attendant. It was incomprehensible why one would drink water after smoking. The attendant retrieved the pipe and returned it to the Crown Prince.
“You’ve grown more delicate than expected. I thought you’d be pretty, but didn’t expect this.”
Claude said.
“I saw your portrait when you were young. Asked for it because it was pretty.”
“…”
“Not you—your sibling. Of course, if not for the curse. No need to voluntarily take on a curse to reduce your position, right?”
Watching the Crown Prince giggle while saying this, no one showed any reaction. The distance between the attendant, knight, and Crown Prince was palpable. The atmosphere differed from Woodpecker’s. What lay beneath their relationship…
“Come to Ionad.”
Seemed closer to fear.
“Do you need me?”
“Not particularly. I just want to possess you.”
“…”
“I told Count Grimaldi to send you to Ionad, but I don’t know why he sent you to Palesa instead. Perhaps he had other intentions?”
The situation seemed to be developing differently than expected. Adi had thought Spencer Grimaldi was acting to get closer to the Crown Prince after distancing himself from the King. But his disobedience of the Crown Prince’s words suggested he had no intention of using him as a substitute.
Was he trying to improve relations with the King? Or had that failed, making him try to align with the Crown Prince again? What deal had led to the Palesa invitation?
Spencer had clearly told them to stay in Palesa until further orders. What was his intention?
“Please forgive my ignorance in not understanding Your Highness’s intentions.”
Whatever happened.
“The Count.”
If they could just escape the Count’s grip.
“He’s watching the situation between me and Woodpecker right now.”
Claude exhaled smoke while saying this, his expression asking if they would really pretend not to know. Though Adi was being completely sincere due to lack of information, they weren’t sure if the Crown Prince would believe it.
“The Count doesn’t seem to think I’m good material?”
“I don’t know my father’s intentions.”
Claude silently looked at Adi. His face suggested how very loyal they were. It didn’t matter how he interpreted it.
On the other hand, perhaps this could be used. Though uncertain of exactly what Spencer wanted, if he desired returning to Ionad, and was working with the Crown Prince for that…
“Does Your Highness think you won’t become King?”
If they could wedge themselves into that position?
At Adi’s question, Claude’s eyes widened in surprise before he chuckled.
“Me?”
Claude sprawled on the sofa stared vacantly into space. Nothing could be read in those eyes. He slowly spoke.
“No, I will become King. It’s just.”
Honestly, Adi didn’t like this Crown Prince.
“My father is too greedy, and seems like he’ll live a long time.”
That meant Spencer Grimaldi would never find him suitable.
“Inheriting the throne when he’s all old and decrepit. Doesn’t that sound awful?”
Spencer Grimaldi would clearly use and discard the Crown Prince. If not that, then yes. Though the exact circumstances were unclear, just as they had placed the current King on the throne, they would start another royal usurpation.
“So I just suggested he step down a bit early. And now the current King sees that as rebellion and shows signs of trying to eliminate me.”
Then, unlike with the current King’s failure, they would seek to grasp and control him.
“The King currently has no suitable candidates.”
They couldn’t be certain. But somehow they felt their father would act this way.
“Ah, there is one.”
If it were Adi themself, they would have approached the Crown Prince for such use.
“A girl.”
They say blood will tell.
“Who’s just turned fifteen.”
They too were a Grimaldi after all.
“If they put her on the throne, they could act as regent. Until death. Assuming the princess doesn’t die before then, and the ministers would accept a woman.”
Claude looked directly at Adi and asked. The dark room was filled with hazy smoke that made their head ache. How they allowed such conditions.
“Do you also think it’s wrong for me to ascend to my position a bit early?”
“New wine belongs in new wineskins.”
No, they might have deliberately allowed such conditions. It would make him easier to use.
“However, even if I wanted to go to Ionad, I couldn’t. The posting isn’t mine to decide.”
“Can’t I issue the posting?”
Claude gestured as he spoke. Though it was a simple gesture, the attendant seemed to understand the Crown Prince’s intention and brought wine glasses.
“If you say you like me, that should work. You’re doing well as Woodpecker’s guard now, and you’re my knight, right?”
Dark wine fell into the glass.
“The one I granted knighthood to.”
The wine, darker than amber but lighter than tree bark, left transparent traces as it ran down the glass walls.
Claude raised his glass. Adi also raised their glass with remaining wine.
“Then I’ll see you in Ionad after the festival.”
Claude said as he tilted his glass. Adi also brought their glass to their lips and tilted it, but didn’t drink.
