Chapter 47
Night is Adi Grimaldi’s time. And that time always comes with kisses. Entering the Duke’s bedroom no longer feels awkward. At some point, even the attendants had disappeared. Perhaps they didn’t want to witness such sights.
“You’ve come.”
The Duke sat by the window sofa, still in his dinner attire. Seeing him not yet changed, Adi wondered if they should help him change clothes, but surely he wouldn’t ask such a thing of a knight.
“Your Grace.”
“Come here.”
Though he said this, what he extended was his hand. Adi naturally took it and kissed the back of his hand. Repeatedly doing something that would never change—perhaps because the desperation was that great. Since the Crown Prince seemed untrustworthy, perhaps focusing on this side would be better.
As Adi pulled away their lips, the Duke said, “You must do more.”
“Where will it be this time?”
“Since we’ve done the forehead, perhaps the cheek next?”
At this response, Yuls smirked.
“Gradually moving downward from top to bottom?”
“If nothing works until the end, I’ll even kiss your feet.”
“Try to break it before then. We can’t have the future Count Grimaldi doing such things.”
“That’s uncertain.”
“Which part?”
In that moment, Adi realized their mistake. No matter how comfortable things had become, there was no need to reveal such inner thoughts. Yuls’s gaze seemed to pierce through everything.
“What’s uncertain—that you’ll become Count? Or that you’ll kiss my feet?”
Lies wouldn’t work.
“…The former.”
“You lack faith in the Count.”
Adi didn’t answer. Yuls also silently watched Adi. What could the Duke be thinking? Such simple conversation wouldn’t reveal everything.
“Adrian.”
Even if he noticed, couldn’t they just prevent him from speaking? Adi placed their hand on Yuls’s neck. The gesture was quite threatening, making Yuls flinch, but then their face drew near. Lips settled briefly on his cheek before pulling away.
“…”
“It’s much easier to kiss when you’re sitting. The height difference is too great when standing.”
How many times had he let his guard down? If Adrian had other intentions, if they had held a sword, there had been numerous situations where he might have died.
Why did he keep letting himself relax? They weren’t particularly trustworthy.
“But next time I’ll go lower, would that be alright?”
“Lower…”
Yuls barely kept his gaze from dropping. What did they know to say such things?
“Where?”
“Tomorrow I’ll kiss your hair.”
“…”
Yuls wore a bewildered expression before smirking. As expected, they spoke without understanding.
“Yes, I look forward to it.”
What could one do with such a young child, Yuls thought. Though perhaps they thought similarly. He didn’t need a pervert excited by this body.
Rather, Adi Grimaldi was refreshingly straightforward. Even the daily kisses might just be due to compulsion. Though Yuls too had to go through with it for the curse’s sake, it bothered him that it didn’t feel as unpleasant as expected.
If only it had been Adrina. That would have made bringing them over much easier. They could have even arranged an engagement.
The current method of bringing them over wasn’t so simple. Claude was also eyeing them. Why was Claude interested in Adi Grimaldi?
“That outfit still suits you well.”
“It’s an honor to wear Woodpecker’s clothes.”
Though he meant to come to Woodpecker, they seemed poor at grasping context. That could be done gradually. There was no rush, after all. First, they needed to understand the Count’s intentions.
“Adrian.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“What does the Count like?”
“…Like, you say?”
Adi frowned. Things he likes. Things that benefit the family, his honor—what else was there? Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be something Woodpecker could provide.
“Nothing… particular that I know of.”
At Adi’s answer, Yuls, who had been staring at them intently, spoke:
“At least pretend to be close in public.”
“Was that advice the purpose of your question?”
“No, I’ll be dining separately with the Count soon and don’t know what he likes. I want to gain some favor.”
“Then I’m even less sure I can help.”
“If you’d given Claude such an answer, he wouldn’t have believed it.”
“…”
“I forgot to give you advice that day.”
Yuls said, rising from his seat. Seeing him gesture while removing his jacket, Adi quickly moved to the door.
Opening it revealed Joel waiting outside, who naturally entered. Joel smoothly took the cravat Yuls had pulled down, then retrieved a muslin nightgown from the bedroom closet. Adi turned to face the wall.
“If Claude calls for you, don’t eat or drink anything.”
Yuls said.
“If he’s smoking something, absolutely don’t go near him.”
His languid appearance had seemed concerning—indeed, it wasn’t ordinary tobacco. Better to avoid the Crown Prince’s side.
“Your Grace knew?”
“Many people know.”
Spencer Grimaldi probably thought the same.
“Do you know why people cling to me?”
Yuls said. The sound of Joel arranging clothes could be heard. Adi turned to look at Yuls. Brushing up his long hair, Yuls slowly approached Adi.
“Is it simply because I have succession rights?”
They had grown used to his tall stature that once felt so foreign.
“It’s because they don’t know what would happen if someone like that took the throne.”
“…”
“So they’d prefer someone else, even if lower in succession. Though I personally don’t care about this damned country.”
“Your Grace’s lands are vast enough. Enough to establish a new country.”
“I have no intention of becoming king.”
Yuls said, stepping back. Joel, having finished arranging the clothes, returned to tie up the Duke’s long hair. If they had grown and tied up their own hair, they would have looked feminine, but whether due to his sturdy build or bone structure, despite his pretty face, there was nothing womanly about him.
“No interest in the throne either.”
“Then what does Your Grace desire?”
“You know that too, don’t you?”
For that, he pulled in a man every night and spread strange rumors. Only Adrian suffered losses from that, though Yuls didn’t particularly care.
“What do you plan to do after the curse is broken?”
“…”
He hadn’t thought about that. He hadn’t believed the curse could be broken in the first place. But if it could be…
“Well. If possible, I’d live happily.”
“…”
“Though I can’t say this position allows for that.”
Adi looked at Yuls. After thirteen years, he probably hadn’t thought the curse would break. But now the situation had changed.
The Duke of Woodpecker would certainly be better than such a Crown Prince. If called, they would rush over immediately, but Adi couldn’t know if that offer would come. At least, if the curse was broken, he had promised to grant one wish, so he wouldn’t interfere with their escape.
“I hope all Your Grace’s wishes come true.”
Adi said. Especially breaking the curse—that had to happen.
“…”
Yuls looked at Adi with an unfamiliar expression. Though he’d heard such words often, strangely these felt sincere. He wasn’t sure if they were truly sincere, or if he just wanted to hear them that way. Yuls narrowed his eyes. Adrian Grimaldi, a Grimaldi.
Looking again, such a delicate face. What a waste. If only they had been Adrina instead of Adrian. Though there was no possibility of that from the start.
Yuls extended his hand. Adi approached without hiding their confusion and took it. Just as they wondered if he wanted another kiss, Yuls pulled them close.
Caught off guard and unable to resist, Adi was pulled forward, and with closed eyes watched as Yuls kissed the back of their hand before stepping back. They tried to pull their hand away forcefully, but couldn’t free it.
“Your Grace?”
“Ah.”
The strength drained from Yuls’s hand.
“I did that without thinking.”
Nearby, Joel covered his open mouth with his hand.
