Chapter 49
Had they known the Duke would grow this much, they would have prepared more clothes. Roy’s clothes didn’t fit, and while Bert’s were similar in length, they were too loose.
After folding the clothes and securing them with fabric, tying the cravat, and adding jeweled decorations, Gavin debated whether to add an outer coat. Though wearing one would be proper etiquette, today wasn’t a day the King was visiting, and many people were dressing lightly due to the high humidity.
Deciding it would be better without, Gavin stepped back. Yuls stood before the mirror, examining himself. He truly was his mother’s spitting image.
“How old do I look?”
Yuls asked. Bert studied his face from different angles. Though he looked adult, there was still too much youth to pass for his actual age. The flowing hair especially reminded people of that side. Wouldn’t it be better to cut it off? Though everyone said they liked it…
“Perhaps around twenty. Even if the curse isn’t broken fully, this would be fine.”
“One needs to age. Men need gravitas.”
“Youth is best, Your Grace.”
Still, it would be better to hear various opinions. While Bert and the other attendants recommended keeping it long, Adrian and Roy’s thoughts were unknown. Even without that, they needed to consider people’s reactions when returning to Woodpecker Castle.
“By the way.”
Bert asked.
“How did you manage to grow?”
Gavin was curious about this too. They couldn’t understand what this “stickiness” was about. Nothing sticky could be seen between morning Adrian and the Duke. Though it might just be Joel’s nonsense, since the curse had broken, there must have been some change between them.
“Nothing special.”
Yuls answered nonchalantly.
“It was like usual. Though this time I initiated it.”
“Pardon?”
“I just wanted to.”
W-what does that mean? Gavin couldn’t bring himself to ask and looked at Bert. Though his gaze sought help, Bert was equally unable to respond.
Yuls looked out the window.
“The sky is dark.”
“It looks like it will rain soon.”
“It’ll pour heavily, then turn to drizzle.”
“Yes, then the real festival will begin.”
And he would face the King in this form. Yuls smirked.
“The King?”
“As always, he’ll arrive on the eve.”
“Seeing my appearance will displease him.”
He couldn’t suppress his rising smile. What would everyone think seeing this face? How devastated would they be seeing him grown like this?
“I look forward to it.”
❖ ❖ ❖
The sky darkened rapidly. One or two raindrops fell. People lying on the grass began rising one by one. Soon came a rumbling sound. Thunder drowned out the music, followed by a brief flash.
With a pattering sound, rain poured down. The raindrops stimulated not only sight, hearing, and smell, but also touch, soaking people’s clothes and hair. Some entered buildings with peals of laughter.
Nature seemed to possess its own beauty and grandeur. Though childhood memories were hazy and sparse, moments like these that stimulated the senses brought back the past.
The rain-soaked Grimaldi estate appeared vividly before their eyes.
“The festival decorations might collapse.”
“They won’t. They’re made for the King. The magicians will handle this much.”
“What a waste of precious magician resources on such things.”
“Perhaps someday magicians won’t be so rare. They say there’s a magical revolution happening in the Northern Continent now. Using magic in daily life.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you read the newspaper?”
“No. Do you?”
“Yes.”
How do they spend their days? No outings, no newspaper, no meeting friends. Then again, all they do is train all day, work, and occasionally pretend to lose at chess when asked to play.
“But you remember that?”
“What?”
“One of the conditions for being the Duke’s guard is never losing in duels between knights. Didn’t Joel tell you?”
“He told me?”
“Yes, before the assignment.”
“Didn’t know.”
Roy’s face turned pale. Though a knight’s skill reflected their lord’s pride, if it was emphasized as absolute, they had to consider the possibility of not being able to go to Woodpecker together if they lost here.
Seeing his troubled face, Adi said, “Don’t worry.”
“You’ll win.”
“Comfort only works when there’s a possibility.”
“My habits and Lev’s are similar. I think he’s a bit stronger than me. But you’re stronger than him.”
“We don’t know how strong Lev is.”
“But I know his technique well. I’ve faced you every night. You won more often at the end. Try catching him off guard.”
“How do I do that?”
“Use Grimaldi’s sword technique. He’ll be surprised to see it from you.”
Adi said, patting Roy’s shoulder. How could someone with barely any strength in their hands be so good with a sword?
“Win, Roy.”
“Shouldn’t you be cheering for your friend at times like this?”
“Lev?”
“Yes. He’s from your hometown.”
“You’re from the same place as Kenneth Marx.”
“…Hey, that’s not a fair comparison.”
“Grimaldi cleaned up the North because they were from the North. How do you think the Jids survived? Because they were Grimaldi’s collaborators, right?”
“That’s your family you’re talking about so harshly.”
“They say Grimaldi was cursed for their slaughter, so why does Jid have no problems?”
“Because it’s not a curse.”
Roy’s words made Adi look up.
“Your sibling’s death probably wasn’t a curse either.”
It could have been just coincidence, not a curse. Death doesn’t announce its arrival after all.
“Right.”
Adi answered.
“I hope so.”
They hoped their existence hadn’t killed Adrian. Sometimes it felt suffocating, though usually they felt nothing about living off their sibling’s name after consuming them. Like the heavy rain, it felt like a thunderstorm was raging somewhere in their heart.
“The rain shows no sign of stopping.”
“Might it continue until tonight?”
“Even then, only until tomorrow. Tomorrow’s the eve.”
The rain stops like magic when the festival starts. After a brief time while water seeps into the ground, people enjoy the festival and then face the enriched soil. This rain is the farmers’ god.
Through this rain, people could be seen running quickly toward the Duke’s residence.
“The tailors are coming back.”
“The Duke grew again.”
“Again?”
“Yes, much taller than you now.”
“…I’m quite tall for someone from the South.”
“True.”
“You’re short for someone from the North!”
“I know.”
As Adi spoke, they looked ahead. Crown Prince Claude walked slowly out to the open corridor of the building where people had taken shelter.
Standing at the corridor’s end with an unbothered expression, the Crown Prince smiled at the falling rain and thunder. He seemed out of his mind. His languid gaze eventually fixed on the opposite side. He seemed to make eye contact.
“…His Highness is here. Why is he smiling like that? Does he enjoy the thunderstorm?”
“Maybe he farms.”
“That’s… wait.”
Well, good harvests mean more taxes, so it’s not that different? Roy reasoned to himself.
Claude waved at Adi and Roy. Behind him, a group approached the Crown Prince. They were nobles staying in Palesa. And at their front was Count Grimaldi.
They stood behind the Crown Prince and followed his gaze to where Roy and Adi stood alone.
Adi looked at their father across the way. Spencer Grimaldi opened his mouth. Knowing they couldn’t hear from the distance, he exaggerated his mouth movements to be understood.
‘Will visit the residence tonight.’
Adi bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Claude, thinking it was directed at him, gestured with a satisfied expression.
“I should return to the residence.”
“Really? Then I’ll practice sword fighting with someone else.”
Roy said. Hearing that Ilyich had been asking to duel lately, Adi responded disinterestedly with a simple “I see.”
Spencer Grimaldi and the Crown Prince could be seen conversing. Though the content was unclear, their bowing suggested they were saying farewell. Adi also entered the residence. They needed to put away their sword and go see the Count.
