Chapter 59
“Well, I don’t know that either. They weren’t someone who took orders from me. That was the Count’s idea.”
The Count said he would handle it himself. Claude let him. Back then it hadn’t been this interesting, so whatever he did didn’t matter.
“But now Adrian is trying to betray the Count.”
“Should you be telling me this?”
“I told you. You have no ambition.”
“And you have no trust.”
“I don’t need to earn anyone’s trust. Others need to earn mine, don’t they? That’s the position.”
Quite an arrogant attitude. Something only those who always ruled over others could possess. Yuls didn’t criticize Claude for this. He was the same in that regard.
“Why is the Count trying to take Adi back to Grimaldi?”
“You know about that too? Your eyes and ears must be everywhere.”
Though Palesa wasn’t even his residence, he’d somehow bought enough people to know everything.
“I don’t know,” Claude answered, sprawling across the sofa.
“He suddenly decided that after I asked for them.”
The outcome seemed decided at the training ground too. Roy Gaillard’s sword moved to cut horizontally under Lev’s arm. Though it fortunately stopped at a critical moment, if he applied force or stepped forward, the body would clearly be split in two.
Lev, seeming to realize this, hesitated before stepping back. With a frustrated expression, he pulled out a white handkerchief from his chest pocket and threw it.
“He lost.”
Yet it was Roy Gaillard who collapsed on the training ground. As if overwhelmed by the situation, breathing heavily, Roy lay on his back, his chest heaving visibly as he raised a clenched fist.
The Palesa knights moved toward such a Roy. But Adi didn’t move. They just watched the situation with crossed arms. Yuls looked at the Count. The Count’s gaze was on Adi. Roy also reached out toward Adi. Only then did Adi enter the training ground.
“Can’t you give me Gaillard?”
“If Gaillard chooses to go to you, I could.”
Claude said, “Ah, a Southerner.” He wasn’t ignorant of Southern tendencies. They were loyal to their cousins and disliked the royal family.
“Can’t have him then.”
Claude spoke with a regretful tone.
“But Adrian Grimaldi is different. They’re more Northern than Southern, and closer to my side.”
He looked at Adi while speaking. Seeing them alone in white among that crowd was like seeing a white heron among crows.
And there was another crow beside them. Claude’s eyes shone like a bird eyeing precious jewels.
“That one will be mine.”
❖ ❖ ❖
The book the Count threw hit their head directly. The hardbound book must have been heavy, making a thud as it fell to the floor. Blood dripped onto it. Adi looked down at the floor with an expressionless face before raising their gaze.
Then the Count’s palm struck Adi’s cheek. Their head turned to one side, then the other. The Count’s angry breathing was loud.
The Count, breathing unconsciously, loosened his cravat and threw it to the floor, then took the sword Lev was holding. The Count swung it at Adi, scabbard and all. Thud, thud, thud—the sound came rhythmically. Though they tensed at each hit, muscle and flesh tearing was unavoidable.
A pain both familiar and unfamiliar. They seemed to remember being hit like this when first learning the sword. Enduring beatings from wooden swords. Not even knowing how to dodge. Now they knew how to dodge but couldn’t. Because they knew what would come after.
The Count, seemingly displeased that Adi didn’t make a single sound, clicked his tongue and struck their solar plexus. Unprepared for this pain, Adi doubled over. Though they always wore leather armor underneath, it didn’t eliminate the impact.
Nausea rose, but they suppressed even that as they collapsed to the floor, curling up. The scabbard struck again at their curled form. Despite the repeated impacts, not even a small sound emerged, let alone screams. Rather, Lev who watched the scene furrowed his brow.
The Count threw the scabbard to the floor and ran his hands through his hair, breathing heavily. Perhaps finally calmed, he clicked his tongue looking at Adi curled on the floor. Then the Count’s outstretched hand roughly grabbed Adi’s hair.
“Do you know what you’ve done?”
Of course. How could they not know what they’d done deliberately? A small laugh escaped unconsciously, and the Count’s expression hardened. He seemed to realize it was intentional. But no sense of betrayal showed on the Count’s face. Betrayal is something only earned from those you trust. The Count didn’t trust Adi.
“This is why—”
They knew what words would follow. It had always been this way. But whether aware of the situation or listening ears, the Count didn’t continue.
“Making such a face when you don’t even know what you’ve done.”
Adi silently looked at the Count. Their expressionless face wasn’t that of someone unaware what consequences their actions would bring. The Count couldn’t accept this. They couldn’t commit such acts knowing.
“Kill Roy Gaillard.”
The Count said. Only then did Adi’s expression change.
“Since I can’t bring him to Grimaldi, he must die. You caused this, so shouldn’t you resolve it?”
“If you take me to Grimaldi, can he live?”
“Roy Gaillard, come to Grimaldi?”
The Count smirked. Adi frowned. The Count’s smile resembled their own.
“Talk sense.”
They were alike.
“Don’t you know what Grimaldi means to Gaillard?”
That expression they so hated was in themselves.
“So that’s why you seemed to get along so well.”
Spencer sneered, as if looking at a child still ignorant of the world.
“Son.”
Adrian.
“Don’t be foolish enough to trust Gaillard.”
I’m glad you didn’t suffer this.
“They only think of using you.”
At least this body is stronger.
“To even give away our swordsmanship… I thought you were clever, but you’re utterly stupid.”
When the Count released his grip, their head dropped. The Count rose abruptly and picked up the scabbard again. Adi curled up. Taking hits on the back was safer. The raised scabbard came down. With a whoosh through the air, impact struck their back.
“Count, that’s enough…”
Just as Lev Jid seemed about to intervene, chaotic sounds came from outside. There was a crashing sound, then voices trying to prevent someone from entering. More breaking sounds followed.
The Count stopped and turned around. So did Lev Jid. Soon the door opened and a servant shouted, “Wait, Your Grace! You can’t enter like this!” Ignoring these words, the door opened wider.
Bert and Roy stood between the double doors. Both showed surprised expressions before quickly masking them. Yuls stood right behind them.
Looking inside with a stern expression, Yuls soon smiled.
“Count.”
Yuls’s gaze fixed on Adi. Their hair was dark. Parts showing brown suggested blood. Their mouth was split and bleeding, their eye and cheek swollen red. The heat was visible just looking at them. If visible areas were like this, the unseen areas were unimaginable.
What angered him most was…
“My knight.”
Adrian’s expressionless face.
“Didn’t come to duty, so.”
An expression resigned, as if familiar with this situation.
“I heard they came here.”
Anger surged. Heat rushing to his head felt ready to burst out. Yuls suppressed the urge to shout curses and demand what they were doing.
“May I take them?”
Adi raised their head to look at Yuls. Their light brown eyes seemed to waver. Like someone unused to being rescued, finding this situation awkward.
Yuls clenched his fist. Short nails dug into his palm.
Just how had they lived until now.
❖ ❖ ❖
No one spoke on the way back. Only silence filled the corridor, neither long nor short. The carpet seemed to absorb all sound.
Servants were waiting when they reached the residence. All seemed to examine Adi’s face. Uncomfortable with the attention focused on them, Adi avoided their gazes. Someone watching them had never meant anything good. Thinking it best to escape quickly, Adi said, “Then I’ll be going.”
At Adi’s response, nowhere near expected, Yuls asked “Where?” Adi looked uncomprehending. Wondering if they’d been held by the Count that long, they searched their clothes for their pocket watch, unable to find it.
Then Yuls also realized the meaning of Adi’s words. Not that it wasn’t duty hours, but that they were leaving.
Just…
“Adrian.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Yuls held out his hand. When Adi just stared uncomprehendingly, he added, “Take it.” A command? While considering this, Adi reached out. Yuls’s hand covered theirs. Adi quietly looked down at their captured hand. It was larger than expected.
“Bert, turn in early. Roy, come early tomorrow.”
Saying this, he gently pulled Adi’s hand. He didn’t use force. The temperature felt strange from their joined hands, and palms grew sweaty.
“Joel, come with me.”
Lilina
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