Chapter 71
Adi looked up at Yuls. His face was markedly serious. Though all plans can go awry due to variables, judging by that expression, this wasn’t going to end with the usual kind of unexpected developments.
“What kind of problem?”
“They’re saying you killed Luigi.”
“…Pardon my asking, but who is Luigi?”
One couldn’t fail to know someone they had killed. But of course, they hadn’t killed anyone. Adi had been here the whole time.
“Marquis Luigi Francovan, third in line for the throne.”
Yuls said, running his hand through his hair.
“If you mean Marquis Francovan…”
Adi’s expression asked for more information. Yuls continued.
“He’s the child of the previous king who died early. He received his marquisate while young, and his succession rights come after the Crown Prince and Princess. He’s also my cousin. He spent his teens in Ionad, and after the current king ascended the throne, he’s been wandering various countries. According to him, it’s due to assassination threats, but he barely returns once or twice a year.”
Luigi hadn’t planned to come here this time. But with the situation in the Türingen capital worsening, he seemed to have fled here. If that was the case, why come to Palesa instead of Ionad?
But from Konya in Türingen, it was more convenient to come to Palesa than Ionad. After all, there was a sea route. He probably planned to stay in Palesa during the festival before going to Ionad. It was the wrong choice.
“Luigi had a guard knight from Ionad, and I heard that knight was quite close with Lev Jid.”
The mood among the Ionad knights wasn’t good right now. The aftermath of Roy Gaillard and Lev Jid’s duel on the first day of the festival still lingered.
While knights and pages from Palesa walked proudly and made connections with nobles, those from Ionad couldn’t exert their influence. Being from outside, they were already at a disadvantage. They must have needed something to turn the situation around.
But they wouldn’t have planned for a Palesa knight to kill a marquis with succession rights. No matter how antagonistic they were toward each other, they were both knight orders of Dalkatir.
“When Luigi died, Lev Jid was also there, and I heard he shouted your name while chasing the fleeing assassin.”
There’s someone behind this.
“Adrian Grimaldi, you’re the culprit.”
Yuls said. Adi stared at him without answering.
“At least, that’s what the people of Palesa will think.”
Shouting Adrian’s name so loudly was as good as a public announcement. That person is the culprit. Moreover, it wasn’t a house antagonistic to the Grimaldis, but House Grimaldi itself declaring the Count’s son as the culprit.
It’s strange. Lev Jid and Adi Grimaldi were milk-siblings, yet instead of protecting them, he’s accusing them of the crime? The situation doesn’t make sense.
“Many know it’s not true. Many know you weren’t there. There are countless eyes and ears here, after all.”
“But since it’s more convenient for me to be the culprit, they’ll keep quiet.”
Adrian Grimaldi is the sacrificial lamb. And the person who planned this…
“Yes.”
“…I understand.”
Is most likely Spencer Grimaldi.
“What do you understand?”
“Your Grace can abandon me.”
“Won’t you use your wish?”
Yuls asked. Adi had thought of that too. He had said he would grant any wish, and in this situation, Duke Woodpecker was the only one who could save them.
“When else would you use it if not now?”
But Adi doesn’t believe it. The promise to grant ‘any’ wish. People easily change their words. Would the Duke really grant that wish even at his own expense?
Adi’s lips moved. Whatever it took, they had to survive. Perhaps they should prostrate themselves and beg for salvation with a kiss. Wouldn’t that ensure survival? Just as they thought this, Yuls approached and lifted their chin.
In an instant, their lips collided. It was closer to being devoured than a collision. The flesh crashed together mercilessly, delving inside.
Before Adi could close their eyes, they watched the Duke with half-lidded eyes, startling when his closed eyes opened and met theirs. They tried to pull back their neck, but couldn’t escape due to the Duke’s hand gently but firmly gripping their hair.
The kiss lasted longer than expected. Adi, not knowing how to breathe, pushed against the Duke’s shoulders while gasping. Only then did Yuls pull away, calmly wiping the saliva from Adi’s lips with his own hand.
“There, you’ve gained another wish.”
“…”
What was the Duke thinking? One thing could be read from his actions. He was interested in them. Though part of it might be to break the curse, his interest seemed to go beyond that. Was it imagination, or real?
“Say it. Ask me to save you.”
“Please save me.”
“Safely, without harm.”
“…Safely, without harm, securely.”
“I will.”
Yuls smiled with satisfaction.
“Though the method might be different from what you’re thinking.”
His large hand rested on Adi’s head. After gently stroking their hair, Yuls tucked the loose strands behind their ear. As Adi could only blink speechlessly, Yuls turned around.
When he opened the door, a waiting servant appeared. Bert and Roy were behind him. Yuls asked.
“Where’s Billy?”
“I’ll check.”
“Tell him to come quickly, we need women’s clothes.”
“Pardon?”
“Women’s clothes. A dress, corset, and a wig too.”
Saying this, Yuls turned to look at Adi. Though most northerners had light hair, Adi’s was an exceptionally pale blonde. It was a preferred color, but too noticeable.
“Rather than blonde… something more ordinary would be better. Like a brown wig.”
A blonde wig would be easier to obtain than a brown one. But if it was an order, they would have to find it somehow. However, what the Duke was requesting…
“Your Grace, could your current plan be…”
“They’re looking for a man in Palesa. Not a woman.”
That’s true, but no matter how delicate and pretty they looked, a man was still a man. And not an ambiguously gendered youth, but a fully grown adult man.
“It won’t be detected.”
Yuls said. Though it might sound fine in theory, actually dressing them would surely be different. It really seemed difficult. Everyone had the same thought.
“Roy, help Joel bring Billy.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Bert, Gavin.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Tell Ivan to prepare a body with blonde hair about Adrian’s height.”
Whatever the Count might say, this assassination wouldn’t end easily. He must have already anticipated some sacrifices. Whether Adi Grimaldi was the culprit or not.
The King probably doesn’t believe Adi Grimaldi did it either. But if the Grimaldis acknowledge it and atone with the death of their son, this matter could end well. After all, Luigi was a threat not only to Claude but also to the current King.
So the Count must have already found someone to substitute for Adi. But the Count’s substitute would be male, while Adi was female. Since he would aim to save Adi and take them away, they needed to find someone who could pass for Adi and dress them in their clothes. If the hair color was similar, they could make it work.
“Slightly curly hair. The length should be similar or longer. So we can cut it.”
Both Gavin and Bert nodded simultaneously at Yuls’s words. Yuls watched them for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
“A woman.”
Too quiet for Adi to hear.
“…Pardon?”
“Prepare a woman.”
Gavin and Bert fell silent. All other requests made sense, but the last one was strange. Prepare a woman, why…
Bert’s gaze turned to Adi. They weren’t clearly visible in the corner of the bedroom. Looking back at the Duke, Bert frowned with a face that seemed to say, “Surely not.”
Surely, no. Really, surely not.
Could the Count have done such a thing?
Bert and Gavin looked at each other. They seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“Understood, Your Grace.”
The Duke’s words meant that Adi Grimaldi was a woman.
But how could that be possible? Unless the gender had been concealed from birth, it was impossible. Then one thing occurred to them.
Adrina Grimaldi.
Years ago, it wasn’t a girl who died.
“It was the son.”
Lilina
Wahhhh they finally know
Excited for next chap!!