Chapter 77
“Shall we?”
Adi replied. There were eight people here and four rooms. If rooms were shared by two, Roy would be the least uncomfortable option compared to the others.
“No!”
Bert shouted. Both Roy and Adi turned to him in surprise. Bert, who had turned pale, stammered, “Ah, yes, that… that won’t do!”
Roy’s face showed he couldn’t understand why Bert was reacting this way. Adi somewhat understood but thought Bert should stop, as his reaction might lead to the discovery that Adi was a woman.
“Why doesn’t Adi take a room alone?”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s just that there’s a small room too. You know, when the night watchmen come to the forest, they use this place. When there are many people, they sleep wherever they can, like in closets…”
“Bert, even with sufficient beds available, isn’t it too much to suggest sleeping in a closet?”
Billy said. Joel nodded in agreement beside him.
You’re saying that because you don’t know anything. How could they let a man and woman share a room? Besides, our Duke’s eyes were blazing red. Weren’t those already red eyes burning even more intensely?
That’s when Yuls, who had been watching the situation with crossed arms, spoke up.
“Adi.”
Everyone’s attention turned to Yuls.
“Come here.”
He commanded with familiar authority. Adi approached slowly as usual in response to his order. Watching Adi approach, Yuls raised the corner of his mouth. His cold eyes had somehow turned gentle. Yuls placed his arm on Adi’s shoulder.
“Adi will share with me.”
“…”
“You need a guard anyway.”
Yes, Bert thought, that would be better. Probably everyone who knew the situation thought the same. Only Billy, Joel, and Roy failed to understand what was happening.
❖ ❖ ❖
Joel prepared the meal. There was plenty of food here, allowing for quite a decent meal. Compared to when they had to make do with dried food and jerky while rushing here to hide Adi, this was a feast.
Even though Joel had prepared plenty of food, it seemed slightly insufficient. He said he had miscalculated when cooking, though it made sense given there were eight adult men including the knights.
Indeed, everyone here ate well. Including Adi.
Bert already knew from seeing it several times, but Gavin and Ivan watched Adi with curiosity. One thing was certain – Adi’s appetite didn’t appear feminine. Gavin, in particular, looked enviously at Adi, who ate more than himself.
After the meal, everyone retired to their rooms. Billy, who had said they could sleep comfortably thanks to the four rooms and eight beds, distributed clothes for everyone to wear tomorrow.
Adi ended up sharing a room with the Duke.
The room had two single beds placed next to each other. Wondering why they were arranged this way, Adi tried to separate them.
The bed was heavier than expected. It seemed to be made of logs. After giving up on moving the immovable bed, Adi turned to Yuls and said, “I’ll sleep on the floor.” Yuls looked down with an incredulous expression.
“My lord,”
Yuls said.
“Do you think I’m going to do something to you?”
“No.”
“Then are you planning to do something to me?”
“No.”
“Then quietly lie down and sleep.”
“…”
When he put it that way, it was impossible to refuse.
Even so, how could one sleep normally in the same bed as the Duke? Though Adi lay down next to Yuls, sleep wouldn’t come.
A sword lay within reach. Though it seemed unlikely anyone would attack in this forest, something suggested it would be better to keep it close. Regular breathing could be heard from the Duke lying beside Adi.
How can someone sleep with another person right next to them? Adi couldn’t understand the Duke. Judging by his regularly rising and falling chest, he seemed to be truly asleep. Adi turned to the side and looked at Yuls’s back.
At first, he had appeared just a boy, but overnight he had grown, and now this form seemed much more familiar. Adi reached out toward Yuls’s back but didn’t touch it. Still, body heat could be felt. Despite the weather not being particularly hot, heat seemed to emanate from his body.
Withdrawing the hand, Adi turned away. It didn’t seem possible to sleep while facing Yuls. Then, at the sound of rustling blankets and movement, Yuls opened his eyes. Those red eyes, their thoughts unknowable, soon closed again.
The cabin was quiet. Though someone’s breathing and snoring could be heard, it wasn’t enough to disturb sleep. Then came a rustling sound. Though very faint, it made Adi open their eyes.
Another rustle followed. It was the sound of leaves. Different from leaves colliding in the wind. This wasn’t nature, but human presence.
More rustling sounds followed. The sound of cloth brushing against leaves, uneven like there was an obstacle in the wind’s path.
Adi rose, gripping the sword in their right hand.
Suddenly, multiple presences were felt. Something had surrounded the cabin. And someone stood by the window. Adi moved to draw and throw a dagger as usual. But that dagger had been taken by Count Grimaldi. Instead, Adi leaped over the Duke to reach the window and thrust the sword through the gap. The person backed away.
“Bert! Roy!”
Adi shouted. The Duke was just rising.
“Your Grace, outside!”
Adi said. Yuls took Adi’s hand and led the way out. After getting the Duke outside and turning to face the window intruder, Adi made an incredulous face.
Because of Adi’s shout, Bert and Roy had come out with their swords ready. Gavin and Ivan also seemed prepared to defend against the intrusion.
Ivan stood in front of the door. He had positioned his foot to prevent the door from opening, but soon someone burst through the window. People wearing black clothes with red capes pointed their swords. Bert and Ivan also had their swords aimed near the intruders’ necks.
They stared at each other.
“…”
“…”
Then the swords lowered.
“Emil.”
“Bert.”
Deflated voices emerged.
“Ah, what’s this? You scared us.”
“We were scared too. How did you arrive so early? It was supposed to be a week later.”
“Things changed.”
They seemed to know each other. The tension that had caused palms to sweat dissipated. Adi and Roy also lowered their swords.
Ivan opened the door. Several people who entered examined the cabin’s interior before their gazes fixed on Yuls. Though the person they were looking for wasn’t there, someone similar was – and in an adult form.
“Your Grace?”
A voice of disbelief emerged.
“The curse has been broken. Not completely, but still.”
Bert said. Though their faces were covered and expressions couldn’t be seen, their joy was palpable.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”
The man called Emil said. The others who had entered said in unison, “Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“We will escort Your Grace safely to the mansion.”
Instead of answering, Yuls smiled. Like a ruler who had returned to their territory. Adi sheathed their sword. Roy looked at the people before them with a dazed expression.
“The night watchmen.”
Roy said. These were the Woodpecker’s special unit, the night watchmen.
❖ ❖ ❖
The South, seen for the first time, was warmer and drier than expected. There was no humidity. Under the sun it was hot and sweat-inducing, but in the shade it was cool.
The wind was different from humid Palesa. Different too from dry and cool Grimaldi. The colors seemed much more varied. It felt like this might be the kind of southern country people talked about going to for vacation.
Someone must have announced the Duke’s arrival, as numerous people were at the mansion’s entrance to welcome him. Like when the king arrived at Palesa Palace, the Duke seemed no different from this place’s king.
And the Woodpecker mansion they entered was so large it seemed closer to a palace than a mansion. It might even be larger than Palesa Palace.
The servants returned to their posts as soon as they arrived at the mansion. Having their own domains for their stay here, they showed no hesitation.
In contrast, newcomers Adi and Roy stood there, unsure what to do. The Duke looked at them before entering the mansion.
There was an inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity and disappointment, but even having such thoughts felt strange.
“Adi, Roy.”
Bert called.
“Come this way. I’ll show you around.”
Bert guided them to where the knights were stationed. The knights’ quarters were located further north than the main building. Above that were the training grounds and forest.
He explained that since most of Woodpecker’s battles took place in forests and at sea, they did much of their training in the forest. Roy’s eyes lit up. He seemed to like that place.
After showing them the locations of the dining hall, office, and other areas, Bert headed to the lodgings. The knights’ quarters were inside the main mansion building, on the second floor. This made sense, as the knights needed to guard.
Bert explained there were other lodgings available, and some knights lived outside the mansion, so they could choose what suited them best. He said to consider today’s arrangements temporary. Adi’s room was next to Roy’s.
