Chapter 81
Even in a dry region, the heat was unbearable under the blazing sun. Moving one’s body made it even worse.
“You’re too slow! Faster, run!”
Bert, who had been a friendly middle-aged man as a fellow guard knight, was a ruthless superior as a training instructor.
Curses erupted from all around. Bert seemed to enjoy hearing the curses. The more the knights suffered, the more they writhed in pain, the faster their sword speeds became, the more their endurance grew, the more ecstatic Bert appeared. His grinning face before the suffering young people was incredibly bizarre.
“Can you really defeat enemies like that?”
Roy muttered small curses at Bert, who shouted with a smile. That pervert, that madman, that psycho. But such words only made Bert happier.
“Hey there, how do you expect to win when you’re losing to a woman!”
Woodpecker had several knight divisions and soldier units. The knights were divided into guard knights, several divisions preparing for war, and special divisions like the night watchmen. Each division commander would often pit their knights against each other. Adi was in Bert’s guard knight division, and…
“Damn it, how can anyone beat this sword technique!”
The Grimaldi sword style seemed to work in Woodpecker too. Bert narrowed his eyes. He coveted that swordsmanship that Roy Gaillard had somehow acquired. Though crude imitation was possible, there seemed to be special techniques that remained elusive.
If Adi had any weakness, it was undoubtedly their physical limitations.
“Your stamina is dropping! Can’t you raise it more?”
Adi knew well that unless they could defeat opponents quickly, they would be at a disadvantage. Catching their breath between pants, they gritted their teeth and increased their speed, deflecting an incoming sword and placing their sword tip against their opponent’s neck. If they hadn’t stopped, it would surely have cut through.
“Winner, Adrina Din.”
As soon as those words were spoken, Adi lowered their sword. Roy, doing endurance training nearby, shook his head.
Knights sparred with knights, and squires with squires, but since Adi was currently a squire, they fought against other squires. Among the squires here, who could defeat Adi Grimaldi, who had been formidable even in Palesa?
Adi wiped their sweat with their sleeve. The squire who had fallen to the ground lay there panting. While the squire’s chest heaved dramatically, Adi took several deep breaths and regained their composure.
When the division commanders said to rest, Adi went to the tree shade and watched the knights crawling over after finishing their endurance training. Among them, Roy crawled over the fastest.
Thinking how surprising it was that a human could move so quickly on all fours, Adi was drinking their water when Roy threw off his shirt and chemise, flopped down, and Adi poured water over him.
“Ah, that feels so damn good. Pour more.”
“…”
Hearing such words made Adi not want to do it. When no more water fell, Roy narrowed his eyes and asked, “Is that all?” Adi silently drank more water.
“Ah, what a brutal bastard.”
“Are you talking about me? Or Bert?”
At Adi’s words, Roy thought both were brutal.
Though he had seen Adi train and exert themselves before, he had thought it natural since he believed they were a man. Rather, he had thought someone with the nickname ‘Palesa’s Dog’ should be capable of at least that much.
But Adi was a woman, and they had defeated all of Woodpecker’s squires…
“These squires are easy.”
“…Keep that up and your next nickname will be ‘Woodpecker’s Dog.'”
At Roy’s words, Adi shrugged. Their reputation wasn’t good anywhere anyway. In Palesa it had been bad in its own way, and in Grimaldi it had been the same.
“Your personality is exactly like Bert’s,”
The squires said as they passed by.
“Well, you’re his niece. So brutal.”
“What is it about the Din surname? Why, even that tax inspector Bertram Din has such a temper…”
Compared to that, Woodpecker’s squires and knights were quite mild. Perhaps people’s personalities really did improve as you went south. They say exposure to sunlight makes people more positive—maybe Spencer Grimaldi would have been different if he’d been born in the south.
“Ah, I need water too. Help me up.”
Roy said, reaching out his hand. The one who took his hand wasn’t Adi but Bert. Bert pulled Roy up and slapped his back. When told to put on his clothes, Roy shouted about the heat and ran away, looking like father and son.
Showing his fist to the fleeing Roy, Bert looked at Adi.
“Adi.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t mind such words.”
Adi looked puzzled at Bert’s words. What words? It probably wasn’t what Roy had said, but were they talking about the squires’ comments about being brutal? Thinking that being called brutal was a kind of praise, Adi thought of something else.
“You mean about having a bad personality?”
Bert made an apologetic face. Adi said,
“Having Bert’s personality is quite good.”
“No need to say such things.”
“I’m serious. Compared to Spencer Grimaldi, almost no one in the world would have a bad personality.”
Of all comparisons, that one? Who could have a worse personality than Spencer Grimaldi?
“That’s true.”
At Bert’s response, Adi smiled slightly.
“Being similar to you is closer to praise than insult.”
Since coming to Woodpecker, Adi smiled more. They seemed freer than when they were in Palesa at least. They hadn’t known this side of their personality there. Bert needlessly stroked Adi’s head.
“Adi!”
Just then, Joel approached the training grounds quickly from afar.
“His Grace is calling for you.”
After greeting Bert, Adi followed Joel.
❖ ❖ ❖
There were several unexpected aspects about Julius Woodpecker. First was that his office had quite many plants. Despite not looking the type, he took good care of the plants. The plants seemed to thrive at just his touch.
Second was that, still finding it insufficient, Julius spent most of his time in the greenhouse. He even worked there. Except for meals and sleep, he seemed to spend most of his time there.
The Duke was in the center of the greenhouse. Among the surrounding servants, only one face was familiar. Two, if including Joel who had entered with them.
“Your Grace.”
“Adi.”
Nothing had changed between them since arriving at Woodpecker. Adi always met the Duke morning and evening to kiss his hand.
Some servants disapproved of this, while others watched Adi. What conversations the servants had among themselves was unknown. Even those who had become friendly in Palesa were the same. After all, Adi was an outsider, and they were people of this place.
As Adi approached the Duke who had beckoned while calling them, they lifted his hand as usual. By this point, it was hard to tell if there had been any changes. The Duke appeared his proper age, and no longer rushed Adi as before.
As soon as Adi kissed his hand, Yuls said, “I heard an interesting story.” Removing their lips, Adi asked,
“What story might that be?”
Could it be about beating up all the guard knight squires who were hazing them? Or about giving black eyes to the knights who had been gossiping about Bert favoring only his niece? Or perhaps…
“I hear Lady Connolly has adopted a daughter from House Lintew.”
“Ah.”
They had already known this fact. Roy had mentioned it before. Considering the adoption procedures and lord’s permission, they had expected it would be around this time. It was more surprising that the Duke had learned of it so late.
“And I received a letter requesting our definite attendance during this social season.”
“You mean the winter social season?”
Adi asked in return, looking at the servants behind Yuls. Their expressions showed an absolute determination that he must attend.
“Shouldn’t you definitely go?”
“Will you come with me?”
“Does my will matter?”
“Of course. I can’t do without you.”
Yuls said. At this meaningful expression, one servant frowned. Someone who didn’t approve of Adi.
“I want to hear your opinion. After all, we’re going to Ionad.”
“I think you should go.”
“Do you want to go to Ionad?”
“If Your Grace goes, I will go as well.”
“You shouldn’t like Ionad. There was someone there who wanted you.”
“I won’t stay there without Your Grace.”
“Yes, then let’s plan to go. Though earlier.”
“When you say earlier, when do you mean?”
“Summer.”
Adi closed their mouth. The servants also looked uncomprehending. Spring had just passed and early summer had begun. It was summer now. From behind, Gavin spoke up at Yuls’s words.
“Your Grace, do you plan to attend the assembly?”
“Yes, I’ve been avoiding it by saying I was governing my territory…”
The Dalkatir royal family kept a regular schedule. They collected taxes in autumn during harvest, held social events in winter. Spring announced new beginnings with festivals for everyone to enjoy, and in hot summer…
“Though I also avoided it since I would have been ignored in that form.”
The assembly began. Various laws, taxes, administrative matters, diplomacy, and messengers went back and forth. It was when the battles between the royal family, noble elders, nouveau riche, and other administrators began. And this assembly would surely discuss aid to Türingen.
“I hear Count Grimaldi has returned to Ionad.”
Adi stared at Yuls.
“It seems Claude has finally started to move.”
Going to Ionad meant meeting Spencer Grimaldi.
