Chapter 84
The Woodpecker mansion operated efficiently due to its many guard knights. Six knights guarded Yuls each day, with each person serving four-hour shifts. After one shift, they could rest for two days.
Squires who were to receive knighthood would often serve shifts alongside senior knights beforehand. It was the same now. Two soldiers stood at the entrance, and two knights inside.
One of them was a squire who would soon receive knighthood alongside Adi. His face asked why they had come when it wasn’t time for a shift change. Adi shrugged. At least the intention of not wanting to answer seemed to get across.
Gavin was inside, suggesting Dimitri’s duties had ended. Gavin guided Adi to another room.
The Duke’s quarters consisted of five rooms, most of which were used for work except for the bedroom and its adjoining room. When Adi entered, they immediately saw Yuls working.
“Don’t stand, sit down.”
This place felt more private than the office where knights stood. The plants scattered about, the casual clothes he wore, and even the furniture—wide sofas for common use rather than individual seats—contributed to this feeling.
Adi sat awkwardly at the edge of the sofa. Yuls, who had been frowning as if there was some problem, suddenly stood up. When Gavin approached to ask something, he waved his hand as if it was fine.
“Wait a moment. Let me just check this.”
Adi quietly watched as Yuls left the room, then turned their head at the gaze they felt beside them.
“Gavin.”
“Adrina.”
While others still called them Adi, only Gavin used the name Adrina. The reason was unclear.
“Your skin seems a bit tanned.”
“It must be from the southern sun.”
“Guard duty rarely involves standing in sunlight, so it should return to normal soon.”
“I don’t mind getting tanned. I am a knight after all.”
At Adi’s words, Gavin smiled as if troubled. Adi asked,
“Will you be going to Ionad this time?”
“No, Dimitri will be going to Ionad.”
That would be uncomfortable. Though Adi felt it too, Dimitri would likely feel similar.
“Bert is going together.”
“Bert always accompanies him, doesn’t he?”
“He’s the most trustworthy person. There’s a reason he was made captain of the guard knights.”
Adi nodded. He was a good person. Just look at how they already felt at ease knowing Bert would be there.
“I envy being able to build such trust with someone.”
At Adi’s words, Gavin looked down at them with surprise.
It seemed they had already built plenty of trust. Though Bert might appear good-natured, he was still captain of the guard knights. He wouldn’t keep just anyone close. He was actually one of the scariest people, being so thorough in investigating people despite his outwardly friendly uncle-like appearance.
Of course, Gavin himself took time to assess people too. Though Joel and Billy tended to be less guarded, and Ivan was naturally wary of others due to his background, he didn’t worry much about Adi. Because they had earned trust. Despite bearing the Grimaldi name.
“Still, Joel, Billy, and Ivan will be going to Ionad together.”
“That’s some relief at least.”
“Though Dimitri tends to be wary of you, he would probably be favorable if he knew everything, so don’t worry too much.”
Gavin said. However, Adi wasn’t worried about failing to gain Dimitri’s favor. They simply didn’t like him.
“Because he doesn’t know now.”
“…”
“If he learned about the process of breaking His Grace’s curse.”
Watching Gavin speak as if suggesting attitudes would change then, Adi frowned. Come to think of it, though they met the Duke daily, lately there hadn’t been any particular changes visible.
“Was I really the one who broke His Grace’s curse?”
“Who else could it have been?”
Gavin said with a faint smile. The Duke seemed to know. But he hadn’t told others. Not even the person involved. The reason was unclear. Though they wanted to ask what he was thinking, there was no guarantee of getting an answer.
“I’m serious. He won’t dislike you.”
“…Though it’s late to say this now, since I haven’t received my title yet, the term ‘my lord’ isn’t appropriate.”
Having already received a title from the Crown Prince, what nonsense. Of course, though that title was given to Adrian, it was Adrina who had actually lived as a knight. Looking at it this way, Adrina’s life seemed quite tragic, leaving a bitter taste in Gavin’s mouth. As someone with a daughter, he couldn’t understand the Count’s actions.
Just then, the door opened and the Duke came out. Having changed into what appeared to be more comfortable clothes, Yuls looked at Adi sitting down and Gavin standing beside them before approaching the sofa.
Adi looked up questioningly at Yuls standing before them. Still frowning as if deep in thought, Yuls sat down on the sofa.
When Adi tried to move aside, Yuls’s head touched their shoulder.
“Then I’ll step out briefly to prepare for bed.”
Gavin said. Adi tried to reach out as if asking where he was going, but Gavin had already left with quick steps.
“Bear with it for a moment even if you dislike it. I need something to lean on.”
Yuls said. Though his large frame was leaning on them, it didn’t feel particularly heavy. He seemed to not be putting his full weight on them. The Duke smelled of grass. Perhaps from spending so much time in the greenhouse and orangery.
His disheveled hair on their shoulder touched their cheek. The sensation was ticklish. Regular breathing could be heard from beside them. Wondering if he had fallen asleep like this, Adi turned their head, but their lips met as Yuls happened to lift his face.
“Ah, I apologize.”
Adi said without thinking. Yuls, who had been quietly looking at Adi, laughed out loud.
“What are you apologizing for when we kiss every day?”
The way he looked was quite… quite. How should this be described? Anyway, it was different from the looks Adi had seen before. Long ago, Adrian had looked at them this way. Like looking at someone familiar. But not quite the same gaze.
Yuls reached out his arms to embrace Adi’s head and kissed their hair. Though Adi had seemed tall when first seen, now they seemed too small, causing worry.
“Your hair smells of sunlight.”
After finishing morning duty and training, then bathing and spending time in the sun. Life here was more relaxed than in Palesa. Some people went out to eat, while others did additional training. Having nothing particular to do, Adi had read books. Perhaps due to the low humidity, it wasn’t muggy yet.
“It’s like sunshine melted into thread. Like fine silk.”
“…”
They didn’t know how to respond. One thing was certain—Yuls seemed to be at ease now. His body relaxed, eyes comfortably closed. Perhaps he could be this way because this was his territory.
As these thoughts continued, Yuls lifted Adi’s hand. At this sudden action, Adi looked at him.
“Your hands are smaller than I expected.”
“Your hands are just large, Your Grace.”
He seemed to have been large even before growing up. Like a beast destined to grow huge.
“Make a fist.”
His intention was unclear. Adi made a fist anyway.
“They say a fist is the size of one’s heart.”
Yuls’s hand enveloped Adi’s closed fist. They hadn’t known it could be completely encompassed in one hand. As he stroked Adi’s fist, Yuls called out, “Adi.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Ionad will be dangerous.”
“I know.”
Know indeed. While knowing nothing at all. But perhaps not knowing was better. Rather than knowingly entering a dangerous place, it might be easier to help struggle through solutions while knowing nothing. But this didn’t seem like the latter case.
Yuls placed his hand on Adi’s shoulder and stroked their hair. Though Adi looked at the careful touch, they neither avoided nor retreated from it. They seemed used to this much now.
If he took them not as a knight but in some other way…
“Your Grace?”
They wouldn’t want that. Yes, far from wanting it, they would likely run away. Yuls kissed Adi’s hair. While Adi, looking straight ahead, seemed unaware of anything, Gavin, who had come out after preparing the bedroom, witnessed the situation. As Yuls released his hand from embracing Adi, he said,
“You can go now.”
“…We haven’t done anything yet.”
“It’s fine, go ahead.”
As he said this and turned his gaze away, Yuls’s ears seemed to flush red for a moment. As Adi stood and bowed, Yuls said, “Ah.”
“And tomorrow we’ll take your measurements.”
For what? They wanted to ask, but as he continued, “Since there’s morning training, I’ll send you early,” Adi closed their mouth and nodded. Gavin also bowed while winking as if telling them to go ahead. Adi went outside. Even after the sound of the door closing, silence maintained for a moment. But sometimes gazes carry more presence than words. Feeling the gaze beside him, Yuls spoke.
“Something you want to say?”
“No, Your Grace.”
Gavin answered. Yuls raised his hand to cover his face. He still felt distance from Adi. Adrina Grimaldi was more difficult than expected. After seeing only people who showed him goodwill, encountering someone who maintained such distance was even more challenging.
“Why can’t they realize?”
“You mean Adi?”
Yuls looked at Gavin without answering, then clicked his tongue and said, “Yes.”
“It’s frustrating that I’m the only one who knows.”
Lilina
Ehehe