Chapter 89
“Have you selected the guard knights for Ionad?”
“Ah, I received the report, but not yet. I plan to choose today and submit the paperwork tomorrow.”
“I see. Do you need my help?”
“…While help would be nice…”
Bert felt something odd as he spoke.
“You don’t think that’s why I called you, do you?”
“Is there something else?”
Bert barely managed to hide his bewilderment at Adi’s face, which clearly showed an assumption this was about work matters. If it had been about work, there would have been no need to bring them outside.
“…It’s about His Grace’s partner for the ball.”
“Ah, but for that matter, it might be better to seek advice from others. Roy would know best about that, though he’s unfortunately in the territory now.”
“It’s not a matter of choosing. It’s already been decided.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, you should be His Grace’s partner.”
“Me, His Grace’s partner?”
Bert nodded.
“Didn’t he reject Lea Lintew’s proposal?”
And now to put his own guard knight in that position? Wouldn’t that cause even more gossip? Moreover, for a Duke to take his guard knight… Whatever the intention, people would surely interpret it strangely.
“That one had valid reasons for rejection,” Bert said. Adi’s expression wasn’t pleased at all.
“And the Count is coming to that ball too.”
Adi’s eyes narrowed slightly before quickly relaxing. While meeting the Count had been anticipated, the ballroom setting hadn’t been expected.
“Might as well make a splendid entrance, don’t you think?”
“…Since I can’t attend as a knight, you mean I should go as a partner.”
In that red dress, no less. It would certainly complement the Duke’s hair color well. And as the Duke’s partner, even the Count wouldn’t be able to ignore or treat them carelessly.
“I feel like I’m only receiving favors.”
“His Grace wouldn’t like hearing you say that.”
If anything, Yuls might think he was the one indebted to Adi. Though he wasn’t one to express it directly, having spent so long together, Bert could somewhat guess Yuls’s thoughts.
“Originally, you would have made your official debut showing your growth in Palesa, but since we returned early…”
Bert smiled and patted Adi’s shoulder.
“Let’s make this entrance spectacular.”
But Adi’s expression only hardened. Why that reaction? Could they possibly dislike it? As Bert worried, Adi spoke, “Sir.”
“Is something bothering you?” Bert asked with concern. Adi hesitated before speaking.
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“…”
❖ ❖ ❖
Having selected several people from Ionad’s guard knights, Bert conducted what amounted to interviews. He couldn’t understand why Ionad was so strict about this when Palesa hadn’t been.
Perhaps he had received special treatment. Not from Woodpecker, but special treatment created by Kenneth Marx and Count Grimaldi.
“Well, this should be enough,” Bert said, putting down the documents. Planning to choose two out of the three knights before him, he wanted to check Adi’s preferences as well. Though they got along well now, hadn’t Adi once worried about Roy Gaillard talking too much?
“Adi, do you have any questions?”
But then.
“Do you know how to dance?”
“…”
This wasn’t the kind of question he’d meant.
“Billy, take Adi out,” Bert said.
“…”
Billy looked at Adi. Though he wanted to lead, he didn’t think Adi would be led by his hand. At that silent protest, Adi quietly followed Billy outside.
And naturally, this story reached Yuls’s ears as well. Since the guard knights hadn’t been selected yet, and Bert was busy choosing candidates, Adi stayed by Yuls’s side.
“You can’t dance?”
“…”
A female knight asking if guard knight candidates could dance – one could only imagine what strange rumors would spread through Ionad.
“You could have just asked me. What’s the point of asking the knights if they can dance?”
“I thought it would be presumptuous since you’re busy, Your Grace.”
“I chose you as my partner – imagine if people found out you were practicing dance with others beforehand. What would they think of me?”
“Those who don’t know how to dance typically seek out instructors.”
“…”
“May I request a dance from you?”
“Yes.”
“Then could you help me at night?”
What could this mean? Yuls pondered, but it wasn’t something that needed deep thought. This was Adi Grimaldi. No, Adrina Din.
“Since you’re busy during the day.”
Of course. It couldn’t have meant anything else.
“I’m good at using my body, so it shouldn’t take long to learn.”
They even seemed to have some determination.
“If I’m going to do this, I want to appear perfect to both Your Grace and others. That way, I won’t bring shame.”
“You already come to my bedroom every night anyway, so there’s nothing more to ask.”
Yuls said with a bitter smile.
❖ ❖ ❖
Every night before bedtime, Adi would go to Yuls’s bedroom. Though others might find it strange, those who knew the situation understood it was a necessary process for breaking Yuls’s curse.
Today, Adi visited the Duke slightly earlier than usual. Since he had offered to teach dancing, some time would be needed. While it would be nice to practice elsewhere, Adi didn’t want to be seen by others, and Yuls’s bedroom was spacious enough for dancing, so it wasn’t a bad choice.
Yuls seemed to have been waiting, as he stood up from the sofa as soon as Adi entered.
“You’re here.”
Usually it wouldn’t have mattered, but today felt tense. When Adi stood by the door, Yuls said, “Why aren’t you coming?” Adi approached where Yuls stood. Right in front of the sofa, Yuls extended his hand to the approaching Adi.
When Adi took his hand, Yuls smiled softly. The hand placed on his was small. He couldn’t understand how these hands had wielded a sword. After fidgeting with the hand, Yuls said to wait a moment and went outside.
Adi watched the door Yuls had left through, but quickly turned away as it opened immediately. Yuls returned holding a small container. He opened its lid, scooped some cream with his finger, and took Adi’s hand again.
“Your Grace?”
Yuls applied the cream to Adi’s hand. Though the situation wasn’t incomprehensible, not knowing why it was happening, Adi looked up at Yuls with questioning eyes. Meeting that gaze, Yuls smiled slightly and said,
“Your hands are rough.”
“I apologize.”
“I’m not criticizing the rough hands. As a knight, you should be proud of hands like these. It’s just…”
As he spoke, Yuls played with Adi’s hand. The callus etched into the right palm was particularly hard at the thumb. The joint of the index finger was slightly bent. There were several long scars on the left thumb.
He’d heard that those unfamiliar with swords often cut their fingers when drawing from the scabbard. Come to think of it, Adi wouldn’t have been holding a sword for long. It would have been after Adrian’s death.
“I’m worried it might hurt.”
There was still tender flesh on the palm. If their sibling hadn’t died, would they have lived like other women, tending flowers and doing needlework? He wondered if that life would have been better than now. But what’s passed is past.
“If it bleeds or cracks it’ll hurt, so it’s better to take care of it.”
“I’m used to it, it’s fine.”
Yuls looked down at Adi. Of course, as a knight, they would be used to it. But that wasn’t what he meant. Even if he said this, Adi probably wouldn’t understand. Not because they lacked perception, but because they hadn’t even considered it, unable to anticipate such meaning.
“Right, you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll apply it for you.”
“…”
For a moment, the held hand tensed. Somehow, it felt like heat was rushing to the hand, as if it might start sweating. Perhaps it was because of their touching hands. When skin touches skin it becomes warm, so that’s why it feels hot… Though it seemed somewhat different from that.
“Ah, um. Your Grace.”
Adi said. Yuls’s lips parted at the upward gaze. An indescribable impulse arose. It grew stronger when their faces met. Instead of averting his gaze needlessly, Yuls pulled them close and embraced their waist. Adi stiffened in surprise.
“You need to be this close to dance.”
Saying this, Yuls pulled their waist closer and took their hand.
“Put your hand on my shoulder.”
“…”
The meaning of dancing, that level of closeness, was understood. Their breathing was too close for the close distance. With each breath, the connected bodies drew even closer from the movement of their lungs. There was nowhere else to escape to. The body heat, the muscles felt with each movement, and then.
“Adi?”
They were touching.
Adi gently pushed Yuls away. While nobles were said to enjoy balls, this kind of shameless behavior hadn’t been expected. So dancing was…
“Adrina.”
Adi looked up. The Duke couldn’t be blamed. Seeing others dance without issue, perhaps only they were having strange thoughts. For some unknown reason, their face burning, Adi pushed Yuls away. Yuls stepped back easily.
“What’s wrong?”
Adi’s lips trembled. Perhaps because it was summer, the heat from their touching palms easily transferred through clothing. Even in the darkness of night, Adi’s flushed cheeks were clearly visible. At their troubled gaze, Yuls exhaled softly. Somehow his mouth felt dry.
“It’s nothing, Your Grace.”
Saying this, they covered their face. Yuls took the covering hand and lowered it. Not just the cheeks, but around the eyes were red too. He had wondered why women painted their eyes with such colors, but seeing Adi now, he thought he understood.
“Adi.”
“…”
“Don’t turn away.”
Saying this, Yuls raised his hand and fixed Adi’s chin. Unable to avoid his touch, yet unable to meet his eyes, their flustered expression inadvertently made him smile. Though he considered letting go and giving them freedom, an inexplicable impulse arose.
Perhaps that’s why.
Yuls’s lips touched Adi’s eyelid before pulling away. The sensation of eyelashes against his lips tickled. Then, after kissing their cheek, Yuls held Adi’s cheek and pressed his lips firmly against theirs. Though it was just soft flesh, it somehow tasted sweet. It made him strangely thirsty.
Opening his lips to wet them as they dried, Yuls slightly opened his eyes to look at Adi. Golden eyelashes trembled.
I’m going crazy.
Lilina
After soooo so so so so many chapters we finally have a moment like this 😭
No no seriously Im feeling reaaaally normal about this I am