Chapter 92
Matching movements to a partner was easy, but once the music joined in, there was much more to consider, making it more difficult. It was only because Yuls’s movements were familiar that mistakes were avoided – trying to move solely to the music would have surely led to failure.
Unlike knight’s attire, the dress clung awkwardly to the legs with every movement, drawing unwanted attention. Unfamiliar gazes turned their way.
But even more distracting than that was Yuls, whose hand was joined with theirs. Perhaps because it was summer, another’s body heat felt more foreign. It seemed like the presence of a living person had never felt so distinctly apparent before. It made their palms feel sweaty.
After a long silence, Yuls asked, “What did you talk about?” Whether due to their proximity or not, his voice striking directly at their ear seemed to resonate more than usual.
“…Nothing particularly special,” Adi answered. There seemed no need to mention having issued what amounted to a warning to Spencer. Yuls, appearing unsatisfied with this answer, lowered his eyes.
Nothing particularly special, was it?
Even while dancing with Lea Lintew, Yuls had kept his gaze fixed on Adi, and their interaction hadn’t seemed particularly hostile. While they might just be maintaining appearances, it felt different from that. Had they reconciled? No, it wasn’t quite that either.
What did Adrina want? She never spoke directly about such things. Always seeming to hide something, she wasn’t easy to understand. But when asked questions, she usually answered well.
“Do you want to go to Grimaldi?” Yuls asked.
“You seem to think I have some lingering attachment to that place.”
It could be possible, couldn’t it? Though it was just a hypothetical consideration, it couldn’t be completely dismissed. After all, she was a Grimaldi. Even with a changed surname, the fact that she was the Count’s blood couldn’t be denied.
While all nobles might be the same, the Count was particularly obsessed with his family.
Yuls raised his gaze. Up above, the Count and Claude were looking down at them. Both had their sights set on Adrina. Yuls stared up at them with a look that declared he wouldn’t let them take her. Seeming to notice the emotion in that gaze, both looked at Yuls with strange expressions. Their reactions contrasted sharply.
“And what about Your Grace,” Adi continued. Yuls lowered his gaze.
“What did you discuss with Lea Lintew?”
For a moment, Yuls wondered if he’d heard wrong. A conversation with Lea Lintew? That was nothing special… why was she curious about that? The question was momentary, and he quickly understood the answer. Just as he was curious about Adi’s conversation with Count Grimaldi, Adrina felt the same way.
Yuls laughed aloud. At the low rumble, Adi looked puzzled. So that’s what you’re curious about.
“I told her to leave.”
“Pardon?”
“I told her to go to Lady Connolly since she’s here. There’s no reason for Lea Lintew to stay at my residence anymore.”
“…She must have just finished unpacking.”
“That’s not my concern.”
Yuls’s voice was quite cheerful as he answered. His movements became more lively to match. Adi barely kept up with the slightly quickened tempo.
“Though it seems she tried her own schemes.”
“What schemes did she try?”
“More importantly, Adrina.”
Yuls said. His downward gaze was both similar to and different from usual. He seemed to be enjoying this situation more. Was there a reason for that in their recent conversation? Adi responded.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Does it bother you when I talk with Lintew?”
“…”
That hadn’t been considered. Adi moved silently, following Yuls’s lead. Though Yuls didn’t say anything, his face subtly demanded an answer. After thinking for a moment, Adi asked, “Could that be it?” Yuls gave a slight laugh.
“If that’s how you feel, it might be worth considering.”
Adi nodded at Yuls’s words. Though outwardly agreeing, Yuls thought they probably wouldn’t really care about it. But that was fine. After all, Yuls intended to claim Adrina anyway. No matter how long it took, whatever it required.
Whatever happened, as long as Adi could find certainty and happiness, nothing else mattered. The first things that needed to be done for that…
Yuls’s gaze turned upward again. Claude and Spencer’s gazes were still directed their way.
‘Those two.’
They were the key.
❖ ❖ ❖
“We’ve lost her,” Claude said. Spencer briefly shifted his gaze to Claude before responding with a disagreeing expression.
“I still consider her part of our family.”
As he said this, Spencer’s gaze followed the pair.
Flaming red hair and a red dress. The Duke was smiling, and Adrina wore no expression as usual.
Spencer thought of his wife in their territory. Once, she too had known how to dance like that. While Spencer wasn’t particularly good at dancing, she had been different. She had always brightened the otherwise gloomy Grimaldi.
Yes, back then, it had certainly been for her…
“You killed all the Count’s children.”
Spencer stopped his thoughts and looked at Claude. He continued with an apologetic expression.
“Pardon me, I should have said they died, but my true feelings slipped out.”
“It’s fine, Your Highness.”
“So what will you do now?”
Claude asked. Spencer’s face showed he didn’t understand what he meant by that question. A snake-like person couldn’t possibly fail to understand. He wanted to hear the opinion stated explicitly.
“The palace knows what the Count wants to do. But you can’t focus solely on palace affairs. As a territorial lord, what good is being the king’s closest advisor without an heir?”
As he said this, Claude’s gaze was fixed on Yuls and Adrina. It was an intense look. For some inexplicable reason, it felt unpleasant. Then Claude looked back at Spencer.
“Everything must have started for the territory.”
No, everything had started for her. But that life had crumbled easily.
“Well, what will you do?”
“What is there to do? She’s Grimaldi blood anyway.”
“What if something happens while you’re being so complacent?”
“Something happening? Rather than a low status like the Jids, that side would be better.”
At Spencer’s words, Claude made a low “Hmm” sound before speaking.
“Then how about me, Count?”
It hadn’t even been considered. In other words, there was no need to consider it.
“Being bound by blood is the best, isn’t it? Though no one else would know except us.”
Spencer smiled slightly. It wasn’t a pleasant smile. An outright suggestion of becoming the Crown Prince’s illegitimate child. If he became king, the Count’s grandchild would become the king’s illegitimate child, but why? It didn’t appeal to him.
Of course, Spencer believed that status made the world turn, and the royal family at its peak was supreme. The Crown Prince would be even better. But what if that Crown Prince wasn’t particularly legitimate?
Originally, the rightful Crown Prince had been Luigi Francovan. By rights, he should have inherited not his mother’s name Francovan, but the name of Dalkatir. But he had died. It would not be wrong to say Spencer himself had killed him.
He wasn’t such a fine person either. Choosing between Luigi and Claude, they were much the same. Neither was satisfactory. They were people who had shown him that sometimes status alone couldn’t solve everything.
“Beautiful,” Claude said, looking down.
“When I first saw her covered in dust and sweat, I didn’t notice, but seeing her like this is different. How did everyone miss it?”
Probably because of prejudice, Claude answered his own question. Of course. What woman would be a knight? Even men struggled with it. They’d just thought she was a pretty man. Such men weren’t unheard of, after all.
“She doesn’t resemble you, Count.”
“She takes after my wife.”
Spencer answered. Claude looked at Spencer.
“I hadn’t known, but indeed she does.”
Especially those eyes were identical. Though his wife’s gaze had been somewhat warmer.
“Your wife must be beautiful. Is that why you don’t bring her to social gatherings?”
“…”
While that hadn’t been the intention, it wasn’t something he hadn’t considered either. But his wife had preferred being in the territory to social gatherings. The woman who had loved her territory and the place she needed to govern had once freely mingled with the territorial people without maintaining distance. She had seemed happy there.
If only they’d had a child.
“It’s a waste to have such a beauty withering away in the territory.”
Spencer glared at Claude. Though Claude was startled by the unexpected look, he soon smiled as if nothing was wrong. The Count’s weakness was indeed family.
“My wife’s health is poor, so she cannot come to the royal capital.”
“I know. But she came once or twice before, didn’t she? If she had come regularly, your children’s positions might have been different.”
“…”
“Well, one of them is dead anyway.”
Despite the regretful tone, Spencer gave no response. But rather, that expressionlessness felt more frightening. Claude casually looked down. His eyes caught Lea Lintew looking up at them. A convenient excuse.
“The gentle lady’s gaze is quite sharp. I should go down.”
Claude said. Spencer moved aside to let Claude pass.
As Claude headed toward the stairs, he picked up a wine glass from an attendant. While speaking, he drained the glass and then handed back the empty vessel. Though the attendant said something to Claude as well, it couldn’t be heard in the surrounding commotion.
Spencer shook his head and looked down again. Claude, now below, received another glass. But the color looked more like water than wine.
“He must be thirsty.”
Indeed, he wasn’t suitable as the next king.
Lilina
Ehehehe they damced