Chapter 95
Though they knew Claude and Yuls were different people, they hadn’t expected everything to be so different. They had nothing in common. Not height, hand size, or even hair and eye color. Despite being cousins, they didn’t share a single physical trait.
When he tightened his hand on their waist to pull them closer, Adi’s expression subtly hardened. Their bodies pressed together. It was thoroughly unpleasant. Moreover, the way he subtly stroked their palm while holding hands gave something of a perverse impression.
“You were having an intimate conversation with the Count.”
“Did it seem that way?”
“Well, even if it’s bad now, you’ll eventually get along since you’re family, right?”
It was difficult to follow Claude as he moved while saying this. It was the opposite of dancing with the Duke. How to put it – Yuls had been considerate. Claude moved however he pleased. Moreover, his gaze was unstable. His hands were cold.
“Do you think you’ll get along better with His Majesty?” Adi asked.
“I’m not on bad terms with the King. I just want to take what I want a bit faster.”
His breathing seemed uneven too. His gaze moved here and there. Though he seemed to be searching for something, he tried not to show it.
“I thought Sir Adrian Grimaldi would be the same. That’s why I tried to join hands.”
“It seems different now.”
“The situation has changed.”
He said this while smacking his lips.
“Yes.”
Adi frowned as his tongue darted out to wet his lips. They could tell the man was feeling thirsty.
“Much has changed.”
After saying this, Claude fell silent for a moment. He just moved here and there as if letting his body follow the music’s flow. Following him was difficult.
While trying to keep up by mentally recalling the steps Yuls had taught, Claude looked down as if finding something unexpected. The difference in eye level wasn’t as great as expected compared to the Duke.
“Why do you look like that?”
“No… you dance better than expected. I know you weren’t taught such things.”
“How do you know?”
“The Count was terribly bad at dancing. Since he had no interest in social circles to begin with, he wouldn’t have made any effort.”
Adi couldn’t join in his giggling as he said this. They had only learned today that the Count couldn’t dance. They hadn’t expected him to dance in the first place. Since he must have entered social circles too, he couldn’t be completely ignorant of dancing. Then had their mother danced too? That person?
Moreover, Claude seemed to know well what they didn’t know. Having stayed in Ionad all this time, how much time had Claude Dalkatir spent with the Count? At least more than they and Adrian had, they thought.
“You’re quite good.”
“His Grace taught me well.”
Could Yuls dance well enough to teach someone? They had never seen him dance before. Of course. The image of that child going around with his hand on an adult woman’s waist would surely have been ridiculous. Yuls didn’t like being looked down upon.
“…I see.”
So he might have practiced dancing. His dancing was certainly smooth. But that wasn’t particularly important. Claude opened his mouth saying, “Come to think of it, I’m curious.”
“What are you trying to do with Yuls?”
“Well, I haven’t given it much thought yet.”
“Liar.”
“If Your Highness thinks so, I can’t help that.”
“You resemble your father.”
“…That’s not particularly pleasant to hear.”
Adi answered.
“But I often think so too.”
Claude’s eyes widened at these unexpected words.
“That’s why it’s disgusting.”
At these words, he burst out laughing. Gazes followed from around them. Claude seemed to be trying to hold in his laughter. But finding it utterly impossible, he buried his face in Adi’s shoulder. Usually he would have commented on a woman’s delicate shoulder or soft skin, but now he had no leisure for that.
The thought that Adrina didn’t resemble the Count had been wrong. While their appearance might have come from the Countess, their personality and expressions were exactly like the Count’s. Despite presumably having spent little time together.
The only difference from the Count was that they spoke a bit more directly. Sometimes the distinctive speech patterns of a knight came through. While the Count lived like a political fox cub, treading carefully to avoid unfavorable words, this one was different. They still had an edge. They would have been perfect to raise as a young political spokesperson.
“I think you and your brother’s souls must have switched. There must have been a mistake in the womb.”
If they had been male, if she had been Adrian, it would have been truly interesting, but unfortunately, they were female. He couldn’t discuss state affairs with a woman. Sad but that was reality. If they felt wronged, they should have been born with flesh between their legs.
“You know parliament starts soon? While all schedules are important, the most important is the Privy Council.”
“Privy Council…”
“The King’s advisory body. They advise on all sovereign rights. The Count originally belonged there too, but was removed due to the King’s opposition. Ah, had I mentioned this before?”
Adi nodded. Though they hadn’t known about the Privy Council, Claude had directly told them about the Count being driven from Ionad. In more detail than now.
“Viscount Francovan took that vacant position.”
“I see.”
“Don’t you know who Viscount Francovan is?”
“No.”
“The person you killed.”
While Adi had no intention of denying being a killer, at least those words were wrong. That assassin couldn’t have been Viscount Francovan. Then only one possibility remained.
“Ah, my mistake.”
The person reportedly killed by Adi but actually killed by the Count – the Crown Prince and Duke’s cousin.
“Sir Adrian Grimaldi killed him.”
Toward Claude who smiled while saying this, Adi asked, “Are you doing this deliberately?” Claude retorted “Me?” as if catching an innocent person, but soon giggled.
“What would you do if I were?”
“What could I do? Unless I were someone powerful like the Count.”
“My, I feel barbs in those words.”
Wasn’t that implying they were enduring now due to lack of power, but wouldn’t let things slide once they gained it?
Of course, Adrina Grimaldi couldn’t do that. Their original status was gone, and now they were a commoner who had received a knight’s title, and a woman at that. No matter how high they rose, how could they compare to the Crown Prince?
While there were dangerous positions, they weren’t the kind that would be given to Adrina. That’s why Claude found Adi even more appealing.
“While Yuls is certainly safe for me.”
It would be interesting to keep them close. And they were pretty too.
“Hmm, wouldn’t it be better to come to my side?”
It’s nice to keep beautiful things nearby. While ornamental objects like jewels could be obtained by anyone, collecting beautiful people wasn’t easy.
But Claude was born with everything. Not only was he born with good blood, but thanks to having a good father, wouldn’t he automatically ascend to the throne?
And the Count had made a great contribution to that.
“I should have spoken well and received it then.”
His daughter, huh. Claude looked down with greedy eyes. He wanted to add them to his collection. Pretty, moving subordinates.
“I refuse.”
Of course, they refused outright.
“…”
He hadn’t considered this case. In truth, it was fair to say subordinates had no will of their own. So Claude could usually take whatever he wanted. Even if they refused, there was nothing they could do. He could push through with status.
But this case was a bit troublesome. However it happened, Yuls was a Duke. His status was equal to Claude’s. No matter how much he insisted, it wouldn’t work on Yuls. So he needed to make them come over willingly, but here was a refusal.
“Why?”
“I don’t think I could work with Count Grimaldi.”
“Why do you think I work with the Count? I could split from him.”
“The Count won’t let go of you.”
Judging by the Count’s behavior, he clearly didn’t like Claude much. Though the Count seemed good at managing his expressions, his dislikes inevitably showed through. However, since Claude was the only ladder by which the Count could return to the palace, he could probably tolerate mere dislike.
“At least until he gets something, he won’t leave. That’s the kind of person he is.”
“You know the Count better than expected.”
Not really. But they had guessed because that’s how they themselves would act. It was still an unpleasant fact to consider. That they resembled their father.
“Who will take Viscount Francovan’s vacant position?”
“Well, someone with sufficient influence and status.”
“Will Count Grimaldi be restored?”
“That’s why the Count reached out to me. Thinking I could be of help.”
“Won’t you be?”
“No, I’ll nominate him for the Privy Council.”
Claude said with a smile. There was no lie in that smile.
“For now.”
He had merely excluded some truth. Claude didn’t trust the Count.
“Will you tell the Count this?”
“Is there any need?”
And the Count would know this fact.
“If I noticed it, surely the Count has too.”
