Chapter 98

Claude requested his guests to leave, saying he needed to prepare for breakfast. Though morning had long passed and the sun was high in the sky.

Walking out in the corridor, Yuls glanced at Adi following behind, slowed his pace, and took position beside them. When Adi tried to move back again, Yuls said “Just stay beside me,” then cast a subtle glance and asked,

“Are you upset?”

“Pardon?”

“That I spoke badly about the Count.”

“No.”

Adi answered without hesitation.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because he’s family.”

“That holds little meaning to me.”

While family might hold deep meaning for some people, it didn’t for Adi. Of course, there had been someone who held meaning. But their flesh had already returned to earth, no longer existing in this world.

“My purpose is—”

Adi stopped mid-sentence. Their gaze was fixed forward. The Duke, who had been watching Adi, turned his head. Lev Jid stood right in front of them.

Ah, right. The Count was staying here.

Lev Jid, who had been glaring at Adi, bowed his head to the Duke.

“Sir Lev Jid.”

Whatever the situation, there was no need to show obvious hostility. Yuls smiled gently.

“You must have just arrived.”

“Your Grace.”

“I heard the Count is staying in quarters provided by Claude, I suppose they’re nearby?”

“Yes, he’s staying on the third floor.”

“I see.”

Though he didn’t care where the Count stayed, it was clear Claude had provided decent rooms.

Yuls watched Lev and lightly placed his hand on Adi’s shoulder. The hand, barely touching, simply rested there without pulling Adi closer. When Adi turned to look up at Yuls, Lev’s eyes flashed. Yuls could clearly identify the emotion there.

That was jealousy.

“Let’s move,” Yuls said to Adi as they passed Lev. Lev Jid remained firmly in place, unmoving. Though they could feel his gaze from behind, Yuls made no move to look back. Adi likewise didn’t react. It seemed fortunate that they were so indifferent to others.

In the middle of the corridor, before the stairs, Yuls lowered his arm. Adi’s face showed no question about this action.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask,”

Yuls said.

“What exactly is your relationship with Lev Jid?”

“Lev was Adrian’s milk-brother, and he disliked me.”

That doesn’t seem right. Those weren’t eyes that looked at someone with dislike. But Adrina seemed not to have noticed. Come to think of it, they weren’t good at sensing goodwill directed their way.

“After Adrian died, Lev taught me swordsmanship. Though the Count taught me as well.”

He wanted to warn them that that man’s gaze held desire and they should avoid him.

“That’s all.”

But doing so would make them conscious of it. People typically don’t think about things they haven’t noticed, but once they become aware, they can’t return to their previous state. Yuls didn’t want Adrina to even consider Lev Jid as someone to be wary of. They should remain just as they were now – someone of no consequence.

“Ah, of course.”

After all, it was enough that he himself was by their side and in their thoughts.

“I think the Count wanted to see a child between Lev Jid and me.”

For a moment, Yuls unconsciously blurted out “What?” and felt something boiling inside as he watched Adrina slowly raising their gaze with an unchanged expression.

“I’m not certain, but he had such intentions at least. Though the Count is the type to easily replace people if they don’t meet his standards.”

That expression, remaining dry even in situations that should provoke anger, seemed to speak of countless despairs and resignations they had experienced throughout their life, making his blood boil.

“And it will absolutely never happen. Because…”

Adi, speaking, frowned and stopped. Instead of pressing, Yuls watched them. As he quietly waited to hear what would follow, Adi’s lips moved to say, “I’m sorry.”

“I cannot speak of that.”

“Do you have any particular feelings for Lev?”

“By particular feelings, does that include disliking him?”

“…”

Yuls forcefully swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.

“Well, that’s a feeling too.”

Yes, dislike is also a feeling. He wanted to steal away all feelings directed at that man. Make him into just nobody, someone not worth paying attention to. How could he accomplish that?

…Should he kill him?

Such an act couldn’t be done immediately. He would need to move secretly, without being discovered.

“If it’s uncomfortable, we can change the time schedules.”

The only thing he could do right now was prevent them from meeting. Distance from sight naturally led to distance from mind.

“It’s fine. I don’t want to inconvenience others over trivial matters.”

“Is it trivial to you?”

“I don’t think it’s a major issue.”

Yuls looked at Adi. He wanted to ask what would constitute a major issue to them. What level of thing would make them care, what kind of things would hurt them. While he needed to know to avoid causing hurt, part of him wanted to cause hurt.

“I see.”

If even family didn’t have much impact on them, it seemed he too couldn’t occupy a significant place in their life.

“Let’s return to the residence.”

However, he couldn’t reveal such base thoughts.

❖ ❖ ❖

While Adi was visiting Claude with Yuls, Bert seemed to have already finished discussing schedules with the guard knights who would stay in Ionad.

While the royal knights wouldn’t harm Yuls, the fact that they couldn’t be fully trusted meant afternoon and night shifts were assigned to Adi and Bert.

Bert asked Adi which time slot they preferred. Considering Bert’s age, Adi thought it best to take the night to dawn shift themselves.

Bert had similar thoughts. While there was also the contact needed to break the curse, daytime activity would problematically overlap with Count Grimaldi’s schedule.

Following Bert’s suggestion to take a nap for the dawn shift, Adi rested, then woke later, washed, changed clothes, and headed to the Duke’s bedroom.

After knocking and entering, they found Billy helping the Duke change clothes. Dimitri stood beside them. The attendant not only served the Duke but also acted as an advisor, and it seemed Dimitri was taking on this role as Gavin had done before.

“Then do you plan to agree to that part?”

“I don’t know yet. But if the trade structure changes, we’ll need to respond. We don’t know if this will work positively or not. Everyone will move to strengthen their territory’s competitiveness.”

“The northern nobles will like it since they border Türingen. Those with ports will feel the same. It’s not bad for us either with our southern port, but inland territory nobles and the royal family won’t like it. One thing’s certain – His Majesty won’t agree now.”

“Right. But we can’t be sure how Claude will move. He wants people loyal to him. While not immediately, he might suggest they join hands, promising to ease this once he becomes king.”

Dimitri handed him a letter.

“This came from McCauliffe. They say we need to systematize the stockpiling, expansion, and management of not just gold and jewels but rare metals like mana stones. The Northern Continent seems to be starting management of this, and they argue we need to follow quickly. They say they’ll submit a proposal to this parliament.”

“Leave it here. I’ll look at it tonight.”

Dimitri placed the letter on the bedside table.

“That’s enough for now. I should sleep before handling the rest.”

Saying this, Yuls approached the bed. He had already changed clothes.

“You may go.”

Dimitri and Billy bowed and headed out. While Dimitri had seemed wary of Adi at such times in the Woodpecker mansion, today’s gaze was warm. Not just today – recently, Dimitri had been kind to Adi. It was incomprehensible.

As Adi’s gaze followed the departing attendants, Yuls called out, “Adi.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Adi said, straightening their posture. Yuls raised his hand. Faced with that expression that seemed not just noble but somewhat prim, as if saying to get on with their duty, Adi felt slightly puzzled.

Was it freshness? Or what? Anyway, their feelings toward the Duke weren’t bad. It seemed somewhat pleasant.

Adi approached the bed and took the Duke’s hand. Seeing that large hand extended like some princess’s, they almost wanted to laugh. Actually, they weren’t sure. Whatever it was, this feeling leaned toward the good side.

Adi bent at the waist and raised the Duke’s hand. Their lips touched his knuckles with a soft brush.

“There’s an old story about a knight who rescued a princess captured by a dragon.”

Yuls said. Laughter colored his voice.

“They say the knight kissed her hand as a sign of respect and loyalty.”

Adi doesn’t know such old stories. Though they’d heard talk of such stories being told to children, neither Adrian nor Adrina had ever experienced such things.

“You’re like that knight.”

“…Your Grace is as fair as any princess.”

Laughter burst out suddenly. Though he hadn’t meant to hear such words, they didn’t sound bad. Yuls applied pressure to the captured hand. Though not painful, it was enough to feel some compression. Adi didn’t question it.

“Yes. Make me your princess.”

They nodded.

“You’ll have to treat me well, Sir.”

“…I’ll try my best.”

At Adi’s response, Yuls laughed again. They seemed to speak without properly understanding the meaning. But that was fine. For now at least.

Whatever happened, for the moment, Adrina wouldn’t leave him.