In the kingdom of Dalcatir there were three damned. But only Jules Woodpecker bore the true curse. At least that's what the witch said.
Yuls wanted to meet the rest of the damned, but the witch said in surprise:
"It's hardly a curse."
This means that Adi Grimaldi has no curse. Her twin sister was simply unlucky - she died too early. Сам Адриан тоже постоянно болел из-за слабого здоровья, но сейчас он выглядит вполне здоровым. If someone really had to die from the curse, it should not be a woman, but a man.
- How have you been all this time?
- As usual.
- So it doesn’t matter. And I’m fine.
Jules was not interested in the witch's affairs.
- Would you like some tea?
- No need.
This is what Jules answered. The witch, as if she knew it, took a sip from her cup. However, she initially did not have an extra cup for him.
- Then you will ask the same thing again?
- Yes.
- Maybe you should just reconcile yourself and live as you are? It's not such a bad curse.
At the witch’s words, Yuls looked at her. The witch, whose appearance remained as youthful as his own, made a blank face.
— In general, people don’t understand a lot about witches. In fact this is...
— Dorothy.
- Okay, okay. About a way to lift the curse, right? Kiss of a prince on a white horse...
— Dorothy.
A prince on a white horse - what nonsense. Even if there are several princes and several white royal horses in this country, he immediately dismisses such things. Besides, the idea that a kiss breaks a curse is pure fiction. She's just teasing him. Like in childhood.
Although her appearance has not changed, this does not mean that she has not matured, but she still remains just as mischievous and playful. ...Maybe witches grow up according to their appearance?
— Three gold coins.
That's what the witch said.
- One.
- Three are needed. The ingredients are expensive.
- You buy them.
— Import duty. Maybe sign a free trade agreement with the Northern Continent? You're the Duke, what's the matter?
- I only deal with the south.
- But you are a duke!
- And you go there to buy it yourself.
-...Yes. If you take into account the road, travel and all the rest of the time, then three coins is even a loss.
- One. Your predictions always come down to one thing - wait.
“Maybe it’s different this time?”
- Otherwise, I'll give you three.
- Agreed.
Having said this, the witch brought a large aquarium from the back room.
- Since the same thing always comes up.
She seemed to understand this herself. In an empty aquarium
The witch smiled at Yuls, who was looking at her eagerly.
- He'll come soon.
- ...So, for one gold coin.
So saying, Yuls took out one gold coin.
- No, you need to give three.
The witch noticed. Her hand had already grabbed the coin. Extending her second hand towards Yuls, the witch said: “You will find out within a week,” and moved her fingers.
- Weeks?
“What you desire, Duke, is already near you.” But it will take about a week for you to realize this.
Yuls took out two more coins and placed them on the table.
“However, it will take much more time to find out the reason and the method.”
The witch continued, picking up the gold ones.
- Congratulations, Your Grace.
Finally he will get what he wants. Just what I was looking for...
“Now you won’t have to come here anymore.” And I will be able to leave Dalcatir without fear.
- This is true?
- You know. I've never lied.
-Where are you going?
- To the Northern Continent.
— Where exactly on the Northern Continent?
- Probably to Ramels.
— Dorothy from Ramels. This name is not very common there, so it will not be difficult to find.
- It may be difficult. After all, I can change my name.
“Isn’t a witch’s name precious?”
- Of course, precious. At least the first name.
It seems that the name he knows is not the witch's real name. It doesn't matter, though. If you believe the witch's words, then the way to lift the curse is somewhere nearby. The witch addressed the rising Yuls:
“In four days I’ll settle everything here and leave, Your Grace.”
Jules looked at her. Four days is too short.
- If anything happens, come before that time.
As if she was sure in advance that something would happen. Confidence or also a kind of curse? They say that the words that come out of a witch's mouth will certainly come true. Therefore, during the witch hunts, people were afraid when witches opened their mouths.
Yuls went outside without answering. The witch, who had been next to him for a long time, understood that silence was also a kind of answer.
Jules Woodpecker came out earlier than expected. Has it been ten minutes since you entered? Adi looked at her watch - twenty minutes had passed.
Having put away her watch, Adi approached the Duke as he came out. There is dust on the hair. Maybe it was dirty inside? Is it possible to dare to touch his head - such a thought flashed through.
- Are things finished, Your Grace?
Juls looked up at Adi. In the sunlight, golden brown hair seemed lighter and shinier. In addition, his clothes were white, and for some reason I remembered the prince on the white horse that the witch had spoken about. Although this was not a prince, but just a knight, and without a white horse.
- Yes, finished.
“Are there any other places to visit, Your Grace?”
- No. We return to the palace.
- It's clear.
Having answered, Adi went to the carriage and opened the door. She wanted to offer her hand to make it easier to enter, but decided that this might anger the Duke, and just stood there. When Juls climbed the steps, Adi called out to him:
- Your Grace.
Jules, standing in the carriage, turned his gaze.
- Allow me for a minute.
Adi extended her hand to Yuls’s head. Standing on the carriage step, he was taller than her.
On red hair, the white dust seemed especially noticeable. Plus there's a cobweb...
Having cleaned everything from her hair, Adi extended her hand and said: “There is dust on you.” Then she immediately shook it off. Yuls, who had silently watched this, entered the carriage.
Adi also followed him and got into the carriage. When the carriage door closed, Adi asked the coachman through the window to go back to the palace. Jules Woodpecker's gaze fell on her.
Despite the intense glare, Adi did not ask what was the matter. Juls didn’t ask Adi anything either.
* * *Juls went to change clothes along with the servants who had arrived for the Duke. Adi did not need to go so far into the interior - she was standing in the reception room, the farthest room of this residence. Bert came out of the door behind which Jules had disappeared.
- How did it go?
-Have you gotten enough sleep yet?
When asked by Adi, Bert yawned and answered in the negative. When he said that he was going out on another matter, Adi told him to rest some more. Now it was her turn to be the guard anyway.
- So how was the walk?
- Nothing special happened.
“I already know that nothing happened.”
Bert understood perfectly well that they were visiting ordinary places, and nothing special could happen. However, the expression on Yuls's face when he returned today was not the same as usual. When asked if something had happened, he still remained silent, but something did change.
-What are you asking about then?
It looks like nothing happened between him and Adi Grimaldi.
“You didn’t go there with him, did you?”
- No.
When answered without the slightest hesitation, Bert thought that, apparently, something had happened to that witch. True, there was no guarantee whether Jules would tell him about this.
- Adi.
- Yes.
-...Mmm, it doesn’t matter. See you in the evening.
Having said this, Bert checked the time. He said that he would sleep for another three or four hours, and it would be just right - Adi nodded.
Soon Jules came out from behind the door along with the servants. He glanced briefly at Bert and Adi, then sat down on the sofa in the reception area with a calm face. The servant handed him the documents. Whether this concerned the affairs of his possessions or something else was unclear. Adi did not delve into it, and Bert left the room.
Glancing at Yuls and the servants, Adi moved and stood by the window. Due to her movement, one of the servants came and stood at the door. Laughter could be heard through the open windows. Adi, who constantly served among the knights of the outer palace, did not know that the inner chambers were so beautiful and that laughter did not stop here.
The auditory sensations seemed strange, unreal. Then she felt the gaze. The young Duke looked at her. Adi also looked at him. The Duke was the first to look away. Adi, without looking away, continued to watch the Duke as he worked. And it also seemed unreal.