Roy Gagliardo also heard rumors about Adi Grimaldi. Like, he has a pretty face, but he beats up everyone. He also heard that he was transferred to the Second Order of Knighthood because of some prank. But why wasn’t the guy who did the mischief thrown out, but rather sent to the Second Order of Knighthood?
Even though they only look at his face and skills, this guy seems like a real son of a bitch.
- Roy.
- What?
“If you don’t want to beg on your knees, you can crawl between my legs.”
- And if I do this, will you change?
- No.
—…….
Then why offer it at all? Roy, speechless, looked down at Adi. He looks much more feminine and weak than he expected. It’s completely unclear where this nickname “Dog” came from, but remembering the rumors about how he crushed someone’s testicles, for some reason I want to stay away from him.
- Well, to be honest, I would have thought about it.
- What does “honestly” mean?
“It's not like you wanted Woodpecker just to have a good master.”
- ...What does it mean?
- Literally.
Who knows. Perhaps someone, just like himself, ordered him to get close to Duke Woodpecker.
“But if you think about it, even if someone ordered him to do this, Adi didn’t care about it. Or did it happen? Adi also benefited from being close to Duke Woodpecker. At least for now.
It seemed that if we stayed here the conversation would drag on. Adi looked Roy up and down. When her gaze dropped to the lower part of his body, she felt that he shuddered, but she could not understand the reason.
— Мне пора возвращаться в резиденцию Его Превосходительства.
Roy opened his mouth and then closed it. It looked like he wanted to say something.
“If you’re not going to sleep in my room, why don’t you come too?”
Instead of answering, Roy looked away. The room, where only one candle was burning, was pitch dark. And then a frame with a small portrait came into his field of vision.
- Is this your brother?
Adi’s gaze also moved there. It was a portrait of Adrian and herself. You could tell who was who by the length of the hair. Those long hairs must have already decayed in Adrian's grave.
- Cute.
-......
“They say he died from a curse.”
Adi looked at Roy.
- They say you were cursed too?
Having said this, Roy patted Adi on the shoulder and headed towards the door.
“If the damned stick together, everything will definitely go as it should.”
The sound of a door opening and closing was heard. Judging by these words, he had no particular sympathy for the Duke of Woodpecker. However, in modern times, loyalty to the master is rare. Knights go where they pay more and have better conditions.
— Roy Gagliardo.
“Maybe we should find out about him?” - thought Adi. But he didn't know who to ask. Maybe tomorrow evening we'll stop by the Third Order of Chivalry for a little while? It is unlikely that he will be welcome there. Be that as it may, now it was time to return to the residence.
On the way to the Inner Palace, the identity check had already been completed. The night guard was strengthened compared to the day: not only knightly status was checked, but also the certificate of appointment. Having lost more time than planned, Adi quickened his pace. Noticing the residence ahead, he slowed down, catching his breath.
The knight's dormitory in the duke's residence was located directly opposite the duke's chambers, which was convenient for security. There were four rooms in total. Bert occupied one, and Adi used the other for sleeping. Neither Adi nor Bert kept many things here.
Come to think of it, guarding him with two people around the clock might not be easy. Why didn't the Duke take more knights with him? And why didn’t he himself ask for reinforcements?
Adi immediately cut off any questions that arose. They don't make sense.
Bert's presence was not felt. Not only did he choose the farthest room, but at night Bert probably went on guard himself. Adie wondered whether she should ask Bert about this - after all, asking the Duke was too difficult - but soon her eyelids closed and she fell asleep.
* * *My mother tried to kill me as soon as I was born.
She turned the baby, who could not yet turn on his own, face down. The nurse, discovering this, barely had time to save the child, but the mother snatched me from her hands and threw me to the floor. Unfortunately or fortunately, there was not a trace left on the body, and everything was fine with the head too.
Countess Grimaldi, who was sobbing that one of the twins was better off dead, was stopped only by the Count. Did the father know? Did he know that Adi could die early? Is that why he left me as a backup option?
Or did he think it was worth killing me even then?
There's no way to know. You can't understand how they felt.
All that Adrina remembers is people sobbing on the fresh black soil in front of Adrian’s grave, while there was still a wooden cross instead of a tombstone, and the Count’s face, which seemed completely impassive. And the way the Count looked at Adrina, whose face also expressed nothing.
- Watched.
What was he thinking about? That man.
It’s strange, but this image comes to mind. Snow-covered fields outside the carriage window and Adrian's grave with exposed soil.
The Countess, sobbing and screaming, why didn’t you die instead of him. And Adrian’s bluish hand, visible among the clods of dirt.
- A.
It's a nightmare.
On the days when I had this dream, something bad always happened.
Opening his eyes, Adi roughly combed his hair back. Checking the clock on his bedside table, he realized it was almost morning. He woke up so late that he only had time to wash himself before leaving. Sounds of movement could be heard from all directions.
Adi quickly stood up and collected himself. It's time to replace Bert.
When he knocked on the living room, the door opened. It was Bert. Looking at his slightly tired face, Adi asked: “Were there any problems during the night?” To which Bert replied, “What could have happened at night?”
- But you, sir, don’t seem to have gotten enough sleep?
— The dream was not pleasant.
Most of the dreams that remained in my memory were about Adrian. He had not dreamed of his mother for a long time. Days like these don't bode well. In those days when he was a member of the Third Order of Knights, he tried, if possible, not to go outside at such moments. But now this is impossible.
- Sir Bert Dean.
“What’s the matter, Sir Adrian Grimaldi?”
— Can I ask one question?
- Which?
“Don’t you think that the time allocation for two people guarding His Serene Highness the Duke all day long is too harsh?”
“You’re just talking about it now.”
—…….
“It’s a burden for both of us, of course.”
- Usually there are two of them too?
- No, there were three. But the escort knight who was supposed to come with us was injured.
—…….
- Do you have anyone in mind whom you can recommend?
- Well, I don’t know.
- If you know anyone, speak up. From the very beginning I asked if there was a worthy knight.
I didn't know he meant it. Besides, I don’t have any close acquaintances here, and if I take someone to accompany me, shouldn’t it be someone from the Second Order of Knights? I just arrived at my destination and did not have time to make connections, and the Second Order of Knighthood does not communicate so closely with the Third Order of Knighthood.
- If there is someone suitable, bring him.
“I don’t know him well yet.”
“Are you going to recommend someone you don’t know?”
“It’s just... I’ve heard reviews about him.”
- What's his name?
- Roy.
- Say your last name too.
Adi hesitated for a moment. What was his last name? Ga, Ga...
- Gallardo.
- Roy Gagliardo?
- Yes, Gallardo.
- Let me check.
Bert said. I wonder if he did the same checks when he himself was appointed to security? Bert shook his head, stretching his neck, and yawned.
“Ah, today’s work will be easy.” It looks like His Excellency is about to take a nap. He's still sleeping, so I just left.
— Take a nap?
- There are reasons for that.
- Understand.
“I see you don’t have much to do either, so maybe you’ll come with me and help?”
- With what exactly?
— We need to check the Gift List.
- List of gifts?
- Yeah. There is something there that His Excellency needs.
- What is this?
- Don't know.
- …Sorry?
- I have no idea. But if His Lordship sees it, he will definitely understand that the thing belongs to him.
“So if someone else looks, he won’t be able to confirm this,” Adi thought. In any case, only the Duke can find out the truth. Maybe it's a gem or something else valuable? Magic tool?
- I understood.
Adi answered. Bert patted her on the shoulder and headed not towards the living rooms, but somewhere in a different direction. Following Bert as he walked along the corridor, Adi entered the living room.
Jules, who she thought would be reading the newspaper as usual, was sleeping on the sofa, lying on his side. Despite the blowing draft, he did not move, only regular snoring could be heard. He looked like a child in need of protection. However, he really looked like a child.
Either a butterfly flew into the window, or it was already here, but, fluttering its wings, it circled near Yuls. As if sensing the scent of flowers, the butterfly landed on Yuls’s cheek, and Adi wondered what to do.
It feels like you're looking at some princess.
Maybe the whole point is that due to his young age there is no masculine rudeness in him at all? Compared to the beast from the Third Order of Knights, thoughts of resemblance to the princess seemed quite natural. Even though he was not a princess, but a duke.
Adi silently approached Yuls. As soon as she carefully raised her hand to catch the butterfly sitting on his cheek, Juls, apparently sensing someone else’s presence, frowned and opened his eyes wide. At the same moment the butterfly fluttered. Adi extended her hand and intercepted the flying insect.
Looking at the hand that flashed before his eyes, Yuls winced. His furrowed eyebrows showed his displeasure. Meanwhile, the distance was very short. He thought the man's eyes were brown, but now they seemed more like scarlet eyes. Color similar to hair color - like a smoldering flame.
However, oddly enough, they felt cold.
-What is this?
Jules opened his mouth.