The Duke still did not find what he was looking for. Adi had to sort through the documents with the Duke for four whole days. Wondering if the same thing would happen again today, Adi had breakfast with Bert, who had just returned from an early morning guard change.
— Is it in the afternoon?
- Yes. I have some things to do, so I'd appreciate it if you could change your time with me.
He doesn't seem to trust me. It's hard to be on duty at night. If it was Bert, the most senior in rank, he could choose any time convenient for him. Maybe he chose who he trusts more - me or Roy?
- Yes, I understand.
- Aren't you going to ask why?
- Will you say?
- If you ask.
“If this is what I need to know, please tell me.”
- This is not necessary.
- From today?
- Yes.
- I obey.
And the truth is - no questions, nothing. Although this was even more convenient than if he had started asking questions, it was still unclear what was on his mind.
- How's work?
- Fine.
— Did anything special happen? After Roy arrived, did you have any more free time?
-......
When Adi remained silent, Bert responded. Do they really not get along? Or maybe it was revealed that I ordered surveillance? Although this is unlikely to be so easy to detect.
Actually, they don't spend much time together. But since they share a dorm, it will be easy for Roy to notice if Adi Grimaldi is quietly up to something. And Adi will also easily notice Roy’s movements.
— It looks like there is still some problem?
- No, no problem.
Having said this, Adi hesitated for a moment and then continued.
- Talkative, really. Yes, very talkative. Too.
-...Is this a big problem?
- No, we’ll tolerate it.
It sounded like it was hard to bear. Talkative? He didn't know about this. It is unlikely that Roy will speak freely with his boss. If Roy's goal is to get too close, then Bert doesn't need to interfere.
- OK. Eat and rest a little. Take a nap during the day. It will be difficult to work at night.
- Eat.
Having said this, Adi buttered the remaining bread. She eats really well. Slightly envious of the youth's appetite, Bert was the first to rise from his seat.
* * *There was no letter today. By this time it should have already arrived - strange. Maybe, as Roy said, the Count didn’t like her action? Adi sent the letter as usual. A letter with content that will not seem strange to outsiders.
If you go on duty in the evening, you will have to stay up all night, and after training you won’t be able to be on duty normally, so she refused the exercises. Bert was talking with the servants in the lounge of the knight's dormitory. He didn't seem to want to be listened to, so she quickly returned to the room.
Outside the window you can see people having picnics in the sun. The Duke is gone. At this time, he usually received visitors in the reception area or sorted out documents.
“But it’s strange that Bert, unlike the Duke, has gone somewhere.” I saw him come out right after his shift. In the morning he was choosing a horse in the stable, apparently planning to go somewhere.
- I replaced Bert.
- said Roy.
- I know. That's why I'm here drinking tea with you. Drinking tea together as part of the daily routine. What are you, some kind of young lady?
- It's a southern custom. What's so great about having a tea party anyway? Bert and I always drank tea.
Seeing Roy grumbling, “If only you knew how awkward it was with Bert before we became friends,” Adi asked, “Really?”
“Didn’t you feel awkward?”
— When the two of us are on shift, there is no time left for this. We only managed to have breakfast together.
- Night duty. You just need to stay alert, you don’t need to do anything special.
Looking at Roy, who spoke with envy in his voice, Adi said: if you want it that way, you can be on duty yourself. But shifts are not changed according to their wishes. Besides, night duty is tiring, even if you do nothing.
— What will you do after tea?
- I'll just sit in the room.
- Maybe we can go out somewhere for a while? It's boring in the palace.
“If you don’t want to stay up all night, then you need to rest.”
“Then shall we go for a walk tomorrow?”
- Have you gone crazy from the desire to have fun?
“Not to that extent, but you have to enjoy life a little.” Enjoy your life too, buddy. And eat this too.
— Why do southerners so insistently offer food?
And so does Bert, and so does Roy. Even the Duke, when they were working on documents together, would put snacks in front of Adi and ask him to eat.
- Is it true? What you eat is yours. Palesa's food isn't particularly tasty, but it's still better than other places. This is a palace after all.
— Southern food is apparently delicious?
- Compared to this place - certainly.
— Grimaldi's food is not tasty.
“...I didn’t expect anything from her.”
What could be interesting in Grimaldi? If there was anything worth seeing or trying there, Spencer Grimaldi would not have worked his way up from the very bottom of the knightly order.
Either way, Roy thought it best to get Adi outside as often as possible. At the moment it is unknown who is approaching him. Outside the palace, where everything is so closed, people will cling to him more easily. There are only letters here, but you can’t steal them.
Even if Bert is watching Adi during the day, he must also sleep, so he will not be able to fully concentrate on him. When the schedule changes, Roy will be on duty while Adi sleeps, and they will split the rest of the time so it will be easier to keep track of who is coming.
- In short, let's get along.
“Because you are my means of promotion,” Roy thought.
If you can get something out of here and earn the Duke's trust...
— There’s a festival coming up, maybe we should go have some fun?
- Reluctance.
He seems to be one of those people who walks around even less than expected.
* * *After a nap, I warmed up a little and had dinner with Roy. Roy is chatty. The whole dinner was carrying something again. When the May Festival starts, something about the royal family... went in one ear and out the other.
After dinner they returned and Adi was in the lounge playing chess with Roy when Bert came in. Judging by the cloak he was wearing, he was returning from somewhere. Meeting your gaze, he smiled with his eyes, then went into his room, changed his clothes and soon left. Apparently, he headed to the reception room where the Duke was.
- It looks like there really was a departure.
Adi nodded at Roy's next words.
—Your duty starts soon?
Adi checked the time. Almost six hours, even if you reduce travel time to a minimum - more than five hours out. Duke's commission?
- Hey, time is ticking. Won't you go?
- Checkmate.
-......
Roy stared at the chessboard in disbelief. Just now, it seemed like there wasn’t a single breach, but it’s not clear where it came from. Looking at his murdered face in front of the dead king, Adi said: “Your diagonals are weak,” and stood up.
- When did it happen like this?
- From the very beginning. So tomorrow's show is cancelled.
- Wait, is it possible that only one game is at stake? Give me two more.
“I need to get ready for duty.”
Hearing this, Roy raised both his hands. He lost this time, but next time he will definitely take him with him at any cost. While he was wondering whether it would be better to change the competition, Adi entered his room. Roy stared at the door for a moment, then put the chess pieces away.
Adi changed into his dress uniform and took out his sword. Although he looked after him every day, it was still only after one more check before starting work that he could calm down.
After examining the sword, Adi attached it to his belt, hid two daggers on his body, secured a medium-sized sword next to the long one and looked at the framed portrait of Adrian.
To his brother, who will forever remain so wonderful in memory.
- I'm going, Adi.
He seemed so far away lately.
Entering the reception room, Adi saw Bert. Raising his hand lightly, Bert greeted: “Are you there?”
- Yes. Is there anything else you should pay attention to?
- Not really. It will still work until bedtime. When he falls asleep, just turn off the light.
Having said this, he led Adi. At the residence, Adi was only in the reception area and office. In addition, the Duke used several other rooms, but he was never in Adi’s bedroom.
There were several bedrooms in the residence, but which one the Duke used was unknown. According to Roy, the nobility and members of the royal family have different routines, but they do not use the same bedroom all the time, but change them, moving from one to another.
Bert asked the servant.
- Which room would you like to stay in today?
The Duke seemed to be one of those.
- I’ll accompany you. Is Sir Adrian Grimaldi on duty today?
- Yes. It will stay that way for a while.
Bert answered. Adi, who was following the servant, quietly asked Bert:
- Work in bed?
- But of course. Spring is a busy time.
“If we had come in winter, we could have rested more comfortably.”
— Winter in Pales? Yes, I wish I could freeze there.
-...
Adi, who came from Grimaldi, did not consider the winter in Pales to be cold.
Soon the servant, informing him that his lordship would have the use of this bedroom for a while, opened the door. Bert did not move from his place, looking at Adi. Adi walked through the door.