The day was no different from yesterday. Adi slept until evening, washed her face and had dinner with Roy. Quite the opposite - I slept too long, my body went numb. It was unusual to live in reverse: day and night switched places.
Duke Jules Woodpecker was sorting out the documents today too. Looks like he was going to work late again and then go to bed. Today there was an inkwell on the tray, so there was no danger.
Adi stood by the window. This was the most suitable place for security. You can prevent intrusion from the outside and still be able to see the door - whoever is entering will also be noticeable.
In contrast to the sounds coming from outside, this room was completely silent. Nothing could be heard except the rustling of pages being turned. Here the Duke was the first to speak.
- How do you live here?
Adi looked at the Duke. Behind him hung a huge painting. Scenery. Usually aristocrats do not keep landscapes. They prefer symbolic images, pedigrees, or embellished self-centered portraits that emphasize their superiority.
But among wealthy merchants such landscapes were in fashion. Usually they followed the fashion of aristocrats, but this time everything turned out unusual - the landscapes attracted the attention of the nobility.
In other words, it was a new painting, hung to suit the latest fashion.
While Adi silently looked at the picture, the Duke, apparently deciding that she was looking at him, asked again: “So what is the answer?”
- If we are talking about life in the Palesa palace, then nothing special. The nights in the Outer Palace are quieter than here, that's all.
— First time in the Inner Palace?
- Yes. Usually, if it is not the First or Second Order of Knighthood, almost no one gets into the Inner Palace.
- You were from the Third Order of Knights. Why? Both your appearance and skills seem to be quite good.
- Because I was not a page from Palesa.
- So, because you are a stranger. Who granted you a knighthood?
—His Highness, Crown Prince.
Jules fell silent at Adi’s words. This should have been recorded in the investigation materials, but he did not read into the details. No matter who bestows the title, in the end, the true overlord is the one you serve last.
If these were the old days when there was a code of chivalry, maybe, but now most people don't pay attention to it. Of course, there are those who convert. Especially in a case like Grimaldi.
Spencer Grimaldi swore allegiance to the prince who gave him the title, and eventually installed him on the throne.
The child of such a person is Adi Grimaldi.
“...Have you met the crown prince?”
- Never met.
Jules' face, as if asking how he got the title then, Adi continued.
— The sword and knighthood were brought by Count Grimaldi. At that time I was in poor health. So it's a kind of deception... caring.
Jules opened his mouth. Although he recovered, he clearly said “cheating.” Whatever the circumstances, knights feel respect and gratitude to those who bestowed them with the title. It is good if the status of the giver is high, but even if not, loyalty is due to the fact that they are the ones who first recognized them.
But now the words of Adi Grimaldi...
- Is it possible to say that?
- Everyone already knows this. There is no hiding the fact that the title was received in this way.
“Aren’t you ashamed as a knight?”
He didn't mean to ask such a question. But the words came out of their own accord, and Jules thought he had made a mistake. Adi looked at Yuls for a while, and then opened his mouth: “I have.”
- There is no knightly pride.
-......
- I just do what I'm told.
- You speak as if you are a puppet.
“It’s not that different.”
-......
How to treat him, this person? For the first time in his life, Jules experienced the feeling of meeting a creature that was impossible to decipher. A knight who has no knightly pride, who is related by blood to the one who was his main enemy, and yet is a completely pleasant guy.
- How about staying with me?
Maybe try to lure him away? According to Roy Gagliardo, relations with the family did not seem good. Although in their letters they seemed to dote on each other. Especially the Countess.
“Thanks to your care, I have settled down perfectly.”
“……I don’t remember showing any concern for you.”
- I feel good here.
- Clear.
It looked like he didn't quite understand the words. They offer him to stay with him, and he shares his impressions of his stay so far. He doesn’t seem like someone who will be easily persuaded, and it’s really dangerous to keep him around. If he had not been Grimaldi, Jules would have preferred such people. However, there is a lot of time - maybe it’s worth watching longer.
Jules lowered his head. Then, flipping through the documents, he spoke again.
— I hope for good work next year.
- What?
- I like you. Unlike the others, you respond well to my demands.
What did the Duke demand? It seems like a lot. If you go through it point by point, it might seem picky, but if you just follow the basics, there was nothing particularly complicated.
- And you don’t smell.
-......
As for that smell…….
First of all, if we talk about the smell of knights, Adi had nothing to object to. Those who exercise and sweat every day can't help but smell.
But bodyguards are another matter. Since they guard the nobility, they monitor their condition. Some even wore makeup or sprayed perfume. It was more of an aroma than a smell.
When Adi remained silent, without uttering a word, Juls raised his head again. Looking at Adi for a while, Juls said:
- You seem to have something to say.
- No.
- Tell.
-......
Judging by the fact that he insisted, even when Adi said that he had nothing to add, he would not be a good owner. Adi thought for a while and spoke:
— I heard that you come here every year.
“Is there anything unusual about nobles visiting Palesa’s palace?” The king gave the palace to the nobility. Anyone who wants to relax in Pales can come here at any time.
Yuls's words did not contain a drop of lies. After moving to Ionard, the king opened the Palace of Palesa to the nobility free of charge. Although, if you think about it, even free use in the end remained the same, because all taxes from the nobles somehow flowed to the king.
“It’s obvious that he feels sorry for spending money on maintenance, so he allows the nobility to use the palace.” So this place is full of those who abandoned their lands for the sake of entertainment, or newly minted nobles without their own homes, who wander around the palace.
Having said this, Yuls put the documents on the bed. And then he asked with the air of a man ready to concentrate completely on the conversation:
- I'm one of them too.
But could Woodpecker be called “one of them”? He was not a newly minted nobleman, and among the nobility he was too influential a figure. Duke and nephew of the king. A person who has the right to the throne. One who lived better in his domains than the king himself - how could he be compared with such people?
- Since you have to serve such rakes.
It's a facial expression.
“Isn’t it more convenient to serve the same person?”
He's so hard to understand.
-...
The expressions on the faces that Adi saw were always the same. They all reflected different emotions, but each invariably contained negative feelings towards her. Therefore, Adi easily recognized ill will.
But the Duke's expression was different. She didn't know how to describe him.
It seemed that this feeling awakens some other sensations.
However, she couldn’t even understand what exactly it was.
“If such is your will, your lordship.”
- Let's leave aside what I want - I'm asking your opinion.
- I'm not sure if I can be of any use to your lordship...
Having said this, Adi immediately fell silent.
Refusal? — Yuls thought, but Adi’s hand moved to his belt. Jules flinched from the unexpected movement.
He also practiced fencing, but was not sure that he could defeat a grown man and the knight Adi. However, if he decided to do something, it would not be now, but after waiting for time. Taken by surprise by Adi's actions, Juls put his hand under the pillow.
- There is no sword.
- Your Mightiness.
Adi resolutely walked towards the bed.
- What's happened?
The Duke tried to pretend that nothing had happened. Adi noticed how the Duke put his hand under the pillow. This usually meant he grabbed a weapon. But seeing this, Adi not only did not become wary, but, on the contrary, smiled.
- Forgive my insolence.
With these words, Adi pulled out a dagger. At the same moment, Jules shouted: “Gavin!” - calling the servant who was waiting outside. Adi jumped onto the bed, raising his dagger. At the same moment, the bedroom door swung open.
- Your Mightiness!
- Sir!
Adi's dagger plunged straight into the painting at the head of the bed.
The image of the blue forest spread under his hand. Scarlet blood flowed from the cut.