Adi did not know that the residence used by the Duke occupied an entire floor. Just now he was lazy, and he stayed in one room, but the entire floor was at his disposal.
She was told that in the morning the servants would move his things to where he was staying. However, she already took few things with her, and there was nothing to hide.
- So he's a murderer.
- But Adi killed him.
Bert turned to Adi. Perhaps he thinks she killed him on purpose. Even if she says that she did not intend to do this, once the flower of suspicion blooms one day, no words will be heard.
Next to the Duke, a servant was sorting out papers. It was clear how he was pondering what to do with those on which blood had fallen. The Duke sat in his nightgown on a chair near the bed, resting his chin on his hand and swinging his crossed leg.
— His tongue was cut out.
The Duke said it.
“So even if we took him alive, it would be impossible to find out who sent him.”
— We'll have to look for the assassins' guild. Those who cut out tongues... Eastern, perhaps?
“Those who come from the east are expensive and much more skillful. Plus they don't cut out tongues. Cutting off the tongue would give away the killer too clearly. It's most likely some local low-level assassin's guild, so leave the investigation to the right person.
Bert nodded at Julius' words. But suspicions did not disappear. At this moment, Julius's expression became strangely frozen. Bert realized that the Duke's gaze was directed at Adi. When Bert also turned his head, he saw Adrian, who had turned blue. Sweat flowed in streams.
- Adi.
A hoarse, wheezing breath escaped. Due to an unusual strangeness, he called out again: “Adi?”, but Adi could not answer.
- Adrian.
Adi turned his gaze. Both were confused by their unfocused eyes. After a brief movement of his lips, Adi broke the long silence: “...I beg your pardon.”
- Looks like I'm poisoned.
Over time, pain appeared. At first the pain wasn't that bad, so he took it easy. Knowing that poison can spread slowly, and that a person can easily die from something other than poison, he thought that this would not happen to him.
— Can I leave for a while for treatment?
Looking at Adi, who spoke with the face of a man about to collapse, Julius was speechless.
He didn't trust Adrian Grimaldi either, but Adrian seemed to think the same thing. Usually, if there is a wound or something like that, the person asks for permission and leaves, but this one stubbornly endured. Perhaps he thought that such trivial wounds were not paid attention to.
...Or was he raised that way?
- Where exactly?
Jules asked.
- Probably around the ankle.
- Take it off.
-......
- Take off your shoes, I say.
Having said this, Jules rose from his chair. Nodding to the servant, he ordered him to lead Adi to a chair and sit him down. When they took off their shoes, they revealed a swollen leg with skin turning blue in places.
The foot was smaller than he expected. “Munyeol”, I think that’s what they call it? He had heard that firstborns usually have small feet. Perhaps for this reason.
“If you got wounded, you should have said it right away.”
“...I thought it was nothing serious.” It just tingled a little,...well, in general.
It tingled a little, well, in general - and why can’t you explain it clearly? Jules clicked his tongue. Bert seemed to be of the same opinion.
“You shouldn’t take murderers lightly.” These are people who came with their bare hands to take lives. They are ready to kill the target at any cost, even at the cost of their own death.
- I beg your pardon...
- Your Grace, we need Joel.
- Call Joel. I.
At Julius’s words, the servant bowed his head respectfully and quickly left. Adi winced in pain and bit her lips. And at the same time she did not make a single moan or sound.
Strong.
This thought came to mind. Yes, it's Grimaldi. Truly unbending.
Soon, from afar, I heard: “Your Grace!” - and Joel came running. He ran slowly, but squeezed out maximum speed, and now hastily opened the door.
- Your Mightiness! Are you all right?
- Not with me. Adrian was hurt.
- Ah...
For a moment, relief flashed across Joel's face. The appearance of a patient is not a good thing, but at least it was not the Duke.
- Treat it.
Julius nodded towards Adi.
Adi opened her eyes at this voice. The face was familiar. The servant, with whom she had not crossed paths since the first day, the one who explained to her what the Duke did not like and what should not be done, was holding some kind of bottle in his hands.
The servant, whom the Duke named Joel, quickly approached and examined Adi's leg. Somewhere on the bluish skin there should have been a trace of a wound. Carefully examining his leg, Joel discovered a small speck of blood. Noticing this mark, smaller than a dot, he said: “The murderer’s ring.”
Pouring the potion onto this place, Joel said:
- There was poison on it. Apparently he used it as a last resort.
- Yes, that killer is dead.
- Is the poison dangerous?
- No, not that serious. Fortunately, this is not the poison of a real assassin. It looks like it was made from whatever was on hand. The killer must have a ring, from which I can determine the poison and make an antidote.
- How long will it take?
- In the worst case, about four days.
— Just in case, give me an anesthetic and antipyretic. If you need something, don't skimp.
- Understood.
Joel answered, wiped his hands and quickly walked out. Apparently he was going to bring other medicines. Adi still looked wracked with pain. Her lips, which she had bitten to keep from making a sound, turned white.
- Come to your senses, Adrian.
- Adi...
Adi moved her lips, but fell silent again. She seemed to be muttering something, but it was difficult to understand.
- Really, everything’s fine...
Before she could finish speaking, Adi eventually lost consciousness. Julius and Bert, looking at her, looked at each other with the faces of people who did not know what to say.
- Stubborn.
Julius was the first to break the silence.
“It probably hurt, I would say that she wants to rest.”
“If she had rested, she would have been found dead.”
Julius looked at Adi with his eyes closed.
Fragile in appearance. No matter how you look at it, she doesn't look like a knight. But his instincts are sharper than he thought, and his skill is quite good. How did she even realize there was a killer there?
— Any suspicions?
“...It is impossible to completely dispel suspicions, but it is unlikely that he would risk his own life.”
That's what Bert said. Even if Adi deliberately let the poison take effect, he would immediately report it. I wouldn't tolerate it so stupidly. No matter how weak the poison is, there is no telling how the situation might turn out. And if a person has lost consciousness...
Joel entered the room with a first aid kit. It was full of potions obtained from the temple and potions made by magicians. However, it was impossible to use the best means for a simple bodyguard.
Joel poured what he thought was a suitable potion into Adi’s mouth. Then he examined the wound on his leg, and Bert asked: “Will the treatment be difficult?”
The leg, which had turned blue, looked really serious.
- Not difficult, but he will have to suffer for several days. Consciousness will also be clouded.
“That means I’ll have to be on duty with Gallardo for a while.”
There had just become three, but they returned to two again. With age, one begins to lack strength. And it is still unknown when Adi will recover.
— You won’t have to cut off your leg, will you? Otherwise, I’ll be ashamed to look Count Grimaldi in the eye.
- No, it won’t come to that. The poison is not the kind that causes flesh to rot. If that were the case, he wouldn't be able to walk normally at all.
“Is there a poison that rots flesh?”
“On the southern continent you can get it, but only through secret ways.” And if he has good immunity, he will recover quickly.
- Fine.
Bert said. Juls looked down at Adi.
The beautiful face turned pale to blue. Although not to the state of a corpse, it was almost equal to it. Suddenly he remembered Adriana Grimaldi's twin sister, whom he had never seen. Did she really look like this?
Jules looked out the window. Outside, where recently there had been noise, silence reigned. The nobles finished their nightly entertainment and went to bed, and the knights will soon begin their day.
- Maybe I should stand guard?
Bert said. Jules replied: “No need.”
- Go and rest, too. I'll finish some things and when Roy wakes up, then I'll go to bed.
- Understood.
- Gavin. Check to see if that passage is securely blocked. And tell Roy to examine him properly.
- I can do it.
- For you, this is not the kind of work to be assigned. If Roy does come with us, he'll be new, so consider it a bit of an initiation.
Burt thought that upon returning to Woodpecker, Roy's initiation would be much harsher, but that was Roy's business. Agreeing, Bert then looked at Adi. His face seemed to ask: what are you going to do with this guy, pale beyond belief?
- Gavin, Adi Grimaldi...
Jules thought about it. Leave him in the guest quarters - it will be impossible to track whether he is alive or dead. It was also impossible to entrust the servant Joel with guarding Adi. The status needs to be easy to monitor. And so that the Grimaldi family does not find out that their offspring is in this form.
— Place it in the room nearby.
Jules pointed to a small side room near the bedroom.