- What? Any objections?
Jules said. His shameless face truly expressed confidence that there was nothing particularly reprehensible in his words.
“The Grimaldi family would like a knight, of course.”
The gaze, which had slowly slid down, rose again.
“And they are probably glad that the knight is alive.”
Juls looked intently into Adi’s face, and then said: “I think that Adrina Grimaldi would have lived better.” — Adi’s lips trembled. This was the first time she had heard this. Everyone believed that Adrina's death was only for the better.
With what intention, with what thought the Duke uttered these words - she did not know, but the fact that someone said that Adrina would be better off living - this really was the first time. Even Adrian probably didn't think so.
Why does Duke Woodpecker say this?
Adi clenched her fists tightly.
- This is impossible.
- Yes, because she already rests in the arms of the Goddess of Death.
Juls said: “What a pity,” and stepped towards Adi. At first he seemed tall, but now he seemed quite small. Jules raised his hand. Long fingers touched Adi's cheek. The skin was unexpectedly soft, and Jules squinted slightly. Adi, as always, did not move a single muscle on his face.
“It’s really a pity that you’re not Adrina, but Adrian.”
It would be much easier that way.
“With a face like yours, she would certainly be a real beauty.”
And steal it - and make you fall in love with yourself.
* * *Juls fell asleep well after midnight, but was already on his feet at exactly six in the morning. I slept an hour less than usual.
Adi, who always kept watch at night and did not know the schedule of the day's affairs, was not so sociable as to question the servants who came early in the morning for preparations. Juls said that since the servants had already arrived and there was no need to guard him anymore, he should go and go to bed early. This was a given, but due to his usual routine, Adi was not going to go to bed right now.
When Adi returned to the knight's dormitory at the residence, Roy had just left the bathroom. Seeing Adi’s haggard face, he shuddered in surprise.
- Scared me! What kind of thing is this?
Adi looked Roy up and down and said:
- Get dressed first.
I just left the bathhouse - what kind of clothes are there? Besides, it was spring and it wasn’t cold. Roy yawned and, throwing out “What, did you leave early today?”, pushed the door of his room. Adi also stopped at her door.
“They said that something needed to be prepared, so the servants came early.” Apparently it's not too convenient for them to change clothes and stuff while I'm there.
“That means they don’t fully trust you yet.” Are you going to have breakfast?
Roy said that it would take about five minutes to get ready, and Adi stared into space, frowning. Roy grumbled - what can you even think about like that?
-......
To get to the dining room, you need to go along the corridor, and on this way you might run into someone. Roy did not seem to favor Count Grimaldi. Adi thought that something bad would happen if they met by chance, and called out: “Roy.”
- What? What do you think they will give today? Not rabbit meat, I can’t stand it.
- You heard, right? That the Duke invited distinguished guests to the residence this festival season.
Roy's gaze fell on Adi. There was condescension in it.
- Don’t you guess it yourself?
-......
- I know. Grimaldi has arrived.
-You might run into them. They will soon start their day.
- Do you know who my enemies are?
“...I only know that they are the same as His Excellency’s.”
- That's it. So at least it's not Grimaldi. Grimaldi cannot be an opponent. The people who hate you are not in the south - they are in the north. Because there was a massacre there.
"Is he talking about the Witch Hunt?"
“My dislike for Count Grimaldi is purely instinctive; I do not consider him my main enemy.” Otherwise, would I communicate with you like this?
Roy's words sounded surprisingly warm. Although, perhaps it only seemed so. Adi exhaled deeply and said:
- Okay, let's go have breakfast. I'll also change clothes and go out.
* * *During the time she lived with other people, Adi noticed something.
She didn't have any close people in the Third Order of Knights, so she didn't know, but it turns out that the southerners keep a surprisingly small distance between themselves. Touching each other, hugging shoulders - for close friends all this was completely natural.
That's why Roy kept throwing his arm over Adi's shoulder. He said that your height is just right. At first she shrugged off his hand, but now she got used to it and began to calmly offer her shoulder.
- Uh, rabbit meat.
Roy Gagliardo was a typical Southerner. He behaved like a friend, was not shy about anything, spoke bluntly and was extremely picky about food.
- Don’t you feel this gamey taste?
Roy, looking as if he was cringing, turned away from his plate, which was heaped to the brim with rabbit meat, and loaded his own with eggs and bacon. His appearance was fragile and tender, but judging by the way he stuffed meat in the morning, he had a truly heroic stomach. And he will probably still require more.
- Eat vegetables, take vegetables too.
— I took the vegetables.
-...Is a potato a vegetable?
- Vegetable.
-...
Roy looked at him as if he saw a savage in front of him, but then waved his hand. Okay, whatever you want. Since you yourself decided to eat it, who am I to point it out.
Adi, looking at Roy, who was arranging food on a plate by color, as if making a colorful mosaic, thought that with such a carcass - as tall as a mountain - he was surprisingly, impossibly thin. The rating was neither positive nor negative. Adi looked at the plate of green vegetables and shuddered. They definitely didn't have the same taste.
- Soup?
— There’s no soup in the morning.
“Usually the stomach is woken up by soup.”
— The soup makes me sick.
- What's cloudy in vegetable soup?
- If there was cream or milk in it, it would be a different matter, but vegetable... My stomach is churning.
- Cream in the morning... Like a northerner, you have a tinned stomach or something.
Roy shook his head from side to side.
The Residence dining room was full of knights. Roy managed to make acquaintances everywhere, so that every time he passed by someone would reach out to say hello. That's why when you go to lunch with Roy, it all drags on for a long time.
Adi found a free seat, sat down and, cutting the meat with a knife, immediately pricked a piece and put it in her mouth. Looking at this, Roy thought: "Barbarian." Not in war, but in the palace - and eat like this.
“Northerners could use some manners,” Roy shook his head and, feeling someone’s gaze on him nearby, turned around.
Unfamiliar man. Or no, not a stranger? The face seemed to be flashing somewhere. Roy thought for a moment and said, “Ah.”
- What?
— Isn’t this Lef Zid?
Adi turned his head. Lef looked in their direction.
- Do you know him?
- Certainly. I was in Jonad. I saw him at a knight's tournament. He then defeated Illich of the First Order of Knighthood.
Adi didn’t know who Illich was. But since he is mentioned in such a context, it means that the enemy was strong. Especially from the First Order of Knighthood.
- So he went to Grimaldi. Although yes, their family belongs to the possessions of the count family.
It’s understandable, but it’s still a strange choice—that’s what Roy thought. If he were Lef Zid, he would have gone somewhere else. Grimaldi, come on. The food there is probably disgusting.
- How is his skill?
- Good. The best in the domain.
Adi answered, thought for a moment and spoke again.
— According to my recollections, yes. If during this time no one new has shown up, he is still the best.
- Yes? And compared to me?
“As if I know what you’re capable of.”
Adi said this out loud. Unfortunately, she never had the chance to actually see Roy in action. Judging by his usual slack appearance, it seemed that he did not shine with skill, but since he was a member of the Second Order of Knights, it means that he was at least quite good.
- Coming here.
Crap. Come on. If I hadn’t looked in his direction, maybe I wouldn’t have approached. Adi pretended not to notice anything and tore a piece of meat off the knife with her teeth. It looked even more barbaric than usual, and Roy winced.
Lef Zid stopped next to their table.
- Adrian.
The look from top to bottom is disgusting beyond belief.
- Lef.
Adi barely had time to name him when Lef spoke.
- I heard you worked at night.
The words sounded significant. Especially considering what happened yesterday, it involuntarily pricked me: what if Lef saw that scene? Everything around became quieter. You could feel people's eyes turning in their direction. Rumors were already circulating - and now even more so.
“I was just standing guard.”
-Who’s next to you?
— Roy Gagliardo.
— Sir Roy Gallardo. I am Lef Zid.
- I know, Sir Lef Zid. We met once in Jonada.
-...Is that so?
- Yes, at the knightly tournament between Jonad and Palesa. I'm a member of the Second Order of Knights, so I watched while I was on guard duty. You won then, right?
Roy stood up and extended his hand. Despite the friendly gesture, Lef's gaze was fixed only on Adi. Roy awkwardly removed his hand hanging in the air and continued:
“If you have time, would you like to fight me sometime?” You haven't been to the training ground in Pales yet, have you?
Adi chewed the meat and watched their conversation. Lef, who had previously been looking down on Adi, turned to Roy.
- I don’t know if the time will coincide.
- What's wrong with that? I finish at four o'clock in the afternoon, what about you?
- Adrian.
— Adi takes over from zero hours.
-You call her by a pet name.
- Adrian - this is long. Everyone here calls her Adi.
“……In the Domain everyone calls her Adrian.”
Well, yes, because the name Adi belongs to Adrian.
- So what?
Roy asked:
- Whether I call Adrian Adi or not, as she is called in the Domains, what difference does it make to you?
Roy then added, “Really, Adi?” and Adi, grinning, replied, “Yes.” Lef glared at Adi. As if asking how dare she let him use that name.
“No matter what I call her, Lef shouldn’t care.”
- Adrian.
- I lost my appetite.
Adi stood up after saying this. The plate was already empty. Roy wanted to say that he ate everything, but you said he had no appetite, but he remembered that this guy usually eats at least two servings, and remained silent. Adi headed towards the exit, but Lef blocked her path.
- Adrian.
- Lef.
Adi gently pushed Lef and said:
- Not yours yet.
-...
“What is this even about?” Roy could not understand what was behind the words that slipped between them, but decided that it was not worth staying here any longer. First of all, the glances constantly turned in their direction were also uncomfortable.
“Then I’ll go too, Sir Lef Zid.” We live in the same Residence anyway—we’ll see each other.
Roy said this and unceremoniously grabbed Lef's hand, shaking it. Then he shouted: “Adi, wait!” - and quickly caught up with him. Roy casually threw his hand over Adi’s shoulder and whispered something. Lef looked at his palm, then looked at the two walking away together.