Woodpecker King.
She thought it was called that simply because of its vast holdings and the royal blood in its veins. And the fact that the court did not react in any way to this nickname was also explained by blood relationship.
Even without claims to the throne, there was already an endless struggle for titles between the brothers, such was the nature of noble houses. And Adi thought too carelessly. Not all brothers maintained the same kind of good relations with each other as they did with Adrian.
Adi initially did not think that after Adrian’s death the position of head of the Grimaldi house would go to her, and Adrian probably thought the same. He knew that he was in poor health and was unlikely to live long.
“We were both twins who did not meet the requirements of the count. If that disaster had not happened to him, he would have gotten rid of both of us, taken another child and raised him. Probably, I would like someone similar to myself.”
But all these are just assumptions, and in the end only she remained.
Adi began writing down names in a notebook.
“Claude... Last name is Dalcatir, of course. I don’t know the middle names.”
Julius Woodpecker, Spencer Grimaldi. And a king whose face she couldn't even imagine. One way or another, is all this a continuation of the struggle for the throne of the previous generation? Why did Spencer Grimaldi quarrel with the king?
“If there was a chance to get closer to the king... No, the king will not take my side and will not protect me from the count. There is no special use or benefit from me.”
The Crown Prince, even if he is currently on good terms with Spencer Grimaldi, if you compare the usefulness of the two, it is still Spencer.
On the other hand, Woodpecker appears to be at odds with the Grimaldi family. Of course, since he allowed her to remain in the residence, he does not consider her an enemy, but of the three, it is Woodpecker who will need her the most.
Because of this Curse.
Yes, it doesn’t matter whether he kisses the back of your hand or your lips. The main thing is that, having become close in this way, she can find shelter at least for a while.
Adi straightened her curly hair.
It is better not to cut your hair, but to tie it up. If you suddenly have to run away, it would be better to leave in a female form, rather than in a male one. It is unlikely that anyone will think that this is the same person.
Female form.
No matter how you look at it, it doesn't suit her at all.
“First you need to win over the Duke.”
It's easy to win the Duke's favor. Remove the Curse. But she still didn’t think that the Curse was lifted precisely because of her. However, if the Duke thinks so, it can be used. Adi circled Duke's name.
* * *— Came early.
Adi bowed her head in bow. Next to Jules, whom she met in the gallery, were the servant and Bert. The servant opened the door to one of the rooms along the corridor. It looked like the Duke was just about to change his clothes. The previous clothes that they had brought with them had apparently been sent back to the estate - now only noticeably larger items hung here.
As the Duke undid the buttons, a servant stepped up to the side to help. With a habitual movement, he handed over his clothes while the Duke changed into his night clothes, and muscles clearly appeared on his body. How, with such a life - sitting in place all day long, without training - he manages to maintain such a form, Adi was absolutely incomprehensible.
- Go to the bedroom, Adi. Wait there.
Now such words of the Duke no longer evoked any thoughts in anyone. Adi didn’t pay any attention either. Having reached the bedroom and standing by the window, she began to think: the Duke was staying longer than expected. Most likely, by sending her ahead, he carried on a conversation that she was not supposed to hear.
You need to enter their circle.
Earn trust - but in such a way that no one suspects intent.
Roy has a legitimate reason to be there for them, but Adi has none of that. Perhaps the suspicion is that she is a spy, but that is completely different.
The only thing that was encouraging was that for some reason the Duke needed her now. But if the curse cannot be lifted, will he continue to keep her near him? Adi couldn't be sure. Is she really the key to breaking the curse?
The Duke said that he had been looking for this place for thirteen years to get rid of the curse. What he wants is a person who can break the curse, not someone who just has the ability. How long will he keep her around?
Most likely...
- Adrian.
If she turns out not to be the key to breaking the curse, the Duke will not hesitate to get rid of her.
- Yes, Your Grace.
- Come here.
Adi came closer. The Duke, much taller than her and with a youthful face, did not look at all his twenty-six.
- Do your duties.
Adi's duty was to protect the Duke, but he seemed to consider it her duty to kiss his hand.
The Count, who will take advantage of her and throw Lefa like prey, and the Duke, who forces her to kiss his hand every night.
For Adi, both were the same, but at least one of them could be bargained with. Raising his hand and pressing her lips, Adi peered into the Duke’s face. The expression was sour. There were no changes in him. Both Adi and Julius knew this very well.
- Tomorrow at least the stubble will grow back.
“Your Highness, this look suits you best.”
- Uncharacteristic flattery for you.
-...
It wasn't flattery. Today Adi had something completely different in mind. She had no idea why that sounded like flattery to him.
- Quickly lift the curse, Adi.
- This is...
- You're right.
Jules said this decisively.
“That’s why I keep you close, despite the empty rumors.”
Wasn't it the Duke himself who started these rumors? And it was Adi who suffered the inconvenience because of them. However, the rumors themselves probably did not bother him. If Spencer Grimaldi hadn't come here.
But while Spencer was here, these rumors could be taken completely differently. And not only Spencer - but also Lef Zied.
Juls pulled away from Adi. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he began to stretch his neck, turning it from side to side, but, feeling someone’s gaze, he raised his head. Maybe it was because of the darkness, but Adi Grimaldi’s eyes shone especially brightly. Light brown, they sometimes seemed yellow. He doesn't look like a count at all.
Adi approached Yuls. Juls looked up at Adi in surprise. When they first met, this look seemed tall to him, but now he thought that the figure was quite graceful. Adi put his knee between the legs of the sitting Yuls and said:
- Your Grace, please forgive the liberty.
The distance has decreased. The hand quickly darted out and grabbed Yuls’s face. If there had been a dagger in that hand, the throat would have been cut at that very moment. Juls hesitated whether to push Adi’s hand away, but the approaching face made him freeze. Adi's lips touched his forehead and pulled away.
-...
What it was is unclear. Out of the blue, receive an uninvited kiss from a man who is younger and smaller. When he himself did this, he didn’t think twice about it, but when someone else approached, the feeling was strangely unusual.
“I’ll try to change the location just in case.” Perhaps each location rents one at a time.
Does this mean that only now there is a desire to lift the Curse? The fact that Adi Grimaldi has become more active is a good sign. But it was too sudden. I resisted so much - and suddenly I found some kind of whim.
If the change had happened at some other moment, it would have been all right, but the fact that it happened precisely after the Count’s arrival could not but arouse suspicion. However, if you give away these thoughts, he will run away again.
- Lips didn't work.
“Perhaps this is the last step.”
“So you’ll get to the point where you’ll start kissing my feet.”
- If there is an order.
- Sir knight is not a slave.
Only slaves kiss their master's feet. Someone, perhaps, prefers to crush others and crush others under themselves, but Julius does not. If certain people found out about this, territorial wars that seemed to have subsided long ago could flare up again.
Julius climbed onto the bed and said:
- Have you already heard? Claude will invite me and the Count soon. And you will accompany. Lef Zid will arrive from the Count's side as security.
He stole a glance at Adi, but nothing changed on her face.
“I have prepared the clothes you will wear then.” You'll pick it up tomorrow morning. Joel will give it back.
- Yes, I understand.
He doesn't even ask questions. Although he knows very well that the current knightly uniform would be quite enough. I wonder what reaction Adi will show when he receives those clothes tomorrow. Or will there be no reaction? Adi Grimaldi sometimes seemed completely devoid of emotion.
- Adrian.
- Yes, Your Grace.
- If the curse is lifted, I will fulfill one of your wishes - any, without any reservations.
For a moment, Adi’s face trembled. “So there are still emotions,” thought Jules.
-...Even if it’s not thanks to me that it’s removed?
-You lack faith in yourself.
It's not a flaw - she simply cut off uncertainty. If a curse is lifted by a kiss from a loved one, then why on earth would anyone suddenly talk about her? This means that the Duke's destined fate is her dead twin brother...
Wait a minute.
“I need to quickly grow up to my real age.”
Adi looked at the Duke. Even though she lived, borrowing Adrian’s name and position, she never forgot who she really was until the end. Which means the Duke's Destined Fate...
- Then I can.
“It can’t be like that.”
“Then I can remain Duke.”
The words sounded as if he was making an oath to himself. An inappropriate weariness appeared on his young, almost boyish face.
“This man probably also has his own story,” Adi thought. However, this does not mean that she will refuse to use the Duke for her own purposes or will begin to feel sorry for him.
Adi chuckled to herself. As much as she hates it, it seems she still has Grimaldi blood running through her veins. How is she different from Spencer?