It is believed that the Kingdom of Dalcatir was founded in spite of a curse.
Some argue that the kingdom was overcome by a curse, but some say it was based on a curse. Usually in such cases - as in Veliper - the curse is passed down through the royal or imperial house, but the curse of the Dalcatir Kingdom does not have one specific victim.
After all, everyone was complicit.
- This Woodpecker again?
A familiar name is heard among those gathered in the courtyard.
- If you look at it this way, maybe the rumors that he is hiding his mistress in the Pales are really true?
- Mistress? With his body? Even the dog running by will laugh.
Woodpecker, woodpecker, woodpecker, woodpecker, woodpecker.
The Duke who owns the lands of the Southern Oak Forest, the Woodpecker King.
Woodpecker arrives.
- What a mistress, he’s looking for a way to lift the curse.
They say that cursed people live in the Kingdom of Dalcatir. The most famous case is the Grimaldi family, whose curse lasts forever, but sometimes there are those who are cursed for an unknown reason.
“They say that this Woodpecker King rummages through the Witch Street of Palesa like he catches rats.”
Julius Kaspras Woodpecker was one of these.
The building of the Second Knightly Order was located at the second ring of walls south of the Pales Palace. Apart from the outer guardhouse, this was the closest place to the outside world—and unfamiliar to Adi.
It is not easy to get there, and unlike the northern chambers of the Third Order of Knighthood, this place was incredibly luxurious. Apparently, because the royal family and high nobility often visited here.
Adi walked, checking the address written in the knight's notebook. The address was simple: floor such and such, room such and such. Climbing the stairs and turning the corner, Adi looked down the long gallery. There was not a soul in the corridor.
Since the Second Order of Knights' main responsibility was to guard the royals arriving in Palesa, there wasn't much to do there without guests, so he had heard.
Adi walked, looking at the door numbers, and stopped.
Office of the commander of the order. Glancing at the slightly open door, Adi knocked and pushed it. At the same moment, a dagger flew out from the depths of the room and pierced the wooden door. Moving his head slightly, Adi dodged the blade, turned his gaze to several cut strands of hair, and then caught the second flying dagger.
— It is impolite to enter without an invitation.
— The door was ajar.
Adi answered. However, if they select him in the face, he is really good-looking. Among the knights there were those who grew beards, and those who considered the acrid smell of sweat and untidiness a manifestation of masculinity and neglected themselves, but the man in front of him was neat and even smelled of perfume.
However, here it is.
- Adrian Grimaldi, was assigned to the First Squad.
Among them, he will not look feminine.
— Peter Guerin. Operations Manager of the First Squad. The commander is away now, so I will greet him instead.
- Got it, Your Grace.
Peter looked at Adi as he saluted for a while, then stood up and said:
“Three days after lunch, Duke Woodpecker will arrive at Palesa Palace. From that moment on, you will take care of his protection. Tomorrow evening the Duke's servant will come and look for you. From then on you will live in the Duke's residence. Have you already moved to a new place?
- Not yet.
- Go to the official, get the address and keys to the house. Move in today.
- That's right, I understand.
“You probably know, but we work separately, so there is no need to establish comradely ties within the order.” We don’t particularly welcome you, but we don’t reject you either. You can handle it. Just be careful - if you enter without an invitation, your head will be blown off.
Adi nodded. Seeing this, the operational manager waved his hand, signaling to leave.
Adi saluted and left.
* * *Duke Julius Kaspras Woodpecker.
This man, who had just turned twenty-six, was the king's nephew and fourth in line to the throne. Adi heard that in his lands and in his cities they call him the Woodpecker King.
Moreover, the fact that the royal family did not punish the use of the title "king" led fans to gossip about whether the monarch was about to pass the throne to him.
Duke Woodpecker spent a quarter of the year in Pales, and remained in the capital of Jonad only two weeks: three days during the tax period and the winter social season.
Why Duke Woodpecker lived not in the capital of Jonada, but in the old capital of Pales, no one knew. And in general, high-ranking nobles, even if they had intentions, did not explain them to their subordinates.
Adi looked around his room. Things, crumpled and stuffed into one bag, plopped onto the floor. Compared to the knight barracks in the northern palace, it looked quite luxurious. And the shape of the windows, and their size, and the clean walls, and the cabinet with carvings - everything was different.
Adi lowered his swords.
Just like in the previous room: two under the bed, one next to the bed. And the first thing he did was take out a frame with a portrait from the bag. The face of Adrian, smiling slightly, could be seen on it. And his own, frozen in contrast to him.
Adi looked at the portrait for a while, then turned it over and took paper and a pen from the bag.
It was necessary to report to Spencer Grimaldi about the changes.
Having habitually written “My Lord Count,” Adi wondered what to write next. In any case, the wisest thing to do was simply state the facts.
* * * There was a knock on the door. Adi walked to the door without hesitation.
When there was no answer from inside, the servant reached out to knock again, but Adi had already opened the door, and his hand hit his chest. The man, whose fist was pressed to his hard chest, looked up at Adi in embarrassment. Adi also looked at the man from top to bottom with a “what do you need” expression.
- What's happened?
- My Lord Adi Grimaldi?
- Yes.
“I am from the Duke of Woodpecker’s house.” Tomorrow afternoon His Grace will arrive through the Gate of Time, and you must come with me to meet the Duke.
“Didn’t they say that he would arrive in the afternoon?”
—His grace's schedule changes frequently.
"Changes often." They must draw up several options in case of a threat of murder or spies and act according to the circumstances.
- Understood.
Adi said:
“And by the way, how long are you going to keep your hand there?”
The man looked where his hand was and slowly removed it. “The chest is hard. Indeed, a knight,” thought the servant, raising his hand to his mouth and clearing his throat.
“Besides, in order to accompany Duke Woodpecker, there are a few things you need to know.”
Adi looked at the servant. Was he about twenty years old? Or maybe less. Usually, respectable and elderly people are preferred as vassals, but since such a young servant was sent, it is not clear whether this is a test, or whether the duke does not pay attention to formalities.
- Adrian Grimaldi, my lord?
- Speak.
- This will be quite a long conversation.
At a polite hint whether he could come in, Adi stepped back, letting him in with a gesture of his hand. The servant entered.
Usually the rooms where knights lived were better than the servants' rooms, but this room was too good. The height of the building and the lighting, the size of the windows and the furniture - everything was special. Perhaps it's because it's a palace.
The servant did not look around stupidly. After all, their job was to manage rooms even better than this one.
Adi offered the servant the only chair and sat down on the edge of the bed. Awkward gesture. Thinking that this could really be a test, Adi asked: “How many people will arrive in total?” For some reason, the servant felt as if he was being interrogated.
- Including me, there are only five. There is only one security knight from the family.
- Four servants and two guards.
- Not bad.
- Yes, and besides, it’s unlikely that you’ll have to travel far. Maybe on Witch Street, but this is a prosperous area. If we need to go somewhere further, we will ask for additional security. If you have someone in mind, you can recommend them. At least a close friend.
-...
Adi had no connections in this place. Friends? More like enemies. However, she knew exactly who had decent skills.
— Do you have any more questions?
- Why does he come to Palesa? - Adi asked.
“I mean, why Palesa and not the capital of Ionad.”
- I can’t say about this.
-Can’t or don’t know?
- I can’t.
- It's clear.
-...Don't ask again?
— I do not repeat questions that they refused to answer.
“An exemplary knight,” thought the servant. Looking at this beautiful face, he wondered where a nickname like “Palesa’s dog” came from.
Adi Grimaldi. That's right, he had a twin sister. Now dead. The servant thought this was really sad. If they had been born not as twins, but simply as brother and sister, there would have been many people wishing to receive her hand.
-What else should I know? - Adi asked.