Despite the warm winds that had blown a few days ago, the air suddenly became piercingly cold. The world was so saturated with dampness that the moisture could be felt on the skin, and the sky was covered with a gloomy ash shroud. The rain subsided and then started again. It was typical Dalcatir spring rain.
Today the King arrives in Palesa. Adi doesn't know what he looks like. Most people, and many nobles, never see the King with their own eyes.
— Is he arriving today?
- Yes, I heard he will arrive at sunset.
To know the face of the King means to belong to the highest aristocracy. At the very least, be a noble nobleman from close relatives or have such influence in the world as to receive invitations to the court. The Grimaldis were one of these, but Adrian and Adrina were never invited. This was probably because of that curse.
Servant Billy fussed around Jules, trying his best to preen him. The clothes were prepared in a hurry, but at the same time perfectly tailored to the figure. Billy was full of praise for the cut and style of the product, but no one present understood a word of what he was saying.
Jules, dressed in a snow-white ceremonial robe, a black cravat and a black cape, pulled his hair back as if it was bothering him.
At that moment he met Adi's gaze. Jules smiled, narrowing his eyes. Adi, not understanding his intentions, looked at Yuls with a frozen expression on her face.
Involuntarily I remembered last night. The moment when she showed her despair and felt stupid for believing that he could, if not be her salvation, then at least help her. Juls then looked at the retreating Adi with bewilderment and said: “If you want something, say it right away.”
Of course, Adi didn't say anything. Why did she even think that Duke Woodpecker would help her unconditionally? She did not understand herself: as if under an obsession, she approached him, believing that this was how it should be.
Fortunately, the Duke did not grow any further.
The rain, which seemed to have stopped, began to fall again.
The palace was quiet, but at the same time bustling. The nobles were preparing for the Royal Departure event, and due to their preparations, the Sijons and Xinis were preoccupied with business. The Duke's men also hurriedly scurried back and forth.
Thanks to this, the knights were relatively free. Adi too. Bert and Roy were sitting at the table, and Adi stood nearby.
The two were deep in thought in front of the chess pieces. Adi couldn't understand why they were taking so long. Isn't the next move immediately visible? In any case, looking at this boring scene, Adi turned her gaze to the window.
The grass seems especially thick. Sizhon Ivan is standing outside with one Blue. Adi didn’t know whether it was Sinya from Palesa or Sinya another nobleman, but, noticing Ivan’s confusion, she clung to the window. Seeing this, Bert asked:
- Is there something there?
- Yes, Ivan is there with Sinya.
- Blue? Wow. I didn’t think that Ivan was capable of this.
With these words, Roy stood up, looked out the window and clicked his tongue.
“They’re not in a close relationship, she’s just asking him for something.”
- Why? Who is this?
Bert also stood up and looked out the window. Even from behind you could see how confused Ivan was.
—Lingtu family.
“Their lady was so persistent in her desire to meet His Serene Highness the Duke.”
“I thought she just loved children.”
“Do you really believe that she would have thrown herself at him with such passion if she had considered His Serene Highness the Duke a child?” It's all about what he owns.
Of course, now the situation could have changed somewhat. Seeing the matured Duke, many began to seek meetings with him much more often. Adi didn’t have close friends, so people didn’t bother her, but Roy got it pretty bad. Everyone asked to either set up a date if he was busy, or at least run into them by chance.
And only women? Men did the same. After all, the matured Duke became a much more useful figure in Dalcatir. Even if not completely yet, the Duke has changed and grown, unlike what he was when he first appeared.
- Right. They were attracted not just by the pretty boy, but by the title of Duke itself.
— Among them, of course, there are exceptions.
Hearing Roy's words, Adi said quietly:
- That's why you said you don't like pedophiles?
- What kind of talk is this?
Roy asked. Adi did not answer, continuing to look out the window. Besides Ivan and the ladies-in-waiting, there was one more person looking at her. Lef Zid.
“Ivan doesn’t know how to refuse at all.”
- In a sense, it is. I think he said he only had three younger brothers. In general, he has many brothers, so he is stern with men and easily rebuffs them, but he gives in to women. So sometimes maids are specially sent to Ivan.
“Then shouldn’t we help him?”
“He can’t live like this forever.” You have to handle everything yourself.
Bert said. Adi moved away from the window. Seeing her stand up, Roy asked, “Why?”
“I’m tired of just standing there and looking at the street.”
Adi said. Lef Zid's gaze seemed to beckon her to come over, as he had something to say. If he needed something, he could have just come in himself, but the count's family didn't do that. If something needed to be conveyed, it was done through the duke's servants.
But this time, it seems, the matter was secret. It would be better if he just paid an open visit.
Adi looked at the chessboard on the table. Looking carefully at the pieces frozen in the middle of the game, she asked: “Will you not play chess again?” - and, taking Roy’s queen, moved it.
- It seems to me that it will be better this way.
- A?
- Adi! It is impossible to give advice from the outside!
Those who were stuck to the window quickly moved away. Contrary to thoughts that there was no solution in sight, the next move was now clearly visible. Bert grabbed his head. Adi took Bert's rook and moved it.
“Then Bert will probably defend himself like this.”
- Th-this is... Traitor!
-What other traitor? Just fair play.
In the end it all came down to the same thing. They have a long fight ahead of them. Roy, fingering his figure in his hands, groaned quietly. Bert also looked worried, contemplating his next move. Adi, who had been silently watching both of them for some time, finally spoke:
- I need to go away for a while.
- Now? But you will soon be at your service.
- I won't go far.
It made no sense to say that she was going to meet an acquaintance - they knew her connections in Pales well. It was much more honest to tell it like it is.
“I have business with a man from the Count’s Family.
After all, Lef Zid truly belonged to the Count Family.
- So, are you going to see your father?
- No.
At Adi’s answer, doubt flashed across Bert’s face. However, he did not ask out loud who it was.
- Just one of the family members.
- Okay, go.
Bert said. Roy waved his hand slightly as well. As soon as Adi bowed and walked out the door, the two men, who had previously been silently looking at the chessboard, raised their heads and met their gazes.
— Should I go and follow up? - asked Roy.
- Take a wooden sword with you. It's like you're warming up. There's a duel soon anyway.
- Oh, why do you remind me of the duel that I tried to forget about. I already have plenty of reasons to worry.
- Do you want to cross swords? No matter how outstanding the skill, years of service cannot be beat.
“If I lose to your experience, it will hurt my pride so much that I might lose in a real duel.”
“And with such vulnerability, are you going to get into the Night Watch?”
- It's a shame that you say that.
Roy rose from his seat. Stating that he hated training, he opened the door to his room and shouted, “What about a steel sword instead of a wooden one?” Then Roy, holding a wooden and a steel sword in both hands, waved them in front of Bert, as if asking which was better.
- Look, you'll get hurt.
- Try not to hurt me. You have experience, so you can handle it.
“If the difference in skill was so great, I would do so, but as I get older, it becomes more and more difficult for me to cope with young people.
Bert muttered this, however, when he pointed to the steel sword, Roy put down the wooden one without hesitation.
- It’s not sharpened, right?
“I don’t want to die either.” Take this one.
Roy went into the room to get another sword, while Bert unsheathed the blade. There really was no blade. The sword was not first-class, but it was quite usable. Just right for sparring.
Burt was about to ask where he got such a thing when suddenly the door to the dorm lounge swung open. Without waiting for the knock, he thought that it was Adi who had returned, but a completely different person appeared before him.
- Your Mightiness.
- Where is Adi? - asked Jules.
Bert looked at the Duke with slight surprise: apparently, he had finally escaped from Billy's arms, since he was dressed even more magnificently than usual.
He was beautiful on his own, but in this outfit he looked absolutely gorgeous. Bert knew that, despite his youthful appearance, he must be handsome, but... why is he looking for Adi?
— You were gone for a while, did something happen?
- No, there's just something I have to get today.
With these words, Jules ran his hand through his hair, combing it back. At the sight of the strange smile that touched his lips, Bert frowned.
-Where did you send her?
He had seen something like this before somewhere. That is...
“I didn’t send her anywhere.” She said she had a meeting here.
- Here? But she doesn't have any friends.
That's right... Bert himself once acted in a similar way. Having become a knight of House Woodpecker, he donned ceremonial armor, combed his hair back and came to his then lover, now his wife, to appear before her in all his splendor.
“It looks like it’s someone from the Earl’s Family.”
- Really? They didn't give me anything.
This image was superimposed on the previous one.
“Perhaps they need to meet in secret.”
It can't be, it can't be.
Even if Joel said there was something sticky between the two of them, Burt didn't believe it. While Jules hummed thoughtfully, Roy went outside. Looking at Roy, who greeted him with the Sword in his hands, Yules narrowed his eyes.
- You know where she is, right?
Jules asked. Roy nodded.
- Then let's go together.