Adi believes that the Duke needs her. She is well aware of the depth of his despair. But she doesn't know what will happen when this need disappears.
Right now she could pretend to like him. I could make him believe in this illusion. Get him to open up and then maybe dump him if he doesn't get what he wants.
The world will not revolve solely around her interests. Adi is not naive enough to indulge in such dreams. The world is never that forgiving.
And so does Duke Woodpecker.
- You said that you would fulfill one Wish with one Kiss.
- Yes.
— Are there any restrictions?
Hearing Adi’s question, Juls fell silent. He didn't know whether to call it honesty or stupidity.
- After all, you cannot fulfill Desires endlessly, can you?
- That's how it is.
In her place, having noticed such a loophole, he would have remained silent. Most likely, he would even use it. It was a relief to Jules that she was setting her own limits, but it only made him more worried about Adi Grimaldi.
“Then let’s exclude the cheeks, the backs of the hands and the forehead, and let everything be limited to just the lips.” Since I kissed you twice, you will have two Desires.
“You promised to fulfill them even after the curse was lifted.”
He did not miss his own benefits, but at the same time meticulously adhered to the previously agreed conditions.
- Then the total is three.
- What if I kiss you every day?
“...Is this really what you’re planning?”
- You never know for sure.
For Jules there was nothing wrong with this. But won't he look like an overly approachable man?
- If you waste too much on Desires, they will no longer feel like a reward. I will only take into account those moments when I kiss you myself.
“Then, perhaps, the number of Desires can be limited to three.”
- Maybe. But if you want more, try to seduce me at least a little.
-...
- I will willingly forgive you for this.
Juls said so, but Adi didn’t believe it. Adi rose to her feet. She couldn't stay in the Duke's arms forever. The Duke also said nothing to Adi's actions. He simply picked up the cravat that had fallen to the floor, threw it around his neck and tied a knot.
Adi didn't think he could tie it himself. After all, someone else always did it for him. However, everything looked quite natural. Yuls, straightening his clothes, rose from the sofa.
As expected, looking up to someone was better than looking down on them. In this regard, Adi's height was appropriate. If she were too short, it would be difficult to see the expression on her face, but with her height, you only had to bow your head to see everything. The top of the head was also visible, which was quite round and even cute.
Juls raised his hand and ruffled Adi's hair.
Adi, who had not expected such a touch, opened her eyes wide and looked up, causing a quiet chuckle to escape from him. Jules then placed his hand on her shoulder for a moment and removed it. Adi watched silently as he headed towards the door.
Jules turned around.
- Adi.
There seemed to be a stream of bright light streaming from outside where he stood. Perhaps this feeling arose because the bedroom was dark.
- What are you doing? Come out.
Adi bit her lip and then let go.
The feeling was strange.
* * *At the entrance from the Outer Palace of Palesa to the Inner Palace stood many aristocrats. They were waiting for the king to arrive.
Although the king came to Palesa every year, Adi, who served in the Third Order of Knighthood, never saw the king. Since the Third Order of Knights' main task was to guard the Outer Palace, they had no reason to see the aristocrats from the Inner Palace directly. With the king everything was even more complicated. Surely there were plenty of knights who didn’t even see his crew.
It started to rain again.
The royal carriage was not yet in sight. Roy said quietly: “Rides in the Golden Carriage.” Is it really made of gold? Adi didn't believe it.
Looking around, she noticed several familiar faces. Looking around to see where Spencer Grimaldi was, she saw him next to the Crown Prince. Lef was also near them.
Seeing them so close, she thought that in her relationship with the Crown Prince, he might actually have decided to return her to the Grimaldi family. Adi also needed to meet the Crown Prince. But when? When will Spencer move away from this man? If only someone could distract Spencer for a little while...
Juls followed the direction of Adi’s gaze and also shifted his gaze. And, as if sensing someone else’s gaze on them, the Crown Prince and Spencer Grimaldi also looked in this direction. Their gazes crossed.
The Crown Prince grinned. On the contrary, Grimaldi's face froze.
Juls reached out and straightened Adrian's hair. Everyone's attention seemed to be focused on this moment. When Adi looked up at him with a confused look, Juls said:
- Don't look there.
Next to him, Joel whispered quietly:
- I told you so!
“I told you it all looks sticky, there’s definitely something between them.”
Although the voice was quiet, everyone around him heard it. The already strange rumors, strengthened by such words from the servant, made many people think that there really was something to it, and these thoughts crawled like snakes. Fortunately, the hum of voices died down with the appearance of the carriages.
Adi, who had already thought that the real Golden carriage was about to enter, felt slightly disappointed when she saw the Black carriage enter first. However, another one appeared next, and behind him the Golden Carriage actually rolled out. The huge carriage - it is unknown whether it was made of gold or just covered with gold paint - at first glance left no doubt: it was the king’s carriage.
The king has arrived.
Silence reigned all around. Even the sound of raindrops falling on the ground seemed part of this dead silence. Soon the carriage stopped; the knight and the magician approached to open the door. The king left.
Dark golden hair, black formal attire. Similar to what Duke Woodpecker wore, but much more voluminous and rich. The magician erected an invisible dome around the king, protecting him from the rain. It seemed almost miraculous that he alone in this place could violate the laws of nature with impunity. A mocking chuckle was heard nearby. It was Jules.
“He still likes to show off.”
Jules spoke so that everyone present could hear him. However, no one frowned or expressed disapproval of his behavior. Adi looked at Roy and Bert: their faces also remained impassive.
Then Adi turned her gaze to the Crown Prince and Spencer, looked around at the nobles present and, as if understanding everything, slightly raised the corners of her lips.
Everyone here is the Southern nobility.
Those who swore allegiance to Woodpecker.
- His Majesty Kerler II deigned to arrive.
And those who stood near the Crown Prince were royalists - the king’s people, who for his sake were ready to slaughter the nobles to the last. Griraldi also belonged to the royalists.
- Greetings, Your Majesty.
The aristocrats exclaimed this in one voice.
The sight was strange.
* * *The distance from Jonada to Palesa is considerable, so there were no events on the day of the king’s arrival. The king also had to rest. However, the aristocrats were obliged to pay respects to the king, so they visited the Audience Hall by a separate appointment. Woodpecker did the same.
The Duke, whose face expressed boredom at the thought of a pre-arranged meeting, put his arm around Adi's shoulders for no reason and said: “Shall we go together?” Bert watched this scene with a gloomy face.
Well, okay. After all, Adrian Grimaldi was the Key to breaking the curse and was needed, so if the Duke wished it, Bert wasn't going to interfere, not even for a moment. It won't last long anyway. Considering Julius's position and Adi's position, how can this relationship last long?
However, seeing how he was clinging to her, Bert could not predict what rumors would spread. Just when everything began to calm down, Juls again added fuel to the fire. At the thought of having to hear about this shame or something like that again, his eyes darkened.
- What is the order?
— First, meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince. The original plan was to receive His Grace the Duke first, but it appears His Majesty has something to say since Claude has left Ionades.
- So, there is no need to rush. When the two meet, they lose track of time arguing with each other.
“That’s true, but His Highness Claude may not be able to stand it and jump out of there, so it’s better to arrive on time.”
Gavin said. His words made sense, so Jules nodded. Both were impulsive and their intentions were not easy to predict. But it was better than giving another reason for nagging.
Having said that they would do so, Yuls began to undress. Billy, meanwhile, had already prepared a change of clothes. No matter how light the drizzle was, it was impossible to avoid getting wet. You cannot go to a meeting with the king in damp clothes.
— I have prepared the water for swimming.
Billy said this as he accepted Jules' clothes. Jules asked: “What time is it?”
— We have about two hours left.
“Then it’s better to warm up a little first.”
Billy handed Jules a robe. Having put it on, Yuls threw back his tangled long hair. He then looked at the soaked guard knights and servants. He wasn't the only one who needed to warm up. Seeing Adi, who was brushing her pathetically wet golden hair out of her face, Juls clicked his tongue.
— Everyone should wash and change clothes.
-...
“Wow, he says something that he usually wouldn’t say.” Those who knew Jules found this strange. But before anyone could get a word in, he had already gone to the bathroom, where the water was prepared.
“We need to wash up too.” Even though it's light rain, it's still cold.
Roy sniffled and turned to Adi.
- Shall we wash together?
- Get out.