When asked by Adi, the valet thought that this moment had come again. It's been three years since he went to Palesa. During this time, three different bodyguards were replaced. I wonder how the fourth one will react.
“I’ll start with what you should never do in the presence of the Duke.”
All the previous faces turned pale, and they swore that they would never guard Woodpecker again. And these were not just words - they really hated the Duke's visits. Therefore, the guarding of Woodpecker was always entrusted to the newcomers of the Second Order of Knighthood. Of course, the dog of the Palace of Palesa was not a newcomer, but he was here for the first time.
The valet cleared his throat again and continued:
“The Duke can’t stand it when someone stands in front of him.” He also has little tolerance for lateness, bickering, or failure to understand the first time. It is especially indecent to stare at his face.
At first these were completely ordinary things. But then came a list of what you could and couldn't eat while on duty, what foods to avoid, issues of hygiene, relationships with women, and what a knight should do if a conflict arose with other nobles or members of the royal family.
With each point, Adi’s face became more and more gloomy. The valet, noting to himself that at least this one doesn’t spit in your face or swear openly, continued:
- And one more thing.
“If there is a skirmish with another knight, under no circumstances should you lose.”
-...
“Even if you have to bite your teeth like a dog, you must win.” The Duke cannot stand defeat.
“It’s unlikely that he’ll like it if I actually roll around on the floor like a dog,” Adi thought.
However, she was confident in her ability to win. And, apparently, the valet thought the same.
“Given the reputation of my Lord Adrian Grimaldi, there is no need to worry in this regard... right?”
The physique is too fragile for such bright and bad fame. However, the chest seemed quite strong - perhaps there were muscles hidden under this deceptive appearance. The valet thought it was difficult to imagine such a muscular face, and, clearing his throat, added:
- Another important point...
By this point, Adi's patience had run out.
- What kind of duke is this if he demands so much?
— I have listed only the simplest things so far. The highest nobility are naturally prone to self-discipline, but that's why they occupy such a high position, isn't it? If you live nearby, you will understand.
The valet's words reminded Adi of his father. Count Grimaldi was also distinguished by iron self-discipline. It turns out that he is not the only one - other nobles are no different.
Adi wanted to live freely. Although, if you think about it, she herself, to some extent, lived under control.
- Tiring.
“But it’s a worthwhile endeavor.”
The valet smiled.
- After all, this is the Duke himself.
Continuing to speak, the valet began to explain in many words how deeply he respected the Duke. This was incomprehensible to Adi.
Ignoring his words, Adi looked out the window. There was laughter coming from outside. More than one Woodpecker came to Palesa Palace. Those who guard the king spent their time idly in the garden of the inner palace. Not clear.
Then the midnight bell sounded. The valet said that early tomorrow morning the carriage needed to be prepared to meet the Duke, and stood up, offering to complete the day's business.
“Then see you tomorrow, Your Grace.”
- Come on in.
Adi escorted the valet. He thought that he had given enough instructions, and walked with a light gait to the room assigned to him by the palace. Forgetting to mention the most important thing.
That's right.
Early in the morning, Adi Grimaldi, along with her valet, arrived by carriage at the Gate of Time to meet the Duke, and could not hide her expression.
A handsome young man with flaming red hair stood in front of her.
Julius Kaspras Woodpecker, Duke, 26 years old.
Adrian Grimaldi, 25 years old.
Adi looked at the Duke, who was slightly shorter than her.
Her height was impressive for a woman and average for a man, but Duke Woodpecker was short and graceful. Next to this, it seemed that her feminine nature would never be revealed.
“Your look is disrespectful,” said Duke Woodpecker.
The valet's face turned pale. This is exactly what he should have been warned about in the first place.
Never show surprise at the sight of Duke Woodpecker. And especially not to look down on him.
Because the curse that hangs over Duke Woodpecker...
-...Greetings, Duke Woodpecker.
...was that he stopped growing.
* * *Do curses really work this way?
Adi wondered.
She herself had heard such words countless times. But no one knew what curse weighed on the Grimaldi twins. They only said that twins bring a curse. There is a curse, but whether it has manifested itself is unknown. Perhaps they were simply bound by the very name of the curse.
Some claim that Adrian Grimaldi died due to a curse, but Adrian was initially in poor health. So.
“So this is a real curse.”
For the first time in her life, she saw the curse with her own eyes.
In truth, Adi Grimaldi had little interest in other people. Her own life was too full of worries to leave room for other people's destinies.
Therefore, although she had heard stories about the curses of the Dalcatir Kingdom, she did not know exactly what kind of curses they were or who exactly they befell.
On the way to Palesa, she heard various stories, but considered them the same empty words as the curse placed on her. However, Julius Woodpecker was truly cursed.
Although southerners are usually shorter in stature than northerners, the Duke was of northern blood. And it wasn’t just a matter of short stature. Skin, fingers, barely noticeable stubble - all the signs indicated that the Duke was cursed.
Then what curse befell them, the Grimaldi twins?
“With such a look, you can lose your head,” the man turned to Adi.
She took her eyes off the carriage with the coat of arms of the Palace of Palesa, on which the Duke was riding, and looked at the mounted guard riding next to her.
The guard who arrived with the Duke introduced himself as Bert. The graying man with a nobly wrinkled face looked to be over fifty years old. Judging by his age, he must have served Duke Woodpecker since childhood.
- What exactly?
- The Duke's Curse.
- Ah, my Lord Yuls.
-...
— It started at the age of thirteen. Then the witch cursed him.
“But there are no witches in Dalkatir for a long time,” Adi objected.
In fact, Adi could not say with certainty that this was truly a “curse.” Not after seeing the real Woodpecker curse.
“They say that in every generation something is missing,” said Adi.
- I didn’t know my grandfather. He died young, as I was told. But the current Count Grimaldi is devoid of humanity, isn’t he?
In fact, Adie thought that Spencer Grimaldi was simply born this way, but there were many rumors about the Count's cruel temper. And Adi Grimaldi was spoken of in a similar way - due to the numerous scandals that he created since his arrival in Palesa. But Adi thought differently.
- But I have no soul.
- To me, you have a soul.
“My soul died and was buried in the ground.
Saying this with a smile, Adi noticed the surprised expression on Bert’s face. He clearly did not expect to hear words about a dead soul accompanied by such a smile.
“If you had a younger sister, she would probably be pretty.”
Because Adi herself seemed surprisingly carefree.
- Yes. She was a wonderful person.
For the first time in a long time, Adi remembered Adrian alive. The young man, whose height was almost equal to her own, might have become taller if he continued to grow. Or maybe he would have remained the same. No matter what assumptions she made, Adi could not know for sure. Because Adrian is not alive.
In memory, Adrian was so small. The image of Adrian, which stopped at the age of eighteen, was superimposed on the image of Woodpecker. Adrian would also grow into a wonderful young man.
“It was he who should have lived, not me.”
-What kind of nonsense are you talking about?
Bert chuckled. Whether he took it as a joke or believed that she was serious, Adi didn’t know. Yes, she didn’t care how he regarded it.
- Are you interested in anything else?
- No.
Adi seemed to have lost all interest and looked ahead. The Palesa Palace appeared nearby. The palace where Adi lived for two years, but never once entered its inner chambers - the abode of its former glory.
Adi hoped that Duke Woodpecker would quickly find what he was looking for and leave the Palesa Palace.
If it weren't for this letter...