Claude knows what this man is like. He is sure that he knows even more about him than Adrian Grimaldi. Therefore, he understands why the king kept Spencer Grimaldi at a distance.
“My father did this because he knew that the count was a man capable of such a thing.”
How dangerous is he?
— Why did a magical terrorist attack occur in peaceful Konya?
Especially if you make him an enemy.
- Was it the Count who sponsored him?
Are there not enough people in the world who harbor a grudge against Count Grimaldi? He is even ready to betray his own children.
-Did you encourage Luigi to come back?
“You know that now I serve only Your Highness,” Spencer said to Grimaldi.
With such an innocent face, it was as if he hadn’t lifted a finger. Perhaps Spencer really did think so. That he's innocent.
- It's just...
Just a tiny ripple.
“I only annoyed His Grace the Marquis Luigi Frankopan a little.”
Claude glared at Spencer Grimaldi.
“His Grace the Marquis came to Paleso of his own free will.
Count Grimaldi was undoubtedly a control freak.
“And perhaps by the will of the Marchioness of Conolly.” Unlike His Lordship the Duke of Woodpecker, you are well aware of the relationship between His Lordship the Marquis of Frankopan and Mrs. Conolly.
“Are you saying that you threatened Luigi to force the Marchioness of Conolly to summon him to Paleso?”
“I only acted in the interests of your highness.”
- In my interests?
“Isn’t it better to eliminate those who are beginning to pose a danger?”
-...
“Your Highness remember how you came to this position.” And how exactly did I seat you on this throne?
Now the king had two older brothers. Both are dead. Duke Woodpecker died in the carriage, and the previous king, soon after his accession to the throne, began to slowly decline and died.
Everyone says it was an illness, but Claude knows the truth. It was a man who carried him in his arms while he was still sucking his thumb. Instead of caressing his own children, he raised the son of his overlord, the future prince, leaving his offspring abandoned in the ancestral lands; and that’s what this same Count Grimaldi did, who even handed a sword to the boy who had become a prince.
- He killed them all.
Claude clenched his fists, then unclenched them.
- Your Highness.
This count is dangerous. They won't be able to be together for long. The king knew this, but Claude did not. That's why he picked up the snake that the king had thrown away.
— Why take and raise a child who knows nothing.
But now he knows. He realizes that this was a dangerous choice.
“Isn’t it better than a snake skilled in politics?”
The Count must have chosen it, believing that of all the options it would be the most manageable.
- Yes.
Than Luigi, behind whom stands the family of the Marchioness of Conolly.
And than Woodpecker, where I have my own lands and loyal vassals.
- Right.
It was a mistake.
* * *Juls’ morning began earlier than usual. While Billy was tidying up the Duke's clothes, he told Gavin that they had better return to the estate as soon as possible.
- I'll prepare everything. How early do you plan to leave?
“We’ll leave immediately after our audience with the king today.” I don't think we should linger here. Tell everyone.
Hearing Jules' words, Gavin's eyes widened in surprise. Jules, who usually followed a strictly established routine and did not like sudden changes, suddenly decided to leave in this way, which seemed strange.
“Will our return be too hasty?”
— I'm worried about Luigi's arrival.
Jules said. This year, many things went wrong as always: Adi Grimaldi, Claude arriving earlier than usual, Count Grimaldi whom he invited and who stayed at his residence, the demands of the Marchioness of Conolly and the return of Luigi.
Perhaps, if you look from the outside, there was nothing particularly strange about this, but an inexplicable feeling of anxiety made the back of my head go cold.
And this instinct of Jules almost always turns out to be correct.
“Your Grace, do you really feel the same as you did then?”
Gavin asked. You could trust Jules' instincts. Bert often said it was because of the Witch's Blood. Everyone waved it off, saying that this couldn’t happen, but deep down they accepted this idea. He was the only one who survived when all the members of the Woodpecker house were killed, precisely thanks to this instinct.
- I obey. I will pass this on to all the servants.
Gavin said. Adi narrowed her eyes. She didn't understand how anyone could change plans just because someone was feeling anxious. Billy threw the jacket over Jules' shoulders and asked:
“Then what are you planning to do with Count Grimaldi?”
- I forgot about this.
Yuls answered, as if muttering under his breath, and looked at Adi. In any case, since he invited her, he couldn’t kick her out just because he was leaving himself.
“If she wants, let her stay here the whole time we’re in the Pales.” After all, this is my space.
- Yes, I’ll tell you so.
- And Adi.
- Yes, Your Grace.
— Go get the transfer documents. There should be the signature of the commander of the 2nd knightly detachment. When you return, you’ll immediately pack your things.
- Yes, your Excellency.
Adi answered and remained standing where he was, causing Juls to chuckle.
— I said, you can already be freed from your duties.
This laugh made everyone instantly silent. Gavin and Billy looked at each other, then looked at Adi. Joel's words involuntarily popped into my head:
“There’s some kind of sticky connection between them!”
Be that as it may, thanks to this I was able to leave the service earlier than usual. The night guard, although tiring, did not pose any particular danger. Of course, once they tried to send an assassin, but after the arrival of the king, the security was strengthened so much that no outsider could get inside. Adi returned to his chambers. Leaving the heavy sword behind, he planned to go to the Chancellery and then go to bed.
...And yet, just in case, deciding to grab a dagger, he attached it to his belt and left, but in the corridor he ran into Roy, who was coming out of the bathroom.
- Have you already let me go?
Water was still dripping from his hair, leaving wet spots on the floor; This sight made Adi wince. He, of course, did not expect that he would come out fully dressed, but there was no need to appear in such a natural, undisguised form.
— The Office told me to pick up the transfer documents. And then pack your things.
- Things?
— Have you already taken the documents?
- I took it a long time ago. But what is this belongings for? Do the transfer documents mean that we are being kicked out? We agreed to go together, Adi.
Roy said this and tried to hold her hand for no reason. Adi pushed him away. She didn't want to be hugged by a wet person. Roy didn't bother himself anymore. Shaking water from his hair, he asked:
- But why pack things at all?
“His Lordship plans to return to Woodpecker today.”
- Today? So suddenly?
- Yes. He said he was worried.
Hearing this, Roy froze.
— Concerned? - he asked again.
Adi nodded, and Roy quickly knocked on the door to Bert's room.
- Sir! Sir! Wake up soon!
What's wrong with him...
Adi looked at Roy with a face expressing complete incomprehension, then turned around. First of all, it was necessary to go to the Chancellery.
- Sir! His Lordship said he was concerned!
Adi left the living room. The door to Bert's room slammed open, but she didn't care.
Yesterday the sky cleared a little, but today it became gloomy again. There were traces of drops on the ground, as if it had rained, but now the moisture was gradually drying up, and no new drops were falling.
Whether it was because of the early hour, there was almost no one in the corridors or outside. The servants had not yet risen, and only the court servants and maids were wandering around the palace. This made someone’s movement felt especially acutely.
Before he could leave the residence, someone began to follow him.
The rhythmic sound of footsteps maintaining a certain distance.
The presence of the one who followed - not too close, but not too far - made Adi doubt whether he had imagined it. It was not difficult to check this. When he deliberately slowed down, he also slowed down. Walking along the gallery, Adi crossed the garden and then turned right again.
Adi turned right again. If you turn right again from here, you will end up in the same place. Before turning, Adi stopped for a moment. The footsteps also fell silent.
-......
Still stalking. It's good that he grabbed the dagger. Adi, clutching the blade in his hand, slowly turned to the right. In order not to betray his presence by the absence of the sound of footsteps, he deliberately walked forward and then silently returned back.
He felt that his pursuer was very close.
Adi grabbed the sword more comfortably. Judging by the shadow, he was slightly taller than him. By hair and clothes - a man. It was impossible to determine age from the shadow, but the body seemed trained. The moment the man rounded the column, Adi put his blade to his throat.
- Adrian.
They called him by name. The voice was familiar.
- …Father.
- A good dagger.
Spencer Grimaldi said so. Adi's hand, clutching the dagger, trembled. Another shadow approached behind Adi. At that moment, when Adi, noticing this, tried to turn around for protection, a strong blow landed on the back of his head.
Adi slowly sank down. Someone's army boots came into view. One heel was particularly worn.
It was Lef Zid. He wanted to ask why all this, no, why they were doing it so quickly, but he could not do anything. Soon everything went dark before my eyes.
- Take him away.
The last thing he heard was the Count's voice.