- Of course.
But Adi didn't say anything. Bert looked at him with an interested expression.
Of all those who spent this week next to the Duke of Woodpecker, guarding him, the closest to Adi Grimaldi was, of course, Bert. He, of course, also heard a lot about rumors about Adi Grimaldi. More precisely, I made inquiries about him. Just before arriving in Palesa, news arrived that the guard knight had been replaced.
When Bert heard that Adi had received a knighthood from the crown prince, he even suspected that he had been planted by the prince. The Crown Prince now feared Duke Woodpecker far more than his own younger brothers.
“Since you have nothing else to ask, maybe I’ll ask a question?”
-...
Adi already had the look of a man who was disgusted with everything.
For Adi, who was not eloquent from birth and, due to life circumstances, had little close communication with people, conversations were not easy.
He did not know what questions to ask or how to answer, so when meeting with skillful interlocutors, his meager baggage was inevitably revealed. Usually they didn’t approach him like that, and he didn’t notice it, but the conversation with Bert felt like he was being shaken out of all his ins and outs.
Bert asked all sorts of questions.
Why did he, having received a knighthood, come to Palesa; What has he actually done, since there are bad rumors about him - from such little things to tastes in food, relationships with the opposite sex, and even with the same thing. Men together - you never know what happens, he said.
“Didn’t His Highness the Crown Prince bestow the title on you?”
— It was in writing.
“But I wouldn’t give it just like that.” Were there really no conditions?
- asked Bert. According to his information, Adi Grimaldi actually received a knighthood from the crown prince, but neither the prince nor Adi Grimaldi saw each other.
Grant a knighthood to someone you've never met? Nothing is impossible. The title also sometimes served as a means of exchange.
— There may have been conditions.
Especially considering the name Adrian Grimaldi.
- But I don’t know them.
If there was a deal, it was with Spencer Grimaldi. Adrian, at the time he received the title, could hardly get out of bed on his own.
- Apparently you can’t tell.
- No, I really don’t know. Initially I...
Initially Adrian...
- I thought I was going to die.
He was already lying underground.
- Because of the curse.
- But your sister died.
At times I felt guilty about being alive. As if he had arbitrarily taken the wrong place.
“The Duke also had three younger brothers and sisters,” said Bert. - And one older brother. Everyone died.
With these words he dipped the bread into the soup. This was a story that Adi didn't know about.
“There’s only Juls left.”
- Is it possible to tell me this?
- Everyone knows this except you, don’t they?
Yes. Just because he doesn't know doesn't mean others don't either. Especially about people like Duke Woodpecker, about whom there is so much talk.
“One died immediately after birth, one was killed along with the Duke and Duchess of the previous generation, one died from a fall, the last one went missing.
Adi was one of those people too.
People he doesn't know know him. They talk about his story as if it were an established fact before he has time to figure out whether it is true or false.
Adi felt some commonality with the distant Duke of Woodpecker. The actions of other people assessing the Duke or telling his story seemed directed at himself.
“Juls is alive only because of me.”
The only ally - and he is chatting about him left and right.
Adi felt some pity for the Duke. But on the other hand, who is he to sympathize with him? You should worry about yourself.
- So, staying in Pales is for the sake of survival? To avoid the threat of murder?
- Why? Of course, the estate is safer than Pales.
Bert made a face as if he was hearing nonsense. The look was as if he was looking at a provincial knight who knew nothing.
- That's a provincial from Palesa. Have you ever left here at all?
-...I'm actually not from Palesa.
“I know, you’re from Grimaldi.”
- It's a beautiful place.
He speaks as if he had been to Grimaldi. Knights make journeys of their own choosing, so many places have been visited, but few have reached them.
- When they hunted witches, women were tied to fig trees and burned because of the smoke, right? Violent bastards.
— Figs and chestnuts are Grimaldi’s special products. During the witch hunts, chestnuts had to be collected, so fig trees were used. Hunting was usually especially active in the fall.
- Do figs grow in that cold weather? What do they grow in greenhouses?
- It's not that cold there. There is little snowfall, but enough for wintering.
- I didn’t know.
Bert answered with a surprised look. I thought that they had come up with a more painful death,” Adi remained silent to these words. Maybe there was such a reason too.
- Well, in any case, the details are a secret, but, one might say, part-time. It's time for the Duke to get engaged too.
Does the Duke really have someone ready to get engaged to a thirteen-year-old? - thought Adi. Of course, the soul is twenty-six, but the appearance is half that.
“The Duke has no support.” Need someone nearby. Best from a good family. Someone who could be a force for the Duke.
Bert spoke with regret. Nonsense. Woodpecker is the Duke and nephew of the King. In his domains he is called the Woodpecker King, his support is so strong, so what other strength does he need? Unless the Duke himself becomes a force for someone else.
- It's a pity that your brother died.
- ...Sorry?
- Well, of course. After all, Grimaldi also has a weakness - a curse. Other than that, the Grimaldi family isn't bad.
“Do you really think this vile family of executioners is not bad?”
- What executioners of people. Witch executioners.
“There were probably ordinary people among the dead witches.”
- That's true, but what does it matter?
Bert said. Adi looked at him. It is for this that the kingdom receives random curses.
- Yes.
Like Adrian Grimaldi.
- Right.
Adrina Grimaldi - exactly the same.
“With such a flaw, they would be a good couple.” Although Count Grimaldi would not want to.
- Why?
Adi asked. This time Bert was surprised. Don’t you know? Adi fell silent under such a gaze.
- What do you think?
- I don't think.
- A person must think and live.
“It’s better for servants like me not to think, but to do what they’re told.” This makes it easier to use.
Wise words. If only he were a simple knight.
But such words are not suitable for Adrian Grimaldi, Bert thought.
If you start out as a commoner and successfully become a knight like himself, thinking like this is common. However, nobles, or gentry who did not become nobles, even wealthy commoners - they all think, judge and make decisions. Just like Bert himself now.
-...Aren't you the rightful heir of the Grimaldi family?
Above them all are the nobles. Adrian Grimaldi was a nobleman capable of inheriting the title. There must be a reason he's hanging around here.
- Yes, so what?
“Aren’t you going to continue the Grimaldi family?”
Is he really hiding his thoughts, not wanting to reveal them? - Bert doubted. Adi grinned.
Think.
Was she even raised so that she could think?
At least that's not what Spencer Grimaldi wants from Adi Grimaldi. Spencer Grimaldi needs someone to carry on the family line, but we can't be sure it's Adrina Grimaldi.
Adrina Grimaldi is just a replacement for Adrian Grimaldi.
If Adrian Grimaldi had not died, she, as Bert said, could have been sold as some kind of instrument.
But since Adrian died and Adrina survived, even though she is capable of producing offspring, she is still not a seed, but an earth.
- Maybe so.
If the scattered seeds germinate and sprout, they will be immediately pulled out and transplanted into their own pot, where they will be grown, putting out branches. But will the earth remain in place? Will it be ruthlessly abandoned and turn into a barren wasteland?
- Or maybe not.
Besides, Spencer Grimaldi had probably already chosen even this seed.
If Adrina Grimaldi gives Spencer Grimaldi a grandson, this role will end. Whether this end will be freedom or eternal peace is unknown.
Adi is just waiting. Orders of Spencer Grimaldi.
- I don’t have any rights.
These words seemed strange to Bert. On the contrary, suspicion arose in him. Adi calmly continued to eat.
I wish the order had already arrived. To end it all.
But Adi never thought that the order would come in this way.