At the same moment, Adrina’s pupils dilated. She had never thought about this. Since she began to live as Adrian, the thought of returning to the name Adrin had not even crossed her mind. However, now that Adrien was officially dead, she no longer had to pretend to be a man.
“Until now there has not been a single female knight.” If you become one, you will be rejected. But if you remain a man, then, since you have already served as a knight in Pales and your skills are recognized, there will be no one among the locals who will not be happy with you. Even if they don’t fully accept you.
Her skill is undeniable. She has instincts. And it’s not just about technology—its sensitivity is on a different level. Just as she noticed the assassin in Pales, she sensed the approach of the Night Guards in that forest faster than Bert.
Surely the Night Guards also took a closer look at her. And if Adrina keeps the name Adrian, they will definitely try to lure her away. The Woodpecker family's special forces, secretly operating under the cover of darkness, will not want to miss out on such talent.
“At least it’s more convenient to be a man than a woman.”
However, if she decides to remain a woman...
- Do you want this?
She could be expelled not only from the Night Guards, but even from the Order of the Woodpecker Knights.
“If you want to remain Adrian and not Adrina, I will arrange it for you.”
Juls ran his fingers through Adrina's hair. It was blond hair, which seemed something amazing to him every time he looked at it. If she became a woman, he must see her grow them. It didn't really matter whether it was short or long, but if she grew it out, her hair would become more comfortable to kiss.
“But if you want your old self back, I’ll do that too.” However, it will be harder. Living as a woman in a man's world.
Jules's hand slowly lowers. Adi follows his fingertips with her eyes. She didn’t even notice when his hands became like this - with veins clearly visible.
- You decide, Adi.
Should she live as a woman or as a man?
Adi looked at Yuls. His glowing red eyes seemed to reveal his own desire. Adi understood what the Duke wanted.
* * *Not even half a day had passed, and Roy seemed to have already gotten along with everyone. Watching them sit on the training ground and chat, she was once again convinced of his amazing friendliness.
Adi stood in the gallery adjacent to the training area and silently watched them. It would be nice for her to be able to not think about anything like that, but with her character this is hardly possible.
Adi was in thought. The Duke did not give her much time. Apparently he is impatient by nature - when they went to Woodpecker, he also gave her only a moment, and she agreed to join in some confusion. Later she regretted that decision, but now she understands: there would have been no happiness, but misfortune helped.
And now the second dilemma remains.
Which is better to live: as a woman or as a man?
She still didn't know. Of course, she understood that it was more profitable to be a man. A long shadow lay next to Adi, who was deep in thought. Turning around, she saw Bert.
- Adi.
- Bert.
—Have you made a decision?
She understands what he is asking.
- Not yet.
“...I didn’t even know you were a girl.”
Nobody knew. Throughout all the years she spent there. Bert, who had only been with her for a few months, could not have known. Adi was about to answer that it was not surprising, but she just moved her lips and bowed her head. Bert's face showed bewilderment.
- I heard you are offering me your last name. Although late, thank you.
-...Nothing.
“There are no people who would give up their last name easily.”
This only applied to aristocrats. It didn't matter that much to Bert. However, for Adi, apparently, this became something very important. “Wow, she turned out to be much more sensitive than I thought,” realizing the situation, Bert was forced to reconsider his opinion about Adi.
— What was Count Grimaldi thinking about when you...
But much still remained beyond his understanding.
- How could he do this to you?
“I don’t know the Count’s intentions.”
-Are you okay?
-What are you talking about?
Adi answered with a blank expression. Bert gently put his hand on her head and stroked it.
- When things get tough for you, you can rely on others.
-...It’s not particularly hard for me.
Bert's words still remained incomprehensible to her. Adi did not consider herself to be in a difficult situation.
- I'm just thinking.
It was just a situation in which you need to choose which option is better: this or that.
- Who do you think is better for me to be: a woman or a man?
And at that moment Bert felt that he was just a loyal vassal of the Woodpecker house who could not help.
“I understand that it’s more convenient to live as a man.” And yet.
Even if we don't take into account the fact that Adi 그리말디 is a woman, her decision to remain a man would be disadvantageous for Juls Woodpecker in many ways.
“But if this happens, then you will have to live your whole life as a man.” Will you be able to deceive everyone?
After all, Duke Woodpecker wants Adi Grimaldi.
- And if you open up...
Adi's gaze rushed into the distance. Bert followed her gaze and saw Roy Gallardo at the end.
—…….
“Are they really in some kind of relationship?” At that moment, he was overcome with sudden fear.
- This will mean that all this time I was deceiving someone. And I feel guilty for this.
That's what Adi said.
- After all, the moments spent together were a lie. It's so contradictory. If we hadn't become close, I wouldn't even think about this.
Fortunately, the problem was not what Bert thought.
“Until now, I wasn’t close to anyone, so I thought that I wouldn’t care even if it was revealed.”
—What did His Serene Highness the Duke say about this?
- He told me to choose myself. That if I continue to live as a man, it will be easier, but if I return to a woman’s form, it will become much more difficult.
If Bert had been alone, he would probably have grabbed his head. “Why do you say that?” Of course, there was no lie in the Duke’s words, but wouldn’t it be worth presenting the return to female form in a more favorable light?
- What do you want?
Hearing Bert’s question, Adi fell silent. But soon her lips moved again, as if she was choosing her words carefully. What does she want?
“I... don’t care if it’s difficult.” And I don’t know yet whether it will actually be that hard.
“And I would like you to become a woman again,” said Bert.
He continued:
“Of course, in Dalcatir there is no such thing as a female knight. Most other kingdoms probably don't have them either. However, your skill has already been recognized - you are a knight. And this will not disappear if your gender changes.
Bert then added:
“But I agree that it won’t be easy.”
This is a path that no one has taken before. There will be those who will reject it, those who will ignore it or will not want to acknowledge it.
- I can become your support.
Adi looked at Bert.
- Since I gave you a last name, can’t I really support you?
Looking at his open smile, Adi wondered. She could not understand why this man was so disposed towards her and why he showed such care. What benefits does he expect to receive?
- And if you do that...
Bert, who had begun to speak, suddenly fell silent. It would be much better for the Duke's house. For both of their sakes, Adi certainly should have become a woman again. But he couldn't tell her this directly. Adi, looking at Bert, replied: “I understand.”
“I think it’s really better for me to become a woman again.”
With these words, Adi left the gallery. “But first I must reveal my secret,” she added and quickly walked away. Hey, where are you going? Bert, amazed, hurried after her.
Adi walked towards Roy. Noticing her from afar, Roy waved his hand to the man he was standing with and ran up to them.
- Looks like you've already gotten the hang of it.
- This is my old friend. It turns out that he is also here, in Woodpecker's. I was just asking him if there was any secret to getting into the Night Watch.
Roy laughed lightheartedly and said:
- Do you want to join too? In Night Watch. With your skills this will be quite enough. And you are not very tall, so this is even an advantage. They say the Night Guards don't like being too tall. The right height, the right appearance...
Maybe there will be problems with appearance? After all, if a face is too pretty, it catches the eye, and then it is difficult to carry out secret missions. While Roy was wondering whether he should console his comrade with the fact that he might not be able to get into the Night Watch, Adi spoke first.
“Roy, I need to say something.”
- Oh, what is it?
- I'm a girl.
- …A?
- I'm a girl.
For a moment, Roy froze, his face looking as if he had been hit in the head, and all he could manage was, “Uh, what?”
“They said that the de-identification of Adrian Grimaldi has been completed. So I needed to create a new identity, and I thought I couldn't live as a man forever, so I decided to go back to my real gender.
Bert, who approached them, froze in confusion. Really... is she really talking about this so quickly? Without the slightest hesitation? Just like that?
- Sir Bert said he would give me his last name.
Roy just silently opened and closed his mouth, either speechless or simply unable to say anything. Not a single thought was born in his head, which had become completely empty, and his throat seemed to be tight, not letting out a single word.
“In the future, I will become Adrina Dean.”
Like a golem created by some mad magician, Roy turned his head creakingly and looked at Bert. His whole face expressed a silent question: “What is she talking about?” No, it was more like a plea to confirm that the words he had just heard were a lie.
Bert had no idea that Adi would be so determined. Issue this as soon as a decision has been made. However, it was foolish to expect that the Dog of Palesa would behave quietly.
In the end, Bert just pressed his hand to his forehead.