A finger-sized lizard ran past my feet. Noticing her crawling along the marble floor, Adi moved her foot to make way for her. It seemed that every creature here was absolutely sure that no harm would come to it.
Jules Woodpecker sat at a table in a greenhouse filled with plants. Three servants stood behind him. The man in the center, named Dimitri, appeared to be in a similar position to Gavin. Adi had never seen the manager himself. Perhaps because he had a lot of other things to do.
When Bert, who was standing nearby, yawned, Dimitri glanced at him with a dissatisfied look. His face said: “Keep up appearances in front of the Duke.”
Juls sat at the table and read the letter, which Dimitri opened and handed to him. His red hair, standing out so brightly among the greenery, seemed like an exotic flower. There was a strange calmness about it.
One of the few facts that Adi recently learned was that Juls is loved by nature itself.
In Pales, she thought that the butterflies fluttering around him were an accident, but, surprisingly, the animals were drawn to Juls. As soon as he froze, not paying attention to anything, small birds and animals immediately appeared nearby.
Today it was the same. Adi looked intently at the snow-white bird sitting on Yuls's shoulder and at the two kittens at his feet.
I wonder if animals surrounded him in the same way in the past? It probably looked pretty nice.
“It looks like Marchioness Conolly intends to take action,” said Youls.
One of the servants standing behind him tensed. It was difficult to understand what this meant. The servants knew how to masterfully hide their emotions.
“She asks permission for her adopted daughter to stay at the residence in Yonada.
With these words, Jules Woodpecker grinned and put the letter aside. There was disdain on his face.
- Since Luigi is dead, she decided to bet on this side? Since it won't be easy with Claude?
Claude, although a complex man, was actually not the worst opponent. The only problem was that they mutually disliked each other. Although at one time their relationship seemed quite tolerable, and it is unclear at what point everything went to pieces.
“It would be better for her to support the Princess than to try to reach me.”
“Serving Her Highness the Princess is no easy task.” Moreover, the chances of her ascending to the throne are slim.
- I know. But even if not her, there are others. I don’t understand why Marquise is so persistently trying to unite with me. It looks like she has something else on her mind.
She always had some other thoughts. The only question is whether her actions will fit into the predictable framework. Jules took out the small portrait enclosed with the letter.
- What's her name?
The face seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember exactly who it was. I only knew that she was from the Lintu family. He must have seen her several times for her appearance to seem so familiar.
“This is Leah Lintu, the second daughter of the Lintu family, who will now become Leah Conolly.” Official approval from the royal family has not yet been received, but I heard that the Lintu family has already sent a deed of gift to the Marchioness of Conolly.
- What kind of deed of gift?
“They say they handed over one of their mines.” It is reported that rare metals are mined there.
“...Has the Lintu family handed over the mine?” Where exactly is it located?
- In the southwest, sir.
Jules frowned. This is Woodpecker territory. Apart from everything else, the fact that the transaction took place on Woodpecker's property is already a problem. Of course, if these were other nobles from the Woodpecker lands, it would not matter, but the House of Conolly is based not far from the royal capital.
“The Connollys don't pay tax revenue to the Woodpecker treasury.”
- Right.
“The appearance of Conolly territory inside the Woodpecker domain is not beneficial for us, they must understand this.” Did the Lingtu family seriously think that this would benefit them?
“Perhaps the Lintu family felt there would be no problem given the family ties between the Marquess of Conolly and House Woodpecker.”
- This is just their point of view. Where are the documents?
As soon as Yuls asked, Dimitri, as if he was just waiting for this, handed him reports and statements about the recent deal with the mine. Jules sighed and began to check the contents. The mine appears to have been quite valuable: the share of tax revenues paid to Lintu up to this point was significant. However, property taxes and taxes on profits from this mine will now go to Conolly.
- It's burdensome. We'll have to return it.
“Your Grace, the Conolly family is unlikely to like this.”
“Since when should I care about something like that?”
“Perhaps we may still need the influence of the Marchioness of Conolly.”
At Dimitri’s words, Yuls chuckled briefly. Isn't it the other side that needs influence? Looking at him with a look that asked if he was serious, Jules changed the subject: “It’s over.” There is no need to assign anything to someone who objects. In any case, there are many people willing to work.
“Make a schedule for the knighting ceremony before we leave for Jonad.”
“Your Grace, we are leaving in two weeks; it is impossible to schedule a ceremony so early.”
“This business has always been carried out at this time.” The decision to go to Jonad was made hastily, but preparations were already underway. There is nothing difficult about shifting your schedule by a week.
The Duke's words were not wrong. Knighting was one of the biggest events in the summer. They had been preparing for it for more than a year or two, so postponing it a few days earlier would not have created any problems. Dimitri was only dissatisfied with the fact that a person who should not have been there interfered in this matter.
Adrina Dean. The woman who called herself Bert's niece looked neither like Bert himself nor his wife, and also possessed suspiciously high skill.
He had heard rumors too, so he knew what she was like. They said that no matter how Bert trained her, her sword was not bad, even if cruelty slipped into her style.
However, she is a woman. For Dimitri, who believed that women had their own affairs and men had theirs, Adrina Dean was a variable he could not even imagine.
- Isn't it?
Moreover, it seemed that his master was infatuated with this young lady.
Why, really...
Touched and happy because of the return of the matured Yuls, Dimitri experienced more and more stress every day because of the person who unexpectedly found himself next to his master. Even if we leave aside sympathy, she bore the surname Dean, which means she was a commoner by birth. A commoner, a woman who skillfully wields a sword. Only one thing came to mind.
Former mercenary.
He had heard that mercenaries were usually good at fighting. Dimitri had never seen Adrina with a sword in her hands, but from the stories he could get a certain idea.
Not that having such a person around is in itself a bad thing. But the bad thing is that she was in the escort retinue. This is a place where you will encounter and communicate with many aristocrats. No matter how much the owner liked her.
- Come, Adrina.
This woman will interfere with the Duke. Dimitri came to this conclusion.
Adi approached the Duke. The distance between them was too shortened, but no one uttered a word.
Juls straightened a strand of Adi’s hair that had fallen out. Dimitri thought that next time he would need to send something to Adrina’s chambers through the Head Maid to pin up her hair, and checked his watch. There were still about five minutes left before departure.
“The swords for the others are already ready, but yours is not finished yet,” said Yuls.
A sword intended for a knight is ordered from the forge at least a year in advance. Adrina's share was added suddenly, so of course her weapon was missing. Adi understood this.
“If there is a sword of a certain shape that you want, I will give it to you.”
—…….
At Yuls’s words, the air instantly became icy. The offer to give a sword that had not yet been prepared meant the intention to give one of the existing ones. And not just a blade that is given to ordinary knights, but a sword created specifically for the Woodpecker family.
Does she have the right to accept such a sword? If she were a local vassal, she would not be happy about this. However, it was impossible to refuse the Duke in such a situation.
“Any one of them would be an honor for me.”
After Adi’s words, the servants’ gazes became sharp as blades. When Yuls's hand slid across Adi's cheek, Dimitri said: “Your Grace.”
- It's time for you to go.
The valet then moved closer, apparently informing Yuls of his next destination and schedule. Adi could not hear their conversation. Although she was a squire in the guard, she was not an official knight, so her access to certain information was limited. Yuls nodded and, turning to Adi, stood up.
- Come this evening. Around eight.
- Yes, Your Grace.
Juls looked down with satisfaction at the answering Adi and turned around. All the servants followed him, except Dimitri. Bert also moved after the Duke, signaling to Adi that she could go.
Adi and Dimitri remained silent until the servants accompanying the Duke were out of sight. And then he opened his mouth.
- Just think, a creature of unknown origin.
He said this while looking at Adi. She looked up at Dimitri. Although he lived in the Woodpecker house, this man had a Northern air about him. And his height, and facial features, and hair color spoke about this. She believed that he had his own reasons for being here.
“I don’t know what you are trying to achieve, but I advise you to know your place.”
- Dimitri.
Adi was not going to be nice to someone who hated her. Looking for a moment at Dimitri, who frowned when he heard his name, Adi smiled radiantly.
“I don’t really like you either.”
-......
- Let me go.
With these words, Adi turned around and, without looking back, left the greenhouse.
Dimitri looked after her with a stunned look.