It was easy to adjust the movements to the partner, but with music everything became much more difficult due to the many nuances that had to be taken into account. Adi made no mistakes only because Yuls’ movements were familiar to her; if she had to move by relying only on her hearing, she would certainly fail.
Unlike the knight's uniform, the dress stuck to the legs with every movement, causing a feeling of awkwardness and causing constant distraction. Strange, unusual glances were directed at them.
However, what bothered her the most was Yuls, whose hand she was squeezing. Perhaps because of the summer season, someone else’s warmth was felt especially acutely. It seemed that the presence of a living person nearby had never been so obvious. My palms began to sweat treacherously.
After a long silence, Juls asked: “What were you talking about?”
Because of the proximity, his voice, sounding right above my ear, resonated inside me more than usual.
-...Nothing special.
Adi answered evasively. She felt there was no need to talk about the warning she had given Spencer. Juls, judging by the way he lowered his eyelids, was dissatisfied with this answer.
Nothing special, that is.
Even while dancing with Lea Lintu, Juls did not take his eyes off Adi, and from the outside their conversation did not seem so hostile. Perhaps she just skillfully controlled herself, but something different was felt. Have they made up? No, it didn’t look like reconciliation either.
What does Adrina want? She never spoke about her desires directly. It was difficult for Yuls to understand her because she was always hiding something. However, she usually answered questions willingly.
— Do you want to return to Grimaldi? - asked Jules.
“Apparently, you believe that I still have at least some feelings for that place.”
Couldn't this happen? Even if this was only a one-in-a-thousand guess, it could not be discounted. Whatever one may say, she is Grimaldi. No matter how she changes her last name, it is impossible to deny the fact that the Count's blood flows in her veins.
All aristocrats are like this, but the Count is obsessed with his family more than others.
Jules looked up. Up there, the Count and Claude were watching them. They both set their sights on Adrina. Juls looked up intently, and in his eyes there was a determination not to give her to anyone. As if sensing the emotion embedded in that look, both men looked at Jules with bewilderment. But their facial expressions were completely different.
-What about Your Lordship? - Adi continued.
Jules lowered his gaze.
— What did you talk about with Lea Lintu?
For a moment, Jules thought he had misheard. Conversation with Lea Lintu? Yes, there was nothing special there... Why would she be interested in this? The doubt was fleeting, and the answer was found quickly. This meant that Adrina was just as curious as he himself was to know the content of her conversation with Count Grimaldi.
Jules laughed quietly. From this low rumble, bewilderment was reflected on Adi’s face. So she's curious.
— Told her to get out.
- Sorry?
“The Marchioness of Conolly has arrived, so I told her to go to her.” Lea Lintu no longer has a reason to stay in my Residence.
-...She probably just sorted things out.
“It's not something I need to worry about.”
Jules' voice sounded quite cheerful when he answered. Following this, his movements became more lively. Adi could barely keep up with him at a slightly faster pace.
“But it seems that the other side also took some measures.”
— What measures, Your Grace?
- Before we discuss this, Adrina.
Yuls spoke, and his gaze directed down at her was both familiar and different. He seemed to be enjoying this situation a little more than usual. Was there any reason for this attitude in their previous conversation? Adi replied:
- Yes, Your Grace.
“Does it bother you that I’m talking to Lintu?”
-......
She didn't think about it. Adi continued to follow Juls without answering. He was silent, but his face expressed an implicit demand for an answer. After thinking a little, Adi asked: “Maybe so?” Jules let out a short laugh.
“If you feel that way, I think it’s worth thinking about.”
Adi nodded at Yuls’s words. Jules thought that although she outwardly agreed, in reality she was unlikely to care. However, it didn't matter. After all, Jules was going to get Adrina anyway. No matter how long it takes and no matter what you have to do.
No matter what happened, Juls didn't care about anything except that Adi would gain confidence and be happy. And the first thing that needed to be done for this...
Juls's gaze turned upward again. Claude and Spencer were still looking in their direction.
"These two."
They were the key figures.
* * *—It was taken away from you.
Claude spoke. Spencer looked at Claude for a moment and replied with a face that showed clear disagreement:
“I still believe that she belongs to my family.”
With that, Spencer followed the pair with his gaze.
Flaming red hair and a red dress. The Duke smiled, and Adrina, as always, maintained an impassive expression on her face.
Spencer remembered his wife, who remained at the estate. Once upon a time she knew how to dance like that. Spencer had never been good at dancing, but she was different. She was the one who always brightly illuminated the gloomy Grimaldi Castle.
Yes, then it was definitely for her sake...
“You killed all the Count’s children.”
Spencer stopped thinking and looked at Claude. He continued with a guilty expression:
“I’m sorry, I should have said “died,” I didn’t even notice how what was on my mind slipped out.
- It's okay, Your Highness.
- And what do you intend to do now?
Claude asked. Spencer pretended not to understand what the prince was getting at. This slimy guy couldn't help but understand. He just wanted to hear the answer from his lips at all costs.
“I know what the Count wants to achieve in the Royal Palace.” But you shouldn’t limit yourself only to palace affairs. You are the Lord of your Estate, but what's the point of being in the king's inner circle if you don't have an Heir?
While Claude was saying this, his gaze was fixed on Yuls and Adrina. Heavy, piercing gaze. Just as Spencer felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding, Claude looked at him again.
- After all, all this was started for the sake of the Estate.
No, it all started for her. But that life collapsed overnight.
- So, what's your plan?
- Is there really a choice? In any case, Grimaldi's blood flows in her.
“And what will you do if something happens while you’re so relaxed?”
- “Is something going to happen”? It’s better to let it be that side than someone like the low Zied family.
At Spencer's words, Claude let out a low groan, and then said:
“Then what about me, Count?”
He didn't even consider this proposal. In other words, there was no need for this.
— Isn’t this the best option to tie yourself by blood ties? Although no one will know about this except us.
Spencer chuckled. There was nothing pleasant about that grin. An open offer to make her the crown prince's bastard. If he became king, the count's grandson would be a royal bastard, but for some reason this thought did not cause delight.
Of course, Spencer believed that status ruled the world, and he believed that royals at the top were the ultimate dream. You wouldn't wish it any other way for the Crown Prince. But what if this same crown prince is not entirely legitimate?
Initially, the legal heir was Luigi Francopan. According to the rules, he was supposed to inherit not his mother's surname Frankopan, but the name Dalcatir. But he was dead. You could say Spencer killed him himself.
He was also not an outstanding person. If you had to choose between Luigi and Claude, either one was worth the other. None of them suited him completely. They were one of those who sometimes made it clear: status is not everything.
- Beautiful.
Claude said this while looking down.
“When I first saw her, she was covered in dust and sweat, so I didn’t notice, but now she looks different.” How could everyone not understand this?
Prejudices were probably to blame, Claude answered himself. And this is natural. What woman would think of serving as a knight? Even men have a hard time there. Everyone simply took her for a pretty young man. After all, such men meet from time to time.
“She doesn’t look like the Count at all.”
- She took after my wife.
Spencer replied. Claude glanced at Spencer.
— I didn’t know, but it’s true.
Especially the eyes were exactly the same. Although the wife’s gaze was a little warmer.
“Your wife must be beautiful.” Is that why you didn’t take her out into secular society?
-......
The intentions were different, but this factor could not be ignored. However, the wife preferred to stay on the estate rather than shine in secular society. A woman who had an attachment to her lands and the places that she was supposed to rule, once lived freely, not shunned even by the ordinary inhabitants of the estate. She looked happy there.
If only the baby hadn't arrived.
“It’s a pity if such a beauty disappears on the estate.”
Spencer glared at Claude. Claude flinched for a moment at his unexpected gaze, but immediately smiled as if nothing had happened. The family was indeed the Count's weak point.
“My wife is not feeling well, so she cannot come to the Royal Capital.
- I know. But she's been here a couple of times, hasn't she? If she had come constantly, the situation of your son and daughter might have been different.
-......
- Well, although one of them is already dead.
Despite the regret in the prince's voice, Spencer said nothing. However, this made his impassive face seem even more frightening. Claude looked down, pretending not to care. His gaze fell on Lea Lintu, who was just looking in their direction. It was a suitable excuse.
— The look of this fragile lady is quite prickly. It's time for me to go down.
Claude said this and Spencer stepped aside to let the Crown Prince pass.
On the way to the stairs, Claude took a glass from a servant. Having said a few words, he drained it in one gulp and returned the empty dish. The servant also answered something to Claude, but because of the noise around the words it was impossible to make out.
Spencer shook his head and looked down again. Claude came down and took the glass again. However, the color of the liquid was not like wine, but like water.
- “He must be thirsty.”
Still, he is not the person who is suitable for the role of the future king.