Chapter 118
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The nature of Adrina Grimaldi was uncomplicated.
She had been characterized by such directness for as long as she could remember. This quality often left Adrian feeling uneasy. While her relentless drive to achieve any goal she set was sometimes an asset, her tendency to plunge forward without weighing the risks frequently invited trouble.
Adi recognized this personal shortcoming clearly. The trouble was her lack of interest in self-correction. To Adrina’s mind, her conduct wasn’t a significant issue. If she decided on a course of action, the only logical step was to execute it.
Yet, standing before the Duke, she found herself trapped in uncharacteristic hesitation. She was stalling, a stark departure from her usual decisiveness. This uncertainty likely stemmed from their recent distance, a sharp contrast to the proximity they enjoyed at Pallesa Palace.
The daylight hours were swallowed by exhausting schedules, leaving them no time for one another, and their responsibilities bled late into the night. The sheer volume of aristocrats mentioned in their work made it nearly impossible to keep their identities straight.
Nightly consultations with the head chamberlains were a constant, involving Dimitri and now Gavin as well. Bert was frequently present too. Even when their official duties ended, the group remained huddled around the table, their dialogue flowing as if the workday had no end. It was obvious they belonged in that inner circle.
This sight did not sit well with her. Being pushed to the periphery stung. A strange, internal pressure rose within her as she watched those who occupied his space. It wasn’t exactly rage, nor was it a sense of dread or even simple annoyance.
Adi reflected that it was bizarre to harbor such feelings toward the chamberlains or the members of the Escort Knight Division. She found it difficult to categorize the emotion, even though it was blooming inside her.
It took a considerable amount of time before the assembly finally dispersed, marking the conclusion of the night’s labor. Yuls, having departed briefly with Billy and Bert, came back alone. He appeared far more relaxed now that he had changed his attire. Clad in informal clothes, Yuls had gathered his long hair up with a pin. This casual version of him was becoming a common sight.
Feeling her eyes on him, Yuls turned his attention toward Adi.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“……”
“Adi?”
“I wonder,” she began, “how Your Excellency is able to read my state of mind so accurately?”
Clearly, she had been harboring a question.
Yuls gathered the various documents Dimitri had left behind and settled onto the bed. He answered with a distracted air, his focus never wavering from the text in his hands. “It is because I am fond of you.”
He continued, explaining that because he observed her every action and kept a constant watch on her, any shift in her behavior became glaringly obvious.
These words only served to deepen Adi’s confusion. She didn’t share his level of insight. Even after watching him for a significant period, she couldn’t decipher his moods or internal state just by looking at him. She wondered if the act of caring about someone was separate from the concept of liking them.
“I…”
The certainties she had held until this morning seemed to be dissolving. Adi struggled to find the vocabulary to describe her inner turmoil. She tried to recall the sophisticated, courtly language Dimitri had taught her, but those formal phrases failed to capture her truth.
“I am struggling to identify this specific feeling, however…”
The moment she mentioned her internal state, Yuls looked up. Adi had never been one to discuss her emotions.
“However, I find that I am preoccupied with thoughts of Your Excellency.”
This sudden, positive admission caught Yuls completely off guard. He was momentarily stunned, wondering if he had misheard her or if he was trapped in a dream. He questioned if his exhaustion was causing him to hallucinate. Her uncharacteristic caution made the moment feel surreal.
“You are preoccupied with me?”
“I am.”
Yuls watched her, waiting for the rest of the thought. He was certain a broader explanation was coming. Adi, however, remained perfectly still, as if that single statement was sufficient. He was baffled that the conversation might end on such a brief note—that she simply cared and nothing more.
“Listen.”
He had given her similar advice not long ago. He had encouraged her to care, but he hadn’t anticipated how much her doing so would rattle him. His entire being was now tuned exclusively to Adrina. The sensation was so overwhelming that he couldn’t even feel the weight of the paper in his grip.
“Could you perhaps use different words to explain what you mean?”
Yuls prompted her. Adi went silent for a moment, weighing her response.
“I would prefer it if you didn’t share your meals with anyone else.”
“Is that forbidden?”
He wondered if she was being literal about the food. He felt that if she were a native of Woodpecker or shared a Southern Origin, her intent would be easier to parse. Regional nuances often changed the weight of such statements.
“This isn’t an official request,” she clarified. “I am speaking about your private time.”
People from the North generally didn’t place much social importance on dining, so he knew this wasn’t a political maneuver or a play for influence.
“Are you asking me to avoid dining with other women?”
Her gaze was so intense it suggested a much deeper significance behind the request.
“I want those moments to be reserved for me alone,” Adi declared.
An involuntary laugh escaped Yuls. Hearing her put it that way confirmed there was a profound weight to her words.
“Only with my Guard?”
“Just for a meal?”
He had no reason to say no. He was simply shocked that she found such a small request so difficult to voice. He was about to tell her it was easily done when Adi spoke again. “In that case.”
“What if I declare this to be my wish?”
He couldn’t believe she was willing to burn her wish privilege on something so minor. She hadn’t even invoked that right when her life was on the line. From a logical standpoint, it was nonsensical.
“Of course, I will grant it.”
But logic had no place here; emotions were driving the interaction.
“Is there anything else? I will give you whatever you ask for.”
“I only have a few wishes left, so I cannot ask for more.”
Her willingness to use such a precious resource on a simple meal proved how much it mattered to her.
“If you truly want to grant it, then you should give me another wish to use.”
The implication was impossible to miss.
…Even if she was currently blind to her own motivations.
Yuls signaled for her to draw near. Adi walked slowly toward the bedside. She allowed him to take her hand, watching with a curious expression as he traced the edges of her nails with his thumb.
“Your nails are strong and quite lovely.”
Adi knew her hands weren’t conventionally beautiful. She was well aware of how she differed from high-born ladies. Her hands weren’t pale, delicate, or soft. While other women handled delicate fans and stationery, her hands were marked by the calluses of someone who swung heavy weaponry.
She didn’t feel shame for her labor, but seeing his hands—which were as unblemished as any noblewoman’s—made her feel self-conscious. She tried to pull away, but Yuls held her firm.
“Adrina.”
He whispered her name and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. It was a soft gesture. He followed it by kissing her palm and the nail of her ring finger, then looked up at her with a smile.
“If you fulfill one request for me, I will give you an endless supply of wishes.”
It sounded like an incredibly lopsided deal in her favor. Adi, however, wasn’t convinced. she squinted at him, her face full of skepticism. She had been entirely sincere, and seeing him look so amused sparked a flicker of irritation. Furthermore, Dimitri had warned her to always be wary of the nobility.
“That sounds like a bad deal for me. I’m sorry, but I have to refuse.”
Yuls was silenced. He hadn’t expected a rejection. Her mind was a labyrinth. In some ways, she was more difficult to navigate than Count Grimaldi himself. Yet, he wasn’t annoyed; he found her unpredictability charming.
“Then tell me, if you did have another wish, what would you do with it?”
“I would want to ensure we have a meal together next time as well, not just today.”
“…With me?”
“Only that?”
Yuls asked, his voice laced with disbelief. Adi looked at him for a long beat before casting her eyes downward.
“To me, it isn’t ’only’ that.”
Yuls felt a sudden, sharp pull in his chest. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but the impulse to reach for her was becoming hard to ignore.
“Very well.”
Adi looked up, meeting his gaze. Her eyes seemed unusually clear. They reminded him of smoky quartz. He recalled that the Woodpecker estate owned a mine that produced such crystals. He wondered if giving her the entire mine would be too much too soon.
“However, you should take back your wish. We can eat together every day if that is what the Guard desires.”
He was more than willing to rearrange his entire life to make that happen, even if it meant treating his other duties as inconveniences. Still, he cautioned himself to be patient.
“I understand,” she replied.
She clearly hadn’t grasped the full depth of the situation yet.
“I’ll be waiting to hear what your next wish will be.”
