Chapter 120
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Lev’s mouth hung open. His attention shifted toward Adi before wandering into the distance, as if he were monitoring the presence of those watching from the shadows. Adi didn’t bother turning around; she was already well aware of the figures lurking nearby.
A deep crimson stained his cheeks. She wondered what prompted such a look. It didn’t strike her as a sign of affection. Was he ashamed? If that was the case, she couldn’t fathom what he had to be embarrassed about.
“I…”
When Lev finally spoke, his lips were trembling.
“Does it hold any significance to you that I have feelings?”
“None at all,” she replied.
His features turned rigid. Though the scorching sun continued its relentless assault, Lev’s complexion drained until he was ghost-white. Adi felt no pity; in fact, she found the sight quite tolerable. The more he faltered, the more she felt the weight on her chest begin to lift.
Once she focused on his distress, her other senses seemed to sharpen. She became acutely aware of the heat, the oppressive sunlight, and the rhythmic drone of the cicadas in the background.
“Furthermore, I have no desire to go back to Grimaldi with you.”
The world around her suddenly felt more vibrant, the colors bleeding into focus.
“Adrian is no longer alive.”
The truths she had spent so long ignoring or denying finally took root in her mind.
“The life I was forced to lead was already cut short by people like you.”
She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment or the specific catalyst for the change. However, Adrina understood that her existence had reached a point of no return.
As Adi regained her sense of self, Lev seemed to wither. His frozen, distant expression was a mirror of Grimaldi itself.
Grimaldi. She tried to conjure an image of the place. Beyond the memory of white sleet falling like shards of glass and the drifting petals of magnolias, her mind was a blank. It didn’t matter. She felt perfectly fine now.
“I am going to forge my own path, Lev.”
Suddenly, Lev moved toward her with the intensity of a predator lunging for its prey. As she tried to retreat, he caught her wrist in a crushing grip, pulling her toward him.
“You aren’t going anywhere.”
Adi wrenched her arm free. Lev looked as though he had been struck, his breathing coming in ragged gasps. “You can’t leave!” he bellowed. As if on cue, the surrounding silence broke as figures emerged from the greenery.
A group of knights moved in, forming a tight circle around the two of them.
“Compared to Pallesa Palace, Ionad seems to have quite a surplus of garbage among its ranks.”
She knew Pallesa Palace wasn’t exactly clean—she had personally culled the filth there many times. The difference was that back then, they had viewed her as a man. Here, they were surrounding a woman with the clear intent to cow her into submission.
“Are you really trying to bully a single woman into silence?”
The men flinched at her sharp tone, though they didn’t break their formation. Adi took a slow, calculated look at her opposition. There were eight of them, nine if she counted Lev.
“Pathetic.”
She wasn’t delusional enough to think she could slaughter them all. However, she knew with absolute certainty that she could take at least one of them down with her.
“This place is even more wretched than Pallesa Palace.”
Their eyes turned murderous at the insult. Adi didn’t blink; she simply let her hand slide down to the hilt of her blade.
“Silent, are we? At least you have enough decency to feel a shred of guilt for this.”
She was met with a wall of hostile glares. Adi let out a small, dark laugh. This was a feeling she recognized. This electric tension and the heightening of her instincts were things she hadn’t tasted in a long time.
“Come on then, you bastards. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
*
In the hallway outside the council chambers, the Escort Knight Division and various high-ranking attendants waited for their masters. As Duke Woodpecker emerged, Gavin and Bert fell into their usual positions behind Yuls.
The session had been grueling and seemingly endless. No real progress had been made, just hours of circular, pointless debate. Still, Yuls didn’t consider the time wasted. He had successfully mapped out the current political alliances.
“Your Excellency.”
A voice called out, stopping him in his tracks.
Yuls looked back to find Macauliffe approaching. While they hadn’t spoken during the formal meeting, the man was now wearing the eager expression of a predator sensing an opportunity. It was a starkly different look than the one he had worn during their previous meal.
“Might I have a moment of your time?”
Yuls signaled to Gavin, who immediately understood. “I will secure a private space for the discussion,” Gavin said.
A nearby room was quickly prepared. Upon entering, Yuls sat on the sofa with an air of effortless authority, as if he were hosting in his own home. Macauliffe took the seat opposite him.
“Shall I have some refreshments brought in? Tea or wine?”
“I require nothing, Your Excellency.”
“Very well. Then let us proceed.”
Yuls had no interest in sharing a drink with a man like Macauliffe anyway.
“I trust you have been well?”
“And you, Viscount?”
“It truly is a shame that our previous engagement was cut short.”
Macauliffe spoke with a practiced smile. Yuls glanced toward the door, noting that several Elders were watching them as they passed by the open room. They were clearly drawing their own conclusions about this private meeting, but Yuls saw no need to disabuse them of their assumptions.
“Was this the topic you intended to raise before?” Yuls inquired. “The plan to turn Woodpecker into a hub for free trade?”
“Would such a development not be an incredible advantage for your house, Your Excellency?”
“I find myself skeptical.”
On the surface, the pitch was enticing. However, a closer look revealed the flaws.
“It is true that the southern coast and my lands are dotted with ports. But those are primarily small-scale fishing hubs. The only viable commercial ports are situated to the East. A free trade designation would limit our partners to the Central Continent. While avoiding Thuringen is a benefit, that only serves the South. To the West, the forest creates a massive barrier that stretches from our borders all the way to Belipeera. You are aware of the terrain, Viscount. Woodpecker is hardly a logical choice for such a project.”
“That is precisely why it is the perfect choice, Your Excellency. Dalkatir’s maritime growth has been lopsided, favoring the East. We cannot expand if we stay within those confines. Our kingdom needs a western outlet. This is the ideal moment to transform those western fishing villages into something greater.”
“That would be true, if one could actually navigate the cliffs.”
The western coast remained untouched because of the massive precipice. Rising over 700 meters, it acted as a natural wall separating the coast from the heart of the kingdom. The height only increased as one moved north toward Grimaldi, where it reached 1,200 meters. Even at its lowest point in Woodpecker, it was still a 200-meter drop.
“The infrastructure simply doesn’t exist to reach those areas.”
“But the terrain flattens significantly as you move south. It is more viable than any other region. There are stretches of level ground. Besides, the southern reaches of your territory are vast plains. A minor detour makes the journey entirely possible.”
“If we utilized the southern plains as you suggest, Viscount, the West would be accessible. However, the travel time would be staggering.”
While there were a few treacherous paths down the cliffs, any detour through the plains to reach the central or eastern hubs of Woodpecker would be an invitation to logistical failure.
“Even if a city were built, moving goods into the rest of the kingdom would be a nightmare. We lack the roads and the sheer speed required for a modern trade network.”
“Time is a hurdle, certainly.”
“Then you see the problem. The western side of my land is not the prize you think it is. We have far better options for development than that coast.”
“You are focusing on current limitations. Once the city exists, the rest follows. Population growth and infrastructure are the inevitable results of successful trade.”
“Building that infrastructure would take decades. I fail to see how the investment is justified when Woodpecker is already thriving. Why look to the West?”
It struck Yuls as odd. If Macauliffe wanted a western port, there were other lords already established in that region. Seeking out a southern Duke was an inefficient move.
“Let me be direct.”
Yuls leaned forward.
“Why are you so fixated on the western part of my lands?”
Was it just a matter of status? In the end, the high nobility were all peers; the only distinction was the proximity of their blood to the crown.
“There are many other coastal sites. Why do you want mine, Viscount?”
“That is a detail I must keep quiet for the time being. It is sensitive information.”
“You expect me to clear the path for you without knowing why?”
“I am not making demands.”
“Then I am under no obligation to agree.”
Yuls watched him closely. “How do you even plan to reach the West, Viscount?”
Macauliffe remained silent.
“And who is going to pay for this massive construction project?”
“……”
“The fortifications, the bridges, the highways. Who provides the labor and the coin? The House of Woodpecker?”
“I would expect your family to provide the primary backing, but you wouldn’t be alone. We would draw in capital from the rest of the nobility.”
“No sane noble would throw money at a project with no guaranteed return.”
“Many in the South are already loyal to you, Your Excellency. Furthermore, the western coast of Dalkatir is a tempting prospect. It sits further west than even Peillasode. Foreign investors would surely be interested.”
“Only by a small margin. And you know as well as I do that its location is the very reason it has been ignored for centuries.”
“That is a narrow view, Your Excellency. Peillasode is a southern hub, but if we build in your territory, we create the easternmost point for western trade. It is a superior strategic location. If we were to cut through the mountains—perhaps with tunnels—we could revolutionize travel times. It would be both fast and secure.”
“All of this effort for a single trade route.”
The idea was preposterous. If such a thing were possible, the West wouldn’t have been a wasteland for generations.
“What kind of profit do you honestly expect from an isolated outpost?”
“More than we are seeing now, certainly.”
Yuls wondered if anyone in the long history of the kingdom had ever actually entertained such a foolish notion.
“Your Excellency, Woodpecker is a geographic goldmine. Your southern ports are near Peillasode, and your eastern border touches the lands of Belipeera. You are even close to Tuberosa by sea. If you establish a gateway to the Western Continent, Dalkatir becomes the most important power in the Central Continent.”
He couldn’t tell if Macauliffe was incredibly bold or just incredibly stupid.
“Ionad is fine for internal politics, but its growth has hit a ceiling. Woodpecker, however, is a land of untapped potential.”
Was the man truly this certain of his plan, or was he just rambling?
“Besides, you carry the royal bloodline. Even if your power grows exponentially, the throne would have no reason to fear you.”
Yuls knew the opposite was true. His lineage was exactly why he was watched. No one could be sure when he might make a play for the crown. While the King and Claude understood his character, there were always those who hoped for a coup. Did Macauliffe think a trade city would change that dynamic?
“I was under the impression that Claude was the one who welcomed you into this kingdom, Viscount,” Yuls said flatly. “I do not align myself with those who lack loyalty.”
“Loyalty?”
Macauliffe looked offended by the suggestion of betrayal.
“Everything I propose is for the benefit of Prince Claude and the kingdom.”
“Then why did you not show that same devotion to Dunbar?”
“I was devoted to them.”
Yuls’s expression hardened. Devotion.
Dunbar was an eastern Duchy. Had Macauliffe tried to sell them this same dream? If so, he had been advocating for war, as maritime dominance was a matter of national survival.
“They simply refused to trust in my intentions.”
Yuls forced back a mocking laugh, instead bowing his head slightly with a cold smile. “I see.” Given the state Claude had been in since this man’s arrival, it was no wonder no one believed a word he said. The investigation was already in motion, but Macauliffe’s reputation was already beyond saving.
“I have heard enough for today.”
Yuls gave the Viscount a long, silent look before standing up to leave.
