Ch#146
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It was a delayed realization, but Adi finally understood how narrow her life had been. Her entire youth had been confined within the borders of Grimaldi, and even moving to Pallesa Palace hadn’t changed much; she had lived strictly within its walls. Her time at Woodpecker was restricted to the manor, and Ionad had been no different, with her life revolving around the royal residence. Aside from the blurred scenery viewed from a moving carriage, she had never truly seen another city.
Had she known the world was this expansive, she might not have tolerated her past circumstances so quietly. Back then, however, her perspective was blinded by lack of experience.
The more her knowledge grew, the more her thoughts drifted toward Adrian.
She couldn’t help but think of her brother, who remained a prisoner of that stagnant life.
Unlike the sheer precipices of the western border, the land east of Grimaldi sloped gently toward Sachya, a modest port town. This hub served as a gateway to the Central Continent’s interior and foreign nations. It was also the departure point for vessels bound for Woodpecker.
Specifically, one particular ship.
“It has been quite some time!”
A massive vessel awaited them, the Woodpecker insignia carved proudly into its hull.
“This boat is…”
Adi craned her neck to look up at the ship, which loomed much larger than she had envisioned. It lacked the cluttered look of a merchant craft; it appeared more like a ship of war.
“Woodpecker maintains a significant naval force since we are a coastal power. We are sailing directly to the southern part of our lands,” Joel explained, sensing her confusion. “A winter residence is located there. We will rest for a few days before continuing our journey.”
His answer surprised her. She had assumed they would simply rent space on a standard passenger or trade ship. Since Grimaldi possessed no navy, her mind hadn’t even considered such an alternative.
“I have never traveled by sea before.”
“Given its size, the rocking shouldn’t be too severe. You likely won’t suffer much sickness.”
With that optimistic note, Joel led the way onto the deck. Roy followed close on his heels.
“Don’t tell me you’re frightened of a little water?”
Adi gave Roy a sharp swat for his mocking tone as he passed. Then, her attention turned to the Duke. Disguised as a common head chamberlain in a brown wig and a low-slung hat, Yuls boarded alongside Dimitri. As he walked past, his eyes met hers, and he gave her a small, comforting smile.
The secret of the Duke’s regressed physical state remained strictly guarded.
Once on board, Roy stowed his gear and quickly retreated to the carriage to change. He emerged wearing a crimson wig, his features partially hidden by a hat in imitation of Yuls. Seeing the transformation, Adi stood up.
“It is time.”
She avoided using his formal title aloud. To any outside observer, the man with the red hair was clearly the Duke. Adi took her position as his protector, and the crew gave them a wide berth as she escorted him. Even though the ship was manned by Woodpecker’s own people, a lingering tension tightened her chest.
The anchor was hauled up and the canvas caught the wind. A lone bird circled the bow twice in a symbolic farewell before darting toward the southern horizon.
The initial leg of the trip was calm, aided by a steady southwest breeze.
While the Duke remained secluded in his quarters, Adi and Roy initially split the guard duties. However, that responsibility soon shifted entirely to Roy and Ivan.
The sea had claimed Adi as its victim.
The calm waters of the port had been deceptive. As they moved south, the ship navigated near a shallow reef where the ocean turned violent. Waves slammed into the jagged stone, sending plumes of freezing salt spray over the railings.
Adi had tried to stay on deck, convinced the fresh air would settle her stomach and that any mess she made would be easier to manage outside. Eventually, Joel had to physically lead her below deck, insisting she take some medicine.
“How are you feeling?”
Joel’s voice was soft as he observed her drained, ghostly face. He didn’t need a verbal response; her misery was written in every line of her posture.
Realizing the futility of the question, he left the tonic by her side and told her to sleep, quietly exiting the room.
*
Serious illness was a rarity for her. The last time she had truly suffered was during her brush with poison.
Yet, there was a vast difference between the agony of a toxin and this internal, grinding malaise. Though seasickness was technically less dangerous than poison, it left her in a state of feverish delirium. The inability to keep food down made the exhaustion worse, though she decided that starving was preferable to the violent effort of vomiting.
A faint, hazy memory surfaced of a similar sickness from her childhood, though the details remained out of reach. As the room tilted and swayed, Adi curled onto her side, finding even the act of opening her eyelids a monumental chore.
The soft click of the door latch drew her attention.
She assumed it was Joel returning or perhaps Roy checking in. There was no reason to be alarmed, as only their trusted circle was on the ship.
She kept her eyes shut, tracking the footsteps as they neared. She expected a brief check-up, but the visitor didn’t leave. Instead, she heard a chair being pulled across the floor to her bedside. Just as she considered looking up, a warm palm settled against her forehead. Instinct took over; her fingers clamped around the sword hidden under her pillow as her eyes snapped open.
Yuls was sitting right there.
“…Your Excellency.”
Her grip on the weapon relaxed, and she slowly pulled her hand away.
Yuls watched the tension drain from her face. Seeing her go from a lethal predator to a vulnerable woman the moment she recognized him sparked a strange sense of possessive pride. It was a private intimacy that belonged only to him. He didn’t need the world to see it; the knowledge itself was enough.
Adi closed her eyes again. Yuls reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her skin felt like ice.
“Are you in much pain?”
“I am alright,” she whispered, though her eyes only opened halfway. She looked terrible, her skin a sickly pallor even in the shadows of the cabin.
“Can you manage any water? Did you take the medicine?”
“I did.”
She didn’t mention that the medicine hadn’t stayed down for more than a few minutes, nor that her stomach was completely empty. There was no point in worrying him further.
“It troubles me that you cannot eat.”
Yuls began to stroke her cheek, and Adi reached up to catch his hand. The warmth of his skin felt like a tether to reality. She found herself pressing against his palm, seeking that comfort, before her eyes suddenly widened in realization.
“Have you grown taller?”
“I am not entirely certain.”
“Your hands… they are larger than before.”
She remembered when he had first transformed; his hands had been smaller than her own. She wondered how he had managed to grow so rapidly, and if it was happening independently of her presence. A fleeting, cold thought crossed her mind—that perhaps she was no longer necessary for his restoration—but the warmth in his eyes quickly chased the insecurity away.
“Usually, I would check for facial hair, but that hasn’t returned yet,” he mused.
Yuls wasn’t like Count Grimaldi. He wouldn’t discard her the moment her utility vanished.
“I do feel as though the world looks a bit lower than it did yesterday.”
“…”
“Why do you look so somber?”
“It is just… there are things about you now that I don’t know.”
A small pang of melancholy hit her. She wasn’t sure if expressing such a thing was appropriate. Yuls wouldn’t be angry, but she wondered if burdening him with her every insecurity was healthy for either of them.
When she fell silent, Yuls gently placed his hand over her eyes, shielding her from the dim cabin light. Adi let her lids drop, surrendering to the darkness. It was remarkably peaceful. As they spoke, the violent churning in her gut seemed to fade into a dull hum.
“We will be on dry land in a few days. Just endure a little longer.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Try to get well, Adrina.”
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her brow. His presence slowly retreated, and the door clicked shut. The well-maintained hinges made almost no noise, but the brief flash of light from the corridor signaled his departure. Adi opened her eyes for a moment before letting them drift shut again.
It was peculiar. Nothing physical had changed.
The ship still pitched and rolled, and she was still weak from hunger, yet the misery had lifted.
It felt as though she had been touched by a healing spell.
She took deep, measured breaths, finding her balance in the dark. The sound of Yuls’s footsteps had long since faded, replaced by a different, heavier set of strides in the hallway.
They passed her door without stopping, followed by the muffled drone of conversation. Adi didn’t care.
She simply wanted to reach Woodpecker.
True to the Duke’s word, the journey ended shortly after. Ironically, Adi had just begun to find her sea legs when the coast appeared.
As she stepped onto the deck, the air felt thick and heavy with moisture—a stark contrast to the dry chill of Grimaldi. The port was a riot of color and unfamiliar shapes, with low-slung, brightly painted buildings lining the docks. Roy stood ready in his red wig, while Yuls took his place behind him, perfectly playing the role of a servant.
The ship glided smoothly toward its berth.
A carriage bearing the Woodpecker coat of arms was already waiting on the pier, accompanied by a familiar face. Once the gangplank was lowered, Dimitri and Roy led the way off. Yuls followed, with Adi bringing up the rear.
Gavin greeted them with a wide smile. He stepped forward to open the carriage door for Roy. Once the “Duke” was inside, Yuls, Dimitri, and Gavin joined him.
Adi and Ivan swung into their saddles, while Joel climbed up beside the carriage driver.
As Adi looked through the carriage window, she saw Gavin’s eyes fixed intently on Yuls. Inside the safety of the coach, Roy pulled off the wig. Gavin began to speak, and though the glass muffled his voice, Adi could clearly read his lips. He was addressing the boy as ‘Your Excellency.’ Adi looked away, focusing on the road ahead as they began the final leg of their journey.