Chapter 22
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The Duke reclined against his pillows, still clad in sleepwear. A chaotic spread of paperwork, a pen, and an inkwell occupied the space atop his duvet. The bottle of ink teetered on the uneven surface, looking like a disaster waiting to happen. After a quick scan of the room yielded no solutions, Adi retreated through the door. Yuls watched her exit, his expression thick with silent inquiry.
Out in the hall, Adi requested a tray from the standing attendant. The servant moved with sudden urgency once she mentioned the risk of ink ruining the expensive bedding; after all, the cleanup would fall squarely on the staff. When the tray arrived, Adi used it to stabilize the writing materials and the inkwell. Yuls tracked her movements as she organized his workspace.
“This falls outside your requirements, Adi.”
“I am aware, Your Grace. However, a tidy space should facilitate your reading.”
“……”
“I have refrained from reading the text,” she added.
“I know. You wouldn’t find meaning in those pages with a mere look, and such matters aren’t why you were brought here regardless.”
A streak of haughtiness colored the Duke’s tone. Such arrogance felt misplaced coming from someone who appeared so young, yet it seemed strangely natural on him.
“I have work to finish. Occupy yourself with your own duties and ignore me.”
Adi’s duty was clear: remain vigilant while the Duke labored. She moved to the window in silence, taking up a position there. If a threat were to materialize, the window represented the most vulnerable point of entry.
Doubts regarding the Count’s warning still plagued her. An assassin? While the Duke certainly seemed like a man with enemies, she wondered if a direct hit was truly the chosen method.
The palace was a web of connections; no one entered without a pedigree or a sponsor. Since a letter of introduction was mandatory for access, any link to a killer would immediately implicate the noble who provided the recommendation. Assassination offered no shield for the conspirators.
Still, her father was not prone to fabrication. Despite their relationship, she knew he was reliable in that single regard. Even so, reconciling his warning with the reality of the situation felt impossible.
Yuls glanced toward the figure by the window. The flickering candles only reached so far, leaving Adi’s features partially swallowed by the gloom.
Most pretty boys still retained a masculine edge, but Adrian Grimaldi projected an undeniable feminine aura. He suspected this visual dissonance was the root of the various whispers surrounding the knight.
Yuls understood better than most that gossip rarely mirrored the truth.
Bert clearly found Adi capable. Perhaps his personal investigation had revealed more than he expected, or maybe she had simply proven her worth through action. Entrusting her with a night watch—a role reserved for the most reliable—suggested a high level of confidence.
Yet, Yuls did not share that sentiment.
His faith was placed solely in Bert.
It was only for that reason he tolerated the protection. He accepted that a restful night was out of reach for now; he could recover his strength in the morning. His calendar was clear, and he knew Roy Gallardo required the support of the Woodpecker estate. Roy had no motive to strike.
Resigning himself to a dawn bedtime, Yuls knit his brows and returned his focus to the scattered reports.
The sun rose on two people who had not slept. When Adi met Roy in the sitting room, her exhaustion was etched into her face. Twenty-four hours of wakefulness would drain anyone, regardless of their physical conditioning. She reminded herself that during her grueling days in Grimaldi, she had once gone a week without rest. By comparison, this was a minor inconvenience.
“Have you eaten?” Roy asked.
“Rest is my priority.”
“Bert isn’t fond of dining alone.”
“I told you, I need sleep.”
“You did well last night,” Roy said, his tone softening. “Pay your respects to the Duke when he emerges, then get some rest.”
He offered a casual pat on her shoulder, then pulled his hand back, staring at his palm with a look of confusion. Adi was too drained to analyze his reaction. As Yuls stepped into the room, she offered a quick salute and beat a hasty retreat. The two men watched her go before turning to one another.
“Roy.”
“I am here, Your Grace.”
“Wipe the schedule for today. I’m resting here, and I want no interruptions unless the building is on fire.”
“…Did you stay awake all night?”
“I did.”
When Roy’s face betrayed his confusion, Yuls offered a blunt explanation.
“I do not trust Adi Grimaldi.”
“Was there an incident?”
“No. I simply don’t trust her yet.”
Roy wondered why he had bothered assigning her the night shift at all if that was the case.
“Things will likely continue this way for a time.”
Yuls seemed intent on testing her, just as he did everyone else. Roy realized his own position was secure; they were bound by shared goals and a common foe. Adi, however, was an outsider. A flash of pity touched him.
She was trapped in a house where the Duke, Bert, and even Roy himself were constantly scrutinizing her every move.
Knowing her family ties were strained at best, Roy felt she was a figure deserving of some compassion. He, at least, owed her for facilitating his connection to the Woodpecker household.
' …Why does she look so fragile from behind? '
Perhaps that was why he felt the urge to protect her.
*
Back in her quarters, the sound of Bert’s heavy snoring filled the air. The night had passed without a whisper of danger—no killers, not even a stray rodent. The palace stayed vibrant until the early hours, only falling silent as the sun began to climb. That was when the Duke had finally closed his eyes.
Adi had kept her distance from the Duke’s papers, though she had safely stored the ink. At seven, a servant had arrived to wake the master. Yuls had emerged from his slumber with a look so piercing and intense that it had rattled her.
She was no stranger to hatred or coldness, but that specific gaze was a riddle she couldn’t solve.
What had that look meant?
The question lingered as she stripped off her uniform. She didn’t bother to wash, simply collapsing onto the bed in her thin chemise. Her legs ached from hours of standing, and her thoughts were a blur. She pulled the covers up, stared at the ceiling for a heartbeat, then slid her blade beneath her pillow.
Sleep claimed her almost instantly.
Much later, Yuls woke and stretched his limbs. It was a habit from his childhood, born of the hope that such movements might coax a few more inches of height from his stunted frame.
He rolled his neck, trying to work out a stubborn knot in his muscles. He felt battered despite the long rest. He wondered if his sedentary lifestyle in the capital was to blame.
Without the ability to grow or gain muscle, he found his dwindling stamina frustrating. Perhaps his health was failing internally.
“Did Bert stop by?”
“He did, Your Grace,” the servant replied. “He saw you were resting and mentioned he would return this evening.”
Roy remained a silent observer in the corner of the room.
“Any other news?”
“A representative from the Lintu family arrived this morning. I informed them you were unavailable, and they promised to return. There was no previous appointment.”
“A private visit then,” Yuls mused.
“Indeed. Also, a missive arrived from Marchioness Connolly. She requested your company for dinner in two days.”
“Don’t I have a commitment with Baron Ferry that evening?”
“You do. I mentioned it to her, but she insisted she would resolve the conflict. She intends to host the dinner outside of Pallesa.”
“My aunt is staying right here in the palace. Why the need to go elsewhere?”
“I couldn’t say, sir.”
“Find out what she’s planning. If it’s harmless, I’ll go.”
“As you wish.”
The servant bowed and exited, leaving Roy and Yuls alone. The silence in the room grew heavy.
“Roy Gallardo.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Whatever information you give to Bert, I expect to hear it as well.”
“You want direct reports?”
“Everything. Do not omit a single detail.”
“I understand.”
Yuls settled onto the sofa, seemingly pleased, and reached for his files. The reality of his situation was finally sinking in. The person inhabiting this thirteen-year-old body was actually twenty-six.
“Your Grace,” Roy interrupted.
Yuls looked up.
“Is Adi expected to stand guard tonight as well?”
“How long will this arrangement last?”
“Until I am satisfied she can be trusted.”
Roy suspected that meant the practice would continue until they reached the Woodpecker estate.
“Her strength might fail her.”
“That is of no concern,” Yuls replied coldly.
It would only be two months. Swapping her schedule wouldn’t kill her. In fact, he reasoned that working at night and avoiding the social chaos of the day might actually be easier for her.
“Prepare yourself. We leave for Woodpecker the moment my business here concludes.”
Roy gave a sharp nod. It was the Duke’s custom to depart immediately following the festivities.
“Stay focused and do your job. There is a long line of men eager to take your place if you falter.”
“If you find my service lacking, I can leave.”
“Hardly. I will follow every command to the letter.”
“See that you do,” Yuls said.
He understood Roy’s motivations. Despite the danger of the path ahead, Roy viewed this as his best prospect. Yuls felt the same.
“I need someone with enough resolve to endure the coming trials.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
“I hope the same for you, Sir Knight.”
He required competence and unwavering skill.
“The conflict we face is not for the faint of heart.”
He needed someone who could withstand the impossible.
“Especially given the nature of my affliction.”
Someone who would not break when the world turned against them.
“They will use you ruthlessly.”
Roy looked down at the small, powerful figure of his Duke.
“You will have to bear a great deal of weight.”
He saw a man whose body was frozen in time, yet whose mind was sharp enough to cut the world.
