Chapter 33
Spencer Grimaldi was traveling to Pallesa Palace.
The news was baffling. The Count had avoided the palace grounds for several years. Typically, the nobility flocked to the estate during the annual festivities. While the true social peak occurred between late autumn and the winter months, the lords and ladies usually gathered during the transition from spring to summer to map out their upcoming seasonal engagements.
Grimaldi had once been a regular participant in these traditions. However, he had been effectively barred from court life ever since he fell out of favor with the monarch years prior.
Had the King issued a new summons? It seemed unlikely. The King might lack competence, but he was a man of rigid habits; once he decided to dislike someone, he rarely softened his stance.
Perhaps the invitation had come from Claude instead.
“I was under the impression the Count hadn’t set foot here in quite some time.”
“That is correct; it has been three years. However, his arrival is imminent, and I thought it best to alert you so you could prepare your greetings.”
“What is his expected arrival date?”
“As for the specific timing, I am afraid I…”
“Has he secured lodgings yet?”
“He mentioned he would send word once his accommodations are finalized.”
“I see.”
Yuls rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If the Count hadn’t settled on a place to stay, then the King certainly hadn’t invited him. This was undoubtedly the work of the Crown Prince. One had to wonder how the King would react to Claude bringing Count Grimaldi back on a personal whim.
A faint smirk played on Yuls’s lips. It didn’t truly matter—watching the ensuing chaos and the headaches it would cause everyone else would be entertaining enough.
“Adi, go find Gavin.”
Adi wondered why he wasn’t asking for Bert, given that this seemed like a matter of logistics, but she obeyed without question and fetched him. When Gavin arrived, he looked visibly confused. Yuls didn’t waste time.
“Gavin, I need a letter sent to the Grimaldi residence.”
“What are your instructions for the content, sir?”
“Inform him that my doors are open. If he lacks a place to stay, he is welcome at my estate.”
As he spoke, Yuls cut a glance toward Adi. His expression suggested that by doing this, he was saving her the trouble of sneaking away to meet the Count elsewhere.
“Very well. I shall draft the message to Count Grimaldi immediately.”
“Make it an express delivery. We need to reach him before he commits to another location. Even if he has already booked something, he shouldn’t be penalized for canceling this early.”
“As you wish, Your Excellency.”
Gavin bowed and exited, his face a mask of bewilderment. He clearly didn’t understand the Duke’s motives, but he knew better than to interrogate his master. Once the door clicked shut, Yuls looked at Adi.
“Does that satisfy the situation?”
“…”
“The guest suite we used recently has been tidied up; he can stay there. You are already quite familiar with that wing, Sir.”
Adi knew exactly which room he meant—the one he had occupied before. It was on the same floor, which meant they would be close, and there were plenty of secondary rooms nearby for the Count’s retinue.
“There is no need for concern. I have seen to it that the hidden passage is permanently sealed. No more intruders will be slipping through that way.”
Adi maintained a steady gaze on Yuls. Under normal circumstances, he would have scolded her for such a defiant look, but Yuls was currently inclined to be patient with her. He needed her cooperation if he ever hoped to be rid of his affliction.
“Even if an assassin did appear, the Count is a master of the blade, is he not? He would likely handle the threat with the same ease you did, Sir.”
Of course, the Duke’s attitude might shift drastically once the curse was a thing of the past.
“Are you not going to offer your gratitude?”
“My thanks, Your Excellency.”
“Much better.”
Adi reminded herself that this strange civility was a temporary arrangement, tied strictly to the duration of the curse.
*
The palace grounds were a hive of activity. While the Outer Palace always saw a surge in maintenance and decorating this time of year, the Inner Palace was experiencing an even greater upheaval. New draperies were being hung, ornaments were being polished, and a small army of tailors had moved in.
Word had spread that the King was expected to arrive.
Adi had never actually laid eyes on the monarch. She had no idea what his features looked like. This wasn’t unusual; many nobles lived their entire lives without knowing the physical appearance of those in the line of royal succession.
Keeping their faces a mystery served as a defense against potential killers. Naturally, certain identifying marks were common knowledge—like Duke Woodpecker’s shock of crimson hair.
However, since Adi had been surprised to find the Duke was a child, Roy had cautioned her that appearances could be deceiving. He warned her that since they couldn’t recognize the King or the Crown Prince on sight, she had to be impeccably careful with her behavior and speech whenever strangers were present at Pallesa Palace.
Roy, who had spent years as a palace guard, shared his experience with her.
“You won’t recognize their faces, but their clothes give them away. The fabric and the jewels are on a level you won’t see anywhere else. And keep an eye out for blond hair. If you see it, keep your head down. That’s the royal signature, though the King’s hair has mostly turned white by now.”
“Blond, you say?”
“Yeah. A bit darker than your shade.”
As he spoke, Roy reached out and mussed Adi’s hair. She swiped his hand away, and he raised his palms in a mock gesture of surrender.
Nearby, a group of palace maids giggled at the exchange. Further off on the manicured lawns, noblewomen were lounging in their finery. It was a picturesque scene of white dresses against green grass, fruit platters, and pale yellow cocktails—a world that felt entirely disconnected from Adi’s reality.
“Heading to the grounds?”
“Yes. Are you coming?”
“No, I’m taking a break. I spent the whole morning on watch, and my limbs are heavy.”
“You were just standing there.”
“Static duty is exhausting in its own way, you know.”
“Which is exactly why I need to move.”
“Suit yourself. Go tire yourself out.”
“How do you expect to keep your edge if you’re always lounging?”
“I’m still more than a match for you. We can spar later if you’re so worried.”
“Shall we drop the formalities and settle it then?”
“Where did you pick up that kind of talk? Besides, we’re the same rank.”
“All the more reason to fight as equals.”
“Fine. We’ll find time after the festival wraps up.”
“It’ll be blistering hot by then.”
Adi gave Roy’s shoulder a playful shove. As she turned to leave, he offered a lazy wave of dismissal.
The two had become quite friendly, largely because their meal schedules coincided and Roy possessed a naturally gregarious personality.
Adi made her way toward the training fields reserved for the primary Knight Orders. The area was quiet for now, but Roy had warned her it would be swarming with people once the festival brought the high nobility to the palace. She had been considering finding a more secluded spot to avoid the crowds.
Finding the field vacant once again, she shed her coat and stretched her neck to work out the tension. Her routine was set: a warm-up run, followed by conditioning and sword drills.
She preferred having a partner to practice with, but Roy was surprisingly avoidant when it came to actual combat practice. Meanwhile, the knights of the 3rd Order were a bit too rowdy; a spar with them usually devolved into a chaotic brawl.
While she was jogging and lost in her own thoughts, a figure appeared. She had been certain the grounds were empty just a moment ago, but someone was now standing there. Adi slowed her pace for a second before continuing her lap.
The stranger had clearly passed through palace security, so he belonged there. He wasn’t dressed for physical labor, so he was likely a noble visiting to watch the training.
She assumed he would leave quickly since there was no one else to watch, but to her surprise, the man stepped onto the track and began running alongside her.
It wasn’t unheard of for nobles to train, but seeing one running laps in formal attire was bizarre. She wondered if he was a new recruit or perhaps a squire.
He didn’t peel away, and eventually, Adi grew tired of the shadow and stopped. The man came to a halt beside her, doubled over and gasping for breath. It was painfully obvious he lacked any real stamina.
“Can I help you with something?”
“Haa… huff… hello there, beautiful.”
Adi stared at him, wondering if the man was actually insane.
Was he trying to provoke her? She was about to react when she noticed the color of his hair. It was blond—a rich, honeyed gold that was slightly deeper than her own. Remembering Roy’s warning, she decided to be cautious.
“Phew, that’s exhausting. Which unit are you with? Just looking at you, I’d bet you’re with the 2nd Knights Order, right?”
Adi didn’t give him an answer, choosing instead to wipe the perspiration from her face with her sleeve. The man didn’t take the hint and kept following her.
“If you have a reason for speaking to me, please get to the point.”
“Oh, it’s nothing formal. I’m just searching for someone.”
He let his eyes wander to her discarded jacket, seemingly looking for a unit patch.
“I was told they were also in the 2nd Knights Order.”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you. I’m not well-acquainted with many people in that unit.”
“Is that so? I heard they were quite well-known. Apparently, they were a recent transfer.”
The man looked genuinely baffled. Adi was equally confused by his logic. Did he think every knight in a massive organization knew every other member personally? He probably assumed she had been raised in the barracks as a squire.
Before she could explain her lack of knowledge, a voice drifted across the field. “Sir Adrian Grimaldi!” Adi grabbed her jacket and walked toward the edge of the grounds. Gavin was sprinting toward her.
“Sir, there you are.”
“Gavin?”
“The Duke requires your presence immediately.”
The sun was still high in the sky. It was too early for dinner and far too early for their usual late-night meetings. Adi looked at him, puzzled.
“Is Sir Bert Dean unavailable?”
“He is preoccupied with other duties at the moment.”
Adi assumed there had been a shift in the Duke’s itinerary.
“I understand.”
She looked back at the stranger. “I have duties to attend to.”
The man’s face fell slightly, but then he gave her a wide, confident smirk.
“Understood.”
He gave her a wink. “Until next time, beautiful.”
Adi didn’t plan on there being a next time.
“Good day.”
As she walked away, she decided that if he called her that again, she was going to knock his teeth out.
