Chapter 53
Adi understood that the Duke relied on her. She recognized the depth of his craving, but the mystery of what would happen once his hunger was sated remained.
He was capable of faking affection right now. He might even trick her into believing he truly cared, coaxing her to lower her guard only to discard her once she served her purpose. That was the risk if she wasn’t actually what he desired.
She wasn’t naive enough to think the universe would align simply to suit her. Adi’s life hadn’t been paved with enough kindness to support such fantasies. Reality was far harsher.
And Duke Woodpecker was a part of that harsh reality.
“You mentioned a single wish for every kiss, correct?”
“That was the deal.”
“Are there no restrictions?”
Yuls fell silent when she pressed him. He couldn’t decide if she was being refreshingly honest or remarkably dim-witted.
“Surely your ability to grant favors isn’t infinite?”
“I suppose not.”
If Yuls were in her shoes, he would have exploited the oversight rather than pointing it out. While her self-imposed boundaries were convenient for him, her lack of ruthlessness sparked a flicker of genuine worry in his chest.
“In that case, let’s disregard the hands, the brow, or the cheeks. Only those on the mouth will count. Since I’ve kissed you twice, that equals two favors.”
“You also promised me one in exchange for lifting the curse,” he reminded her.
It was strange; she failed to protect her own interests, yet she possessed a meticulous memory for their past agreements.
“Three, then.”
“What if I make a habit of kissing you daily?”
She paused. “Is that your intention?”
“One never knows.”
The idea wasn’t unpleasant to Yuls, but he didn’t want to appear too easily swayed.
“Wishes lose their value if they are granted too freely,” she countered. “Let’s only count the times I initiate it.”
“Then we might never move past three.”
“Perhaps. But if you find yourself wanting more, you could always try to win me over.”
“……”
“I’d be happy to let you succeed,” Yuls added.
Adi didn’t put much stock in his words as she stood. She couldn’t remain nestled in his embrace indefinitely. The Duke didn’t protest her withdrawal; he simply retrieved his fallen cravat, looped it around his collar, and began to fix the knot.
She had assumed he required a servant for such tasks, but his hands moved with practiced ease. Once his clothes were straightened, Yuls rose from the settee.
He preferred looking down at her rather than the other way around. Adi’s stature was ideal for this; she wasn’t so short that her expressions were hidden, yet she was low enough that he only had to tilt his head to see her. From this angle, he noticed the top of her head was quite round and oddly endearing.
Yuls reached out, casually mussing her hair.
Adi blinked in shock at the sudden gesture. When she glanced up, a faint laugh escaped him. He rested a hand on her shoulder for a heartbeat before letting go and heading for the exit.
At the threshold, Yuls paused.
“Adi.”
The light from the corridor seemed to frame him in a brilliant glow, though it might have just been the contrast with the dimness of the bedroom.
“Don’t just stand there. Let’s go.”
Adi bit her lip nervously before following him, a strange sensation fluttering in her chest.
A crowd of aristocrats occupied the passage connecting the Outer and Inner sections of Pallesa Palace, all anticipating the sovereign’s arrival.
Though the King made this journey annually, Adi had never witnessed it during her time with the 3rd Knights Order. Their post at the Outer Palace meant they rarely crossed paths with the high nobility of the Inner Palace, let alone the monarch. Most knights in her position lived their entire careers without ever seeing the royal carriage.
The sky began to weep with a light mist again.
As they waited, Roy whispered that the King would be arriving in the Golden Carriage. Adi doubted such a thing was literally made of gold.
Scanning the crowd, she recognized several people. Spencer Grimaldi was positioned near the Crown Prince, with Lev standing close by.
Their proximity made her wonder if Spencer’s ties to the Crown Prince were the reason he wanted her back in the family fold. She knew she had to speak with the Crown Prince herself, but the timing was difficult. She needed Spencer to be distracted. If only someone could draw him away for a few minutes…
Yuls followed her line of sight. Sensing the attention, the Crown Prince and Spencer both turned their heads. Their eyes met in a silent clash.
The Crown Prince flashed a smirk, while Spencer’s face turned to stone.
Unexpectedly, Yuls reached out to smooth Adrian’s hair. The gesture seemed to pull the focus of every noble in the vicinity onto them. As Adi looked at him with confusion, Yuls spoke softly. “Keep your eyes on me, not them.”
Nearby, Joel let out a sharp whisper to his companion. “I knew it!”
“I told you they were getting cozy. There’s no doubt about it—something is happening between those two!”
He wasn’t nearly as quiet as he thought. In the wake of the existing gossip, a chamberlain’s confirmation was all the fuel the fire needed. Before the rumors could spread further, however, the sound of approaching wheels drowned out the chatter.
The first carriage to arrive was black, leaving Adi feeling justified in her skepticism. But then a second vehicle appeared, followed by a massive coach that shimmered with actual gold. Whether solid or plated, it was a blinding display of royal wealth.
The King had arrived.
A heavy hush fell over the grounds, the only sound being the soft patter of rain. The carriage halted, and a Knight and Mage stepped forward to open the door for the King.
He emerged with dark blonde hair, dressed in black ceremonial robes that were even more lavish than the Duke’s. A magical shield shimmered around him, keeping the rain at bay and making him look like a god who was untouched by the elements. Yuls let out a soft, mocking sound.
“Still as theatrical as ever.”
He didn’t bother to lower his voice. Despite the potential insult, no one dared to react. Adi checked the faces of Roy and Bert, but they remained expressionless.
She looked toward the Crown Prince and Spencer, then at the surrounding nobles. A realization struck her, and a small smile touched her lips.
The people in their immediate circle were all Southern lords.
These were the men who answered to Woodpecker.
“Behold His Majesty, Kerleus II.”
Meanwhile, the group clustered around the Crown Prince were the Royalists—the faction that had carried out the King’s purges. The Grimaldi family was firmly in that camp.
“Long live the King,” the nobles chanted in unison.
It was a chilling, theatrical display of power.
Because of the long trek from the capital, no formal festivities were planned for the day of arrival. The King required rest. However, protocol demanded the nobles pay their respects in the Audience Chamber. Duke Woodpecker was among those expected.
Looking irritated by the obligation, Yuls draped an arm over Adi’s shoulder. “Shall we go?” Bert watched them, his expression grim.
He knew Sir Adrian was vital for the curse, and if the Duke was amused for now, Bert wouldn’t interfere. He assumed it was a fleeting obsession. Their social standing made anything permanent impossible.
Still, the Duke’s public displays of affection were a nightmare for the staff. Just as the gossip began to die down, Yuls was pouring oil on the fire. Bert dreaded the scandalous talk that would surely follow.
“What is the schedule?” Yuls asked.
“The Crown Prince is first,” Gavin answered. “The King originally wanted to see you first, but since Prince Claude left the capital unattended, there is much to discuss between them.”
“Then we have time. Those two will be at each other’s throats for hours.”
“Likely so,” Gavin agreed. “But the Prince is prone to walking out when he gets angry, so we shouldn’t be late.”
Yuls nodded, recognizing the volatility of both men. It was better to be punctual than to give them an excuse for a grievance.
He began to strip off his damp layers while Billy brought out fresh attire. Even a light rain left one feeling chilled and wet, and he wouldn’t meet the King in such a state.
“The bath is ready, My Lord,” Billy said, taking the discarded clothes.
“How long do I have?”
“Roughly two hours.”
“Enough time to get warm.”
Yuls donned a robe and pushed back his damp hair. He looked at his escort and the servants, all of whom were equally soaked. His gaze landed on Adi, who was awkwardly trying to wring out her blonde hair. He gave a small click of his tongue.
“Everyone, go wash and change. I don’t want you in wet clothes.”
It was an uncharacteristically considerate remark. His staff exchanged surprised looks, but before they could respond, Yuls had already retreated into the steaming bathroom.
“He’s right,” Roy said, shivering as he turned to Adi. “It’s freezing out there.”
He gave her a cheeky grin. “Want to share a tub?”
“Get lost,” Adi snapped.
