Episode 25. Adel's Origin
Noel had started from the most menial tasks in the palace administration per his father's wishes and was now a full-fledged security bureau chief.
That didn't mean he was righteous, compassionate, and rational without the pretensions typical of nobles just because he'd risen steadily from the bottom rather than taking the usual high-noble path into politics.
If anything, his personality could be described as shrewd in calculations of profit and loss, lacking much in compassion, and adept at knowing and exploiting his family's influence better than anyone. In short, a cunning man.
The only person he shared his information with unconditionally was Adel Nora. No, Summer.
"Did you know before Winter and Autumn were adopted into the Valoneck family? About Scati Valoneck and Catherine Valoneck having illnesses?"
"No. I didn't know."
"Then did Director Gordon know?"
"Who knows. I can't read my father's mind."
Displeased by Noel's straightforward answer, Adel shot up from her seat and gripped his shoulder hard.
"I'm not joking, Noel. Tell me straight. Did Director Gordon know about it back then, or not?! Even if you didn't know at the time, you might have some inkling now. Whether the director knew or not."
Adel's eyes sharpened. Even hidden by her glasses, Noel could feel it.
Noel let out a small sigh and gently pried her hand from his shoulder.
"Sorry, Summer. I really don't know. This is the first I've heard that Scati and Catherine Valoneck have illnesses."
Adel's hand stiffened in Noel's grasp.
Instead of pressing if he was telling the truth, she just stared down at him. It was an attempt to read any other truths he might be hiding.
But at some point, Noel was no longer the pure boy Adel remembered. It was hard to discern the schemes in that cunning mind.
No, perhaps he'd always been that way—even before giving her the new identity of Adel Nora.
Noel silently gazed up at her in turn. Then, as if scrutinizing her expression, he reached for her glasses' temple.
Adel swiftly swatted his hand away and sat back in her seat across from him.
"Come on, Adel, between us."
Noel playfully groaned. But Adel turned her head wordlessly to stare out the window.
She needed time to sort her thoughts right now. Sensing her mood, Noel waited quietly.
Silence flowed.
Adel and Noel had grown up together for quite some time in the same orphanage as children.
Of course, their situations weren't similar. Adel had been just another resident handling the orphanage's chores, while Noel was the son of the director, none other than Gordon Bistain himself.
Noting the subtle decrease in the rise and fall of Adel's chest, Noel cautiously asked.
"Scati and Catherine have illnesses? Do you know what kind? How did you find out?"
"I saw LeRoy's letter to Sub-Duke Hudson yesterday."
"LeRoy? Ah, the sub-duke's agent at Somi Palace."
"Yes."
"You snooped?"
Adel turned to look at Noel. Her expression said, 'What kind of obvious question is that?'
Noel smiled ambiguously and tapped his well-shaped lips with his fingertips.
"Just curious. The great Valoneck family's security is that lax? Well, considering how much money Adel Nora's been bringing in for the Valonecks lately, they probably don't feel the need to be on guard."
The words carried a sneer. Adel's eyes narrowed. As if to smooth over her sharp gaze, Noel chuckled.
"Kidding. So, what did the letter say the illness was?"
"It didn't specify the exact name of the disease. From the overall content, I could only infer that Scati hadn't had seizures for a while thanks to Knox's care, and Catherine at Valoneck Castle is in a serious condition right now."
"Is that true?"
"Of course."
It was true. That was the promise Noel had extracted when giving Summer the identity of Adel: to answer his questions honestly, thoroughly, without lies, and regularly with whatever she knew.
That didn't mean what Adel had just said was the entirety of the letter's contents. Having grown accustomed to her long-standing superior-subordinate dynamic with Noel, Adel had learned to protect her interests within the established rules.
By concealing unfavorable information as simply unknown.
LeRoy's letter had also stated, 'As per your words, Sub-Duke, Knox Gregory's movements are suspicious, so I will monitor him more closely from now on.' But she had no intention of relaying that to Noel.
Adel wasn't ignorant of the power dynamics within the palace administration. There was no reason to pass information disadvantageous to Knox—information that he was under scrutiny by the Valoneck sub-duke—to his rival, the Bistain family.
As expected, Noel scrutinized Adel's face and smiled, as if he knew but would let it slide.
Adel didn't care. If he didn't trust her, he could infiltrate Somi Palace and read the letters himself.
"No guesses on how that illness connects to your siblings?"
Adel bristled at Noel's question.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Did the director really not know? Before sending Winter and Autumn to that house."
"Sounds like you're saying our father sold your siblings to tend to those kids' illnesses?"
"Maybe he did."
"What?"
"We were told they were being adopted into the Valoneck family, but that's not what happened in the end!"
"Adel. You've heard it straight from Father already. He sent them as Valoneck children. They're the ones who broke the promise."
Adel's voice rose in agitation.
"How can I believe that?!"
Noel finally smirked bitterly.
"Then go ask the Valoneck sub-duke yourself. Why he broke the promise with Bistain. Why he didn't give your siblings the Valoneck name."
"What?"
"You need to hear both sides to be sure, right? Why? Can't do that? You can earn Gray Valoneck's favor, but not that?"
"Noel. Watch your mouth."
"Haha. Why not? Lately, I've been realizing anew just how amazing a woman Summer was. Incredible, right? Busting your ass flattering that wastrel just to deceive and use him."
Adel turned away as if she didn't want to hear more. Then Noel slid over to her side and grabbed her wrist, forcing her head back around.
"Be honest, Adel. What are you doing? Just doing your job? Nothing else?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Playing dumb? Everyone's saying it. That Gray has no choice but to favor you because you're so devoted. Why go that far? Is it really just using Gray? No other motives?"
Adel glared fiercely at Noel.
"What bullshit. I'm just working hard to gain Gray's trust."
"Fine. Sure. Then how about trying a different approach? Seduce Hudson instead of Gray. Then you can ask him. 'Did you bastards eat up my poor siblings?'"
"Stop it."
Adel shoved Noel away. But Noel, larger than her, didn't budge. As she glared murderously, he sneered and removed her glasses. Adel flailed to snatch them back.
"You haven't shown these eyes to Gray, have you?"
"What the hell. Give them back!"
"No? Tell me straight!"
"You're insane?! No one cares about my eyes! Don't touch my glasses!"
Adel was honest only within the bounds she could speak.
Gray had seen her eyes before, but he'd clearly stated he had no interest in such eyes.
He'd never tried to forcibly remove her glasses as mercilessly as Noel.
"Why so harsh? Don't be ungrateful. I specially ordered these glasses for you. I made you into Adel. I gave you the new life you wanted. Don't forget that, Adel."
"Who said I forgot? You threaten me like this every day—how could I?"
"Threaten? I'm really hurt."
"Hilarious."
"Don't forget the one you should be serving is me, not Gray. Ah, right. While we're at it, say it: 'Master.'"
"...You're crazy."
"Why so rude lately? Did Gray make you like this? Sigh, that wastrel..."
Adel was so dumbfounded she just shut her mouth.
And that's why she missed it. In tussling with Noel, she failed to notice the carriage passing by theirs.
A splendid carriage that was all too familiar to her.
***
The carriage dropped Noel at the west wing entrance and headed to the stables. After confirming the coachman and horses had left the stopping area and no one was around, Adel slipped out.
Emerging from the secluded spot behind the stables, the familiar scenery and path unfolded before her. It led to the palace administration offices in the west wing.
Adel hesitated briefly but chose to walk along the path instead of leaving the palace grounds. Since she was already here, she planned to stop by Mensha's office.
Lately, she'd been meeting Mensha frequently over tax reductions for Gray's owned ships. She knew nothing shook bureaucrats' conservative ways as effectively as frequent in-person complaints.
As Adel walked along the path, entering more familiar territory bit by bit, she spotted people in the familiar west wing garden—people utterly unfamiliar to her—and stopped dead.
The woman whose voice she'd overheard whether she wanted to or not: Charlotte von Kaufmann.
