Chapter 3
No sound had been heard from behind, but when hurried footsteps followed in confusion, her smile deepened even further.
As she stepped outside, dazzling light poured down.
Ludice instinctively closed her eyes.
The blazing sun. The wind that brushed past.
Everything felt new.
When she slowly opened her eyes, the people of the ducal household were waiting.
Perhaps they had realized why Phil had come, for they all looked at her with eyes full of worry. Somehow, she even felt as though they were cheering her on.
“Belmond.”
At her call, the head of the mansion’s guards, who had been standing back, stepped forward.
“I’ll be away from the estate for a while.”
“I will make preparations.”
At Ludice’s words, Belmond gave a silent bow and immediately set about moving.
“Phil, will you follow me?”
“Of course. I’ll come with you.”
“Then keep up properly.”
Just then—
“Lady Ludice!”
From the back of the mansion, someone called her name and came running.
For an instant, Ludice’s face hardened.
It was Jeff, the attendant who had led her to death, rushing toward her.
“Lady Ludice, where are you going?”
Ludice turned to face the man who had called her.
Jeff Tis. The attendant who had followed her all the way from Roxburgh.
Her gaze on him grew icy. Her heart chilled, and it felt as though even the blood flowing in her veins froze solid.
She said nothing, only watched as Jeff ran right up to her.
Finally, he stood before her.
“Please, take me with you as well. I will follow wherever you go, my lady.”
Professing his loyalty, he pleaded fervently.
“I thought it might have been a nightmare… but I guess not.”
“…Pardon?”
At her words, Jeff’s eyes widened.
And in the very next moment—
“Lady Ludice!”
“My lady!”
Crimson blood sprayed into the air.
It all happened in an instant.
Before Jeff could even realize what had occurred to him, his head fell to the ground.
Phil doubted his own eyes.
Not only had he been unable to follow Ludice’s movement, but in that brief moment she had drawn her sword and, without the slightest hesitation, severed a man’s neck.
And not just any man—her loyal attendant.
“Haa…”
Ludice let out a long sigh and flicked her blade, her face refreshed as though she had finally cast off an old grudge.
“Belmond. While I’m away at the Imperial Palace, search his room thoroughly. You’ll find something for sure.”
“…A spy?”
“That’s right.”
Ludice gave a bitter smile. From the time she was very young, she had never once doubted this attendant who had worked for her. Ever since she had rescued him from the slums, Jeff had always followed her.
Had she not already died once, she would have trusted Jeff until the very end.
Now that she thought of him as a traitor, memories resurfaced.
The support troops’ food supplies that had all been soaked—his doing, surely. The strangely frequent leaks of information—also his.
“I understand.”
Ludice slowly looked around.
Unlike moments ago, the people’s eyes now trembled with confusion and unease.
‘What had their eyes looked like, really?’
She tried to recall, but nothing came to mind. Back then, all she had done was run frantically with the thought of saving Quinlan.
God must have been generous indeed. To grant her the chance, after death, to correct her mistakes.
Muttering quietly, Ludice handed her sword to Phil.
As he examined the sword she offered, Phil’s eyes widened.
“This… this was my sword?”
“Ah, I made good use of it. You kept the blade in fine shape.”
“Wow… the Duke said Lady Ludice’s skill was the best in the Empire, and it turns out to be true.”
“Quinlan praised me?”
“Yes. He always admired you and—ah!”
Phil Evans clamped a hand over his mouth, as if he had spoken carelessly. This time, Ludice was the one left staring blankly.
“He… he talked about me?”
It was impossible.
Quinlan D’Fania… had spoken of her to his men?
“There’s much I never knew.”
A dry laugh escaped her.
Adding softly, Please, don’t let this be a dream, she left Phil frowning in puzzlement.
“I don’t understand what you’ve been saying since earlier, but…”
“Hm?”
“…I do know you’re not especially fond of the Duke. But right now, this is urgent!”
His grumbling tone made Ludice smile.
“You trust Quinlan, don’t you?”
“Of course. He’s our lord.”
“Then trust him to the very end. This is his work. I won’t waste any more time, either.”
“….”
Phil looked at her as though she were a marvel.
She held a firmer faith in Quinlan than even he, who had always been by the Duke’s side.
Was she always this kind of person?
He couldn’t recall.
But he didn’t think it was bad at all. To have a consort who trusted and supported his lord—what greater blessing could there be?
As Phil Evans felt loyalty rising deep in his chest, the butler Gordon came forth carrying a long spear.
It was Ludice’s halberd, Varos.
“I thought you might need this,” Gordon said, bowing as he held it out.
The moment she reached out and grasped Varos, a thrilling sensation coursed up her arm.
At last, her hand felt complete, and her heart began to pound as though it had come alive.
“Yes, this is it.”
She didn’t know how such a thing had happened, but this was undoubtedly real.
I’ve returned. I’ve regressed!
All the more reason she couldn’t delay.
Her chest swelled with elation.
Whatever price the gods demanded, she could not squander this chance.
“I also prepared a horse for you, hearing you were going to the Imperial Palace.”
At Gordon’s words, Ludice regarded him with new eyes.
Before her regression, she had thought he disliked her. Now, she realized he was merely the ducal house’s butler, worrying for Quinlan and the D’Fania line.
“Thank you.”
She mounted the horse at once.
Then she handed her halberd to Belmond.
Belmond Cornell, vice-captain of the D’Fania Knights, received it skillfully—as though he had long trained in perfect harmony with her.
At the sight, Ludice couldn’t help but smile.
Before her return, Phil Evans had been the one to assist her with ducal duties, while Belmond Cornell had fought beside her in battle.
Even before all that had come to pass, he acted the same way now. How could she not smile?
“Phil, follow me. We’re going to the Evnia Knights.”
“The Evnia Knights… wait, are you going to see Sir Gudel?”
“Yes.”
“But Sir Gudel is a strict man of principle. He won’t help us.”
“I have a way.”
Ludice smiled as she urged her horse forward.
She had a trump card that would force Gudel Austin—no, the Evnia Knights themselves—to listen.
Phil looked puzzled, but still followed her without complaint. Strangely, whenever she spoke, it felt as though everything would somehow work out.
After confirming that Phil was mounted, Ludice began to ride slowly.
Just before setting out, she glanced back at him, as if the thought had just occurred to her.
“Let me say this again: I don’t dislike Quinlan.”
“…What?”
“I love him.”
With a radiant smile, Ludice set off, leaving behind a stunned Phil Evans.
The wind rushing through her hair felt cool. Bit by bit, reality sank in.
Even if this were the devil’s trick, so be it.
Quinlan. As long as I can save you… I’ll never let go of your hand.
In the Empire of Evron, there were three knight orders.
The most renowned was the Imperial Guard, composed of the finest warriors in the Empire. Named after the reigning Emperor, they served solely the Emperor and his direct heir.
The second was the Evron Knights, bearing the Empire’s very name. Only nobles could join, and because of their name, they were regarded as the Empire’s core order.
The third was the Evnia Knights, whom Ludice was now going to see.
Named after the Imperial capital itself, the Evnia Knights accepted anyone with talent, regardless of birth. That made it home to many of the most skilled, but also made it a harsh place.
For ten years, Ludice had led its knights as vice-captain.
“…Wait, who came, you say?”
Gudel Austin, commander of the Evnia Knights, had been in the middle of a headache-inducing pile of paperwork. He froze, raising his head at his aide’s report.
Normally unshakable, even he was startled by the news.
“I mean… the witch—no, the former vice-captain has arrived!”
