CDTD 61

Chapter 61

Still, there was one good thing about Erica Wasily’s arrival.
She now shared a bedroom with Quinlan.

Of course, he still insisted on sleeping on the sofa every night — but even so, just being in the same space was enough to make her happy.

— It would be best if we shared a room, Quinlan had said, surprisingly, when Erica first arrived.

Ludice, of course, had no reason to refuse.

— All right. Let’s use the main bedroom, then.

It was the brightest smile she had shown since returning to Dyalun — no, since coming back to life itself.

“It’s late. You should rest first,” Quinlan said, taking the wine glass gently from Ludice’s hand.

After they began sharing the room, he often found excuses to stay away until she fell asleep.
Tonight seemed no different — he made no move to prepare for bed.

Ludice quietly watched him move around.

Her body felt heavy and pleasantly relaxed.

The wine was sweet, and Quinlan was near her.
It was impossible not to smile.

She had drunk more than usual without realizing it, and now she watched him with a glowing, happy face.

“Are you going to the office again?” she asked, tilting her head.

Perhaps it was her uncharacteristic tone — Quinlan paused and looked at her.
His deep blue eyes seemed darker than usual.

Their gazes met. Ludice spoke again, softly.

“Will you come back only after I’ve fallen asleep again?”

“Ludice…” Quinlan murmured, stepping closer.

Up close, his eyes looked even heavier — shadowed with something unreadable.

Ludice, too, was different tonight.
Maybe it was the lighting, but her face was flushed, her golden eyes moist and alluring as she looked up at him.

“Quinlan.”

“…”

“I love you.”

“…”

“Ludice.”

Her whisper made him give a faint, troubled smile — his voice, when it came, was rough and strained.

“It’s late. You should rest now.”

“I don’t want to.”

She stretched her arms toward him.

“Hug me.”

“…”

When she spread her arms again, almost demanding, Quinlan finally gave in.

It was an uncharacteristic bit of childishness from Ludice.

She smelled sweet — even more intoxicating than usual.

After a brief hesitation, Quinlan sighed softly and leaned toward her, slipping his hands beneath her knees and around her back so she could rest against him.

Though her body was strong, almost athletic, he lifted her as if she were a fragile girl.
Ludice rested her head contentedly against his chest.

Quinlan walked slowly to the bed.

The once-empty bedroom now felt warm, filled with their shared breath.

He laid her down carefully, pulling the blanket over her and patting it gently.

“If it were this easy, I should’ve asked you sooner,” she murmured, almost to herself. “I was such a fool for holding back.”

Quinlan’s brow twitched at her words.

“After you left, I was so lonely…”

“…”

“I regret not following you then…”

“Ludice?”

Her eyelids fluttered heavily.
Something about her tone… wasn’t normal.

No way.

Quinlan brushed her red hair aside and asked quietly, “How much wine did you drink?”

“Two… no, maybe three glasses…” she mumbled, her voice growing faint.

He sighed. So it was that.

“Quinlan,” she murmured again, her voice sinking.

He paused.

“You know time’s running out, right?”

His thoughts froze.

“Before two years are up, we have to consummate the marriage. If we don’t… they’ll separate us.”

“They?”

“They want you dead.”

Her whispered words made his jaw tighten.

He wanted to say that’s not true, but the words wouldn’t come.
He already suspected who she meant.

Instead of answering, Quinlan gently gathered a handful of her red hair.
As he stared at it, the strands slipped through his fingers — like sand disappearing from a grasp.

He lowered his hand, a quiet sigh escaping him.
His face looked calm, but darker than before.

“Rest now. I’ll finish up quickly and return soon.”

“…I’m sorry, Quinlan.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry.”

Her voice was low but clear.

Her eyelids fluttered once more, then slowly closed, as if too heavy to lift again.

“Ludice?”

He called her softly, but she didn’t respond.

It was a strangely familiar moment — he had seen her like this before.

The only difference was that back then, he had come to her after she’d fallen asleep.
Now, she had fallen asleep in his arms.

He brushed her hair again, slowly, several times.

Before long, her breathing evened out — she was deeply asleep.

Quinlan let out a faint chuckle.

“It seems…” he murmured, “…you can’t handle your liquor at all.”

Yes, it was clearly the wine.

Looking at her peaceful face, he whispered with a smile,

“Never drink in front of anyone else, Ludice.”

Then he pressed a light kiss to her forehead and stood.

She was completely asleep now.

Taking one last look at her, Quinlan finally forced himself to leave the room — knowing he’d have to stay away for quite a while before returning.

“Ugh, my head…”

Ludice groaned, clutching her temples as she reclined on a long chair.

Without a doubt — a hangover.

Phil stared at her in disbelief.

“How much did you drink, exactly?”

“Wine… maybe three glasses? I don’t really remember.”

“Three glasses of wine…”

“And I didn’t even fill them to the top.”

“And you still have a hangover like that?”

“People think I can drink well, but I’m terrible at it. You wouldn’t guess, would you?”

“Well… no, I suppose not,” Phil admitted.

Now that he thought about it, Ludice never drank much at banquets or gatherings. He had never realized it was because of this.

He chuckled but kept quiet — no need to get scolded over a comment.

“Phil,” Ludice said suddenly, still rubbing her head, “how much can Quinlan drink?”

“The Duke?”

Phil thought for a moment.

“You’ve drunk with him before, haven’t you?”

“Yes, but only a few times…”

Back during the war.

When the fighting quieted or there was a temporary truce, Quinlan would hand out liquor — to keep the soldiers warm on cold nights.

But Quinlan himself rarely drank. He’d just watch over the others.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drunk,” Phil said.

“Really? Quinlan doesn’t drink? He sometimes has a glass of wine with me.”

“He doesn’t drink much at all, my lady. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone outlast him — not even once.”

“That much?”

“I think so. I don’t remember anyone matching him.”

When Phil laughed, Ludice laughed with him.

Talking eased her headache a little.

“But by the way,” Phil added suddenly, “that woman — is she doing her job properly as your maid?”

“She does, though she complains all the time. Still, she comes every day.”

“…I don’t like her,” Phil muttered.

He had heard the rumors that Erica had even gone to the training yard to talk with Ludice.

Ludice only smiled.

“Anyway,” she said, “did you do what I asked?”

“Yes. I sent word to the Tower Master to come along next time Lady Sera visits.”

“Good.”

“May I ask, why are you inviting him?”

At that, Ludice lifted her head and answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Hmm? Because I’ve got something for him to do.”

“Something for him to do…?”

“If I’ve made a contract, I might as well use him. Don’t you think? Tower Master or not.”

She smiled slyly — the kind of grin that made Phil’s stomach drop.