CDTD 13

Chapter 13

Knock, knock.

Early in the morning, the duke’s bedroom began with a small knock on the door. A servant soon entered to attend to the duke’s morning routine.

“Ah….”

At the unfamiliar presence, Quinlan D’Fania’s eyes flew open.

But something felt strange. Normally, he would have woken the instant the knock sounded.

For some reason, the warmth and comfort had delayed his waking. Quinlan blinked a few times to shake off his drowsiness.

The servant greeted him with a polite bow.

“Did you sleep well, my lord? Shall I prepare your breakfast—ah!”

But the servant didn’t finish. Instead, he shrieked sharply, slapped a hand over his mouth, and his gaze darted about wildly. At last he stammered, “Forgive me, I’ll return later!” and fled the room.

“…What’s wrong with him?”

It was then that Quinlan, pushing himself upright, realized something felt different at his side.

Something warm and soft clung to him.

No way.

“…Quinlan?”

The moment the voice rang out, Quinlan squeezed his eyes shut. He let out a heavy sigh inside, then slowly opened them again.

Golden eyes, hazy with sleep, met his own.

His gaze slowly drifted downward.

The curve of a body under the thin quilt leapt into view, and Quinlan sucked in a breath.

“Lu—Ludice. You… you….”

He swallowed hard instead of finishing the question.

How on earth are you here? And how did I fall asleep without even noticing your presence?

Unaware of his shock, Ludice D’Fania lifted herself with a bright, innocent smile.

Thankfully, she was fully dressed—as was he.

“Did you sleep well, Quinlan? I meant to go back to my own chambers last night, but I must have dozed off.”

She tapped her head lightly as she added with a carefree laugh:

“Sorry.”

“….”

Ludice slipped gracefully out of his bed.

“See you later, Quinlan.”

Leaving behind only a fresh morning greeting, she walked out of the bedroom, while Quinlan could only stare after her in stunned silence.

It was a refreshing morning in the Ducal House of D’Fania.

Quinlan D’Fania, Duke of D’Fania, was finishing his preparations to attend an imperial audience. The emperor had unexpectedly summoned him to court sooner than planned, so everything had been hastened, but his preparations were flawless.

He was impeccably dressed in his uniform, a ceremonial sash across his chest, and the long dark blue cloak of House D’Fania draped over one shoulder.

There was not a flaw to be found.

At his side, Daniel Barrett, who had helped him don the attire, wore a proud smile. Just assisting the duke in his formal regalia made his own shoulders lift with pride.

Daniel, the youngest son of House Barrett, was currently training as the duke’s squire.

Helping his lord prepare—even outside the ducal estate, as today—was one of his important duties.

But then—

“What on earth is going on with her all of a sudden?”

The words slipped out of Quinlan’s mouth. The deep furrow between his brows made it clear he was genuinely troubled.

To Daniel, the Duke of D’Fania was an awe-inspiring, untouchable figure. His words carried the weight of divine decree. Quinlan D’Fania was a man who always acted with absolute knowledge.

And yet here he was, troubled?

It must surely be a matter of the empire’s safety….

“What is she thinking….”

“Pardon, my lord?”

Had he spoken aloud without realizing?

Daniel’s eyes widened at the duke’s muttering, not understanding the meaning at all.

Unaware of his squire’s gaze, Quinlan sank deeper into thought, his expression grim.

“My lord,” Daniel ventured cautiously, “you are ready now.”

“Well done. We finished quicker than expected, thanks to you.”

At the duke’s praise, Daniel’s face lit up.

Quinlan gave the boy’s shoulder a light pat, then strode out of the chamber. Daniel pressed a hand to his chest and bowed deeply, holding the posture until the duke was out of sight.

“My lord.”

As he exited, Belmond approached. While Quinlan had been preparing, Belmond had been finishing up the handover with Phil Evans, it seemed.

“Did you conclude your talks with Phil Evans?”

“Yes, we covered the main points, but…”

Belmond trailed off. Quinlan frowned. It was rare for a knight like Belmond to speak so vaguely. He seemed oddly hesitant.

“…What is it?”

“It’s about the duchess….”

“Something about Ludice?”

“….”

The air froze. Quinlan halted mid-step and turned to Belmond sharply.

“This morning, when she dressed, a maid attended her,” Belmond began.

“And?”

“But… the duchess has no personal maid.”

“What?”

Quinlan’s expression hardened.

Did I hear that correctly?

Even if he paid little attention to ladies’ affairs, he knew well that a duchess without a maid was unthinkable.

“Until now, her personal attendant was the servant Jeff. For other matters—like helping her change—ordinary maids took turns assisting her.”

“….”

A shadow fell across Quinlan’s face. He had never once considered that she might be without a dedicated maid.

“Gordon.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“You oversee the household staff, do you not? Can you explain what Belmond means?”

“I apologize.”

The butler, Gordon, bowed deeply.

It was true he managed the staff, but ultimately, the final say had always been left to Ludice. Since she had never once complained of any inconvenience, he had overlooked the matter.

“Is there no one in this house who can explain this to me?”

At Quinlan’s sharp words—

Clack.

At the far end of the dim corridor, where light streamed through the arched entrance, a woman’s silhouette appeared.

Ludice D’Fania.

The most noble woman of the empire.

Quinlan’s wife, the Duchess of D’Fania, stood framed by light.

How much time passed?

Clack, clack.

Her heels echoed down the long hallway, each step louder as she drew near.

But Quinlan didn’t hear the sound.

All he saw were those golden eyes glittering at him.

A small, delicate nose, perfectly shaped.

Full, red lips.

Her gaze met his with a provocative challenge, holding him captive.

At last, she stood before him.

Their eyes locked, and neither could look away. It was as if the two of them existed alone in the world’s darkness.

How long did they stand like that?

Her lips parted slightly. When her sensual tongue flicked between her white teeth, heat rushed through him.

“Quinlan.”

She spoke his name.

Her voice was sweet enough to melt his heart, intoxicating in its allure.

Beneath her pinned-up crimson hair stretched the long, slender line of her neck. The feather in her hat swayed with her movement.

He had never seen her dressed like this before.

A dark-blue gown, in the color of House D’Fania, hugged her curving, voluptuous figure.

Ludice’s golden eyes lingered on him as she extended a slender, white hand—like a queen offering her hand to be taken.

Quinlan swallowed hard.

He knew well what lay beneath those clothes: the taut yet soft body of a knight, firm with muscle yet still richly feminine.

Exquisite.

“Ludice….”

Her name escaped him like a groan.

The carriage was silent.

Seated across from one another, they both looked out the window, saying nothing.

How did such a woman become my wife?

Quinlan turned his eyes to her profile as she gazed outside.

He had thought her beautiful when they first met. But perhaps their time apart made her seem even more breathtaking now.

Unaware, he stared at her for too long. When he realized it, embarrassment made him quickly turn away.

Time passed.

“Do you have something you want to say to me?”

Ludice finally spoke, her voice directed at him.