Chapter 25
Rudiche stared in shock at what was unfolding before her eyes.
She had deliberately provoked her hot-tempered brother, fully expecting him to cause a scene. If he went so far as to harm her, that would be even better—because then she’d have all the more leverage to use against the Roxburgh family.
But instead—
“Quinlan…”
He caught Seymour’s arm mid-swing, the blow meant for her, and now glared at him with a hardened expression. The tighter Quinlan’s grip became, the more Seymour’s face twisted in pain.
Good heavens.
The words slipped out of Rudiche before she realized it.
The sharp lines of Quinlan’s clenched jaw showed just how furious he was.
This wasn’t the time for such a thing, and yet—she couldn’t help but feel overjoyed that he was angry on her behalf. It was a side of him she had never once seen before she returned home.
Ah, dazzling… my husband. After staring at those ill-tempered redheads, looking at Quinlan is like cleansing my eyes.
Rudiche gazed at him with rapture.
But Quinlan, unaware of what was going through her mind, was seething with rage, his temper rising to its peak.
“How dare you.”
The words ground out from between clenched teeth.
“You dare raise a hand against my wife? Do you wish to see your house annihilated, Roxburgh?”
Seymour struggled desperately, twisting his arm to free himself, but Quinlan didn’t budge an inch.
The grip strength of a knight seasoned on the battlefield was beyond imagination.
Though the Roxburghs were also a knightly house, Seymour had never set foot on a battlefield, using his duty to continue the bloodline as an excuse. He was no match for Quinlan, who had clawed his way through the worst of war.
“L-Let go of me!”
His shrieking only made Quinlan’s face harden further.
He knew well enough that Rudiche had a poor relationship with her brothers.
—I’ll be your wife. I’ll sever all ties with the Roxburghs.
Those were the very words she had spoken the day she agreed to marry him.
But never, not even once, had he imagined they would treat her like this.
The moment he saw one of them raise a hand against her, his vision spun and the world before him turned crimson.
“How dare you try to strike my wife?”
His fury spilled out between gritted teeth.
That raw, terrifying anger made Seymour falter and almost stumble backward before he caught himself.
But if he retreated here, his dignity would be ruined—especially in front of the sister who had abandoned the family.
He forced himself not to avert his eyes from Quinlan and barked:
“Y-you dare treat the Roxburghs like this? You’re nothing but a ruined ducal house—!”
Smack!
The sharp sound cracked the air before his words were even finished.
While everyone froze in shock at what he had just blurted, Rudiche slapped him across the face without hesitation.
Silence fell.
The only sound in the hall was the quiet flow of music. No voices, no breaths, nothing.
Seymour couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
In his bid not to be cowed by the Duke of Daphania, he had spit out whatever words came to mind—only to see sparks before his eyes and his head whipped sideways.
He slowly turned his head back, staggering slightly from the force of the blow. Even Quinlan, who had been holding him in an unbreakable grip moments earlier, had released him.
“Y-you…!”
Seymour glared at Rudiche. She returned his stare with blazing fury of her own, her teeth clenched.
“I warned you not to speak carelessly, Seymour. Quinlan is not someone who should hear such words from the likes of you.”
“You wretched—!”
“Why? Want to fight me? Go on then. Even back when I was still in the knight order, you never once defeated me. Do you think you can now?”
“…!”
His face drained of color at her words.
“I was captain of the knight order, Rudiche.”
“Ha. Yes. Captain.”
She mocked him bitterly.
“The captaincy you only secured thanks to that glossy pedigree and the influence of the Marquisate of Roxburgh.”
“What?!”
“I climbed on my own strength. Not like you. Who knows, maybe since I’ve set aside my spear for so long you’d stand a chance now. But listen well.”
She took a step forward and tapped his chest with the tip of her fan.
“No matter what, you’ll never beat me. Even if I did nothing for a hundred years, I still wouldn’t lose to the likes of you.”
Her red hair flared like flame in the air.
Quinlan found himself squinting at her, his gaze sharpening.
She shone brilliantly, dazzlingly. Her voice rang out like music from the heavens.
A moment ago he had been ready to cut down that filthy red-haired brat standing before him in a single stroke.
But now—now he could only laugh.
Ah, Rudiche. How could I not love you? When you shine like this…
Quinlan slid an arm around her waist and drew her into his embrace.
“That’s enough, Rudiche.”
“Quinlan!”
Her startled glance made the smile on his lips deepen.
“But they insulted our Daphania—”
“Ah, and I’ll see to it they pay the price for that.”
His low, threatening words made Seymour flinch.
If not for the Roxburgh men quickly rushing to his side, he might have collapsed right there.
Quinlan turned his gaze back to Rudiche.
His amber eyes blazed with fiery resolve, more radiant than gemstones.
Seeing those eyes, Quinlan’s lips curved into a slow smile.
Ah.
The instant she saw that calm, confident smile, Rudiche’s own seething emotions cooled.
Warmth flickered through his ice-blue eyes, and the fury that had been consuming her just moments ago ebbed away.
With a soft sigh, she looked at Quinlan’s gentle smile.
“You’re right. His Imperial Majesty will be entering soon. It wouldn’t do to keep causing a scene.”
She took his hand and stepped back, and the others exhaled sighs of relief, the tension melting.
Conversations and music once again filled the hall.
Rudiche cast her brothers a cutting glare.
They flinched and looked away beneath her sharp, almost combative presence. She let out a cold laugh, then delivered the final blow.
“What would those empty-headed fools know? They’ll just keep bragging inside their little well, thinking they’re the greatest in the world.”
And with that, she turned and left the hall with Quinlan.
The stares that followed them were sharp and heavy, but she didn’t care.
This is how it should’ve been all along.
After finally saying all the things she had held back in the past, afraid of others’ eyes, she felt liberated.
From now on, I won’t endure it. I won’t hesitate. I must protect this man.
When she lifted her gaze, she found Quinlan looking at her. Embarrassment crept in suddenly—after all, she had just shown him her fighting spirit as if she were a gamecock.
Turning her head slightly, she asked awkwardly:
“Quinlan, may I ask you for a dance?”
“A dance?”
His brows shot up, utterly unprepared for her question. Then he burst into hearty laughter.
People’s gazes flicked toward them, but neither Quinlan nor Rudiche cared.
“Truly, you never fail to surprise me.”
“Are you saying you dislike it?”
Her coy tone only deepened the smile tugging at his lips.
“No, not at all. I just thought the man was supposed to do the asking.”
“There’s no such rule. When you see someone beautiful, you ask—because you want them.”
Just like I did with you, her words trailed, and his smile grew warmer.
“Since the most beautiful person here is you, grant me the honor of asking you to dance.”
“Then let us dance, Duchess. Grant me the honor of sharing this floor with you.”
He gently kissed the back of her offered hand. Rudiche raised her fan to her lips, smiling softly.
At that moment—
“His Imperial Majesty, the great sun of the Empire, Emperor Nordin, enters!”
