Chapter 28
“Rudice…”
From Quinlan’s lips came a low, scratchy voice, almost like a groan.
“That is…”
“Why? Don’t you still have a letter meant for me?”
Rudice’s face bloomed with a smile.
In her previous life, his death had placed the final letter into her hands.
But this time, with him still alive, that letter had not found its way to her.
‘There’s no way Quinlan wouldn’t have written one.’
With graceful movements, Rudice rose and approached him.
When she was close enough to touch with just an outstretched hand—
Rudice extended her hand again.
“…How did you know?”
“Because it’s mine.”
“….”
Quinlan looked flustered, but Rudice only laughed brightly.
She had expected he would ask.
If she hadn’t said anything, he probably would have hidden it to the end.
Knowing his true heart, the words came to her lips naturally, as though she’d been prepared all along.
“You said you wrote letters every day, didn’t you? Then I thought—on the eve of battle, you must have written one as well.”
“….”
Instead of answering, Quinlan furrowed his brows and gave a strained smile.
“You really are…”
He shook his head, stepping back.
Putting distance between them, Quinlan gave a bitter smile and slipped a hand into his chest.
As though he’d never once let it leave his body, he pulled something out immediately—a worn leather pouch, aged enough that its history was obvious at a glance.
Rudice’s eyes widened in surprise.
She had thought it must have been stored away somewhere, but he had kept it with him all along?
“I just… carry it out of habit.”
His reluctant, hesitant hand made Rudice’s brows twitch.
“Give it to me!”
“Rudice!”
At last, unable to hold back, Rudice snatched the leather pouch.
Her unexpected action caught Quinlan off guard, and he let it slip from his grasp far too easily.
Rudice quickly tucked it into her own chest.
Ah, she had it back again. The thing that had been her pillar of strength until the very end of her past life.
“You’re not going to look at it?”
“…It’s fine.”
Her voice trembled just a little, as though choked with emotion.
She didn’t need to read it. She already knew what was written there. She had read and reread it so many times before that eventually, the words came to her even when she closed her eyes.
“I’ll read it secretly. If I read it here, you’d only feel embarrassed.”
“Well, that’s…”
Quinlan averted his gaze awkwardly and cleared his throat.
“Quinlan.”
Rudice took a step closer.
Her clear, crystalline eyes locked onto him, and his blue gaze, unshaken and pure, followed her every movement.
Yes. I…
“I missed you. Truly, I longed to see you. I prayed that I could meet you again, even if only in a dream.”
How many times had she begged for that, after letting him go?
Begged for just one chance to meet again, so she could beg for his forgiveness. So she could say she was sorry.
“It’s only been a year. Not such a long time, really.”
Quinlan gave a strained smile as he spoke.
A year.
Yes, to him, it had only been a year. But to her, it was different.
Five years.
One year while he was at war. Then another four after his death.
For all that time, she had only longed and regretted.
She should have gone to him, should have told him she wanted to help him protect the ducal house.
“To me, it was long enough. It didn’t feel like one year, but like five, even ten.”
“Rudice…”
“I missed you, Quinlan.”
Rudice wrapped her arms around his neck.
What if he refused her? A flicker of anxiety crossed her mind.
But the thought was needless—Quinlan let himself be pulled into her embrace without resistance.
‘Ah, so he doesn’t hate me…’
Perhaps, he even loved her, at least a little.
Just before their lips touched, Rudice felt his hand slide around her waist, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
That smile was swallowed by his burning kiss.
The night was deep.
News of Gudel Austin arrived a few days after the victory banquet.
Once the emperor’s grand celebration ended, invitations from nobles piled up at the Duchy of Draphania. Because the emperor had shown special favor, the nobles scrambled desperately to curry favor with the duke and duchess.
In order to win over Duke Quinlan Draphania, countless tidings reached the ducal household.
But not all of it was good news. Among them was troubling news concerning Sir Gudel Austin, commander of the Ebnia Knights.
“What? Sir Gudel?”
Word had reached even Rudice that Gudel was at risk of being dismissed as commander of the Ebnia Knights.
“How? He’s been commander for over ten years. No one else could possibly fill that role!”
Rudice looked to Phil in shock, her face full of disbelief.
“But it’s true,” he answered gravely.
“But why…?”
Speaking in agitation, Rudice suddenly fell silent as if something had struck her.
She had forgotten.
In her past life, Gudel Austin had been expelled to the Nihil Knights for helping her.
The Nihil Knights might have borne the name of an order, but in truth they were nothing more than the emperor’s personal executioners, carrying out every dirty task demanded by him and his heir.
Assassinations, the elimination of political rivals—even hired out to foreign wars for personal gain.
Because of his rigid character, Gudel had suffered greatly in such a place.
“What reason did they give?”
“They say discipline has grown lax… that Commander Gudel takes responsibility and will step down, along with the entire Ebnia Order.”
“…!”
An absurd excuse. Clearly, since they could not fault him over the seal, they had found some fabricated pretext instead.
Rudice clenched her teeth.
Why had she forgotten?
‘I thought using the seal would protect him… but they found another way to strike.’
A miscalculation.
She had believed the seal would keep him safe from repercussions.
‘Could it be the crown prince working from behind?’
The uneasy thought would not leave her.
Lost in thought for a moment, Rudice stood abruptly.
“Lady Rudice?”
“Sera, prepare for an outing.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Phil, ready the carriage—no, a horse will be better. I’ll leave at once.”
She had to act quickly, before Gudel accepted this outrageous decree.
“Best to take the carriage, Phil.”
At that moment, a familiar, steady voice cut into her thoughts.
It was Quinlan.
Phil and Sera, about to carry out her orders, quickly bowed and withdrew as Quinlan strode toward Rudice.
“I will go with you.”
“You?”
Rudice looked at him in surprise.
“Sir Gudel saved my life in battle. Now that he faces misfortune, how could I possibly ignore it?”
He was right. Rudice knew how deeply Quinlan respected Gudel—he had once said he was the most admirable knight of all. Perhaps his words might sway things, if hers alone could not.
It would be better to go together than to go alone.
“…Alright.”
Rudice nodded.
“Let’s go together.”
“Yes. And I promise, I won’t stand in your way.”
He smiled gently as he spoke.
When Rudice arrived at the knight order’s building within the palace, most of the Ebnia Knights were scattered through the halls, speaking in hushed groups.
The moment Rudice and Quinlan appeared, all eyes turned to them. Their gazes carried complicated emotions—some hostile, some uncertain, some welcoming, but none stepped forward readily.
‘Of course. Because of my requisitioning them, Sir Gudel’s position has turned precarious. Their hearts must be in turmoil.’
Her mouth tasted bitter.
Just then, a man whose glare radiated pure hostility strode toward her.
It was Tobias Elberton, the current vice commander of the Ebnia Knights.
“Duchess.”
“Tobias.”
He gave Quinlan a respectful salute over his chest, but when his eyes shifted back to Rudice, they brimmed with resentment. His jaw tightened as though he were forcing down rage.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to see the commander.”
“The commander?”
Tobias let out a derisive laugh.
“You think you have the right?”
