Chapter 36
“…The wedding night…”
Quinlan’s voice slipped out like a sigh.
He turned his head with a troubled look, but there was nowhere to run. That was exactly what Ludice had planned.
In the end, it was Quinlan who gave up first and raised his hand in defeat.
“My feelings haven’t changed.”
“Are you saying you won’t have an heir? That you won’t continue the bloodline of Dfania?”
“…”
“Or are you saying you’ll close the House of Dfania with your generation?”
Quinlan pressed his lips together tightly. Then, after a long silence, he sighed and finally spoke again.
“I have no intention of walking the path of extinction.”
“Then what?”
“…”
After a brief pause to collect his thoughts, he continued,
“I don’t know how to explain it to you.”
“Tell me, Quinlan.”
Ludice reached out and touched his knee. Quinlan flinched at the contact of her slender, pale fingers.
It wasn’t as though he had never been touched by another person before, yet he was oddly sensitive to Ludice’s touch. Wherever she touched him felt hot.
“Do you remember our contract?”
Ludice nodded quietly.
Of course she remembered. It was one of the best things she had ever done—walking up to him with nothing but her spear and proposing a deal.
—Duke Dfania, make a contract with me. I’ll protect you from the pressure of the Imperial family.
She could still remember his expression back then.
“You looked so bewildered, didn’t you? You must have thought, ‘What nonsense is this?’”
He gave a faint, helpless smile.
“I was startled, yes, but not displeased. After all, how could I dislike a beautiful woman coming to me with a proposal of marriage?”
“Then why did you refuse me at first?”
“…”
Quinlan only gave a faint, evasive smile instead of answering.
“You hesitated, didn’t you?”
Ludice replied with a bright smile.
Yes, he had refused her at first—doubting how much help they could really be to each other.
His own situation had been far from stable, and he hadn’t wanted to draw unnecessary attention by being associated with the young lady of Roxburgh.
“If you hadn’t taken my hand, I would have been sold off as the second wife of some old border noble.”
Ludice lowered her gaze slightly, as if recalling something she’d rather forget.
And the money from that marriage would’ve gone straight into my father’s pocket.
When Ludice fell silent, Quinlan finally spoke.
“Surely it wouldn’t have gone that far. You’re just exaggerating.”
“Do you really think so? That my father, the Marquis of Roxburgh, would’ve left me alone?”
“…”
He wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t.
Her father had openly despised Ludice for outshining his sons. Even Quinlan, far away, had heard rumors about it.
Sensing his thoughts, Ludice spoke softly.
“You’re my savior, Quinlan. You told me to live freely, and you pushed me forward.”
Had it already been ten years? No—if she counted her regression, fifteen.
She still remembered that day vividly.
Right before the final match, she’d nearly given up after the Marquis’s cruel words. Despair had driven her to the edge.
—That was an impressive match, Lady Roxburgh. Enjoy the finals as you wish. Freely. Do as you want. You have the ability to.
Those words had blown away her hesitation.
“…Even without me, you would’ve flown on your own.”
“No. I moved because you pushed me.”
After that, she decided to abandon the name Roxburgh. She unleashed her full skill in the martial tournament, no longer restraining herself.
No matter what her father or brothers said, she proved her worth openly.
That’s how she became vice-captain of the Ebnia Knights—and how she lived as she pleased, freely.
And because of that freedom, she had been able to stand before Quinlan and propose their contract marriage.
I thought I’d live for you, give everything for you.
But over time, she had forgotten. Left alone, she forgot why she’d escaped Roxburgh in the first place.
She forgot that she had come to him because she wanted to stay by his side—and so, in the end, she let him die alone.
Swallowing the heat rising inside her, Ludice looked him straight in the eyes.
“Quinlan. I love you.”
“…!”
His expression froze, completely at a loss.
“Ludice…”
“My feelings are certain. But I don’t know yours. I don’t think you hate me—but do you love me?”
Her soft laugh was weaker than before. In her golden eyes flickered unease, which even Quinlan could see.
Why was she anxious? For him, there was only one wife—Ludice.
He tried to speak, but Ludice continued first.
“Quinlan. Do you dislike me?”
“…”
He gave a bitter smile.
If only he could.
He looked at her as one might look upon a breathtaking work of art.
As she tilted her head slightly, her red hair slipped down, catching the light filtering through the carriage curtain. Her golden eyes shimmered.
Was that flicker… uncertainty?
Quinlan slowly closed and opened his eyes again.
Ludice was a strong woman. One who walked her path without relying on anyone. Whatever road she chose, she never hesitated.
She’d been like that when she gathered knights to help him, and again when she heard that Goodell Austin was on the verge of dismissal.
She always acted before thinking.
And now, that same woman was trembling, waiting for his words. It gave him an odd, guilty satisfaction.
After watching her for a moment, Quinlan finally spoke.
“Of course not.”
As the words left his mouth and reached his ears, he knew they were true.
Ah… yes.
He did not dislike Ludice. On the contrary—
“How could I ever hate you?”
His voice came out tinged with self-mockery.
“I just don’t want you to sacrifice yourself because of me. That’s why I’ve told you—one day, when you find true love, think of the time you’ll leave Dfania behind.”
“Love?”
Ludice’s laugh was cold. The air around her chilled instantly.
“Did you already forget that I just told you I love you, Quinlan?”
“I remember.”
“And yet you say something like that to me?”
Flames sparked in her golden eyes.
The unease that had flickered earlier was gone; she’d returned to her usual confident, imperious self—only now, her anger gave it a sharper edge.
“If you’d said that before, I might’ve taken it as you not loving me—and worried. But not anymore.”
Her tone was cool, almost cutting.
Ludice let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
Was he naïve—or just pretending to be?
This man’s words and actions never matched. He claimed he couldn’t share a bed with her, yet never pushed her away when she approached.
He said there could never be a wedding night, yet also said he didn’t dislike her.
And that letter…
Could a man who planned to cast me aside ever write something like that?
She narrowed her eyes.
He didn’t seem aware of the contradiction between his words and actions.
In that case, she’d just have to show him.
Actions speak louder than words.
Ludice leaned toward him. Quinlan flinched as the distance between them closed.
They say laughter rises when tempers flare—and indeed, she smiled brilliantly as she grabbed his collar and pulled him forward.
He followed, startled.
“I won’t give up. I’ll spend the wedding night with you—and I’ll stay by your side, in Dfania.”
“L-Ludice!”
His voice trembled with embarrassment, which only made her smile widen.
Ah, how adorable.
She pressed herself between his legs, cupping his cheek gently.
He could have pushed her away easily if he wanted—but instead, he averted his gaze, lost, his sky-blue eyes trembling.
Ludice smiled again.
“If you don’t want this, then stop me.”
And with that, she covered his lips with hers.
At first, they felt stiff—but then her thoughts changed. Those lips that said “no” were hot, firm, alive.
His eyes showed confusion, his hands unsure where to go.
Was that why he had called her name a moment ago?
When his lips parted, Ludice deepened the kiss.
Ah… his breath, hot and heavy, poured into her.
Ludice closed her eyes.
Bang!
A sudden jolt shook the carriage.
The knight driving, tense with the duty of escorting the Duke and Duchess, nearly fell from his seat in shock.
“Are you all right?!”
He stopped the carriage and leapt down.
As the wheels ground to a halt, Hugo Barrett rode up quickly from the front.
“Your Grace! What happened?”
“…”
The carriage was silent.
What was going on? There were no magic stones or enchanted items inside that could explode.
Just as they were hesitating whether to open the door—
The curtain lifted, and the window opened.
“What is it?”
Quinlan asked the gathered knights.
“We heard a loud noise from the carriage, Your Grace. We were concerned.”
The knight’s voice trembled slightly.
“Ah, that.”
Quinlan nodded, about to explain—
“I hit the wall.”
Ludice’s voice cut in smoothly.
“…Pardon?”
“There was a bug flying around. I swatted it.”
“…”
Between her fingers was the crushed remains of a black flying insect.
“I tried to ignore it, but it kept buzzing nonsense, so I took care of it.”
“…Nonsense, my lady?”
“One hit was all it took.”
She smiled sweetly as she flicked the bug out the window.
Quinlan sighed deeply and shook his head.
“If there’s nothing else, let’s keep going.”
“Y-yes, Your Grace.”
It still felt suspicious, but there was no visible issue. They couldn’t just stay there all day—they had a long road ahead.
“We’ll reach the village where we’ll stay for the night soon. We’ll continue escorting you safely until then.”
At Hugo’s words, Quinlan nodded and closed the carriage door.
When Hugo returned to his position, the procession began moving again.
Nothing seemed different.
And yet, after a while, Hugo frowned slightly.
Come to think of it… wasn’t His Grace’s collar a bit rumpled?
“…”
No, surely not.
He shook his head, refocused on the road, and tightened his grip on the reins.
The Duke’s carriage rolled on peacefully once more.
