Chapter 38
Daphania Duchy, Diahloon.
This place was the former territory of the Duchy of Daphania and would become the central estate that Quinlan would govern.
Fortunately, the central region of Diahloon had not fallen into Boswell’s hands. Until now, it had been ruled by the local western nobility.
Inside the main conference room of Diahloon’s central fortress, three men sat with grave expressions.
“The Duke and Duchess of Daphania have reached the western mountain range.”
It was Count Harper who spoke first.
“I heard a portion of the Daphania Knights are moving with them.”
A heavy silence followed. After a moment, Baron Boar let out a deep sigh.
It was Baron Boar who sighed in response to Count Harper’s words.
“What happens to us now? Don’t just sit there in silence—say something, Baron Gilbert!”
Unable to contain his frustration, Count Harper shouted.
“What do you want me to say? That we’ve ruled the duchy however we pleased until now? That we hoped the Duke wouldn’t return? That we wanted Boswell to keep ruling this place?”
“Baron Gilbert!”
Enraged by Baron Dan Gilbert’s cold tone, the two men stood up yelling.
“We didn’t do all this for our own gain! We did it to survive!”
“Exactly! The Empire abandoned us just because we belonged to the Daphania Duchy! And the Daphania family was no different. They never tried to reclaim this land until now—why should we welcome their return?!”
As they shouted, faces flushed with anger, Baron Gilbert let out a dry, bitter laugh.
“Seems like you’ve forgotten something.”
He stood and looked at the two men with icy eyes.
“The one who drove Boswell away, the threat that was right in front of us—that was the Duke of Daphania. He’s the one who made sure they couldn’t set foot here again.”
“……!”
“I don’t understand what’s so problematic about a Duke returning to reclaim the land that he won back with his own hands.”
“What?!”
“How dare you—!”
“I will follow whatever punishment the Duke sees fit.”
Fools. Did they truly not expect this?
“Rather than wasting time, wouldn’t it be more beneficial for us to prepare ourselves to receive the Duke properly?”
With those cold words, he turned and walked out.
“Baron Gilbert!”
Someone called after him from behind, but he strode out without hesitation.
As he exited the grand conference hall, his aide Henry quickly caught up.
“What will you do, sir?”
“What do you mean, what will I do? I’m going to welcome the Duke.”
“As you said, the Empire and the Duke have no idea how we’ve managed the estate’s resources on our own. That’s not something easily forgiven.”
“I know.”
“Baron…”
Henry’s voice was full of concern.
“The Duke of Daphania is known for being fair. If you explain your reasons, he might understand.”
“……”
“Do you really intend to just accept your punishment? Didn’t you go along with those two to save the people of your land? When the plague spread and there was no medicine…”
“Enough. What’s the point of explaining? It’s true I betrayed him.”
“Baron!”
Baron Dan Gilbert walked silently down the corridor of the central fortress.
‘Duke Quinlan Daphania.’
Baron Gilbert had met the Duke once when they were both very young. At the time, he had just been knighted and was dreaming of a glorious future as a knight.
That day, he had visited the Duke’s estate to pay respects as the heir to the Gilbert barony.
By chance, he got lost on the unfamiliar estate grounds and ended up wandering into the training hall—an encounter that changed his life.
There, he saw a young Quinlan, training with a sword.
In that moment, he understood what true genius was—and that someone like him, an ordinary man, could never surpass such talent.
“That day’s despair…”
That was the day he gave up the path of a knight and turned to administrative studies.
Surprisingly, that path suited him well. Even as the Duchy of Daphania neared ruin, he managed to survive.
He protected the land and its people, taking care not to oppose Count Harper or Baron Boar too openly, enduring the blame quietly.
He never expected forgiveness.
When the Daphania family finally drove out Boswell, he was happier than anyone else.
That was why he was willing to accept any punishment, as long as the Duchy would now protect their land properly. He didn’t mind paying the price.
“If I did wrong, I should be punished. That’s how things should be.”
Hearing his calm voice, Henry felt a deep sorrow.
Why was his lord—the one who acted for the people’s sake—the only one thinking of accepting punishment, while the others who acted selfishly only cared about saving themselves?
Let the returning Duke be someone who can understand my lord’s heart.
Even if he wasn’t, Dan Gilbert was prepared to accept that too.
Meanwhile…
The Duke of Daphania’s party had entered the western mountains. Once they crossed this range, they would fully enter the territory of Diahloon.
However—
“I have a bad feeling.”
“Ah, me too.”
“Something feels off.”
As they entered the dense forest, murmurs began spreading among the knights.
Hugo Barrett quietly approached Quinlan. The instincts of battle-experienced knights couldn’t be ignored. He, too, sensed a shift in the air.
“What shall we do, Duke?”
“We should reorganize our formation first.”
Quinlan had clearly heard the murmuring as well. After a brief exchange with Hugo, he turned toward Rudiche.
“Rudiche, I think it would be best if I went on horseback.”
“Alright. I’ll ride in the carriage with Sera.”
“……Once we arrive, I’ll gift you a horse. It seems inconvenient that you don’t have your own.”
Rudiche didn’t have her own horse. The one she used before the marriage had been left in Roxburgh, and she hadn’t ridden since.
He wondered why that was but decided to ask later.
“I’ll look forward to it, Quinlan.”
Rudiche smiled sweetly and turned to Sera.
“Sera, come ride with me.”
“But…”
“It’s fine. You’re my lady-in-waiting, aren’t you?”
She winked playfully, and Sera blushed.
“Yes.”
As Sera lowered her head, Rudiche gently tapped her shoulder, finding it endearing.
Quinlan, having checked the rear guard, turned back to Hugo.
“Assign three knights to protect Rudiche.”
“Wait! Me?”
Rudiche reacted with disbelief, a hint of amusement in her voice. The knights around them also looked awkward.
“Just because I’m riding a carriage doesn’t mean I need protection. Honestly, I should be protecting them.”
At her words, the knights’ expressions grew even more sour, but they nodded reluctantly. No one dared to argue. Rudiche was far too strong to be considered someone in need of protection.
Watching the scene in confusion, Sera leaned over and whispered to Phil:
“Why does everyone look like that?”
“Hm?”
“Isn’t it a knight’s duty to protect the Duchess?”
“Well… that’s true, but…”
Phil Evans didn’t look much different from the other knights.
“If only she were normal.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve never seen the Duchess fight, have you?”
“No…”
Phil nodded understandingly.
“Sera.”
“Yes?”
He placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke seriously.
“The world isn’t always as it seems. Sometimes you have to look beyond the surface. For example, someone who looks like the perfect noble lady might actually be… incredibly violent…”
“Phil!”
Somehow, Rudiche had heard him.
Startled, Phil quickly stepped away from Sera, pretending to look elsewhere as if nothing had happened.
Sera stared blankly at her shoulder where his hand had just been.
When she lived in the capital, people avoided even touching her. These were the first people who treated her like she was normal.
Strange people…
Sera quietly watched the members of the Duke’s household.
They were the most peculiar people she had ever met.
At last, the preparations were done, and the party began to move.
As the carriage rolled forward, the knights followed in tight formation. The relaxed, leisurely mood from earlier had vanished completely.
The mountain path became more treacherous.
And finally, when they reached a dense forest so thick that even sunlight couldn’t break through—
A murderous presence shot through the air like an arrow.
“Bandits!”
The Duke’s forces began to move.
