Chapter 40
After the battle, only two of the attackers had survived.
But one of them couldn’t withstand the injuries from the fight and soon died.
The last man, dragged before Duke D’Phania, tried to harm himself but was stopped by the knights. His body was already so battered that no part remained unscathed.
“Who ordered this?”
Quinlan asked in a cold voice.
“There’s no one like that. We’re just bandits. We attacked because a carriage that looked expensive was passing by.”
“A carriage that looked expensive…”
Quinlan glanced toward Ludice, who had lit a fire in the distance.
She was talking cheerfully with Sera, yet her presence exuded a grace that no commoner could possess. At a glance, it was clear she belonged to a noble family.
But she wasn’t extravagantly adorned. She wore no expensive jewelry or decorations.
Ludice preferred practical attire, so she only wore light accessories like earrings or a necklace.
The carriage was the same.
All lavish decorations were removed; the only ornament was the golden D’Phania emblem engraved on the black carriage. It looked sturdy rather than expensive.
“Someone must have leaked information.”
Quinlan didn’t think there were no spies, but he hadn’t expected family matters to be exposed this quickly.
Even in the capital, it was one thing—but how many spies would be waiting in Diarun, where people weren’t favorable toward them?
“If we’re going to the territory, we’ll need to clean up first.”
Quinlan’s gaze toward the man grew even colder.
“Who are you?”
His low voice carried a lethal edge.
The man gasped, choking on his own breath, but said nothing.
“If you refuse to speak, I’ll make you suffer pain worse than death.”
“…I have nothing to say. I’m… a bandit, a thief. Thieves attack the rich to survive… we’re beggars.”
Between ragged breaths, his words came out in broken gasps.
“Should I believe that?”
“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”
“Very well. Let’s see how far you’ll insist on that.”
Quinlan sent his gaze to Hugo.
If the man refused to answer easily, they’d simply make him want to.
“Make him answer. Make him beg. While he’s moving, let him see no light, hear no sound. Take away all freedom of movement until we reach Diarun, so no one notices him.”
“I will follow your orders!”
“Wh-what are you trying to do? I’m a thief! A bandit who lives in these mountains! Aaah!”
The man struggled, protesting his innocence, but the knights dragged him away. His screams disappeared into the darkness.
Quinlan turned back to Ludice and found his focus again.
“Contact the manor and track down the spies. Find out who hired them, and which of them are connected to the attackers.”
Phil bowed and walked into the darkness.
After giving a few more instructions for the night, Quinlan exhaled a low sigh.
Ludice had nearly been in danger. That was why he had wanted to leave her in the capital.
He looked at Ludice again. Her gaze had already turned toward him.
It was as if she knew what he had done, what actions he had taken.
She couldn’t not know. She was also a knight, after all—someone who understood how enemies were dealt with.
Quinlan rose to his feet.
He wanted to speak with Ludice a little more.
After giving a few final instructions to the knights and tidying up, Quinlan approached her.
As the duke came near the fire, Sera jumped up in surprise.
Quinlan nodded at her and then sat across from Ludice. Sera quickly bowed and withdrew.
Ludice studied Quinlan. She said nothing, but her expression looked complicated.
‘It makes sense. She probably didn’t expect this kind of situation.’
She might even regret bringing him here.
Ludice waited for Quinlan to speak. It didn’t take long.
Once his thoughts were organized, Quinlan spoke slowly, in a low, deep voice.
“There are people who wish for our deaths.”
“People who wish for our deaths…”
A faint smile appeared on Ludice’s face as she slowly considered his words.
“There can’t be just one or two of them. Do you have anyone in mind?”
Quinlan, too, couldn’t help but smile faintly at her words.
“Perhaps. As you said, there should only be one or two.”
Whether it was in Diarun, where they were heading, or back at the imperial palace they had left behind.
Ludice stood and approached Quinlan, wrapping her arms gently around his neck. The curve of her body pressed against his.
“We never imagined we would be loved by others, anyway.”
Quinlan let out a small laugh at her words.
“Indeed.”
For once, he did not resist, placing both hands on her waist. Their bodies fit together perfectly.
“I am Ludice.”
He gave a bitter smile, pulling her closer with one hand and brushing back her cascading red hair with the other.
“I hope you remain unharmed. Stay in the safest place, as safe as possible, so that I can have peace of mind.”
Yes. He could understand what that feeling was.
In a previous life, he would have treated her coldly, officially—but what was the result?
Ultimately, both he and she met death.
Regardless of the difference in time, all that remained for them was a miserable death, not life.
Ludice rested her face against Quinlan’s chest. She could hear the slightly rapid beat of his heart.
The sound of a living person.
The sound that gave her breath.
Matching her breathing to his heartbeat, Ludice slowly spoke.
“The safest place for me is by your side.”
“…”
“There’s no place safe without you. Maybe I could escape for a short while, but only for a moment. Soon, I’ll be a target again, and perhaps I will die trying to protect you.”
“Ludice!”
“That’s just how it is.”
She smiled brightly.
Quinlan’s face hardened as he looked at her. His white hands brushed over her tensed, stiff forearms, and the tension seemed to melt away.
“The safest place for me is by your side.”
“…”
“I want to create a place where we can rest peacefully. A place where those who follow us can live in peace. I believe that place can be Diarun, the homeland of D’Phania.”
“…That’s an ambitious dream.”
“Isn’t it natural? With you, I can accomplish anything.”
Perhaps because his mood had softened, his voice became gentler. Ludice smiled. She pretended to be thoughtful, resting her head on his chest, making Quinlan flinch slightly.
“So, protect me firmly.”
“That’s only natural…”
“First, let’s sleep together…”
“Ludice!”
Startled, Quinlan saw her laugh clearly. She continued until he let out a small chuckle.
Then—
“Duke! There’s trouble!”
A knight rushed toward them.
“What is it?”
“We found a man in the forest!”
“…!”
The knight, seeing the puzzled expressions of his lords, turned immediately.
From the direction of the forest, a man dressed in white walked toward them, supported by others.
A white robe. Patterns embroidered along the cape’s edge.
“…!”
Ludice and Quinlan’s eyes met.
Someone they would never expect to encounter here.
A mage.
“Heh, I feel alive again. Those bastards didn’t even give me water.”
The man took two containers of water provided by the D’Phania knights in one gulp before finally exhaling, laughing in relief.
“Thank you. I went to the forest for ingredients, but those guys appeared out of nowhere. They said I was in their way, tied me up in the forest, and ran off.”
He spoke quickly, letting everything out, then laughed heartily.
He was surprisingly talkative.
Ludice watched him amused, while Quinlan frowned.
“By the way…”
The man scanned those looking at him. His gaze passed over the knights, brushed past Quinlan, and landed on Ludice.
In that moment, his eyes widened.
“You are…”
