Chapter 62
“What do people in this countryside even do to pass the time?”
Erica grumbled as she walked down the long hallway of the ducal mansion.
She had expected more from a ducal house with imperial blood — but there was nothing.
No banquets. No social gatherings. Not even the elegant tea times that young noble ladies enjoyed together.
All that stretched endlessly before her were dull plains.
“And those shabby knights, too.”
The knights seemed to enjoy their freedom in this environment, but Erica did not.
In this boring, monotonous life, there wasn’t a single thing amusing.
She had impulsively asked to serve as the duchess’s lady-in-waiting, but she had never truly wanted the position.
If only that woman hadn’t glared at me like that.
Those golden eyes — eyes that didn’t seem human — had stared at her with terrifying intensity.
A lady-in-waiting wasn’t supposed to do menial work, yet Ludiche de Phania made her do exactly that.
And when it came to the duke’s office or meetings with him, Ludiche wouldn’t even let Erica come close.
She’s keeping me away from the Duke on purpose, Erica convinced herself, twisting the situation to her liking.
In her mind, she was the Duke’s former fiancée, and the current duchess was the evil woman oppressing her.
“It must’ve been that woman who seduced the Duke. Once I become the Duchess, I’ll never stay in this backwater. I’ll go to the capital with him.”
If she went to the capital, she would become one of the Empire’s highest nobles.
She was lost in that rosy dream when —
Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed from afar.
Erica stopped instinctively. In the dimly lit end of the hallway, a man’s silhouette appeared.
She recognized him instantly — the man she had longed to meet: Duke Quinlan de Phania.
The man was far more imposing than she had imagined.
Even from a distance, his tall frame and the deliberate weight of his steps commanded attention.
In this entire Empire, there was only one man with such dazzling platinum hair — Duke Quinlan de Phania himself.
Erica widened her eyes, steadying her trembling hands as she fixed her gaze on him.
This was her chance.
She needed to leave a strong impression — something unforgettable — so that she could secure her place as the future Duchess.
Erica swiftly changed her course and stepped forward, positioning herself in his path.
“Lady Erica!”
A maid called from behind her, but Erica didn’t care.
In her eyes, there was only one person — Duke de Phania.
“Hmm?”
Quinlan stopped walking.
A woman in a lavish dress stood before him as if waiting for him.
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
“Erica of House Vasily greets the Duke.”
Erica dropped into a deep curtsy.
After a brief silence, Quinlan spoke.
“Lady Vasily.”
When he returned her greeting with a small nod, Erica’s face brightened with delight.
“I’ve been wanting to greet you for so long, Your Grace. You were away, so I hadn’t the chance until now.”
She lowered her head slightly, gazing up at him with her most pitiful, alluring expression — one that had earned her countless compliments on her beauty.
Usually, even the most composed men would soften at her look.
At least, that was how it had always been in the capital.
“Did my wife not welcome you?”
“Ah…”
The unexpected question caught Erica off guard.
But she quickly regained her composure and smiled sweetly.
“Yes, the Duchess welcomed me warmly. It’s just that…”
At her hesitant tone, Quinlan’s brow twitched slightly.
Erica faltered for a moment, then shook her head as if dismissing the thought.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing, Your Grace. The Duchess has been very kind to me.”
“…”
“It’s just that… since we once had a connection in the past, I’ve always thought fondly of you. I’m simply so happy to finally see you again.”
Quinlan’s icy blue eyes rested on her, emotionless.
Erica’s eyes glistened softly — the same look that had once made many men’s hearts flutter.
But Quinlan remained unmoved. His silence stretched so long that Erica began to grow anxious.
Then Baron Dan Gilbert, standing a step behind Quinlan, leaned in and whispered something.
Quinlan’s brow furrowed slightly. He nodded and turned back to Erica.
“I must go. Enjoy your stay at the ducal estate.”
Without waiting for her reply, he walked past her.
Erica quickly stepped aside and bowed her head, hoping for even a single kind word — but none came.
When he had passed, she raised her head and watched his retreating back.
He never once looked back at her.
When he disappeared from view, Erica let out a long sigh.
It was the first time she had seen him in person.
“He looks nothing like his portrait.”
When the marriage proposal had first been arranged years ago, Erica had seen his portrait — back then, he’d looked like a boy, still immature.
But now… he was completely different.
No one in the imperial court could compare to that man’s presence.
She doubted anyone in the entire Empire could.
“Dignified, handsome… I didn’t expect that. I’ve never seen a man like him before.”
She murmured wistfully, regretting her decision.
If she’d known he would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have rejected the proposal so coldly.
She shouldn’t have looked down on him or mocked his declining family.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I can still reclaim my place. A woman like the Duchess — neither graceful nor refined, pretending to be a knight — won’t be hard to get rid of.”
Erica brushed back her golden hair and whispered to herself.
Duke Quinlan de Phania.
Yes — once he saw the refined elegance she had cultivated in the imperial court, he would surely change his mind.
The Duchess might be somewhat pretty, but compared to her? Laughable.
Perhaps he would even regret not choosing her sooner — might even beg for her affection.
The thought made her smile.
“Erica de Phania.”
It didn’t sound bad. The more she said it, the more it felt like it belonged to her — as if it had always been her name.
“How should I drive that woman out…”
Erica’s voice was lively — more so than it had been in a long time.
She smiled, satisfied.
Meanwhile, after leaving Erica behind, Quinlan and Baron Gilbert finally spoke once she was out of sight.
“She’s quite the troublesome guest,” Gilbert remarked — an unusual display of open opinion from him.
“Lady Ludiche will have a difficult time.”
“I think so too.”
Since becoming Quinlan’s aide, Gilbert had worked tirelessly to understand every aspect of the ducal household.
He had barely rested, but it allowed him to learn everything that mattered.
He knew that Erica Vasily was the woman once proposed to the Duke — before his marriage to Ludiche.
Of course, the engagement had never been finalized.
Even if Ludiche hadn’t appeared, Quinlan had no intention of marrying Erica Vasily.
“In many ways, Lady Ludiche has been your savior, Your Grace. If not for her, you might have ended up marrying that woman.”
“I had no such intention.”
“You never know. Personally, I can’t stand people who only think of themselves and try to control everyone around them. A woman like that in House de Phania? Unthinkable.”
At his wry tone, Quinlan chuckled. He felt much the same.
“You should treat Lady Ludiche well, Your Grace.”
“I try to,” Quinlan said softly — and there was genuine affection in his voice.
Sensing that warmth, Gilbert lowered his gaze.
He felt fortunate to be serving such people.
A few days later, the ducal mansion held a rare evening banquet.
Erica was invited as well.
It wasn’t a grand affair — merely a slightly larger dinner than usual.
It was organized as a farewell gathering for Tobias Gluck, who would soon be returning home.
At the head of the table sat Ludiche and Quinlan, facing each other.
Around them, guests were seated alternately by gender, enjoying pleasant conversation.
Aside from the Duke and Duchess, their aides and the knights’ captains were present — and among them, Erica Vasily.
Amid the cheerful atmosphere, the only person brimming with dissatisfaction was Erica.
To think a ducal banquet would include such a rabble…
