Chapter 61
“Are you saying Ludianah isn’t in the castle?”
Karlos, still uneasy from how gloomy Ludianah had looked the evening before, had gone looking for her first thing in the morning.
“Yes, my lord. She left early for the territory. It wasn’t even scheduled for today, but…”
“I see.”
Hearing from a servant that she had already departed, he instead made his way to the training grounds.
By the emperor’s decree, starting this year, representatives from the Eastern and Western Academies were to compete in a fencing tournament.
Karlos and Irene, chosen as representatives for the Eastern Academy, were soon to depart for the capital.
“Why are you here so early? Where’s sister?”
“She went out to the territory first thing.”
Already practicing, Irene frowned. When Karlos let out a quiet sigh, she pursed her lips and added,
“Is it because she looked upset?”
“She did seem gloomy at dinner last night. I’m worried.”
Karlos rubbed the hilt of the sword at his waist, his brows knitted. The veins rising on his hand pulsed vividly along his fingers.
“Still, she needs to face it herself.”
Irene crossed her arms and exhaled deeply, the high ponytail she’d tied swaying with the motion.
“She can’t keep pushing it away forever!”
She thrust her fist at the air, glaring at Karlos with burning eyes.
“It frustrates me even more just watching her.”
“…Hmm.”
Karlos gave a wry smile, nodding.
“You’re right.”
The tremor in his deepened eyes stilled, and his firm jaw twitched faintly.
“When Ludi comes back, I’ll talk to her. For now, get into stance.”
Gripping his sword tightly, Karlos drew it in one fluid motion.
“Focus.”
By the time the high midsummer sun sank into dusk, Ludianah’s return was accompanied not by sunlight, but by the moon.
“The literacy rate in the territory has risen a lot.”
“Yes, thanks to you, my lady.”
Handing her coat to Mikaela, Ludianah turned to Robert, who smiled warmly beneath his mustache.
“I hardly did anything.”
“You gave even commoners a chance at education.”
“Well…”
“It’s thanks to you.”
He shook his head firmly, without the slightest hesitation. Embarrassed, Ludianah smiled softly.
“Thank you for saying so.”
“It’s nothing. You’ve worked hard today. Please rest well.”
Robert bowed politely, and Ludianah dipped her head briefly before ascending the stairs.
“My lady, aren’t you tired? Spending the whole day like this…”
“I’m fine.”
Worried, Mikaela furrowed her brows.
Ludianah went out to inspect the territory once or twice a week without fail. Those days always started at dawn and ended only late at night.
In summer the days were long, but in winter she often returned with the moon already high.
“Now it’s summer, but in winter you’ll really need to be careful.”
“What’s there to fear with the knights protecting me?”
Reassuring her maid, Ludianah reached the second floor—only to freeze in place.
“Ludi.”
There was Karlos, waiting in casual clothes in the corridor. Seeing him, she was reminded of the day four years ago when she’d first developed the cure.
“You’re only just back?”
Her weary eyelids shot open, tension flooding her body. She still hadn’t shaken off the sting from yesterday, and now, standing face-to-face, she didn’t know what to say. While her heart was unprepared, Karlos approached slowly.
“I just wanted to talk for a bit.”
His gaze dropped as he reached her, and following it, she noticed her soiled skirts.
“Guess today isn’t the time.”
Her shoes and hem were caked in dirt—reminders of crouching to meet the eyes of children at the school for commoners.
“You must be tired. Go rest.”
“Karlos!”
Turning to give her space, Karlos was stopped by her sudden grip on his sleeve.
“…Hm?”
“Oh—”
His lashes trembled at her unexpected touch.
Don’t run away, she told herself.
Of course Karlos had noticed her mood yesterday—he was too kind not to. He must have come out of worry.
At the Academy, it was natural for him to be close with others. Just as she herself was no longer who she’d been in her past life, neither was Karlos unchanged.
Whoever he keeps close, that’s not for me to judge.
Her chest ached, but she forced herself to ignore it, squeezing her eyes shut before opening them again. His gentle gray-blue eyes still shone with care.
“Let’s talk.”
“Are you sure? If you’re tired, we can leave it for later.”
Shaking her head at his concern, Ludianah said,
“Just let me change first.”
“Alright.”
She gave Mikaela a look, then stepped into her room.
“M’lady, should I bring your loungewear?”
“Yes.”
Just act natural.
Changed into a simpler dress, Ludianah settled on the sofa. Mikaela called for Karlos, who entered and sat opposite her.
“I saw yesterday—Brno’s really changed.”
“Has it?”
“Yeah. I’d read your letters, but it’s even more impressive than I imagined.”
His eyes curved like a crescent moon. Though his voice, build, and features had long since outgrown boyhood, his smile still carried that same refreshing brightness.
“That pointed roof over there—that’s the school, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You instituted compulsory education for your people?”
“Brno needs not only labor, but also educated workers.”
“You really are…”
Brno, optimized for commerce and trade, had virtually no farmland to sustain itself.
Ludianah intended to turn that weakness into a strength.
“Rather than building farmland now, it’s better to maximize our advantages.”
“You’ve also rebuilt the roads, haven’t you?”
“Yes. Was the trip smooth for you?”
As they spoke of the territory, her stiff shoulders relaxed. Her smile rose naturally.
“Now, every merchant caravan traveling between east and west will pass through Brno.”
Over the last four years, while Karlos and Irene honed swordsmanship and scholarship at the Academy, Ludianah and Roseline had poured everything into Brno’s development—not just its trade guild, but the entire city itself.
Now their work was nearing completion. The new roads stretched from Brno all the way to Pianus Duchy at the far eastern border, soon to be finished.
“You really are amazing, Ludianah.”
Karlos’s gray-blue eyes gleamed, his gaze full of admiration.
“You too. I heard you became Baron’s direct disciple—and even a representative.”
“Nothing compared to you.”
He shrugged modestly, coughed lightly, then carefully studied her expression.
“Were you really that upset yesterday?”
“Yesterday?”
Just when I’d finally relaxed…!
Her body stiffened again. Her eyes slid away from his.
“You looked uncomfortable the whole meal.”
“Did I? I… don’t know.”
“Ludi.”
His voice, so gentle a moment ago, grew weighted, pressing into the room. Startled, her eyes flew back to his.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. What reason would I have to be upset?”
Karlos stood, closing the distance between them. Her lashes quivered faintly as he approached.
“I wish you’d pay more attention to what you feel.”
Sitting beside her, he gently took her hand.
“Karlos…”
“Do I still look like a child to you?”
Carefully, he lifted her hand and brushed his lips against the back of it. The soft warmth of his breath made her whole body tremble.
“…”
When he raised his gaze, their eyes met midair. She turned her head, but his stare followed relentlessly.
“From now on, I won’t let you pretend not to see.”
“Karl…”
“Go on. Try ignoring me if you can.”
A faint smile touched his lips where they had kissed her hand.
With eyes blazing as if ready to devour her, Karlos left Ludianah breathless, forgetting even how to exhale.
