My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 152: Just Like Old Times

Chapter 152: Just Like Old Times

Before Leonor, for as long as Quinn could remember he avoided the touch of others as if they may give him an ancient plague. He was unaffectionate with and unaffected by others which was the way he preferred to live his life.

The only two people to get through his defenses were Leonor and Stephano—although it was lucky Stephano wasn’t an affectionate person either or their relationship would have soured long in the past.

There was one point in Quinn and Leonor’s relationship where he finally accepted her touch, realizing that was just the sort of affectionate person she was. She meant nothing by it other than friendship and he never thought of it any more than that.

That’s why, when Leonor lifted her skirts and rushed down the front steps, unassisted by the duke who was walking beside her, Quinn readily accepted her hug when she jumped at him. He used his little defensive magic to keep himself from falling over.

"Your grace," he greeted her, always one to keep up proper titles when talking to nobles. "I can’t believe it’s you."

Leonor pulled away and straightened herself out. She seemed almost ashamed to have had such an outburst but it was such a long time since she had seen the mage she spent six years beside.

She knew it was unbecoming of a duchess to come unglued whenever she was in the presence of those she cared for, but she had so few people she truly cared for in such a way. They were the only ones who could move her to such emotion.

"You can’t believe it’s me?" Leonor asked in complete disbelief. "I can’t believe His Majesty would send you all this way without warning me. He knows how close we are, doesn’t he?"

"Rather, he’s too busy as well as terrified of you considering how your familiar acted when she delivered your last letter," Quinn explained with a light smirk.

He was amused when Stephano told him the reason for Leonor’s letter and all she had been through for the time he hadn’t seen or heard from her. He knew of the secrets Stephano kept from her. He also finally understood why Leonor was so heartbroken the day of the homecoming parade those years ago.

Considering how unaffected by others Leonor had been during their time at the academy, he simply thought of her as someone who didn’t pay attention to the world of courting others. Never once did he realize it could have been because she was fully taken by someone else.

Quinn went quiet when Desmond finally made his way down the steps and joined the two of them towards the bottom of the stairs.

The mage bowed immediately.

"Your grace, my name is Quinn Silver, mana partner to her grace for the entirety of her time in the Academy," he greeted Desmond. "I thank you for your hospitality on such short notice. I will leave as soon as possible."

Desmond had already sized up the man, feeling insecure about how clean-looking and strangely beautiful he was. His appearance was almost feminine but Desmond learned many years before that full-blooded mages were a bit more lithe in build than average humans.

"A friend of my wife is a friend of mine," Desmond stated simply. "Please, make yourself comfortable during your stay."

"I’ll continue to thank you, though I know it isn’t enough," he admitted. "I will enjoy my short stay."

Quinn knew better than to stare at the duke’s appearance. Even before he knew how dear the man was to his friends, he was one to steer clear of all talk about him. The man put a stop to a decade’s worth of unnecessary deaths. He didn’t understand the demonizing of him.

Although he could understand how someone walking around with so much intense scarring could give them a terrifying appearance. That and his rough voice made Quinn feel he should be careful even though Leonor was fine in this person’s care.

"Shall we go into a sitting room and drink something restorative?" Leonor asked. "Since training with His Majesty, I’ve stocked the place with restorative herbs and potions. I know how travel exhausts you."

Quinn crossed his arms.

"In the time we’ve spent apart, my stamina is much better," Quinn insisted. "I traveled for an entire year before I was summoned to the palace to become the king’s mage."

"Then we ought to spar a bit before you leave," Leonor said, feeling suddenly competitive as she often did with Quinn. "If you’re up for the challenge, at least. We’ll see if number one in your graduating class is still number one."

Nothing could get Quinn’s heart racing quite like a challenge of magic and he perked up despite how tired he was and wouldn’t admit to from traveling.

"Tomorrow we’ll find a place to spar," Quinn assured Leonor. "However, before that, I must discuss with you the true reasons I’m here. We’ll start with the letter Stephano sent with me when I left Couervalle. The next will be a bit longer to explain."

Leonor’s interest was piqued for many reasons. The letter Stephano sent to Desmond was unbelievably vague. She couldn’t tell if it was because he was upset with the letter she sent him in the first place.

Before the duke and duchess could separate, Quinn witnessed another side of Leonor he could have never imagined in the past. Considering all the men after her she seemed pleasantly unaware of or simply ignoring because another took her, it was no surprise any longer considering Desmond’s hold over her even at that moment.

Before she could show Quinn where he would stay, she turned to Desmond and grabbed his hand.

"Then I will see you later," she uttered lightly.

"See you later," Desmond responded.

He offered Quinn a nod before he departed and left the two to themselves.

"You will be staying in the same room His Majesty did when he was here," Leonor explained and nudged the mage.

"Of course," Quinn responded a bit flatly. "As if I’m not haunted by that man enough."

Leonor smiled sweetly, even though she knew he would be displeased by the information. His relationship with the King always seemed so complicated. Even though she would never pry it was interesting seeing his responses when it came to the royal.