My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 234: Quinn’s World

Chapter 234: Quinn’s World

At the Academy, Leonor took pride in having a clutter-free space that was devoid of overly luxurious pleasantries. She didn’t want her time there to be about her father.

If her room was to be overly decorated then it would be because her father was trying to save face. Considering her room at Burien Manor was an empty space full of bad memories, she didn’t want to live a lie or live beyond her true means.

The nicest thing she kept around was her mother’s jewelry box which sat on one of her shelves full of only textbooks otherwise. Occasionally there was an item or two added from her various studies or projects.

She knew that most people took these projects home to impress supportive parents but that was not her reality. Everything she did was for herself and as a reminder that she could do anything if she put her mind to it.

On the other hand, Quinn’s space was cluttered wall to wall, yet one could not call it messy. If he needed to find something at the drop of a hat, he would be able to without any hesitation.

Shelves were packed with books and there was no empty space between. Papers in seemingly random stacks were accounted for to the very bottom page. Even his magic artifacts were strewn on chests and dressers yet they all had a purpose.

Whenever the two of them saw one another, they would often go to Leonor’s organized and empty space if they didn’t simply go out and enjoy a drink or a meal together. Too many times Leonor had knocked over a pile or misplaced something on a shelf and being in Quinn’s environment was too stressful.

While Quinn didn’t have any money to spend outside of the work study programs he took to while in school, Leonor had a steady allowance. That was one thing she wouldn’t turn away from her father. Money was nothing to him as much as it was everything to him.

That was the issue with someone so greedy yet with no way to spend the fortune he amassed through likely less than honest endeavors.

Bringing back to the present, seeing Quinn’s lab and study made Leonor feel nostalgic just as when she was seeing the young mages participating in experiments in the lab below.

Despite Quinn having gotten tall and mature, he was still the same Quinn as always. His mind was unchanging as evident by the environment he created for himself.

Unable to help herself, Leonor walked forward to the windows first with wide shelves littered with plants. He had a wonderful view of a garden and the pots were a variety of colors and materials that kept the space looking interesting. A few cuttings of plants were in clear glass jars that caused the sun to relect all over the space.

"Be careful," Quinn said. "There are poisonous plants amongst those."

Leonor turned to Quinn and crossed her arms. Her eyebrows rose.

She had already identified all of the plants she shouldn’t approach.

"I studied just as much about herbal medicine as you did," she reminded him. "And I’ve been out of school a few years less than you as well."

For the first time since being in Quinn’s presence, he fully grinned and it made him look a lot younger and more like the mage she remembered. It seemed he wasn’t always serious.

"Yet I’ve been living this life for far longer than you," he quipped. "I read herbalist textbooks every day. When was the last time you opened a magic book?"

Leonor’s eyes rolled.

"I’m sure not as often as you," she relented. "But my entire life isn’t magic. I have other responsibilities."

Quinn smirked.

"Then we will use this winter as a way for you to study," he said, tapping his chin. "After that, when you take over as the head mage or Montclair, you’ll be prepared."

Even though Leonor knew she was going to agree to do it, she couldn’t give it to him that easily since he was teasing her.

"I never said yes," she reminded him. "Much to His Majesty’s chagrin, it turns out."

Quinn sighed and he slowly walked to a worn in armchair next to a wall lined with bookshelves. He sat down heavily as if greatly burdened.

"I’ve only been back for a week yet he hasn’t shut up once about how he ruined the chances of you working with us by lying to you about his grace," Quinn admitted. "His behavior today was indicative of that."

Leonor felt somewhat honored that the King of Castille was wasting his time worrying about her. In the face of possible war and she was taking up a bit of his mind.

Perhaps that was the punishment for the crime of lying to her.

However, if he spoke to her candidly and face to face he would find that she had long since forgiven him. She never held ill will against him. The only problem was that she was hurt because of decisions he and Desmond made.

Yet there was no going back. The situation panned out as it was meant to. She could only move forward and show her friends that, despite the bumps in their path, they were still the people dearest to her.

Even the huge secret being hidden from her, Stephano and Desmond were both people who had rescued her at different times in her life. For that, she always wanted them in her life.

"I will have to set him straight at some point," Leonor realized. "I’m not trying to punish him, after all."

Rather than continuing to dwell in the past, Leonor walked towards the bookshelves instead and made her away along shelves lined with books about magic. There were even ones in the ancient language and containing symbols likely from other kingdoms she didn’t recognize at all.

"You have quite the collection here," Leonor realized as she continued on, knowing Quinn was watching her occasionally. "The reach of the most trusted mage of King Stephano must be quite amazing. I’m sure there are priceless books here."

"Rather than changing the subject," Quinn said, sitting up in his chair, "I must know if you’re going to reject us."

Leonor was finished perusing the wall of bookshelves and she turned towards her former mana partner.

"I think it’s only right that I contribute to the kingdom in the only way I truly know how," she admitted. "I was never properly taught how to do more than perform as a noble. I’m still learning how to be a duchess, but in the meantime I believe participating in the King’s endeavor will help further my reach in a way I want to as well."

Quinn couldn’t hold back his relief.

"You really had us holding our breath," Quinn admitted. "The lack of response was..." he paused to choose a correct words. "Worrying," he settled with. "After all, it was you who promised me we would be mages together in our old age."

He had stood up by the time he finished speaking and he punctuated his sentence with an elbow to Leonor.

He knew that he was overstepping considering she was a duchess and he was a simple mage, yet a grin spread across her face as he nudged her. She was still the same Leonor she always was.

Jewelry, beautiful dresses, and a strange magnetizing effect that only existed after she was married to the duke, yet she was his mana partner still. She was the quiet girl who metamorphosed in front of Quinn’s eyes. He found her hardly recognizable until she grinned and didn’t demand respect despite being a duchess and getting touched by a commoner.

"I believe those sorts of things were said when alcohol was involved," she admitted. "I thought for certain I would still be under my father’s thumb at this point in my life. The only way to escape him was to work as a mage until he died and left me my due inheritance. Now I don’t have to worry about that."

Quinn hadn’t been able to talk to Leonor about that particular topic. Even though there was clearly something awful between her and her father, she spoke highly of the Burien name and her desire to uphold its rich history.

Yet when they lost contact, suddenly none of that mattered and her only claim was as a duchess.

He wonder if it affected her or if it was eating her alive. She often took things hard but never would tell anyone about it.

After finding out all of her secrets, he felt like such a useless friend to her considering she never trusted him with certain aspects including the one regarding Desmond and the one regarding her father’s abuse.

Despite his doubts, she continued to show up for him at various times with a smile. He hoped she still didn’t hold back when it came to him, but he couldn’t be sure.

Before the conversation could turn heavy, Leonor had left the area of the large lab that contained books and she was near the counters covered in various magical devices, potions, stones, and books held open to the relevant sections.

There wasn’t anything particularly out of the norm and she knew Quinn would get mad if she disturbed anything so she turned to her friend.

"What I’m interested in the most is that," she admitted, pointing to a ladder that went up to a large loft. "Is that really where you sleep when you stay here?"

He had a guilty smile and Leonor immediately started moving to the ladder.