Chapter 10

"Yes, I want to see it!"

The scene of the thin neck nodding vigorously, as if amazed by the fact that it was holding something, was incredibly precarious. Daniel instinctively reached out to support the fragile neck that could break at any moment. However, he had to awkwardly fold his arm halfway when Frida stepped forward, preventing him from fully extending it.

"Can we go see it right now?"

As they got closer, her head was tilted back to look up at him, stretching her neck to the limit. The red and blue veins visible between the collar of her shirt were taut, as if they might burst at any moment. So captivated by the sight, he didn’t immediately realize that the key had slipped completely out of his hand. Frida, holding the heavy key tightly, smiled broadly. It was a clean, pure smile, like a pristine snowfield without a speck of dirt. Daniel’s awkwardly folded arm slowly straightened out again, reaching toward her silver, wavy hair.

"Should I show this key to Dominic?"

Frida, excited at the prospect of seeing the gold coins, didn’t even notice Daniel’s fingertips touching her hair. Her mind was filled with ducats. It had cost a staggering 4 million florins in gold coins to turn a hill inside the castle walls into farmland. There was more suitable land for reclamation outside the walls of Mühaim, but the additional cost was justified to keep track of the number of residents. With work available inside the castle, the residents naturally had to come and go, requiring entry permits. By issuing these permits, he recorded the number of residents who had stayed in the duchy and the increase in population. Based on these documents, he was able to collect taxes properly for the first time since Utrecht became a duchy last year. Of course, it was still a long way from surveying the entire duchy and counting the number of residents. Sigh, that damned money. If only the finances were solid, there were hundreds of things he wanted to do, businesses he wanted to start. Until now, he had to sit idle until the herb harvest was complete and the trading season arrived. But ducats! We have money! From the fact that Frida promised to return 2 million florins, it was clear they had at least that much. Unable to contain her excitement, Frida turned around without even waiting for Daniel’s answer and called out for the man who would take her to the vault.

"Dominic! Do-mi…."

Frida’s waist, which had barely taken two steps, suddenly changed direction, for the first time being held by a man’s hand.

"Ah!"

Startled, she squeezed her eyes shut and pulled her arms in.

"No one else is needed."

A deep, low voice settled above her forehead, and at the same time, the key in her hand slipped out. In Daniel’s embrace, Frida’s eyes quickly widened and blinked. Even as she did so, she searched for the key with her eyes. Daniel placed the key in front of her, and as he looked down at her gem-like eyes following the key, he spoke calmly.

"I’ll take you there myself."

*** Dominic firmly grabbed Muriel’s wrist as she tried to pull the doorknob of the office. The squire’s cool gray eyes glared at him coldly.

"Let go. I just heard the lady’s scream from inside…."

“It was just a momentary sound. You heard it, and I heard it too.”

If he hadn’t gripped it firmly, it would have slipped out of his grasp. To suppress the force that could have easily shaken him off, Dominic held Muriel’s wrist even tighter.

“Don’t act rashly, Sir Rosivalt. This is not the Harkbone Manor where you can freely roam.”

“I am Lady Frida’s bodyguard. I have the duty to protect her safety….”

“The person with your lady right now is the safest person in the empire, both in terms of sword skills and current position. I understand your overstepping, given that your lord has been absent for a long time.”

The squire’s strength slowly drained from his capable hands. Only then did Dominic release his wrist and smirk, pointing to the office door.

“Lady Rosivalt is inside with her husband, who has just awakened after three years. They are not a couple who have lived together for long, so it’s unlikely they would want to kill each other. If it’s a minor conflict between a man and a woman, it’s different.”

Leaning in close to Muriel, Dominic whispered quietly.

“After all, it’s like a honeymoon. Let’s pretend we don’t know.”

“Don’t speak so lightly. Our lady is….”

“Yes, yes. She’s different. Not ordinary. I know, I know.”

“Her body is….”

Muriel, maintaining his rigid posture, swept his auburn bangs back, unable to hide his anxiety. Even if the scream was due to a minor conflict, it was not a small matter.

“It’s already beyond the limit. She’s already pushing herself to the limit. We can’t make it worse.”

“Perhaps. But does your lady want that?”

Dominic leaned against the door, crossing his arms and grinning.

“From what I know of the Duchess, she would willingly throw herself into a worse situation and even create an even worse one.”

“So we need to stop her. To survive one more day.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Does the Duchess want that? A dull life, locked in a room, waiting for the day of her death.”

Dominic clicked his tongue, as if he didn’t know the lady he served. But the small, trembling voice that followed quickly erased his playful demeanor.

“What’s wrong with that? Isn’t living one more day, even in such a way, better?”

He wasn’t so despicable as to mock such sincere loyalty.

“To you and your great lord, such things are not important. If the Duchess goes wrong, you can always replace her. It doesn’t matter who it is.”

Muriel, a knight from a long line of knights, was not much smaller in build compared to Dominic. While Dominic had a sharp, slender jawline, Muriel’s face was more rugged. When Muriel moved to block the window, a shadow fell over Dominic’s face. As always, the dark-haired, hazel-eyed man suited the shadows. Despite his ever-present sly smile.

“Am I wrong? Your talent for shaking is matched only by your cold heart, Dominic Moly?”

Muriel had long known that his true nature was exposed. Who else would know, except for the Duchess, whose mind was as white as her skin?

With a sly smile, Dominic stepped aside and nodded toward the back.

“Well, if you want to die before your precious lady, go ahead and open the door. As a cold-hearted man, I won’t stop your misfortune.”

Muriel, without hesitation, pushed the door open and faced an empty office. Surprised by the unexpected scene, she turned to look at Dominic, who had followed her.

“Where did they go?”

“Maybe they jumped out the window? Or went through the floor?”

“Stop joking.”

Dominic’s gaze swept over the empty desk and the bookshelf that took up one wall.

‘This guy. He went with them, didn’t he?’

A short laugh escaped his lips, but his expression quickly turned cold.

“I think you should be more worried about Sir Rosivalt’s life than your lady’s.”

His hazel eyes, no longer smiling, fixed on Muriel.

“You know who my lord is, right?”

Knights bearing the Rosivalt name were found on every battlefield in the empire. Dominic had seen dozens of them. Muriel, a member of the famous Rosivalt family, could not be unaware of who Daniel Rihardt was. If he was acting this way despite knowing, he was a fool. Shaking his head, Dominic moved toward the door of the empty office.

“My heart is cold, but my lord has no heart at all.”

The massive wooden door slammed shut in front of Muriel, who was still in shock. *** The lantern in the man’s hand cast two straight shadows in the dark, windless space. Daniel stopped when the shadow behind him lagged further behind, waiting silently for her to catch up. One step, then another. The woman was slow and cautious. If he hadn’t remembered the Countess of Harkbone’s voice, he might have found it difficult to be patient.

“We can’t even stand in the sunlight, and at night, we can barely see.”

The realization that she struggled in the dark came only after noticing the slowing shadow. Should he have turned back then? Daniel turned to look at Frida, who was only a few steps behind him.

“Do you want to turn back now?”

Even as she stumbled, touching the wall with her hand, Frida shook her head firmly.

“No, it’s fine. I never imagined there would be a secret door leading outside from the office.”

Despite the fear in her eyes, she smiled brightly, just as she had when she made Daniel guide her here for a ridiculous reason.

“I’ll take you there myself.”

“Um… but, Your Grace, is the vault far? The thing is, I can’t leave the inner castle until tomorrow.”

“Why is that?”

“Muriel has imposed a curfew. If I break it even for a day, the duration will double.”

“Muriel?”

“My bodyguard, Sir Muriel Rosivalt.”

He had heard of him. A squire from the famous Rosivalt family, known for producing several royal knights. As the lord, he had no problem taking his wife out, but it was a bit troublesome. Meeting the famous squire and explaining his change of heart to Dominic waiting outside the door. Having made his decision, Daniel elegantly extended his hand to Frida.

“If you wish, we can go quietly. Let’s go.”

When he pushed the left corner of the bookshelf, Frida, who had been chattering about the novelty, fell silent as they entered the corridor. Despite bringing a lantern that he didn’t need, it seemed insufficient to reassure his wife. Daniel waited for her to get closer before handing her the lantern, which cast a flickering light.

“Take it.”

Frida, staring blankly at the lantern Daniel offered, carefully took the handle. Was he suggesting she lead the way?

“Ah, yes… I’ll take it.”

Feeling relieved as the only light source got closer, she realized that the darkness frightened her. When Muriel said she was different from others, she felt hurt, but now she had to admit it. Her inherent weakness was a hindrance to others. Determined to get out of there as quickly as possible, she held the lantern as close as possible. Then, Daniel’s low, calm voice echoed through the dark corridor.

“Hold on tight.”

“Huh?”

Hold on? To what? Daniel’s face, illuminated by the flickering lantern, changed from light to dark.

“Hold my neck tightly.”

“What… Ah!”

Suddenly, Frida’s body was lifted into the air. She instinctively wrapped her right arm tightly around Daniel’s neck, who had picked her up. Fortunately, she didn’t drop the lantern in her left hand, but the candle flickered wildly. Her heart did too.

“Hold tighter.”