Chapter 13

The twentieth ruler of the 'Shindal Castle', Emperor 'Leopold Bolshtark II', is a typical Svergen with bright blonde hair and vivid blue eyes, just like the emperors before him. He is also the emperor who inherited the bloodlines of the noble ducal families, 'Rihard' and 'Baichen'. It is only natural that he looks like a Svergen, but even without his noble blood, his appearance is exceptionally outstanding. Even when he twists his lips in displeasure and frowns, he still looks noble. Of course, in terms of noble aura, the middle-aged woman sitting opposite the emperor is no less impressive. Born as a daughter of the Baichen ducal family, she became the Duchess of Rihard and is now the Empress Dowager, the mother of the emperor. Empress Dowager Margret, with a splendid jeweled pin on her blonde hair of the same color as the emperor's, lifted a teacup filled with hibiscus tea and said,

"That child's life span is quite long."

Daniel has woken up. The emperor's half-brother, 'Daniel Johannes Rihard', was born to the late Duke Rihard, 'Bruno Rihard', and a commoner from Milabo, 'Laura Chardo'. The news is not only unwelcome.

"About ten days ago, the Duke of Rihard woke up."

The news that should have arrived in five days took ten days.

'Ten days ago.'

The Empress Dowager savored the bitter and sour taste of the tea before placing the teacup silently on the table. It means that the security of the duchy was firmly maintained even during the three years when Daniel was unconscious. Laura's child is always a thorn in the eye, whether seen or unseen, like a thorn that won't come out no matter how hard you try. The emperor, Leopold, couldn't hide his annoyance as he looked at his mother, who was lost in thought.

"You're being too stingy with the child who has woken up after three years. Isn't a stepchild still a child?"

"He is Laura's child. To me, he is just a hunting dog of the emperor, nothing more."

As if to prove that she is the daughter of the thorough and intelligent Baichen ducal family, the emperor felt a chill from the cold blood of the Baichen family that also flows in his veins. *** When the duke's hand touched her forehead, Frieda realized again what her heart, which had been acting up for the past few days, wanted to say.

'What do I do? I... I think I like the Duke.'

Click. Swallowing her dry throat and bowing her head, she saw the small buckles on Daniel's leather jacket. One, two, three... Out of the six, the top two were undone. The ribbon of the shirt she wore underneath slowly moved with her chest. She knew how solid and broad his chest was, having hugged him before. Duke Rihard is strong, warm, meticulous, and generous. He makes her feel both jealousy and affection.

'How can I not fall for him? He's such a great man, and he's even my husband... Isn't it strange not to like him?'

Her heart, which she had barely calmed during the days they spent in separate rooms, throbbed painfully. Her cheeks turned as red as a ripe barberry in the spring sun. Just then, Daniel's hand, which had fallen from her forehead, lightly brushed her cheek.

"You don't look well."

'What do I do, what do I do. I can't breathe because of you. I can't breathe.'

"Huff... huff..."

Frieda slowly exhaled, recalling the hand movements Muriel showed her whenever she was nervous. However, before she could finish her third deep breath, her body floated up into the air.

"Mommy...!"

Daniel, who had picked her up, walked steadily through the door connecting the duke and duchess's bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. Then his hand touched her forehead again.

"It's not just a slight fever."

Next, her cheek.

"Did you see where the maid went?"

Finally, her neck. Wherever Daniel's hand touched, her skin felt as if it were on fire. Click, click. After swallowing her dry throat several times, she finally managed to speak.

"I went to the kitchen to get something to eat..."

Daniel's eyes swept through the bedroom, which was still filled with the scent of flowers as always. The maid was one thing, but the squire who usually clung to her like a shadow was also nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Sir Rosival?"

"He is checking past documents related to road construction... Oh, right. I was just about to tell you that."

Frieda, who had been pressing down on her thumping heart, suddenly stood up, recalling the purpose of her visit to her husband. It's good that her husband is good, but this is a different matter.

"To start the road construction, we need a lot of initial funds..."

"I've already told you many times that you don't need to report to me for every little thing. Do as you please."

How many times does he make her repeat the same thing? Showing clear signs of annoyance, he looked around and noticed a small basin of water. A damp towel was draped over it. Taking advantage of the moment when Daniel headed towards it, Frieda, who had straightened her back, continued.

"According to the rules, we need to report to the royal family first and get their approval. But perhaps... is there a way to proceed with the construction and then let them know?"

Of course there is. There are countless ways. In fact, the royal family's approval is a formal procedure. As long as it doesn't involve gathering troops, the royal family has always been lenient about the nobles' accumulation of wealth. Although the royal treasury has weakened due to prolonged succession disputes, the Svergen royal family owns vast territories. All the lands left behind after the successive extinction of the twelve ducal families became the property of the royal family. The royal family leased part of the land to the nobles to earn money. Since most of the taxes were exempt for the nobles, collecting land taxes and tolls under the guise of leasing was the most plausible. As the nobles became richer, they could raise the price, and with the royal family's tacit approval, wealthy nobles emerged throughout the empire. For example, Duke Andre of Weimar, who became a tycoon through trade by leasing the land of the southern Graf ducal family, which was extinguished in the royal succession dispute. With trade between empires and even continents now thriving, roads that facilitate their movement are equivalent to money. The royal family would not oppose road construction that would fill their pockets without them having to do anything. Unless the person starting the project is the Duke of Rihard.

'The clever Duchess of Rihard must have already figured this out.'

Daniel, who had wrung out the towel soaked in cold water, approached the bed. Frieda, whose white face was flushed with heat, looked at him with wide eyes.

"Well, it would be better if the royal family found out after the logging project is completed. To do that, we need to keep it secret until at least next year... Oh?"

Her head and shoulders, held by his hand, were gradually laid down on the bed. After admiring her flushed, babbling face for a moment, Daniel placed the cold towel on Frieda's forehead. Gazing steadily at his wife's eyes, which had forgotten to blink, Daniel pressed the towel on her forehead with his fingertips and spoke.

"The road from the duchy to the capital is quite dangerous. It's common for messengers to lose their lives on this road, so this excuse can buy us about a year."

We just need to send the request for approval. Whether it arrives is up to the heavens, right? Frieda's eyelids, which had been frozen, began to flutter, and her lips parted like a ripe shell.

"Surely... you're not suggesting we send a messenger and then kill him?"

For a noble lady, that's quite an aggressive imagination. A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Daniel's usually expressionless mouth.

"That would be more certain. We can discuss the rest after your fever breaks."

"But..."

Frieda's slight resistance to standing up was easily suppressed by the strength of Daniel's fingers.

"I will add a condition from today."

Daniel pressed Frieda's shoulder as he spoke.

"A, a condition? Surely you don't mean the safe? But you clearly said I could use it as I pleased..."

"I never said there was only one condition."

The emotion in her purple eyes changed from affection to distrust in an instant. Her honest wife, whose eyes and heartbeat reveal everything, cannot hide her true feelings. Chuckle. The corners of Daniel's mouth twitched more widely as he looked at his pouting wife, but they quickly returned to their usual composed state. Possessing power, honor, and wealth, and also having the wit to scheme, his wife is an extremely dangerous woman. Daniel, as always, returned to his inscrutable expression when dealing with Frieda.

"The safe will not open on days when the duchess is unwell."

"Wh-what?"

Daniel pressed Frieda's slightly trembling shoulder again. Although he felt some resistance, it was easily suppressed, and his eyes carried a firm warning.

"I will confiscate the key from today. Come and get it when your fever breaks."

"That's not fair. It's not fair. I have a fever almost every day."

"Then the safe will remain closed for a long time."

Seeing Frieda's fist clenching the hem of her dress, Daniel reached out to the same spot.

"Excuse me."

"Du, Duke!"

He had already anticipated that she would carry the key with her. According to Dominic, she often visits the tower several times a day, looking flustered each time. Following the movement of Frieda's hand, his hand easily found the cold metal between the folds of her dress. Quickly pulling out the key he had grabbed, he saw Frieda's hand, which had just emerged from her dress, flailing in the air.

"Please forgive my rudeness."

After bowing politely and leaving a word of apology, Daniel crossed over to his bedroom.

"Where is such a rule? Where is it to take something back like this!"

The vivid anger that hit the back of his head was quite fierce.

"You, you liar!"

Although he had omitted a few words, he had not lied, and he felt a sense of injustice, but this was as expected. Clang. However, as he closed the door connecting the duke and duchess's rooms, an unexpected noise was heard. Water droplets seeped through the gap in the door that had not yet closed, wetting his legs. Judging by the intensity of the sound, it was likely that the basin on the side table had hit the door. Chuckle. The laughter that involuntarily burst out was stifled in his throat, but it continued to escape through his clenched fist.

"K... kuk kuk kuk."

To throw a basin. How angry must she have been to even think of lifting it with those slender arms? Glancing through the gap in the door, he saw Frieda glaring at the room, unable to contain her anger. It's quite a sight. No, 'quite a sight' is not enough. If he had known it would be this entertaining, he would have taken it away long ago. Leaning against the wall with the key in his hand, Daniel laughed quietly for a while. *** The duke touched the whiskers of the sleeping beast, Altai.

"Wait and see. No matter what happens, I will come and find that key."

"Huff..."

Muriel, watching Frieda make a determined resolution, sighed deeply and pressed her forehead.

At the very least, she should have warned Dominic. This lady is not a herbivore, despite appearances. Of course, the perceptive Dominic wouldn't have missed that. Therefore, today's incident is purely the result of the duke's clumsy provocation, not knowing what kind of woman he married. Muriel sighed again deeply and carefully checked the floor for any remaining moisture. It would be a disaster if she slipped and fell.

"The duke was worried about you. He didn't say he wouldn't give it back, just that you should come and get it when your fever breaks."

"That's the same as not giving it back!"

Frieda's eyes, which were still glaring fiercely at the door connecting the duke and duchess's bedroom, were filled with anger.

"Muriel knows. I am always sick, always have a fever. I don't have... much time left."