Chapter 15

Frida was most afraid of the darkness in the world.

“P-please save me. Save me, Muriel. Muriel……!”

Suddenly trapped in the darkness, Frida raised her voice as loud as she could.

“Is anyone there? Please save me. Please, save me…….”

The vague fear of the darkness turned into terror after her sister Rote died. The memories of her sister Hestia, who passed away early, were faint and vague, and even those were mostly blurry. But the memory of Rote, who died when Frida was thirteen, was still vivid. It wasn't just that they went from three to two; they were sisters who relied on each other more than anyone else because of their identical appearance. It was hard to believe that Rote was gone, as if she couldn't accept that her sister was no longer in the world. However, the terror she encountered when she left her bedroom in the middle of the night was a shock that the young Frida couldn't bear. Although the family usually kept the hallway as bright as daylight for their daughters even at night, that day was an exception. None of the servants, who were busy with the funeral and the parents who were grieving over Rote's death, paid attention to the wall lights. Frida, who had left her room in tears, missing her sister, got lost in the dimly lit hallway. Realizing she couldn't see anything, her legs trembled. She could hear all kinds of sounds with her ears, but her eyes saw only pitch-black darkness. She was so scared and terrified that she couldn't move a single step and collapsed on the spot. Frida crouched there, shivering until dawn. The anxiety that she would die someday like Rote made her unable to cry. For a while, she even lost her voice. It took a long time to accept reality. Honestly, even now, she's not sure if she has fully accepted it. After growing up, she isn't as afraid of death as she was then, but the darkness still terrifies her. At that moment, the hallway where she had curled up and trembled, calling for Rote, came to mind. Frida fumbled for the door, pulled it open, and slammed it shut. She kept calling the name of the only person she relied on.

“Muriel. Muriel. Mu…….”

Unconsciously holding her breath, her chest felt tight. Frida tried to breathe by tearing at her collar. When she still couldn't breathe properly, she pulled harder. Rip. The strange sound of the fabric tearing made her head go numb. Then, it happened.

Click. Light flooded in, and the darkness ended so easily.

“What are you doing here?”

It didn't matter who was standing in the light. Only one thought came to mind. She was alive. She had survived. She wasn't dead yet. What a relief. Really... what a relief. As the fear subsided, the heat she had forgotten about returned.

“What's wrong? Why are you here...?”

Before she could fully recognize the person who was taking shape, Frida lost consciousness. The darkness had been replaced by silence. *** The secret passages connected to five rooms inside the Mohnheim Castle. After regaining consciousness, the first thing she did was confirm that she knew all the routes perfectly. She didn't want to be seen by the spies the Empress had planted, and she wanted to show that she could walk normally. She had already checked the other rooms, including the study. The only one left was the room designed for the duchess, which she now occupied. Recalling her memories, Daniel reached the end of the passage without getting lost and pushed the back of the bookshelf with some force. He felt something was wrong because the bookshelf offered slight resistance and he heard a familiar scream that shouldn't have been there. Was someone in the room? Daniel's heightened senses scanned the surroundings. It wasn't hard to find signs of intrusion. A few drawers were not properly closed, and some were even open. The Empress wouldn't send such clumsy people. As he walked around the room, he heard the sound of someone scratching the bookshelf. Everything became clear. The dazed intruder must have been standing near the bookshelf and was pushed inside when he pushed the opposite one. Daniel slowly approached the bookshelf, sword in hand.

“...Rie... Muriel...”

What? Who? Hearing the familiar voice, Daniel quickly pushed the bookshelf. In the place where the darkness had receded, a woman was sitting, weakly clutching her chest. What...?

“What are you doing here?”

Frida's body slumped backward like a tree that had been cut at the base. Daniel quickly ran into the passage and caught her shoulder just before her head hit the ground. Something... was wrong. Only after seeing her deathly pale, lifeless face did Daniel realize it. ***

“No, where did you go with that body? Surely...”

Muriel looked at the door leading to the duke's bedroom with a serious expression. The door, which was tightly closed, was not to be opened or touched by her. She knew... but what could she do about her eyes being drawn to it? She glared at the empty bed and then turned her gaze to the wall. The duke had said he was coming back from the stables. When she last saw the young lady, she seemed ready to storm into the duke's room. Muriel had rushed to inform the duke of his return and to try to stop her, but where had this reckless young lady gone? She, who was afraid of the dark and didn't leave her room at dusk. Approaching the wall with a hopeful heart, Muriel pressed her ear to the door, hoping the walls of Mohnheim Castle, which were thick and soundproof, would be different. But, as expected, she heard nothing. She could usually detect the slightest sounds, but the other side was quiet and still. Is the ground here so solid and thick that even the trees can't grow? Why can't I hear anything? As she grumbled, a loud noise came from outside, not from the wall. The door, which she hadn't fully closed when she entered, was slightly ajar, and the duke's voice was clearly heard.

“Call the doctor.”

A doctor? It was strange to hear the duke, who usually moved around the castle without much presence, raise his voice, and even stranger to hear him mention a doctor. Why would the duke, who had been walking around normally after three years of unconsciousness, suddenly need a doctor? Feeling oddly anxious, Muriel burst out of the room and into the hallway. Duke Richard was urging the servants with a serious expression.

“Hurry. Quickly!”

The sound of the servants moving busily at the duke's shout could be heard from the bottom of the stairs. The duke, who had finished speaking and was about to return to his bedroom, stopped when he saw Muriel. They had exchanged greetings when they passed each other, but they had never had a direct conversation. Instead of asking what was going on, Muriel bowed her head.

“Come in, Sir Rosivalt.”

The duke's words made her head spin. She felt very, very bad. It wasn't that she was displeased by the duke's attitude of bringing her into the room; it was the situation that made her nervous. Muriel's steps toward the duke's room quickened.

“Miss!”

Seeing Frida lying on the duke's bed, Muriel rushed over.

“Miss. Come to your senses, Miss Frida!”

Shaking the unconscious Frida, who was drenched in sweat, Muriel turned to Daniel.

“What's going on here? Why is the young lady unconscious...”

Suddenly, she noticed the state of Frida, who was in a mess. Her hair was tangled, her chest had been torn by someone's hand, and her clothes were soaked with sweat. Her face was pale, indicating she had faced a terrifying fear. Without needing to consider the circumstances, the fist of the cold-blooded knight flew at the duke's face. Bang!

“What have you done to our young lady?”

Daniel, who had been hit without a chance to defend himself, staggered but didn't fall. He easily dodged Muriel's consecutive punches and took a step back, frowning.

“Sir Rosivalt, are you mad?”

Of course, she was mad! As a woman, how could she not be mad at seeing this? Imagining what the young lady must have gone through, Muriel's fist, known for her cold-bloodedness, flew before she could think. Duke or not, Muriel couldn't see straight.

“You're the mad one, Your Grace, Duke Richard! If you needed a woman, why didn't you take a mistress long ago? Look at her. Even if she is your wife, how could she possibly endure such treatment...!”

“What, what are you saying?”

What is this woman imagining? Daniel, speechless with disbelief, saw another fist coming at him.

“You tried to force yourself on Miss Frida, didn't you? That's why she lost consciousness. Isn't that right?”

Daniel, who easily dodged, drew his sword. The famous knight Muriel Rosivalt, known throughout the empire, was a madwoman. Madwomen should be half-killed. Daniel, spinning his sword, gave her one last warning.

“Stop it, Sir Rosivalt. I'm not a merciful person.”

If she had any sense left, she would stop here.

“I am not a merciful person either. I will not forgive anyone who harms the young lady.”

As Muriel drew her sword, Anton and Dominic burst into the room. Anton, seeing the two of them pointing swords at each other, was startled and hid behind Dominic. Dominic, equally surprised, couldn't step further into the room and looked at them with a bewildered expression.

“What are you doing? Are you dueling? Why?”

Muriel, without taking her eyes off Daniel, shouted.

“Dominic. Your great lord tried to force himself on his wife!”

The murderous intent from Muriel, who genuinely believed this, was palpable.

“I, Muriel Rosivalt, have sworn to protect Miss Frida's life as her guardian knight. I will protect her, even at the cost of my life. I will not tolerate any behavior that threatens her life.”

“What? What are you doing? Good heavens. Daniel... no, my lord! Are you mad? Has something happened to your head?”

As Dominic shouted at Daniel, Anton, who had been hanging on his back, stepped forward.

“Your Grace! The lady is so delicate... Oh, what to do!”

“Ha!”

Daniel, bursting into a hollow laugh, lowered his sword. Although the misunderstanding was ridiculous, even if it were true, it was something that could happen between a husband and wife. Why should he be blamed for this? Seeing the knight, who was genuinely devoted to the person she served, made him feel less angry. Sheathing his sword, he looked at the people staring at him and pulled a chair to sit down. Muriel, seeing this, shouted with lingering anger.

“What are you doing? Duke, draw your sword.”

Daniel, looking at Muriel with a reddening gaze, beckoned to Anton.

“Doctor. What are you doing? Come and see the patient.”

Anton, suddenly coming to his senses, rushed over to check on Frida. As Muriel was about to say something, Daniel looked at her with a cold gaze.

“Stop being so arrogant, Sir Rosivalt. Even if I had tried to take my wife, what's the problem? What right do you have to interfere in a husband and wife's business? Step back while I'm still being lenient.”

Blood trickled from his lip, which had split from the unexpected hit. Wiping it with his thumb, Daniel exuded a cold chill.

“Before I really kill you.”