Chapter 16

As Daniel wiped away the bruises, his every movement was steeped in deep irritation. It seemed he had no intention of letting his temper flare for long, as the redness in his eyes, like the bloodstains at the corners of his mouth, gradually returned to a dark brown. At that moment, Dominic instinctively grabbed Muriel’s arm, sensing the danger. The door, which the doctor and he had rushed in without closing, became noisy again. Thud, thud, thud, thud. The footsteps, heavy and loud, carried the force of a man’s entire body, landing on the floor with a brutal honesty. The sound alone was enough to guess who was approaching. It was the roar of Ricardo that had brought Muriel back to her senses, just as she had been on the verge of losing it amidst Daniel’s menacing warnings.

“What the hell happened to this room?”

Only then did Muriel notice the chaotic state of the room, with traces of a struggle scattered everywhere. The drawer was only partially closed, and books were haphazardly strewn across the shelves. In the middle of it all, Duke Leopold sat with a detached expression, as if he had nothing to do with the chaos. Frida’s sharp gaze overlapped with the calm Duke’s, as if scolding her husband. She must have been glaring at him, seething.

“Just wait. No matter what, I’ll find that key.”

Goodness. The culprit of this mess was undoubtedly her reckless lady. ‘Oh, this lady...’

Muriel felt her strength drain away, nearly dropping the sword she was holding. Lady Frida, who would throw herself into anything that caught her interest without a second thought, had been foolish to think she would calmly lie down when she was so agitated. Muriel vividly imagined the sequence of events that led to Frida’s collapse. She must have been rummaging through the room in Duke’s absence and was startled when he returned, causing her to fall. Despite her fear, why did she keep getting into such trouble? If she was going to cause trouble, why not do it when Muriel was around? At least then she could have been there to help. Frustrated, Muriel sheathed her sword with a harsh motion. People can be so fickle. Just a moment ago, Frida had seemed like a delicate and fragile woman, but now she appeared to be a troublemaker. Ricardo, with a worried expression, approached the bed, pushing Muriel aside.

“I knew this would happen. I could see it coming from the moment she started overexerting herself. How can such a graceful lady turn into a stubborn ox when she starts something?”

Ricardo, exasperated, paced back and forth, muttering, “Oh no, what am I going to do?” He nudged Daniel’s shin a few times, but neither Daniel nor the Duke paid him any attention. Just then, Anton, who had been examining Frida, stood up, relieved.

“Phew. She seems to have fainted from a great shock, but there’s no need to worry. Her pulse has returned to a normal rate.”

As soon as the doctor finished speaking, Ricardo grabbed him by the collar.

“What? Some bastard scared our Duchess?”

Anton, pale with fear, stammered, “K-ke, ke. H-how would I know? When I arrived, she was already unconscious. P-please let me go, Captain.”

Finally, Dominic, unable to stand it any longer, shook his head and approached, holding his father’s arm.

“Father, let go and calm down.”

“Calm down? Our precious Duchess was threatened by some scoundrel, and you expect me to calm down?”

As Dominic released his father’s arm, Anton, terrified, rubbed his neck and quickly backed away.

“Ke, ke. I never said that, Captain.”

“That’s what you meant. What could have scared our Duchess so much? Find out who it was. I’ll tear that bastard’s head in two...”

Ricardo, bellowing and raging, was restrained by Dominic. Muriel, watching the two with a look of disdain, felt a chill run down her spine as a cold command echoed through the room.

“Everyone, out.”

All eyes turned to Duke Leopold, who sat with a straight back. His arms were loosely crossed, and he slowly traced the muscle that had recently developed on his forearm with his right index finger. Realizing the situation, Dominic was the first to move. He pulled his father’s wrist, signaling him to be silent, and gestured for the others to leave. However, Muriel hesitated, reluctant to move away from the unconscious Frida.

“Do you have anything else to say to me, Sir Rosivalt?”

Daniel’s voice, directed at the hesitant Muriel, was utterly devoid of emotion. Damn. Muriel, feeling cornered, bit her lower lip. She had swung her fist without considering the situation, and now she might have to accept an order to drag her out and behead her. Despite her pride in her ability to maintain composure, she couldn’t understand how she had made such a mistake. She bowed deeply toward Daniel’s broad back, which faced the entrance.

“No, I will accept the punishment for my rash actions when and how the Duke sees fit.”

Noticing a change in Muriel’s demeanor, Daniel’s lips twisted slightly.

“Very well.”

It was clear that whatever she was prepared for, it would be worse. There was no mercy for those who dared to touch this Daniel. Dominic, sensing the tension, decided it was best to leave. He pulled his father’s arm more firmly, and the doctor had already fled the room. However, Ricardo, who seemed ready to be dragged away, shook off his son’s arm and approached the Duke. Staring intently at Daniel, he leaned in close to the Duke’s bruised lips.

“Why are your lips like that? The great Duke Leopold couldn’t have been hit by anyone. Why are your lips swollen when they were fine this morning...”

“Ricardo Moli.”

As Ricardo’s eyes widened in shock at the bloodshot whites under the slowly raised eyelids, he took a step back.

“Get out.”

Before Daniel could finish his two-word command, Ricardo was already running away.

“Now.”

The room emptied in an instant, and the Duke’s bedroom door slammed shut. ***

In the room, now left with only the two of them, Daniel’s eyes fell on the pale woman on the bed. Her face, though still pale, was flushed in places. The tattered front of her dress, which she had only partially torn, fluttered with her weak, almost imperceptible breaths. Daniel’s brow furrowed. Why did she have to do such a thing, causing such a misunderstanding? He had heard many things in his life—madmen, ruthless men, men without blood or tears—but never had he been treated as a shameless man who would force himself on a woman. Recalling the disgusted look on Muriel’s face, a wave of irritation washed over him. How absurd must it have been for her to hit him, even after three years of living together and despite it being unintentional. The situation after the hit was even more ridiculous. He had just stood there, listening to Muriel Rosivalt’s absurd ramblings. This Daniel, who believed in repaying any harm received with several times the force, was left to deal with the bizarre situation caused by the unpredictable Duchess.

“Ha! Searching the room?”

The reason for her absurd actions was obvious. There was only one thing she could have been looking for in his room. The key to the secret safe.

“I will confiscate the key from now on. Come back for it when your fever breaks.”

He had heard that she had been ill for days. When he carried her, he could feel the heat radiating from her body, confirming that she was still sick. Yet, she had come to search for the key in her condition.

“Unbelievable. Really.”

A bitter laugh escaped him. Despite not matching the polished demeanor of the smooth-talking men of Schendal, he had always prided himself on his noble bearing. Now, it was completely stripped away.

“Are you in your right mind?”

The safe wasn’t going to run away. He had already given her permission to use it as she pleased. Why did she have to sneak in like a thief and collapse while searching the room? A simple key. She could have waited until her fever broke and then come to look for it. Daniel ran his hand roughly through his hair, even though his bangs weren’t covering his eyes.

“What does a well-bred noble lady need so much money for?”

Harkbon, the Count, was a wealthy man from the north. Had he squandered all his fortune, leaving her to live in poverty? Impossible. He had never heard such news, given his extensive knowledge of the nobility in the empire. What else could it be?

“Is she... lacking in some way?”

Perhaps. The idea of using her dowry to buy farmland and build roads in a remote mountain village seemed far from normal. Despite coming to a conclusion, his reddish-brown eyes lingered on Frida’s face, unable to accept it easily. The only daughter of the noble Harkbon family, chosen to be the Duke’s wife because she could not bear a child to carry on his name, a woman who constantly fueled Daniel’s guilt. After a long moment, Daniel’s lips slowly parted.

“What are you, really?”

The question seemed absurd and foolish, and a bitter laugh escaped his lips. ***

The ceiling of the Duke’s bedroom was adorned with slightly different patterns of maple leaves. The strong scent of new furniture and the image of blooming maple leaves spoke of one thing.

‘This is the Duke’s bedroom.’

Frida, who had been staring blankly, squeezed her eyes shut. The embarrassment of being caught trying to steal the key from her husband’s room, being trapped behind a bookshelf and crying for help, and then fainting and collapsing—Ricardo had once given her a word that perfectly described this situation. Total humiliation. Ricardo was truly a master of words, not a swordsman.

“Ha...”

Frida, feeling the embarrassment, was startled by a sudden ‘thud’ and opened her eyes wide.

“Were you looking for the key?”

She turned her head quickly, as if someone had grabbed her shoulder. Daniel, sitting in a chair near the bed, was staring at her intently. Blinking several times, Frida met his gaze, which remained fixed on her, cold and steady. Daniel, wanting to appear cold, spoke calmly.

“Madam, if you ever feel the urge to search my bedroom again, please resist it.”

He thought he had maintained the proper decorum while drawing a line. He hadn’t expected her to cross it so easily. If the line wasn’t strong enough, he would build a wall. A thicker, stronger one.

“I am not a forgiving person.”

Frida’s cheeks flushed, and her clear, deer-like eyes widened. He was about to turn away, feeling the familiar, annoying guilt, when her large, clear, and mysterious purple eyes were suddenly right in front of his nose.

“Duke, please touch me.”