Chapter 27

"Miss!"

"Madam, are you all right?"

"Madam!"

As Frida fell backward, not only Muriel but also the servants passing through the corridor rushed over to help her. Startled, Ricardo quickly climbed over the second-floor window he had been hanging from.

"Oh, my lady. Were you very frightened?"

"Lord Ricardo! I thought my heart would stop!"

Frida, unable to calm her startled heart, let out a shrill cry. However, she soon became aware of the gazes fixed on her and gave an awkward smile.

"I'm fine, everyone. It's nothing, so don't worry and finish what you were doing. Ha ha."

Once the servants, who had each left a worried word, had all gone, Frida glared at Ricardo again.

"What on earth were you doing there? And how did you get up here?"

Frida, supported by Muriel, got up and touched her sore bottom, turning her head toward the window. It was clearly the second floor, and she couldn't understand how he had appeared there. Ricardo scratched his head and pointed to a swaying branch outside the window.

"I thought it would be a good idea to cut off that branch, so I climbed the tree. I heard your voice and wondered how well I could hear, so..."

"Up the tree?"

Frida, approaching the window, reached out to a branch near the window among the trees surrounding Scadi Hall. Ricardo, who had moved closer to her, closed one side of the window to shield Frida's arm from the sunlight.

"I was looking around because I thought there might be someone sneaking in and out of here under the cover of darkness. This branch, which was just right for climbing over the window, caught my eye."

Frida thought she understood what Ricardo was worried about. Lord Boyd, sent by the Empress to monitor her husband, might have spies secretly entering and leaving Scadi Hall to communicate with him. As his arrival drew near, Dominic, who had initially welcomed the idea of passing on the troublesome task, had become increasingly irritable. Was the Empress's affection for Daniel, treating him like her own son, really just pretense?

"Why would anyone have a reason to bear a child who would not be welcomed anywhere?"

When she heard those words, it felt as if the Duke himself was saying he had not been welcomed, making her heart heavy. Frida approached Ricardo, who was examining the outside of the window, and asked quietly.

"Lord Ricardo, is the relationship between the Duke and the Empress very bad?"

Ricardo, who had cut off a long branch, leaned against the window sill and rubbed his chin, looking troubled.

"Well, it seems the Empress dislikes her lord, but I'm not sure about the Duke."

Frida, standing close to Ricardo, her eyes sparkling.

"Is it true that they used to have a good relationship in the past?"

"Well, how to explain it..."

Suddenly, a strong wind pushed aside the branch covering the window, allowing sunlight to stream through. Ricardo, who had spread his palm to block the sunlight from reaching Frida's face, smiled contentedly.

"It's very desirable for a couple to show interest in each other. Why don't we go somewhere quiet and have a long talk? Oh, I heard Adel made an amazing drink, is that true?"

Ricardo's white hair, like a swaying branch in the wind, shook violently up and down. The smile on Ricardo's face lingered for a long time. *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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