Chapter 43

Contrary to the expectation that he would toss and turn all night, Stefan slept soundly without waking up even once. Even after waking up, he unusually lingered in bed for a while. The baroness, exhausted from the long journey, also found it difficult to get out of bed. She pulled the blanket up to her chin and buried her face in the soft pillow.

“Honey, I want to sleep more. I won’t move from this bed for a few days.”

“Of course, you should. The doctor said you shouldn’t overexert yourself and should rest well.”

“Yes. The doctor’s name is Anton, and he was very kind. He seemed like a good person, and he appeared to have extensive medical knowledge.”

“That’s a relief. It’s reassuring to know there’s a proper doctor in this remote place.”

Although he wanted to be lazy, the documents handed to him by the duke kept flashing before his eyes. Stefan sighed deeply and reluctantly got up from his tired body.

“I need to get up now. The duke threatened me yesterday, saying I have to complete twenty-two tasks by the end of the year.”

Matilda, with her face buried in the pillow, raised her voice in mock surprise.

“Twenty-two? Oh my. It seems he’s planning to work you to the bone. Why did you have to catch the eye of the Earl of Chamberlain and suffer like this? It’s all because you’re too smart.”

Stefan chuckled and nuzzled his wife’s neck.

“Didn’t you say you liked that I’m different from the empty-headed noble heirs, Lady Boiled?”

“Eek! Stefan! Stop it. It tickles.”

Matilda, who had been laughing uncontrollably, finally stopped after a long kiss. She looked up at her husband with a smile.

“Stefan, I have a good feeling that we’ll do well here. Duke Richard doesn’t seem like the violent person the rumors suggest, and most importantly, the duchess. Isn’t she just adorable?”

“Yes, she is.”

Although he didn’t know much about the duke yet, Stefan nodded in agreement that the duchess was indeed adorable.

“I understand why people in the old days considered the Harkbon women saints. If I had seen a woman with such a face a few hundred years ago, I would have called her an angel or a witch.”

“That’s really a pity. Is it true that the women of that family have short lives? It might just be an exaggerated rumor, though.”

“Hmm.”

Stefan recalled what his respected professor at Celino University had said about the Harkbon family.

“Nonsense about a curse. It’s just that the family has a disease that affects only the women. It’s like you inheriting your father’s brown hair and me inheriting my mother’s green eyes.”

Although it was somewhat exaggerated to call it a curse, it was true that there was a disease.

“She does look unhealthy. I’m surprised she can even walk.”

“I felt the same way at first, but after talking to her, I realized she’s not at all like that. She’s so spirited and cheerful. I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say this, but she’s like a fluffy puppy. I even wanted to make her my little sister.”

Stefan’s lips softened as he brushed his wife’s thick blonde hair.

“I’m glad you like it here. Our child is also doing well. I wonder if we’ll have a brave child like you.”

“I hope our child will be as brave as you, who came to this land of the emperor’s mad dog to protect the family.”

No matter how much the emperor’s mad dog might be, he would understand a bit of laziness after a long journey. Stefan cupped his wife’s cheek and began a longer kiss than before. ***

‘Hic.’

Dominic, who had just entered Marian Hall, quickly hid behind a pillar. Heinrich, who had just passed by the pillar where he was hiding, didn’t notice him by a hair’s breadth.

“What’s up with that guy? He hates running and sweating.”

Despite being the son of a border count who was destined to fight on battlefields, he always maintained a clean appearance. Even when he was hanging upside down from a tree as a prisoner, he hated getting dirt on his face. His hatred of starting wars in hot seasons is even more ridiculous. He hates the feeling of sweat-soaked clothes sticking to his body. There’s not a single normal thing about him. That’s Heinrich Updyke. Dominic only came out from behind the pillar after Heinrich was completely out of sight. He had never liked him from the first time he saw him, but he decided to stay away from him after Daniel’s marriage was decided.

When Heinrich came to see Daniel in the capital and started yelling at him.

“The Empress Dowager, that woman, must be senile. Daniel, ignore that nonsense. If she keeps bothering you, just flip her over. The Updyke family is on your side….”

In Celino, where the Empress Dowager’s spies were everywhere, Heinrich spoke such reckless words without hesitation, even in a loud voice. Eventually, he couldn’t hold back and bit Dominic’s finger when he tried to cover his mouth. The bitten finger still ached when it rained. That’s not all. Three years ago, when he heard that Daniel had lost consciousness, it was even worse.

“What were you doing, Dominic? Why did you make Daniel risk his life for you? No, it’s all because of the Nottingen bastards. I’ll catch them and tear them apart….”

“Ha….”

He didn’t want to recall it in detail. Shaking his head, Dominic climbed the stairs and met Muriel, who was coming down from the upper floor. She looked very anxious and gloomy.

“Is something wrong? Or is the hangover from yesterday still affecting you?”

“Dominic, have you seen Miss Frieda?”

“Isn’t she in her room?”

Where else would the duchess be at this time except in her bedroom?

“She’s not there. She said she felt heavy yesterday and went to bed as soon as she returned from Skadi Hall, but she’s not there this morning. Where could she have gone?”

“She must have gone for a walk. I’ll let you know if I see her.”

Although he said this to calm Muriel, he knew it was unlikely. The mistress of Mohnheim Castle wouldn’t waste time on inefficient activities like walking. She especially hated dressing up elaborately to protect her delicate skin from the sun. Standing in front of Daniel’s bedroom, Dominic hesitated to grab the iron door handle and instead knocked lightly on the door. Since Daniel, who usually starts his day early, hadn’t appeared in the training ground yet, he might still be sleeping. Knock, knock. Even if he was sleeping, Daniel would easily hear this level of noise. When there was no response from inside, Dominic slowly opened the door.

“...”

It seemed this was what they meant when they said, “speechless.” After glancing inside the slightly open door, Dominic closed it quietly. Should he tell Muriel that he found the duchess, or should he keep it to himself? His thoughts deepened from the start. ***

“Ugh...”

Frieda, who had just sat up, lifted her heavy eyelids.

“I thought I heard something...”

As she blinked, her vision gradually cleared. The sturdy wooden door, firmly closed, became distinct in the distance.

“Did I imagine it?”

While muttering to herself, Frieda’s gaze fell downward. Daniel, who had been lying on the bed with his head barely on the pillow, was sound asleep. If it weren’t for his faint breathing, one might suspect he had lost consciousness again, as he did three years ago. Last night, he kept complaining of a headache, and the memory of him clutching his head in pain was vivid.

‘If you’re in pain, you should say so. It’s silly to keep it in. I thought you were strong, but now it seems you were just pretending.’

Although she had been relieved, thinking he was recovering quickly, it wasn’t the case. The sight of her husband, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, made her feel both unfamiliar and sympathetic, and she couldn’t look away.

“Surely... he hasn’t lost consciousness again?”

Frieda carefully placed her ear near his nose. The regular breathing, indicating deep sleep, tickled her ear.

“Phew. What a relief.”

Frieda pulled the blanket, which had slipped down to his waist, and covered his shoulders carefully, whispering softly.

“I should have paid more attention. I’m sorry.”

How much pain must he have been in to suffer so much? She remembered lying him down on the bed and patting his back, but she didn’t remember when she fell asleep. Could he have continued to suffer after she fell asleep? Feeling sorry, she kept staring at his sleeping face. The sun, which had just emerged from the clouds, cast a long shadow on the bed. Looking out the window, the sky seemed clear, and it looked like it would be a sunny day. She worried that the bright sunlight might disturb his sleep. Carefully getting out of bed, Frieda drew the curtains to block the sunlight. Daniel, who was deeply asleep, showed no signs of waking up even when she moved around. Returning to the bed, Frieda rested her chin on her folded arms, lying face down. She tilted her head and gazed intently at her husband, who looked handsome even in sleep. It felt like she had gone back to the time before he woke up. The memories of the time they spent together overwhelmed her, making her feel nostalgic. For the first few days, she had only lain at the edge of the bed. It took some time to get used to having someone next to her. It was probably a month later when she started greeting him, asking if he had slept well. She also started talking to his motionless body, telling him about the trivial gossip she heard from the servants and the progress of the projects she was managing in the duchy. She would talk to herself and then stare at his sleeping face. Why couldn’t he regain consciousness? Was it going to end badly? Sometimes she would worry about things that hadn’t even happened and stay up all night. Daniel’s hair, which had fallen over his forehead, fluttered with his shallow breathing. Frieda carefully lifted his hair, making sure not to touch his skin. Looking at his fully exposed forehead, she tilted her head.

“It’s strange. Why doesn’t he look different from before?”

It hadn’t been two months since he woke up, so there shouldn’t have been much change... But something felt subtly different. Was his jawline a bit sharper? Or did his expression seem different? Strangely, she could feel various emotions from his calm, sleeping face, which he had shown her over the years. Sometimes he was so strict that he seemed scary, but most of the time, he was kind and gentle.

‘He can be annoying too, though.’

Frieda, who had been smiling, became serious again. Despite checking his breathing, she was frightened by his motionless appearance.

“Are you still in a lot of pain?”

No matter how much he insisted he was fine, he should have brought Anton. His headache last night seemed quite severe. What if it was a lingering effect of the accident? Could he end up never opening his eyes again? Overcome by a bad premonition, Frieda quietly climbed onto the bed and gently but firmly shook Daniel’s arm.

“Duke, wake up. Duke...”

Suddenly, she remembered his request to be called by his name.

“Daniel, wake up.”

Frieda, holding his shoulder, called out to him.

“It’s morning, Daniel. Da... Oh!”

Daniel, still with his eyes closed, caught Frieda’s delicate wrist as she was shaking his shoulder.

“Daniel, are you awake?”

Even after grabbing her wrist, he didn’t open his eyes immediately. After a few more minutes, his heavy eyelids slowly lifted. His deep, tired brown eyes found her without wavering. Frieda, who had widened her eyes, bowed her head to meet his gaze.

“Are you okay? Are you still in pain? Should I call Anton?”

Daniel only stared at her silently. Except for the slow blinking, he was as quiet as when he was sleeping.

“Daniel... Why are you doing this?”

“It’s you who should explain.”

His deep, heavy voice, which he had struggled to open, cut through the air.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“D, Daniel?”

He pulled Frieda’s wrist sharply. She ended up in his arms, her white hair scattered on the bed. His eyes, which had been calm, now looked desperate, like someone cornered at the edge of a cliff.

“How can you bear to do this?”