Chapter 45

It was Daniel who had slept in the same bed as the woman. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it even if he were to die. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed, and Dominic shook his head like a madman, snickering.

‘What a cheeky brat. After putting on such airs, he was doing everything behind closed doors, wasn’t he? Still, what was he actually doing? Wait, does he even know how?’

For a moment, I felt a bit of doubt, but then I burst out laughing. How long had I spent navigating the world of men who were driven mad by such acts? There was no way he didn’t know.

‘No, maybe he’s surprisingly naive in some ways.’

As he thought about it, Dominic’s frown deepened. Given Daniel’s background, it wasn’t impossible. Both Dominic and Daniel had spent their childhoods in situations that would make any woman shudder. As a result, they inadvertently kept their distance from women. While other boys would go out looking for alcohol and women as soon as they had money, the two of them spent their time hunting, sharpening their swords, and taming horses. Dominic at least drank a bit, but Daniel never fit in with drinking parties. Even when he drank, he would sit alone, looking contemplative, long after everyone else had fallen asleep. After Lady Laura passed away, Daniel avoided socializing with people as much as possible. He drew lines everywhere, built walls, and isolated himself, making sure no one could enter. He hardly spoke, and when someone tried to force him to talk, they were kicked away without fail. Normally, I would have told him to leave such a person alone and not bother, but… Sigh, Daniel’s condition was so severe back then that even a joke was out of the question. His father and Dominic had to put in a lot of effort to finally step into his boundaries. Even after that, they couldn’t take their eyes off him, fearing he might cause trouble. So, how could he have had a close relationship with a woman? Even when women openly tried to seduce him during his visits to Schendal, he never batted an eye. I even suspected he had been secretly castrated because he acted so coldly.

“Does it mean His Majesty is busy?”

In response to Stephan’s question, Dominic narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin.

“I suppose… He must be very busy.”

Honestly, I still can’t believe it. Daniel spent the night with a woman? It’s not like she stripped and seduced him like the countless women who threw themselves at him, is it?

‘Oh, I don’t know. How can I understand the profound world of married couples?’

Dominic scratched the back of his head and slumped into a chair in the corner of the office.

“Anyway, if you want to get anything done properly, it’s faster to go to the Duchess rather than the Duke. This duchy doesn’t function without the Duchess.”

“I don’t want to trouble the delicate Duchess.”

Delicate? What a load of nonsense. And to worry about trivial matters when it comes to someone who loves everything so much? Rumors about the Harkbone family’s curse and his somewhat unusual appearance aside, the Duchess has been living longer than I have. If Daniel hadn’t saved me three years ago, I would have died. Who knows what might have happened if I had been dragged into war again. Besides, people who are always complaining tend to live longer. Dominic tapped his finger on his head and chuckled.

“Think a bit, Viscount. You’ve received reports that this land has managed to survive without a master for the past three years. Who do you think took care of it? The practically dead Duke Richard? Or the illiterate mercenaries?”

Stephan’s face showed a crack as he stood there, putting on airs. Why was he making such a show when everyone already knew the situation? Dominic looked at Stephan, standing straight in the middle of the office like a plaster statue, and snickered again. This time, his smile was a bit softer.

“What are we going to do with someone so clueless? This is a big problem.”

Stephan, who had often been called clueless, couldn’t come up with a proper rebuttal and shut his mouth. He knew Dominic was mocking and warning him, but he also somewhat agreed. A stubborn, inflexible idealist who doesn’t understand luck. That’s how people generally described Stephan. I can’t figure out why the Chamberlain recommended him to the Empress. Stephan sighed deeply, and his eyes caught Dominic’s casual posture, sitting with only his buttocks on the chair. His frown deepened. He remembered the document the Duke had given him yesterday, instructing him to prepare for the establishment of the Richard family’s knightly order and the knighting ceremony. That meant this man would no longer be a wandering mercenary but a vassal knight of Duke Richard, a vassal knight of one of the twelve duchies. The desire to educate him burned. First, he needed to correct that slouch. Binding him to the chair with sturdy ropes for half a day seemed like a good start. Unaware of what Stephan was imagining, Dominic tapped his calf and interlaced his fingers.

“Our butler, are you going to get a promotion?”

“Enough with the advice and worries. If you know where His Highness the Duke is, it would be helpful to tell me. As you know, I have a lot to do.”

Dominic’s lips curled up slightly.

“He’s in the bedroom.”

Stephan, who had momentarily looked at the bright morning sky, tilted his head.

“Still?”

“I told you. Our master does nothing. The real power in this duchy is the Duchess.”

I’ve heard that Duke Richard doesn’t care about the duchy, so it’s possible. Sure, why not.

“Do you know where the Duchess is?”

“She’s also in the bedroom.”

The bedroom? Stephan squinted and glared at Dominic.

“…How do you know the Duchess is in the bedroom?”

“What are you imagining? I mean the master’s bedroom.”

Dominic clicked his tongue in exasperation, and Stephan cleared his throat and turned his head. Sure, it’s not strange for a couple to be in the bedroom together. But it’s already so bright outside? After looking at the cloudless blue sky again, Stephan tilted his head even more.

“Still?”

Leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed, Dominic let out a loud snort.

“Come on, give them a break. They’re newlyweds.”

***

She couldn’t breathe or open her eyes. She wanted to tap his shoulder to tell him to stop, but Daniel had somehow grabbed her wrist and was pressing it down tightly. Their bodies were so close that it felt like they were becoming one. She wanted to push his heavy legs away but didn’t dare. Instinctively, she felt she shouldn’t provoke him any further. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, his lips finally pulled away. They immediately moved to her cheek and down to her neck. Frida shuddered and quickly spoke, knowing she had no more time after the last two failed attempts.

“Ah, it hurts. Daniel. I hurt. Ouch!”

Daniel, who had been about to bite her earlobe, stopped.

“Huh…”

He reached out to Frida’s forehead, brushing her sweat-soaked hair away, and asked.

“Where does it hurt?”

Daniel’s deep, hoarse voice trembled slightly.

“My, my hand. Please, let go…”

Only then did Daniel realize he was gripping her wrist. He had been holding the sheets but somehow ended up grabbing Frida again. He released her wrist and gently twirled her white hair around his finger. Her snow-white hair, which usually gave a cold winter feel, was now wrapped around his brown, sun-kissed fingers. Strangely, Frida always felt warm. He wanted to hold that warmth, to touch and hold her, to the point of madness. The desire, once unleashed, galloped like a wild horse on a plain. Daniel reached behind his shoulder and threw his shirt to the floor. He stretched his fully recovered, muscular arm next to Frida’s face and said,

“If you don’t want to, say it now.”

He wasn’t sure if he could stop even if she said no. His eyes, wide and glazed over, already showed he was half-crazy. When did it start? When did he start seeing this woman, thrown into his life, differently? Maybe it was because everyone said she would die soon, and he took a second look. He was also curious about why Ricardo and Dominic were so flustered. The day he was trapped in a secret passage and collapsed, he had imagined something he couldn’t bring himself to say out loud.

“Today, Frida is confessing to today’s Duke.”

As he listened to her absurd confession of love, his heart raced for the first time in front of a woman. When he learned that Ricardo had confided in her about his past, he was angry and… anxious. He was sure she would be disappointed in him. Imagining her clear eyes looking at him with disdain, he searched for her.

“My point is not that the Duke did well, but that the Empress was clearly wrong.”

But Frida took his side.

“I don’t know. Today’s Duke is not really my type.”

The brief relief was quickly replaced by unfamiliar disappointment at her cool words. When he wanted to be seen as a good person by Frida, he remembered his younger self. The young Daniel who, unaware of the ulterior motives, proudly boasted in front of Empress Margaret. He tried to keep his distance, but his desire only grew stronger. He wanted her clear, untainted eyes to be clouded with the same desire as his. He was curious about the feeling of her white hair, damp with sweat, sticking to his skin. He wanted to… hold his wife.

“How about today?”

Before touching her skirt, Daniel mustered his last bit of patience and asked.

“Is today’s me… to your liking?”

Despite her unease, Frida didn’t look away from him. His moist, slightly swollen lips and the delicate touch of her slim waist on his thigh were maddeningly stimulating. Imagining the marks he would leave on her flawless white neck, he couldn’t hold back any longer. Just as he was about to lower his lips, Frida raised her hands and embraced his neck.

“Listen, Daniel. I… want to be your real wife.”

Gripping her hair, Daniel bit her neck. He left a clear mark on her white skin and murmured.

“You are already my wife, approved by the royal family.”

As he nibbled on her neck, Frida clung to Daniel’s bare shoulder and said,

“No, I mean… I want to share more with you.”

“Like what?”

“I want to share the small, everyday moments. Conversations, sitting across from each other at meals… things like that.”

Of course. He was willing to play along with the innocent noble girl’s games. Honestly, in his current mood, he would do even more if asked. Satisfied with the marks he left on her neck, Daniel moved lower and whispered,

“If you want to do something else, just say it.”

“I… I want to have…”

“Say it.”

Just as he couldn’t hold back any longer and gently grabbed her skirt, Frida said,

“I want to have your child, Daniel.”