Chapter 49

Ten days ago, Daniel left without even saying goodbye. I heard from Lord Boyle that he had gone hunting. After leaving a message for Frida to return to her room, he had suddenly left the castle. At first, I understood and let it go, thinking he must have had an urgent matter to attend to. That’s why he didn’t have the time to say goodbye. Up until that morning, there was definitely a different kind of feeling growing between us. I remember how warm Daniel’s hands were when they touched my body. My heart beat so fast it felt like it would stop me from breathing. I waited for him to return when the sun set, my heart fluttering, believing he would come to me and explain the situation. Daniel is a polite person, so I never doubted for a moment that he would do that. But even after three days, and then four, he didn’t return. It was then that I vaguely realized... I had been rejected by my husband. And it was only later that I realized the reason was because I had suggested having a child.

'What a fool, what an idiot.'

What kind of man would want a child from a woman like me? It’s no wonder Daniel was shocked and left.

'But... even so, he could have at least said he would be back, right?'

Thud. A large tear dropped onto Frida’s blue dress. The flustered lady of the manor quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

"Why are you crying? Are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor?"

Frida forced a smile and waved her hand.

"No, it’s nothing. It’s just... I’m being silly..."

It’s nothing. I knew from the beginning that I was nothing to my husband. Why am I crying so bitterly? I knew it was a forced marriage by the Empress’s decree. I had resolved not to expect anything and to just do my part diligently and silently. I told myself to be strong, not to be discouraged, and not to have any unrealistic desires, but to just do what I could. Yet, why am I so sad over just one rejection? Even as I thought this, I found it absurd, but Frida’s tears wouldn’t stop. Instead, they fell more heavily onto her dress.

"It’s... strange. I don’t know why... why I’m like this. Sob, sob, sob."

Frida finally lowered her head and began to sob. The lady of the manor hugged her tightly and patted her back.

"It’s okay. It’s okay, so if you need to cry, just cry. Sometimes people need to let it out. Let it all out, cry your heart out."

Wah, wah, wah. Frida cried for a long time, her eyes red. Countless memories flashed through her mind, each one painful. Three years ago, riding in a carriage for days to reach the duchy. Her head was dizzy, her throat was dry, and her bottom ached. She wanted to rest, but she had to get the unconscious Daniel to the duchy as quickly as possible, so she held on. When they arrived, everything was inconvenient. The untrained servants were simple but knew nothing. The duchy’s castle was dirty, the food tasteless, and the nights cold and dark. Still, Frida was the first to wake up every morning and moved more diligently than anyone else in the castle. She had to protect the land until her husband woke up. Even if something happened to her before he woke up, she had to prepare so that those left behind could survive. She had done what was expected, so why was she so heartbroken now? The lady of the manor, trying to comfort the sobbing Frida, brought a chair and sat in front of her. She held Frida’s hands tightly and stroked them affectionately.

"I used to work as a companion to Lady Chamberlain before I got married. She was a very strict and difficult person, but she said that after pouring out her heart to me, she felt much better. From today, I will be your companion, so why don’t you talk to me?"

The lady of the manor smiled and wiped away the remaining tears from Frida’s eyes.

"Of course, I know that the people of the duchy don’t trust us yet. You might be worried that what you tell me will be reported to the Empress."

"That’s not... necessarily true..."

"Yes, I know. I understand. But if not me, why don’t you trust this child?"

The lady of the manor placed her hand on her still-flat belly.

"I’m thirty-eight this year, so this child might be my only one. I swear on this precious child that I will keep your secrets."

"Me, Lady of the Manor."

"Call me Matilda. Since you are the wife of the lord my husband serves, you can call me that."

Frida, who had finally stopped crying, sniffled and looked at Matilda intently. She was so adorable that Matilda couldn’t help but smile, even though she knew she shouldn’t.

"Still don’t trust me?"

"No, no, I do."

Frida blew her nose with a handkerchief. Now that her tears had stopped, she felt embarrassed and couldn’t understand why she had cried so bitterly. But the lady of the manor’s suggestion to trust her, or rather, the child in her womb, and to confide in her, was appealing. It seemed that the lady of the manor, who had been married longer than Muriel, would understand her better.

"I... Lady of the Manor."

"Matilda."

"Ah, Matilda. I think... I had some expectations without realizing it."

"Expectations?"

Frida, who had blown her nose again, slowly nodded.

"A normal married life, like other couples, walking in the garden together, having conversations, and raising a beautiful child. Even though I said I didn’t, I think I wanted to live like that. My husband didn’t have that intention, but I got carried away and had unrealistic desires."

Before getting married, her mother had repeatedly warned her.

"Frida, always think of your health first. And if you ever feel overwhelmed, you can always come back to me."

She had wanted to return many times, but if she did, she would be treated like an invalid for the rest of her life. So, she threw herself into the work of the duchy, wanting to live a meaningful life, even for a day. Looking back, she realized she had done it for herself. Yet, she had secretly wanted praise.

"I took care of the duchy, not because anyone told me to, but because I wanted to. I wanted the Duke to recognize my efforts and acknowledge me as a proper wife."

"Oh, my lady, that’s not a desire, it’s a natural hope."

Matilda held Frida’s small hands tightly.

"I’ve heard how much you’ve struggled. I’ve heard that you created the herb garden on the hillside. It’s rare to find a lady who works so hard."

Even after hearing the servants’ stories and seeing it with her own eyes, Matilda couldn’t believe it. Stefan, who stood next to her, had also been impressed.

"You deserve recognition. The Duke should be grateful to you."

Matilda seemed to understand what Frida wanted to say. Who was Duke Richard? A man known for his precise etiquette, using it to create a wall between himself and women. Not only that, he had spent his life on the battlefield, so he couldn’t understand women’s feelings. He should be grateful to have such a bright, beautiful, and intelligent wife. How dare he cause her emotional pain? Men are all lacking in some way. Matilda lifted Frida’s cheeks and carefully wiped away her tears.

"Trust me, my lady. I will make the Duke kneel at your feet."

We’ll see, Duke Richard. You will soon be following your wife like a little dog. Matilda Agnes Boyle’s determination burned brightly with a new goal. ***

As the night deepened, the sound of burning logs crackled throughout the camp. Heinrich’s gaze, standing by the fire, became serious as he looked at Daniel, who was sharpening his sword ten steps away from the tent. While his eyes were fixed on Daniel, he subtly caught Dominic, who was passing by, and pulled him over.

"Dominic, I’ve been thinking."

Dominic struggled to break free from Heinrich’s grip.

"Don’t think. No one likes it."

What kind of nobleman is he, acting like a brute from a warrior family? After a few attempts, Dominic gave up and slumped.

"Daniel, there’s definitely a problem with that Harkbon woman."

"Hah... It’s because of nobles like you that the country is in this state."

"What?"

"Who is the Harkbon woman? She’s the Duchess of Duke Richard. Don’t you know how to address someone else’s wife?"

Heinrich, who had pushed Dominic down, sat next to him and stared at him intently. He seemed more excited than angry, as if he had discovered something interesting.

"Both you and Daniel seem to be taking her side. This is getting interesting."

"What’s interesting?"

Dominic, startled, tried to create some distance. Heinrich’s blue eyes, glowing with the firelight, made him look like a madman. If his eyes were any bigger, he might have thrown a punch.

"I saw something that morning."

That morning? As Dominic frowned, Heinrich glanced at Daniel and smiled.

"Daniel was definitely rejected by Harkbon. As you know, Daniel knows nothing about women. He must have been rejected after making a clumsy move. He’s too embarrassed to come back."

Heinrich is a madman, but he’s perceptive, and yet, his perception is not normal. It’s best to avoid such people. Dominic quickly backed away and ran to Daniel. Daniel, who had finished cleaning his sword, Kolthar, and put it back in its sheath, stood up and wrapped his cloak around his shoulders.

"Where are you going?"

"The wolves are acting strange."

"I’ve already warned the guards. There are plenty of experienced men here, so what’s there to worry about?"

Instead of insisting on checking the surroundings, Daniel sat on a rock. Dominic, who had sighed heavily, sat down next to him.

"Unless you plan to exterminate all the animals in this mountain, it’s time to return to the castle. Even the mad deer has noticed why you’re acting this way."

Dominic threw another log into the fire, causing the flames to rise high. The flames danced wildly on Daniel’s calm face.

"You seem to know something. So, am I the only one who doesn’t know?"

"I know everything."

Dominic threw another log into the fire. The wild flames reminded him of Daniel’s recent behavior. He couldn’t just hit him, but leaving him alone made him angry. Frustration built up, and he couldn’t help but yell.

"What are you afraid of?"

Daniel is really frustrating.

"Why have you been pulling your hair out for over ten days?"

He doesn’t act arrogantly or rudely; he just sits there, silently suffering.

"Talk, and we’ll know. Are you trying to make people angry?"

The Empress, that old fox. How many children did she take from him, making a twenty-eight-year-old man act like this?

"Frida... wants to have my child."

Dominic, who was about to throw another log, froze. What is he saying?

"Didn’t the lady have some issue with not being able to have children?"

If not... it’s serious.

"Isn’t it ridiculous? One woman is watching me to find a non-existent child, and the other openly wants to have a child."

It’s not ridiculous, but it’s a serious matter. Wait, so... Daniel did something? Dominic burst out laughing.

"You’re overthinking this because you have feelings for her. Honestly, you don’t even know if a child will be born, so why are you worrying so much?"

As Dominic poked the logs with a stick, black ash and red flames flew up. In the flickering flames, a bright white Frida smiled at Daniel. Her face made the night seem bright and dizzy.

"Today’s Frida is confessing to today’s Duke. She likes you."

Just thinking about her voice made his ears feel blocked, as if he was walking in a cave.

"Just give her your heart. What’s so difficult about it?"

Dominic’s voice echoed in his ears.

"Then..."

Daniel’s eyes, looking at the pile of logs, turned red. If this continues...

"If you really want her, what will you do?"