Chapter 55

"When was that story from?"

An irritated Patricia grumbled in a sharp voice and shook off Leopold's hand. It was an act of insolence that would be unthinkable for an emperor, yet Leopold merely chuckled. Patricia could be as gentle as a lamb when she felt like it, but when she didn't, she could be as prickly as a porcupine. That was precisely what Leopold found appealing; if she didn't like it, he could simply stop visiting her. To Leopold, Patricia von Butein was nothing more than that. Leaning against the window frame, Leopold took a deep breath of the refreshing air. How could a quiet, pleasant countryside be so annoying?

“Daniel can’t even remember your name, let alone your face? Such a tragic love story doesn’t suit you, Patricia.”

Thud. A pillow flew like lightning and struck Leopold's neck.

“Talking about tragic love? No, it’s not true! If it’s not true, why are you like this? I don’t even remember that half-breed bastard.”

“Is that so?”

Leopold, who had been hit by the pillow, ran his hand through his tousled hair and smiled, tilting his head toward the window.

“Then, is it purely coincidental that the Butein manor is full of black-haired male servants?”

The commotion outside the window grew louder, as if the emperor's command had been relayed. One of the two male servants had black hair, and among them, there were not a few with deep reddish-brown eyes like Daniel’s.

“Well, that’s... in this countryside, the servants I can hire are all from La Pass...”

“Tsk. Patricia.”

Leopold clicked his tongue in disappointment and raised the corners of his mouth. Patricia quickly realized that the emperor's cold blue eyes, which were thoroughly Vaitzen, found nothing amusing about the situation.

“I don’t care who you bring to your bed. After losing your husband and your children to the Butein family, how else would you live if you didn’t have such pleasures? But...”

No one else knew, but she did. That man was more Vaitzen than his own mother.

“At least not in front of me. And don’t bring a black-haired brat, whose father’s name you don’t even know, and claim him as my child.”

This man, with his sun-like golden hair that shimmered in the gentle breeze and eyes as clear as a cloudless blue sky, was the son of the Empress Dowager Margret, who had no blood or tears.

“Live like a flower all your life, Patricia. You abandoned your heartbroken first love and sought a wealthy husband. Oh, should I call it unrequited love since you were the only one heartbroken?”

Perhaps he was even more of a human than his mother. After all, she was just as much a parasite living off him. Patricia's twisted lips curled into a sneer.

“Anyway, take me with you. I can’t stay here any longer; I might really go mad. You’ll be bored without me, right? They say there are no decent noblewomen in that even more rural place. Surely you won’t even take a maid to bed?”

Ha, it would be amusing. Patricia's twisted lips twitched widely.

“Even the Empress Dowager would be surprised. A noble like me, who finds you repulsive, and a maid as a mistress?”

The more she thought about it, the funnier it became, and her laughter grew louder.

“Oh, it’s funny. I really want to see that face.”

Leopold, who had been watching Patricia's cackling with a cold gaze, finally burst into laughter.

“I do want to see it.”

The prospect of so many interesting things happening made his heart race for the first time in a long while. ***

“Fifth floor...?”

The preparations for the knighthood ceremony weren't even complete, and now he was being asked to renovate the fifth floor of the Marien Hall. And to decorate it as the duchess's bedroom? This year, with only half left, now had twenty-five more tasks to complete. Stefan suspected that the duke was trying to work him to death instead of throwing him to the wolves. Besides, did they even have the money for it?

“Considering the castle’s meager financial state, perhaps it would be best to handle the urgent matters first?”

Stefan, who lacked the skill to speak diplomatically without offending his lord, was a straightforward man. If he had such skills, he would have lived comfortably in Celino. As a tutor, he had often offended the nobles who hired him with his honest words and been chased away. The only difference now was that his current lord, Duke Richard, showed no emotion, so he couldn't tell if he had offended him or not. Without knowing if he had angered him, it was impossible to adjust his behavior.

“Of course, decorating the place where the duchess will reside is important. However, the knighthood ceremony is also important, and the duchess mentioned that she is preparing for a very expensive event this autumn.”

Moreover, she had chosen purple for the knights' uniforms. The cost of just the purple thread for the decorations was astronomical, and now she wanted to use purple for the capes, horse decorations, and flags. Stefan suspected there were serious issues with the duke and duchess's financial sense.

“Dominic.”

The duke, who had finally shown himself sitting at his desk, called out the name. The unfortunate Dominic Moli approached with a sly smile. He handed a rolled-up document to Stefan.

“Read it.”

Stefan, who had a foreboding feeling, widened his eyes like Heinrich when he reached the middle of the document.

“Do you own a gold mine?”

Dominic, who was reading the report submitted by Stefan on behalf of the duke, replied.

“Yes. Gold veins were discovered in ten of the twenty La Pass mountains owned by my lord, and gold from five of them has been minted into gold coins and stored in the Republic of Veneto. The document you hold is a withdrawal authorization for a portion of it.”

I’m not asking because I can’t read the document. Stefan, who glanced at Dominic with a glare, asked the duke.

“Does Schendal Castle know about this?”

Daniel, who was still focused on the report, didn’t even look at Stefan.

“Now that you know, they might find out soon.”

He added nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t matter if they know. It’s your choice to whom you pledge your loyalty.”

So it begins. Stefan, who realized the duke was testing him, clenched the scroll in his hand.

“That should cover the renovation of the entire fifth floor of Marien Hall and more, so the budget is settled. You may leave.”

A calm dismissal. Duke Richard had not made eye contact with Stefan since he entered the office. The same was true when they met by chance in the castle. Occasionally, when Stefan felt a chill down his spine and turned around, he would find the duke glaring at him from a short distance. It wasn’t as if he was trying to starve him to death. This was simply unbearable.

“I was indeed sent here to report the castle’s activities to the royal family, but my current lord is His Highness the Duke. Please give me your instructions. Should I inform Schendal Castle about the existence of the gold mine?”

Heh. Dominic Moli’s suppressed laughter could be heard from the side, but Stefan kept his eyes on the duke, waiting. Whether he died this way or that, it was the same. He had steeled himself, but when Duke Richard finally lifted his head and looked at him, Stefan shuddered. The duke’s eyes, like those of a predator about to pounce, held him in place.

“Are you testing where your loyalty lies?”

“It’s not that...”

“Continue to serve the royal family. I don’t need you, my lord.”

Heh heh. Dominic’s laughter grew louder. Stefan, who sighed deeply, spoke with a sense of resignation.

“Please reconsider moving the duchess’s bedroom to the fifth floor. It’s too high and isolated for her to move around. She is already frail, and if she falls down the stairs...”

“Move my wife’s bedroom to the fifth floor as soon as the preparations are complete. Renovate her current room as her office. Do you have anything else to say?”

He was ready to throw Stefan out the window if he said another word.

“...No.”

After Stefan finished his bow and left the office, Dominic burst into laughter.

“Haha. What did I say? Our new butler is unexpectedly prickly. He’s more temperamental than he looks.”

Daniel, who had risen from his seat, walked to the window and asked.

“Did you get a confession?”

Dominic scratched his head and looked troubled.

“It’s a bit strange. He insists he doesn’t know anything, and it doesn’t seem like he’s lying.”

“Find out everything. When did he start monitoring Frieda? What information did he pass to the royal family? Leave nothing out.”

As Daniel looked down at the bustling courtyard, a white hat with a fluttering brim caught his eye. A small hand reached up to hold the hat as a sudden gust of wind blew. Ricardo, who had been walking closely behind, moved to shield the small woman, and the other mercenaries quickly surrounded Frieda. The sound of the mercenaries’ lively laughter reached the window where Daniel stood, following Frieda’s words.

“The tailor must have arrived.”

Dominic, who had heard Daniel’s mutter, tiptoed to look outside.

“That’s right. They’re all excited about the purple uniforms. They say wearing such things will make them go to heaven even if they die in battle.”

Dominic’s rambling didn’t even reach Daniel’s ears.

“I... I like you, Daniel. I want to like you more every day.”

Living in uncertainty was scary and unpleasant, and she wondered if he would let her go even if she clung to him and cried.

“So, unless you find me so repulsive, don’t push me away.”

In fact, even if she had said she found Daniel repulsive, he might have still held on. His desire had already reached a point where it couldn’t be stopped.

“I want to spend the rest of my life as your wife, Daniel.”

Whether she wanted to or not, she would have to live as his wife forever, by his side until the end of her days. And beyond.

“Frieda.”

The soft, weak whisper was so quiet that even Dominic, who was standing nearby, didn’t hear it. Yet, as if she had heard his voice, Frieda lifted her head and looked at the window where Daniel was.

“Daniel!”

And she called out to him with the most beautiful voice in the world.

“Daniel!”

Once more.

“Daniel! Here, here.”

Again. Her clear voice, pleading for him to see her, echoed through the sky of Moenheim Castle.

Frieda’s voice, carried by the spring breeze, brushed against his disheveled hair. The woman, who resembled spring, had come to him on the spring breeze. When he didn’t respond, her voice calling out “Daniel” gradually faded.

“Why don’t you answer her? She’s calling you so desperately.”

Dominic’s scolding buzzed but didn’t register properly. Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. The clear voice calling his name echoed endlessly in his ears. ***

After exchanging a brief greeting with the tailor who had come to take measurements for the uniform, Frieda entered the first-floor corridor and took off her hat. Her brow furrowed as she looked at Muriel, who naturally took the hat.

“Where could Mathilda have gone?”

“That’s what I was thinking. Adele said she has no idea.”

“Didn’t she say her family lives outside the castle?”

“Yes, I heard she has three younger siblings living near the well.”

It had been four days since the maid Mathilda disappeared without a word. At first, they thought she had gone home for an emergency, but now they were starting to worry.

“It’s not like her to go without any word. Muriel, go to Mathilda’s house tomorrow. She might be sick.”

“Understood. Miss, His Highness the Duke is there.”

Frieda, spotting Daniel at the bottom of the stairs where Muriel was pointing, approached him with a bright smile.

“Daniel. Didn’t you see me a little while ago? I was waving and calling out to you.”

Daniel, instead of answering, reached out his arm.

“Daniel?”

Curious, but still trusting, Frieda took his hand.

“Eek!”

Daniel, who had taken her hand, suddenly lifted her up.