Chapter 58

Frida didn't realize that her fingernails had scratched through the lace of her gloves, eventually making a hole. With a massive black horse snorting fiercely right in front of her, it was hard to notice anything else. Frida, standing next to the horse, was so tense that she didn't even realize she was slowly stepping backward. Just as she was about to take another cautious step back, a large shadow loomed over her.

“Though I can't say he's well-behaved, I'll ride with you, so don't worry.”

Daniel, who had wrapped his arm around Frida's shoulder, guided her toward the horse. Behind her, Dominic's tongue clicked.

“You should speak clearly, my lord. Is it even reasonable to call Balzac 'not well-behaved'? He's the one who least fits the word 'well-behaved' in the world.”

Frida slightly pulled back the hood of her cloak that covered her forehead. Her eyes, filled with both anxiety and anticipation, looked up at Daniel.

“Are you really sure, Daniel? Balzac won't throw me off, right?”

Seeing the desperate look in her eyes for a definite assurance, he smiled gently.

“I'll hold on tight. Don't worry.”

“My lord, why not take the carriage as usual...”

“Enough.”

Daniel's firm interruption left Dominic with no choice but to shut his mouth. Although Balzac was not just temperamental but outright violent, he would be manageable with Daniel.

‘But why did he suddenly decide to take the duchess out?’

As soon as the sun came up, Daniel announced that he would go outside the castle with the duchess.

“Only Dominic and Sir Rosivalt will follow.”

Despite his complaints about being too busy, Daniel remained silent. Dominic, who knew no one else, glared at Daniel as he mounted the horse with a graceful leap. Daniel, bending down like a tightrope walker, lifted his wife with one arm and placed her in front of him.

“Oh!”

Though she clung to Daniel tightly out of fear, her voice was filled with excitement. Her face, hidden by the large cloak, couldn't be seen, but a clear laugh burst out. The duchess, who was usually very timid, was surprisingly brave. It was a strange contradiction. Even now, she was buried in Daniel's arms, looking around curiously. Muriel, who had been fidgeting, finally stepped back when Frida safely mounted the horse. After confirming that Daniel had adjusted Frida's position, Muriel also mounted her horse. Frida's laughter didn't stop.

“Hold this, Daniel. Like this?”

“Yes. Don't pull, just hold it. Is your back uncomfortable?”

The nervousness she had before riding had disappeared, and she was now busy marveling at the view from the horse.

“Wow, from up here, Balzac's mane really is black. Look, Daniel! It's even blacker than your hair.”

Dominic, who had been watching them closely, finally mounted his horse. The relationship between the duke and duchess had clearly changed. They often ate together and went for walks, and Daniel had been seen looking at his wife with a strangely affectionate smile several times. Moreover, he had even ordered the fifth floor of the Marien Hall to be decorated as the duchess's room. A warning, tingling at the back of Dominic's neck, told him that Daniel was starting to desire again. From experience, this was not a good sign. As a child, Daniel showed no interest in what was happening around him and only did his own work, but he naturally drew people's attention. It wasn't just his appearance, which closely resembled his maternal grandfather Massimo, known as the most handsome man in the south of Laphas. There was something about Daniel that was hard to describe, a presence that dominated others. Despite his arrogance and indifference, which should have been annoying, it strangely suited him. While Leopold, the typical nobleman, used the power given to him by birth to command loyalty, Daniel did it with his presence. People followed him without him needing to do anything. Even the servants in the castle treated the illegitimate Daniel with the same respect they showed Leopold. Even when Lady Laura tried to prevent it, it was useless. Daniel had to be careful to avoid becoming the subject of gossip. However, once he lost control, no one could stop him. When his suppressed nature exploded, he became like a person who couldn't hear anything. If he wanted something, he would cling to it stubbornly, refusing to let go. Some praised him for being persistent, but seeing him in action, it was more than just annoying. A recent example was when he offered his thigh to Muriel Rosivalt to get the legendary sword Colder.

Could his possessiveness now be directed at the duchess? Daniel's intense gaze was fixed on the top of Frida's head as she gently stroked Balzac's mane. Dominic sighed deeply.

“He's going to eat her up. Eat her up.”

The chill running down his spine made him uneasy. ***

The four of them rode to a cliff at the edge of the forest, from where the entire duchy could be seen. Daniel, who had dismounted first, lifted Frida down as he had when he put her on the horse. Frida, who had been holding the hood tightly during the ride, took a deep breath. The cool, refreshing mountain breeze filled her lungs. The wind that whistled past lifted her hood, but Daniel, standing behind her, covered her head again.

“Thank you, Daniel.”

“The sun is strong, so it's better to go under the shade of the trees. Come this way.”

Dominic, who had returned after tying the horses, stretched his arms.

“Phew, there was no way we could have come in a carriage.”

Riding through the mountains without a path, it was understandable why Daniel hadn't even considered a carriage. Even on horseback, Dominic and Muriel had to cut through the dense branches to make their way.

‘Daniel, did you bring me here to do this?’

Glaring at Daniel, who was acting affectionately, Muriel was nudged by Dominic.

“Dominic, aren't you really unafraid of death?”

“I am. 'Living a hundred, a thousand years, eating well and living well' is my dream, haven't I said that?”

“What will you do if you glare at the lord who holds your life in his hands so fiercely? I can feel the hostility, and His Highness the Duke won't miss it either.”

Hmph. As if he doesn't know. He's doing it on purpose.

“If you were afraid of death, you shouldn't have been by his side. How many people are desperate to kill him, and it's dangerous.”

“People who are desperate to kill the duke?”

Muriel, frowning in thought, asked in disbelief.

“Who? The Empress Dowager?”

It was well known that the Empress Dowager was displeased with Duke Richard, but the idea that she would try to kill him was absurd. Reading the unspoken thoughts on Muriel's face, Dominic smirked.

The lady and the bodyguard. Both are so naive. I worry how they will survive in this harsh world.

“Do you know why Duke Richard is called the emperor's hunting dog?”

“That's because... he's called whenever the emperor needs him?”

Dominic, smirking again, watched Daniel, who had gone to the shade, handing water to Frida.

“It means that once the hunt is over, he'll be cooked and eaten, so he should know his place and act accordingly.”

At that moment, Daniel's finger curled, beckoning him.

“Let's go. The lord is calling.”

Following Dominic, who quickened his pace, Muriel hurried along. Honestly, Muriel had many questions. Why was His Highness acting this way lately? Why did he keep looking for our lady and not leave her side?

“The construction of the new road leading to the southern port will be handled by Dominic and Sir Rosivalt from now on.”

However, the sudden order from the duke made Muriel forget all her questions.

“Me, alone, to handle the road construction?”

Dominic's loud voice made nearby birds take flight. It was actually a task for both Dominic and Muriel.

“I didn't say you'd be alone.”

The duke corrected that part.

“Even with Sir Rosivalt, who is practically an idiot in such matters, it's no different from doing it alone.”

But this guy, really? Muriel had no intention of taking on this task.

‘If I'm going back and forth, who will take care of our lady?’

But calling Sir Rosivalt an idiot... Frida, who was holding Muriel's cloak to stop her, glared at Dominic, but he didn't seem to care. He was focused only on the conversation with the duke, not paying attention to Muriel.

“Don't you remember? When Lord Boyd comes, you said I should stop handling the castle's affairs and focus on the mercenary group.”

“I remember.”

“But road construction? I clearly said that it's a project that might never end, and it's better not to start at all...”

Only then did he notice Frida standing next to him, and he suddenly closed his mouth. Closing his mouth didn't change anything; his furrowed brows spoke volumes. Daniel, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, raised his right arm and pointed to the forest-covered land below the cliff.

“Building a road through that area will be the responsibility of the mercenary group. Dominic Molli, you will take over as the mercenary leader, replacing Ricardo. Sir Rosivalt will take over when you are absent.”

“But Daniel, Dominic has to join the newly formed knight order.”

Daniel shook his head lightly in response to Frida's words.

“The Amethyst Knights will only be a formality. Mercenaries are people who come together for money and disperse. Don't expect long-term loyalty. Those who truly want to become knights have already been listed by Ricardo.”

Human nature and animal instincts never change. Now, they might be excited by the idea of becoming knights, but when asked to follow discipline and etiquette... many will give up.

“To avoid drawing attention from Lord Boyd and the royal court, it's best to limit the number of people involved in this project.”

“Once the construction starts, it will be known soon enough.”

“That's why we're separating the knight order and the mercenary group. The mercenaries and the workers will live in a separate place and be forbidden from entering the castle. All communication will go through you two, which will delay the information reaching the royal court.”

So thorough. I wonder when he thought of all this. I hate being bothered, but the idea of not wearing that flashy knight's uniform is quite appealing. The tattered decorations and the overly ornate cloak... just thinking about it made Dominic's skin itch.

‘And what's with the name Amethyst? How childish.’

The origin of the name was obvious. Dominic's gaze briefly met Frida's light purple eyes, hidden by the cloak. If she joins the knight order, her workload will only increase, not decrease. It might be better to work with simple, straightforward people. Just as Dominic was starting to be convinced, Frida spoke up.

“Daniel, I suggested starting this project. It seems unfair to leave it to just the two of them.”

At least our duchess is a fair and normal person, which is a relief.

“I'll handle everything, so you don't need to worry.”

The problem is on this side.

“If you need anything, just say it.”

So touching. Daniel's eyes were completely flipped.

“Is there anything else I can do?”

Dominic almost shouted, “If there is, will you do it? I will!”