Chapter 59

Snap. Crack, snap. Muriel and Dominic, who were leading the way, kept cutting down branches that might obstruct their view. Dominic took care of the upper branches, while Muriel handled the lower ones. They worked together seamlessly. Frida, who had been watching them with a smile, turned her head to glance behind her but quickly returned her eyes to the front. As the pale cheeks peeking out from under the dark blue cloak appeared and disappeared several times, Daniel finally spoke to her.

“Do you have something to say?”

Frida turned her head as if she had been waiting for this moment. Although Daniel was holding her tightly, making it impossible for her to move, she could still turn her head to meet his eyes.

“Um, Daniel. What if, as Dominic said, the road construction starts but doesn’t finish?”

“It would be an unfinished road.”

“Don’t joke around.”

Her head drooped dejectedly.

“I’m worried. I’m afraid it might just be a waste of your money.”

“It’s our money. I’m using it for our land.”

Frida pouted, realizing that Daniel was mimicking her past words.

“Oh, come on. I’m being serious. What if I’m doing something wrong, or if I’m just caught up in a delusion and causing others to suffer? That’s what I’m thinking.”

She felt it even more acutely when she looked down at the forest below the cliff. The scale of what she was trying to accomplish was enormous, far beyond what she and Dominic had casually surveyed. Cutting down all those dense trees, uprooting them, and paving the road with stones—it was a massive project, incomparable to creating a single plot of farmland. She doubted whether they could even start, let alone finish it. Would it take a year or two? Five years? No, ten years? Would she ever see the completed road? What if the royal court refused to approve it? What if Daniel was reprimanded for secretly undertaking such a project?

“Frida.”

Daniel placed his hand over hers, which was gripping the reins tightly. Frida’s small hand disappeared under Daniel’s brown glove.

“Do you want to build the road, or not? Don’t think about anything else, just tell me what you want.”

What do I want? Of course, I want to... I have to build it.

“The duchy is a land that struggles with self-sufficiency. Without a road connecting us to the outside, we’ll be isolated. If we continue to rely solely on trade with Weimar, it’s only a matter of time before we become vulnerable. If we have the capital and time, securing a road should be our top priority. However...”

I don’t want you to face any difficulties because of this. I don’t want you to be monitored by the royal court because of me. I started this to be a good wife, but I’m afraid it might make things harder for you.

“You can stop if you don’t want to. I mean it.”

Daniel leaned down over her hooded head. It felt as if his lips were touching the fabric.

“Have you ever seen the sea?”

“The sea? No.”

She had seen illustrations of the sea in books. It was said to be surrounded by salty water, and one had to travel by boat to cross it.

“There’s a sea at the southern end of Utrecht’s territory. If you take a boat from there, you can reach the Duchy of Veneto, which lies at the foot of the Raphas Mountains after about five days.”

“Veneto? The place that makes the ducats?”

“Yes.”

Daniel tapped Frida’s hand, looking pleased.

“Once the road is complete, I’ll take you to the port in a carriage. We’ll buy the largest ship and I’ll take you to the Duchy of Veneto. There are many things there that you might like.”

You can have whatever you want.

“I don’t know what you’ll like, so you can choose for yourself.”

Just be by my side. If you tell me what you want and what you wish to do, I’ll get it for you.

“I want to show you the sea as soon as possible. For that, we need the road.”

Since I told you to help Dominic, Rosivalt can’t stay by your side as he used to. When the time comes for you to need someone, I want to make sure the name you call out is ‘Daniel’ instead of ‘Muriel.’ I’ll engrave myself, and only myself, in your small mind. I’ll erase all trivial things and become your entire world. Just as he was about to hold her hand tighter, Frida suddenly turned and hugged Daniel. Her small arms could only wrap around part of his waist, but Daniel froze as if he had been bound. Balzac’s hooves also stopped, and the forest, which had been filled with the calls of unknown birds, suddenly fell silent.

“Daniel.”

Frida, hidden under her hood, was trembling in his arms.

“I need to... go to the sea with you.”

He could tell she was crying, even without seeing her face. Why she was crying... Perhaps she feared she wouldn’t live to see that day.

“Promise me. Promise that we’ll go to the sea together.”

Even if it’s pitiful to hold onto hope, I can’t give up.

“My lord, is everything alright?”

Dominic called from a distance, noticing that Balzac wasn’t following. Daniel, instead of answering, pulled a branch to block their view.

“Frida, look up.”

As he expected, Frida’s eyes, peeking out from under the hood, were red. Daniel, having pulled off his glove with his teeth, cupped her cheek with his bare hand. My little wife, who can’t even bask in the sunlight freely. You don’t know. You don’t know what kind of man Daniel Rihardt, your husband, is.

“Do you really want to go to the sea?”

You, so innocent, couldn’t possibly know.

“With me?”

“Yes. With you, Daniel.”

So, live in ignorance. Believe only what I say, and see only the me you want to see.

“I will go to the sea with you.”

Then I will protect you. I will do whatever it takes to keep death from reaching you, even if it means making a deal with a demon from hell. For you, I will do anything.

“I swear. I will definitely go with you.”

Daniel kissed Frida, still holding the branch. The scent of the forest was strong on her trembling lips.

***

It was Dominic, leading the way, who spotted the blue flag with the white Nordic cross, the symbol of the Svergen royal family.

“My lord!”

“I see it.”

Leopold must be tired of his mistress in the upper village. Daniel, still on Balzac, approached the man standing in the courtyard of Mühaim Castle. Beside the man stood Baron Voight, looking perplexed, and Heinrich, who was furious. The man in the royal guard’s armor bowed to Daniel.

“It’s been a while, Duke Rihardt. I’m glad to see you well.”

Daniel recognized the man, whom he had seen a few times before. The man’s gaze lingered on Frida for a moment before looking down.

“What brings the royal guard to this mountain village?”

“I bring a message from His Imperial Majesty, Leopold Bolshchak II, the Sun of the Empire. His Majesty plans to visit Utrecht soon.”

“Visit? The Emperor is coming here?”

Frida’s body leaned forward in surprise, and Daniel caught her shoulder.

“Wait a moment.”

Dismounting Balzac, Daniel gently lifted Frida and placed her on the ground, then called for Muriel.

“Sir Rosivalt. Take my wife.”

“But Daniel...”

Daniel straightened Frida’s twisted cloak and calmed his flustered wife.

“Rest. I’ll come as soon as I’m done talking.”

He then called the man who had brought the Emperor’s message.

“Follow me.”

Daniel and the four men entered the castle in a line. Frida, watching them with concern, hurried inside, pulling off her hood.

“Muriel, did you hear? The Emperor is coming here!”

“I heard.”

“Good heavens. I need to tell Adele right away. Our Adele, will she faint?”

“Adele will know already, and everyone in the castle will know. How are you feeling? It’s your first time riding, so you must be sore.”

As soon as Muriel spoke, Frida felt pain all over her body, and her legs suddenly felt heavy.

“Ow... Muriel, I can’t walk.”

Muriel, shaking his head, scooped her up.

“If you don’t apply enough heat, you’ll be even more sore tomorrow. I’ll ask Anton to bring some lavender. Bathing in water with lavender will help.”

“Oh, you know all that. You’re quite the expert now, Muriel.”

Muriel, who had been smiling at her playful comment, suddenly became serious.

“I’ll be away from you more often in the future, and I’m worried. And Matilda isn’t here either.”

Frida, hugging Muriel’s neck, leaned her head on his shoulder.

“I’m worried about you. If the task is too hard, tell me. I’ll beg the Duke to keep you by my side.”

“I don’t want to. I’ve just escaped from being a nanny. I’ll enjoy my freedom.”

“Pfft. That’s mean.”

Muriel, patting her back as they climbed the stairs, felt a piercing gaze and looked up. Daniel, standing at the top of the stairs, glared at her before turning away.

***

The silence in the study, after the royal guard’s knight left, was broken by Heinrich.

“So, when is the Emperor arriving?”

Dominic, stroking his chin, answered.

“He’ll be traveling by carriage, so considering the road conditions from the territory of Baroness Butain to Utrecht... even if he leaves today, it will be at least a week.”

Heinrich immediately countered.

“He could come by horse.”

Dominic shook his head.

“Patricia Butain will be accompanying him, so they’ll use a carriage. If things go as expected, they should stay there for a month. That clingy woman wouldn’t let the Emperor travel alone.”

Stephan, suddenly realizing something, asked Daniel.

“Did Your Highness anticipate this and include the renovation of Brabant Hall in the list?”

Among the twenty-two items on the list, only the renovation of Brabant Hall had a specific date: “within a month.” Without a word, Daniel picked up a pen.

“How long will it take if we start immediately?”

“The most urgent thing is the furniture we’ve ordered... Honestly, even if it arrives, it won’t be enough to accommodate the entourage.”

Daniel scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Dominic.

“Take this to Duke Andrea immediately. The deadline is five days. If you don’t want the Empress to hear the names on this list, make sure everything is delivered within five days. Dominic, go and deliver it yourself.”

Dominic, looking at the paper, nodded with a meaningful smile.

“I understand.”

Heinrich, glancing at the paper, squinted and muttered.

“An... din? Who’s that?”

The content of the paper was of no interest to Stephan. As long as the worst-case scenario of the Emperor sleeping on the floor without a bed was avoided, who cared whose name was on the list? Whether human or animal, anyone who helped prepare for the Emperor’s arrival on time was welcome.

“Fortunately, my wife is familiar with royal etiquette from her frequent visits to Schendal Castle. I’ll ask Matilda to assist the Duchess.”

“Who, who? Matilda?”

Dominic, about to leave the room with the paper, was startled and approached Stephan. Daniel, who had been calm, also frowned and looked at Stephan.

“What did you just say, Baron Voight?”

Confused by their reactions, Stephan looked between the two men.

“Why are you asking, Your Highness?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Dominic interjected.

“You said you would have a maid named Matilda assist the Duchess. Do you know where this maid is?”

“What are you talking about, Dominic?”

Heinrich, sprawled in his chair, spoke indifferently.

“Why are you associating that name with a maid? Matilda is the wife of our butler, Baroness Voight.”