Chapter 63

Lifting his head to the sky densely dotted with stars, Daniel silently counted every star he could see.

'One, two, three... fifteen, sixteen...'

Feeling that it was not enough, he took a deep breath and let it out.

"Huff."

He believed the cool night air would cool his heated body and mind, but unfortunately, it only made his thighs, pressed beneath Freya, even harder as he inhaled her scent. The damn moonlight was also unreasonably bright. Venting his frustration on the innocent full moon, he tried to steady his breathing.

'Now, calm down, you damn brat.'

At least, he shouldn't be a madman who gets excited by his ailing wife. Daniel fiercely and mercilessly suppressed the rebellious part of him that resembled his master. As he shifted his body, Freya, who had her cheek against Daniel's chest, gently lifted her head.

"Why, Daniel? Are you in pain?"

Pain? Of course, he was. To the point of death. Biting the inside of his mouth, Daniel forced a smile.

"No. How about we go back to the room?"

Blinking her half-closed, sleepy eyes, Freya shook her head.

"Umm, no. I want to stay here."

Freya pouted and rubbed her face against his chest.

'You’re going to drive me crazy.'

His wife's innocence, unaware of his burning heart, was particularly annoying today. And if she was going to act cute, she shouldn't have smiled so sweetly.

"I wish you would move to this room soon. I want to see the stars with you every night."

Every night, just see the stars...? Overwhelmed by a complex feeling he couldn't describe, Daniel couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"Huff..."

Freya, who quickly looked worried, checked on him.

"Daniel, why? Is it because of me?"

It was hard to say no immediately. After all, it was because of her.

"If you don't want to hold a wedding and a funeral at the same time, it's best not to touch her at all. With your size, you'll kill her the moment you cover her."

Damn Ricardo. Why did he have to say that? Daniel laughed weakly and gently brushed away Freya's hair blown by the wind.

"Stop worrying so much if you know."

Would he get healthier if he threw all the hard work to Dominic and rested? They say you grow taller if you eat well and sleep deeply. Would she gain weight if he fed her a lot of meat? A small head that could be held in one hand made him chuckle even as he was lost in thought. He realized again how small his wife was. Yet, looking at her made him feel like facing a vast, deep sea. A huge sea that would surely pull him in and drown him if he took a step forward. Unable to look away, Freya cupped Daniel's cheek with her hand.

"You were really surprised, weren't you?"

Of course, it was natural for Daniel to be surprised since it was the first time he saw Freya bedridden for so long. She had been sicker than usual. It was clear from how weak she was, even lifting her arm was a struggle. Freya tried to sound cheerful to reassure Daniel, despite her hoarse voice.

"I was in bed for a long time, right? But, Daniel, there's no need to be so surprised. I was sick for a whole month before. I've been healthier since coming to the duchy. I can manage for four days..."

"A week."

A week? Shocked, Freya tried to sit up, but Daniel held her shoulder to keep her in place. Displeased with Freya's indifferent reaction to her illness, Daniel's voice turned sharp.

"Your wife was delirious with fever for a whole week, saying things that made no sense day and night. How could I not be surprised?"

Freya, who had expected her to be in bed for at most four days, was stunned by the unexpected answer.

"R-really?"

Wait, a week? The emperor was supposed to visit the duchy soon.

"Daniel, the emperor hasn't arrived yet, right? Ah, did the items from Weimar arrive on time?"

As the Duchess of Rihardt, this was her first time welcoming a distinguished guest, especially the emperor. It was a significant event that couldn't be handled carelessly, and she had been bedridden for a week. Pale and anxious, Freya fidgeted. Daniel smoothed out her furrowed brows.

"Don't worry. The emperor will arrive in four days."

During her illness, they had received a message that the schedule would be slightly delayed. Annoying flies buzzing in his ear. He had briefly considered causing a landslide to block the emperor's route. Unaware of her husband's thoughts, Freya collapsed onto Daniel's chest in relief.

"Phew. What a relief."

Covering Freya's shoulders with the blanket that had slipped off, Daniel stroked her head. Freya snuggled into Daniel's chest like a newborn puppy seeking its mother.

"I was so surprised. If the emperor arrived and the lady of the house wasn't there, it would have been a topic of gossip for a long time."

Daniel's voice, which had cooled to a temperature that a sensitive person might notice, calmly settled on Freya's head.

"Are you not looking forward to the emperor's visit?"

"Not at all. I've been looking forward to this moment for so long."

The hand that had been stroking her hair paused for a moment before continuing. Holding the excited Freya, Daniel's eyes, which usually hid his emotions, turned cold.

"I didn't know you were so looking forward to meeting the emperor."

The overly polite and calm voice sent a chill, but to the drowsy Freya, it was just a lullaby. Feeling the warmth of Daniel's embrace, her eyelids grew heavy.

"I'm excited. He's our castle's first guest."

Thump, thump. Sleepiness crept in, matching the rhythm of Daniel's heartbeat. Freya mumbled as she drifted off.

"I'm happy that I can welcome the first guest with you."

Now that you're awake, and I'm fine.

"We don't have to stand alone in that situation. It's such a... relief."

The low murmur that pierced his heart made Daniel's pulse race again. It was time to count the stars again.

'Thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five...'

Fortunately, there were many stars in the sky tonight, making it a good night for Daniel to count them. ***

Descending from the herb garden, Ricardo bent down upon discovering a fresh cluster of purple violets glistening with morning dew.

"Hmm, not bad."

While stroking his chin in thought, he reached for a particularly large and fresh violet. Carefully, he dug up a cluster of violets, ensuring the petals didn't fall, and carried them into the inner castle. Before entering, he shook off the dirt from his boots at the bottom of the stairs to avoid dirtying the carpet. The castle, which had transformed beyond recognition in just a few days, was now adorned with purple tapestries. The colorful sunlight filtering through the polished stained glass windows added color to the once monotonous interior. Passing the excited servants, Ricardo climbed the stairs and paused in the third-floor corridor.

"Oh, right. My mind."

He remembered that the duchess's belongings had been moved to the fifth floor the previous afternoon and turned back toward the stairs. Just then, a door behind him opened.

"Hey, Father. Where have you been?"

Dominic, dressed in formal attire, followed Daniel and asked upon seeing Ricardo. His son, who usually had his hair slicked back, looked unfamiliar, making Ricardo's face scrunch up.

'Is he greeting the guests alone? What a show.'

True, whether in armor or formal attire, or even in tattered rags, Daniel's natural aura remained the same. Passing Daniel, Dominic noticed the flowers in Ricardo's hand and raised an eyebrow.

"Are those violets? You were pulling weeds while everyone was busy?"

To protect the flowers from his son's clumsy hands, Ricardo carefully turned his body away.

"Watch your mouth. These are violets for the duchess, you brat."

Ricardo's gaze shifted to Daniel.

"The emperor's mistress, Lady Buetin or something, is coming, right? She'll probably be decked out in jewels, so our duchess should have something to adorn herself with."

"Ha!"

Dominic burst into a loud, derisive laugh and crossed his arms.

"Can a mere flower even compete with a woman dripping in jewels? It's better to have nothing."

"What are you talking about?"

This time, Ricardo snorted.

"Our duchess is a shining jewel in herself. She doesn't need other jewels. Just standing there, she's ten thousand times more beautiful than the emperor's mistress."

"Of course, she is."

In the eyes of a father infatuated with his daughter-in-law, there could be no woman more beautiful than the duchess. Muttering and clicking his tongue, Dominic moved aside as Daniel walked past. Ricardo followed.

"Still, it's a relief that the duchess is better. I was so worried about how she would be this time..."

"Was it just you who was worried? I was worried too. As a steward, I was in tears. Really."

Dominic's voice, sharper a few days ago, was now much softer. It wasn't just Dominic. After the news of the duchess's recovery, the heavy tension in the castle had lifted. Patting his son's shoulder, Ricardo smiled.

"You were drinking every night, saying you were upset."

"I never... I was just keeping you company because I thought it would be chaotic if a mad deer started running around in this situation."

Grumbling, they climbed the stairs and soon reached the fifth floor. Ricardo, looking back at the stairs they had climbed, worriedly stroked his chin.

"It's too high for the duchess to walk. While it's a good place for guards, it's too difficult for her to move around, my lord."

Daniel, who had been silent, turned to the window by the corridor after looking at the door to Freya's bedroom.

"It won't be a problem since she won't be moving around much."

Outside the open window, a clear, cloudless sky stretched. It was a perfect, almost excessively good day to welcome guests, despite the uninvited ones. Ricardo's worries were as excessive as the weather.

"But, my lord, you can't keep the duchess confined within the castle. She is..."

"Why don't you go in and see if the flowers you picked are still fresh?"

The flowers, even in Ricardo's rough hands, were quite beautiful. This was why he had brought these noisy people this far. They would suit Freya well. Ricardo, hesitating and wanting to say something, eventually gave up and turned around. He knocked on the door, and Lady Boyd welcomed him inside. Daniel, hearing the sound from behind, fell into a lazy mood. Soon, Emperor Leopold would arrive with his entourage and mistress. The cunning Chamberlain, Count Weichen, was also coming. The castle would be bustling with annoying and irritating people, yet his mind was unusually calm. Freya's condition was improving, and he had placed her in the space he wanted. So, for now, he was at ease. Enjoying the strong scent of grass that signaled the approach of summer, Daniel's lips softened. Time flowed peacefully and monotonously. Creak. The door, which hadn't been oiled in a long time, created a vibration on the floor as it opened. Slowly turning around, Daniel squinted slightly to avoid the sunlight that had just reached the corridor.

"Daniel, did you wait long?"

In the gradually brightening field of vision, Freya stood in the center. Daniel stood quietly for a moment, taking in his wife fully.

"Daniel?"

Her lips parted, and her voice finally reached him. Time passed in tiny intervals, like a dream. The dreams he had been having were not particularly beautiful, but none of them were better than reality. No other word came to mind to describe this moment. It felt like a dream. A very pleasant dream. After a brief, calm moment, he extended his hand to his wife standing in the sunlight.

"Shall we go, my lady?"