Chapter 7

Frida raised her voice in surprise, startling herself as well. She quickly released the hand that had been firmly pressing down on Daniel's knee.

“This... this is... I didn’t mean to say it to you, Your Excellency.”

Her white hand, held close to her chest, shook nervously as if to say she was innocent. Anyone could see that the words were meant for her, yet she still tried to act as if they weren’t. Daniel, bewildered, couldn’t even think about getting up from the knee that had been pressed down; he could only stare at the small, white hand fluttering nervously. Just then, Captain Ricardo’s thunderous shout came through the half-open bedroom window.

“You idiots. Get a grip! Why are you causing a commotion this early in the morning! Can’t you get your act together? You’re really... Everyone, stop what you’re doing!”

Frida, embarrassed, tightly closed her eyes, and her pale face flushed red. Captain Ricardo’s roar was always accompanied by a variety of creative and vivid threats, intimidations, and curses. It had been three years since the morning in Mühnhaim Castle began with his roar, and it was impossible not to have it etched into her mind. It wasn’t just memorized; the unfamiliar words, metaphors, and sentences filled her head and sometimes even slipped out of her mouth. Things that should never come out of a noble lady’s mouth, unexpectedly and without her noticing.

“If the governess of the prestigious Harkbon family saw this, she would foam at the mouth and collapse.”

Muriel, who used to point out every mistake, had long since given up on Frida. Frida, who had inadvertently snapped at Daniel, clasped her trembling hands and stammered.

“Um... what I mean to say is... if you want to recover as soon as possible, Your Excellency, you should follow the doctor’s advice, that’s all.”

Honestly, Duke Richard’s recovery was beyond her comprehension. This morning, for example, she had no memory of going to bed last night, yet she woke up in bed. Since she didn’t walk there herself, she must have been dragged or carried. If she was dragged, the only person who could have done it was her husband, Duke Richard, who was sleeping precariously at the end of the bed. But could someone who had been asleep for three years really carry her to the bed? She had to check to be sure.

“Did you move me to the bed last night, Your Excellency?”

When Duke Richard nodded lightly, Frida was genuinely surprised. Is that even possible? She was so shocked that she suddenly felt scared. What if he lost consciousness and collapsed again? Concerned, Frida’s eyes and voice suddenly became firm.

“The doctor said that if you suddenly increase your activity, it could be too much for you. So, you need to take it slowly and be very careful. Your body might go into shock and become paralyzed if it’s startled. That’s why I need to keep touching you.”

Frida mimed rubbing her legs in the air, slowly moving her fingers. She had been massaging Daniel’s body every day for the past three years. It took a lot of effort to learn how to properly massage his firm calves, which initially didn’t even leave a mark. It wasn’t just his calves. His thighs, thicker than her waist, and his arms, which moved with strength even though he was unconscious. She massaged his body morning and night to keep it from stiffening, sweating profusely. She also bathed him and changed his clothes, panting with the effort. For the first few months, Dominic helped, but after she got the hang of it, she did it alone. She could proudly say that she was the best at taking care of Duke Richard in the entire castle. What’s the problem with her fulfilling her duty as a wife? There’s no need to shrink back. Captain Ricardo always said that if you shrink back, you lose.

“Lady, you may be small, but you have a strong spirit. As long as you don’t shrink back, you can handle it. Spread your shoulders wide and hold your head high. In any argument or fight, the one who sets the tone at the beginning always wins.”

Frida spread her shoulders wide and jutted out her chin. She was supposed to glare at the other person with a look that said, “If you don’t like it, come at me,” but... This was enough to have worked in the past. It’s not like she could glare at her husband, whom she had only met two days ago. Frida fixed her eyes between Daniel’s forehead and eyebrows and spoke clearly.

“Unless you need to call someone else, I will fulfill my duty as your wife as usual. I will be careful not to make you uncomfortable.”

Don’t be intimidated, Frida. Be confident. Standing up straight to her waist, she felt satisfied that she looked like a proper duchess.

But... why isn’t the Duke saying anything? After waiting for a response, Frida lowered her chin slightly. His deep, dark brown eyes, showing no sign of being intimidated by her, were fixed on Frida. She almost flinched but quickly blinked to regain her composure. The Duke’s face, compared to his robust build, had a delicate line. Yet, he had a distinct wildness that set him apart from most Svergen men, who had light hair and bright eyes. If his seemingly indifferent expression were replaced with a boyish smile, it would be even better. This was why she had stared at her husband’s face for a long time, even in her confusion, when he woke up this morning. The living, moving Duke Richard was more... strikingly handsome than she had imagined.

“Do you find it uncomfortable to be with me, Lady?”

His voice was also very impressive. A moderate bass, neither too thin nor too thick. A calm, well-balanced voice that didn’t get carried away, leaving a long aftertaste. Frida, not noticing the emotion in his opaque eyes, waved her hand somewhat cheerfully.

“Huh? No, not at all. Not at all uncomfortable. Taking care of you is my duty as your wife.”

“I...”

From Daniel’s slowly opening lips, a voice with an unexpected chill came out.

“I am uncomfortable.”

A firm and cold voice that matched his expressionless face. The soft smile on Frida’s pale cheeks froze instantly. Even though no cold wind was blowing, her fingertips suddenly felt numb from the intense chill.

***

Doctor Anton, entering the inner castle, doubted his eyes when he saw a man walking down the central corridor.

“Y-Your Excellency, the Duke?”

Duke Richard, who had opened his eyes around lunchtime yesterday, was walking this early in the morning, just as the sun was rising over the mountains. He was taking steady steps, not as strong as before, but the important thing was that he was walking on his own two feet. After three years of being asleep, in just one day. Anton, clutching the medicine bag in his hand, ran to Daniel’s side.

“Your Excellency, you shouldn’t push yourself like this. Please go back to your room and lie down.”

“Bring Balzak.”

“Pardon?”

Some of the servants, who had not even bowed, stared at Daniel in a daze, just like Anton.

“B-Balzak? Surely you don’t mean to ride a horse now?”

“Yes. If my beloved horse is still here and hasn’t been sold.”

Ignoring the doctor’s shocked reaction, Daniel stopped and scanned the interior of the castle. He remembered that everything valuable had been sold. But since it was a castle he had received from the emperor and didn’t particularly care about, there wouldn’t be any noticeable changes. His gaze quickly moved to a black figure entering the door.

“Don’t worry. Balzak is aging gracefully in the stable.”

Dominic’s indifferent expression showed no sign of being moved.

“Your Excellency, but...”

The doctor, giving a pleading look to Dominic, who was approaching, tried to persuade him. Amused by the overly affectionate gaze, Dominic nodded to the doctor to leave.

“Unless someone is desperate to die, who would buy that stubborn horse?”

The doctor, still shaking his head, took a step back. Exasperated, Dominic followed Daniel, who was walking out of the inner castle.

“That horse is practically a murder weapon. It often stabs and tramples people. It’s always breaking the stable door. If it weren’t for the Duchess’s intervention, I would have gotten rid of it long ago.”

As they walked out, Dominic called to a nearby servant.

“Hey, you! Tell Adel to send the Duke and my breakfast to the valley next to the stables. Make sure to put plenty of meat in the soup.”

Then, he caught up with Daniel, who was a few steps ahead, and started talking.

“I understand you feel confined. Your body must be restless. But listen to the doctor. Three years is not a short time. For now, focus on regaining your strength.”

Daniel, who didn’t respond and turned toward the stables, continued walking and then asked Dominic.

“Who is Adel?”

“Oh, she’s the cook at Mühnhaim Castle. It must have been about two years ago... She came with the loggers and caught the Duchess’s eye because of her cooking skills. The Duchess liked her so much that she brought her to live in the castle.”

“Background check?”

“Of course. She lived in the east and lost her husband when the Hatzfeld family rebelled against the royal family. She wandered around and eventually ended up here.”

As soon as they turned the corner of the inner castle, Daniel stopped, facing a suddenly open view. This was definitely where the castle wall and the mountain ridge used to connect. The dense forest that used to be there was now replaced by terraced fields of different colors on each level, covering most of the area he could see. His questioning gaze met Dominic’s, who shrugged and smiled.

“Didn’t I tell you? What the Duchess did while you were asleep.”

“Tell me in detail.”

He had heard that the Duchess had sold every spare bed in the castle to clear the dense forest of Altas for farmland. When he heard it, he thought it was just about cutting down a few trees. But this... it was like an entire mountain had been moved. In just three years, while he was asleep, this small woman had done all this? Dominic, sensing the disbelief in Daniel’s eyes, stood beside his lord with his hands behind his back and explained, adding genuine admiration.

“What did I say? Our Duchess may be half the size of you, but her spirit...”

Unconsciously letting go of his hands, Dominic’s hands spread wide as they brushed past Daniel’s face.

“Is immense.”