Chapter 70

The small, red lips that dared to reject the emperor’s proposal were incredibly resolute.

"Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but I have something urgent to attend to today. I’ll consider the dinner, but could we postpone the tea time or walk until later?"

Seeing her support the door with her thin arms, which seemed as if they would break at the slightest touch, made Leopold want to laugh. Frieda was completely different from the women of the Harkonnen family he had imagined.

‘Is it because of her eye color?’

The Saint Gertrude Harkonnen in the painting he remembered had long, white hair and eerie red eyes, not the mysterious and pure violet eyes he was now looking at. Frieda’s eyes were like uncut natural jewels, or like a masterpiece crafted by a skilled artisan. Whatever it was, they made him want to keep his gaze on them.

"May I ask what could be more urgent than tea with the emperor?"

"Well... It’s... Actually, I need to find some books urgently."

Her answer that she was rejecting him for just a few books didn’t make him feel bad at all. On the contrary, it made him feel so cheerful that he wanted to burst out laughing. Leopold took a step back and made way for Frieda, a gentle smile forming on his face.

"I’ll help you find the books. That will be my apology."

Though hesitant, Frieda thought it would be impolite to refuse the emperor again, so she accepted his offer.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m sorry for the trouble."

"There’s no trouble at all. It’s an honor to assist you."

Leopold’s somewhat exaggerated greeting made her feel a bit uncomfortable, but she found it endearing. As she passed by Leopold, who couldn’t stop smiling, she tilted her head back and walked slowly in front of the bookshelves with a serious expression, carefully examining them. Leopold followed her, keeping a step behind, his eyes fixed on her as she walked through the dust floating in the sunlight streaming in through the window. When she stopped, he stopped too. Sometimes, she would tilt her head back so far that he was worried she might fall over. Leopold carefully closed the distance to her, ready to catch her if necessary. He then smiled again, his gaze moving from her delicate white neck to her fingertips tapping her chin seriously. A warm feeling welled up inside him as he watched her for a while. Then, Frieda stretched her hand up.

"That one! Your Majesty, can you take that book out for me?"

Standing in front of the bookshelf, Leopold easily took out the book she pointed to. The heavy book was titled "Noble Yearbook of the Svergen Empire." Frieda reached out to take the book, but Leopold, ignoring her thin wrist, which was smaller than his hand, placed the heavy book on the desk.

"Is there anything else?"

Frieda nodded and walked around the bookshelf again, and Leopold followed her.

"Over there. Ah, that one too, Your Majesty. The third row from the top, brown cover. No, the one next to it. Yes, that one..."

The books Frieda chose were noble yearbooks published annually or similar noble directories, all at least 20 years old.

‘Why does she want to read these?’

Standing in front of the desk with over ten books neatly stacked, Frieda started flipping through the top one. She carefully read the contents, brushing away the dust with her hand, seemingly oblivious to Leopold’s presence. Initially, Leopold waited without much thought, but as time passed, he grew more curious. He crossed his arms and leaned against the bookshelf, watching her.

"Cough, cough. Boyle... Hmm, Boyle..."

The name Frieda mumbled sounded familiar, and he tried to recall where he had heard it.

‘Ah! Stefan Boyle, the baron?’

He was the one his mother sent to keep an eye on Daniel. Leopold remembered writing his name on a piece of paper. He had forgotten about it despite seeing him almost every day after arriving at Mühheim Castle. Leopold usually didn’t pay much attention to other people’s affairs, but now he was more curious about Frieda’s appearance than the reason she was looking for the name. When she read quietly, her movements were so subtle that she seemed like a white cotton ball standing there. No, the more he thought about it, the more she resembled a snowman that wouldn’t melt. The image that came to mind when he first saw her made him smile again. Suddenly, a memory from a long time ago, from the winter when he turned seven, surfaced. The age when he realized something Daniel had that he didn’t. The season when he first felt jealousy towards the illegitimate Daniel, whom he usually dismissed as unimportant. A strange feeling, similar to that season, rose from deep within him.

‘The Duchess of Rihardt. Frieda... Rihardt. Rih... art.’

The name of his father, which the emperor Leopold didn’t need, suited her so well that it annoyed him. The soft lines on Leopold’s face, which had been gentle while watching Frieda, twisted coldly.

***

Next to the training ground was a building where mercenaries prepared for training or took short breaks. With the investiture ceremony approaching, everyone was busy with repeated etiquette lessons and horseback training, and even helping with the fields when they had time. The building, which should have been empty, was entered by Daniel, who kicked the thigh of a man lying in a corner.

"Ouch! Who dares to...?"

"Get up, Heinrich."

"Huh? Daniel, is that you?"

Heinrich, who usually prided himself on his neatness, got up with a disheveled appearance and brushed the straw from his hair.

"How did you find me hiding so well?"

"Did you think I wouldn’t find you here?"

There were plenty of people in the castle who would inform the lord of any information he needed, even if Daniel didn’t bother to look for him.

"I chose the place where you’d least expect to find me. Tsk."

There’s a stupid bird that thinks if it covers its eyes, the hunter can’t see it. A man with such obvious blond hair and who didn’t look like a mercenary at all. It’s surprising he thought he wouldn’t stand out in a place where mercenaries often come and go. Sometimes, I’m amazed by this noble’s insight, but at other times, he seems like a half-wit. Despite his mysterious nature, which piques curiosity, I don’t feel the urge to dig deeper. I can see that the more I know, the more exhausting it will be.

Heinrich, who was brushing off the straw from his shirt with his fingers, looked at Daniel with a disinterested gaze.

"Do you have someone planted in the Imperial Court from the Updyke Marquessate?"

"Imperial Court? Of course. It’s a basic move to control the place where all noble disputes are resolved."

"How many?"

Heinrich, who was scratching his chin with his fingertips and thinking deeply, looked up at Daniel with wide, bright eyes.

"About eight out of twelve."

"Among them, how many can be counted on?"

Heinrich answered immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

"Six."

Six out of twelve. In this era where the Bycen family almost controls all the power in the empire, having so many people planted is surprising. The number was better than expected, but more puzzling.

Heinrich, who got up from his seat, put on his jacket and straightened the sleeves.

"Surprised? Impressed by the Updyke family again?"

Heinrich patted Daniel’s shoulder and brushed off the remaining dust from his head.

"The great Bycens might think the empire is all theirs, but Daniel, you should know. The world isn’t that easy."

There are many nobles who are dissatisfied with the Bycens. If you weren’t stubbornly holding your ground, they would have risen up long ago.

Under the meticulous and flawless rule of the Bycens, it might seem like peaceful days will continue, but that’s far from the truth. The Bycens’ limitation of not knowing how to embrace others is becoming more apparent. It’s impossible to run the empire with only their own family members, so there are creaking sounds coming from all directions.

"Thanks to our Duke Rihardt’s thorough cleanup, everyone has been suppressed for the past three years, so their anger must be at its peak."

With most of the twelve dukes who shared the imperial throne through legitimacy now dead, if Emperor Leopold doesn’t have an heir, no one knows where the next throne will go. The nobles, instinctively seeking their own survival, will naturally reach out to the Updyke Marquessate, which holds the military power. It’s only natural for the influence of the border duke’s family, which even the imperial court can’t touch, to grow. Heinrich, who straightened the wrinkles in his jacket, smiled at Daniel.

"But why the Imperial Court all of a sudden? Have you finally made up your mind?"

Daniel’s sneer, filled with disdain, clearly showed his feelings.

"Heinrich, I’m telling you, I have no intention of getting involved in your disgusting noble disputes."

Heinrich playfully blinked at Daniel.

"Oh, Daniel. You’re a noble too. Don’t tell me His Highness the Duke of Rihardt has forgotten who he is?"

"I clearly remember that ‘noble’ is another name for cunning, unprincipled opportunists."

Heinrich chuckled and patted Daniel’s shoulder.

"I really like it when you’re prickly. Remember when we first met? I was hanging upside down from a tree..."

"Upside down."

It wasn’t a funny story, but Heinrich held his stomach and laughed.

"The Solon tribe leader, startled by your ruthless actions, put a knife to my neck and shouted that he’d cut me if anyone came closer. Then you wiped the blood from your lips and said..."

Heinrich imitated Daniel, touching his lower lip with his left thumb.

"‘It’s fine to cut the neck, but don’t touch the face. It’s too pretty to waste.’”

Heinrich, who had been laughing so hard he was out of breath, leaned against a pillar and chuckled.

"Haha! I thought you were interested in my face!"

If I had known you’d find such a ridiculous meaning in it, I would have let the Solon tribe leader do whatever he wanted.

"You were really cool back then. Even with a knife at my neck and blood rushing to my face, I couldn’t help but admire you."

Daniel, wanting to avoid further conversation, got to the point.

"There will be a request to the Imperial Court to resolve the land ownership dispute of the Boyle Marquessate. Just contact them to stall for time."

"Who? Boyle Marquess? What’s wrong with the steward’s land?"

After finishing his business, Daniel turned to leave, and Heinrich followed closely behind.

"What’s this all about? What kind of ownership dispute could there be in such a worthless territory? The marquess has had the title for a long time, hasn’t he?"

"The empress dowager probably wants to warn the marquess not to have any other thoughts."

Heinrich, who had been frowning, suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!"

"That’s it. Our steward, who was sent to keep an eye on you, has been so busy working like a cow that he seems to have forgotten his duty. But will stalling be enough?"

"Just do that. We’ll handle the rest."

It wasn’t a difficult task, so he could handle it immediately. However, Heinrich, trying to keep up with Daniel’s long strides, continued to chatter.

"By the way, why are you helping the marquess?"

"Because I’d miss him if he were gone."

"Miss him? Ah... If the marquess is gone, our duchess will get busy again, and she won’t play with you?"

Heinrich nodded repeatedly, saying he understood perfectly.

"Right. The beautiful duchess should be kept busy day and night. If she gets busy again, it won’t do. No, it won’t. Hehehe."

Daniel, who had stopped walking, turned to Heinrich with a fierce expression.

"Shut up, Heinrich."

A noisy kid who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Just as he was about to give a stronger warning, Heinrich, standing on tiptoe behind him, waved his hand.

"Oh, our steward! Is the duchess out for a walk? The love-blooming duke’s castle, how nice."

Daniel, who had spotted the Boyle Marquess and his wife, narrowed his eyes and walked briskly towards them. Before the two could even bow, he asked Matilda directly.

"Where is Frieda?"