Chapter 9

As she followed Dominic to meet Daniel, Frida's heart raced anew. It was only the pale face she had seen for three years, now infused with vitality, yet the change was so striking. There was no need for second thoughts. Duke Richard, whose features were now clearly revealed, was the most handsome man Frida had ever met. Even when considering both men and women, he stood out. The rugged hair that once covered his face was gone, replaced by a charming visage that was a flower in itself, even without the boyish smile.

‘I thought my heart would drop out. No, why didn’t I notice this before? Was my vision blurry even during the day?’

Frida rubbed her eyes vigorously with her fingers, as if to atone for not recognizing her husband's true appearance. Even when he exuded a gloomy aura, her husband was still handsome, but this was beyond imagination. She even doubted if the man who coldly told her, "You are inconvenient," that morning was the same person. The stories from the merchants who visited the Harkbone family estate were not exaggerated. They all whispered that Duke Richard was merciless, a bloodthirsty and cruel man. Dominic's occasional stories were not much different.

"Though he is my lord, I cannot in good conscience say that the Duke's character is good..."

Even Sir Ricardo, who overflowed with affection for his lord, agreed with Dominic on this point.

"Please remember, Lady. When your lord's eyes start to turn red, you must close your mouth and run. If you hesitate and see his eyes turn completely red... you will experience hell. Even Dominic, who acted without thinking, almost lost his eye, or rather, his eyeball."

Because of such stories, she was initially afraid to touch his body. But over the months, her husband, who only breathed faintly, was no different from a large and heavy infant. For the past three years, the Richard Duke that Frida saw every day was just... a patient. She, who had never taken care of anyone in her life, was now fully responsible for a sick person. But to see her husband, who had been bedridden, rise and transform into a dazzlingly handsome man in just one day, like the ancient god Freyr, was overwhelming. Even pressing her chest with a clenched fist, her heart continued to race.

"Miss."

Frida was startled by the voice calling her from behind and turned around.

"Why, why? Muriel?"

"Take a deep breath."

"Huh?"

"Deep breaths. In, out."

Following Muriel's hand, which slowly drew circles, Frida took deep breaths. As Frida and Muriel lagged behind, Dominic stopped and turned around. His eyebrows twitched as he watched the women repeatedly inhale and exhale in the corridor.

"May I ask what you are doing?"

"Miss Frida tends to forget to breathe when she is nervous."

Frida, now feeling better, was about to stop, but Muriel signaled her to continue.

"Do ten more. You held your breath the whole way here. You might faint."

The word "faint" seemed to bother Frida, and Dominic tilted his head.

"Nervous? Why are you doing that all of a sudden? Surely not..."

Dominic pointed to the heavy brown door of the Duke's office a few steps ahead.

"Because you are going to see your lord?"

Frida, whose heart was pounding, nodded silently, and Dominic's forehead creased deeply.

"Why are you suddenly... going to see someone you see every day?"

Instead of answering, Frida's cheeks turned red, and she quickly passed between Dominic and Muriel. She knocked on the door handle with a slightly hurried hand and, upon hearing permission, quickly disappeared into the office. Dominic, who had been watching her uncharacteristically swift action, crossed his arms and muttered.

"Does Sir Rosivalt know why the Lady is acting like this?"

"If he doesn't, he's a fool."

Despite being called a fool, Dominic didn't seem particularly upset. Since meeting at the Harkbone family estate three years ago, this squire had consistently shown a indifferent and cynical attitude. Apart from his exceptional sword skills, this was why Dominic maintained proper etiquette with Muriel Rosivalt. A person who doesn't change easily deserves respect. So instead of responding with a sullen retort, he asked a question he had been curious about.

"By the way, when will Sir Rosivalt stop calling the Lady 'Miss'? She has a proper title as the Duchess."

The squire's usually tightly closed lips parted slightly, and a faint breeze accompanied his indifferent voice.

"Who knows. When you all start treating our Miss as the real wife of the Duke?"

"What do you mean? Sir Rosivalt, we are already treating the Duchess..."

"There's no need to ramble, Dominic."

Muriel, who had passed Dominic, turned to face the door Frida had entered. Unlike Dominic, who was frowning, her face was calm like a still lake.

"You all know that you don't see our Miss as the wife of the Duke who will serve him for life, but as a pitiful noble lady with a limited lifespan."

She also seemed as cold and firm as the winter of Altas, which doesn't even allow for a touch.

"Well, thinking about the future, it might be better not to get too attached and then drag it out."

***

Frida couldn't take her eyes off the desk made of Altas's ash wood, known for its unique grain. Specifically, she was fixated on the key on the desk. The key was as long as Duke Richard's palm and looked quite heavy. From the way the Duke was offering it to her, it seemed he intended to give it to her. When Frida didn't immediately take it, Daniel gently pushed the key closer to her.

"This is the key to my personal safe. Dominic will tell you where it is."

"Are you giving it to me?"

"Yes."

Frida's voice, unable to grasp the intention, was slightly higher, while Daniel's response was calm.

"Why are you giving me the key to your personal safe?"

"According to Dominic, you used all your dowry to improve the duchy. I am returning it to you."

"Oh... I see."

Frida's purple eyes, which had been calm, sparkled again after a moment of nodding.

"But, Duke, I thought the dowry brought by the bride becomes the husband's property... Is the property law in the South different from the North?"

Property law in the South? Daniel, caught off guard by the unexpected question, closed his mouth without answering. He had been entrusted to his maternal grandfather's mercenary group as soon as he turned ten, and he had no knowledge of property laws or anything that made his head ache just by hearing the words. His mother, who had been passionate about his education, even making him follow her etiquette teacher to the battlefield, had emphasized that he should not be interested in laws or systems.

"Don't even think about such things, Daniel. They will only shorten your life."

It's not shameful to not know. But he couldn't ignore the clear eyes waiting for his answer for long, so he fumbled through an answer.

"There can't be different property laws within one empire, so what you know is correct."

"If that's the case, you don't need to return the dowry to me. I used my money, not my own, but our money, for our land."

"Our land?"

Hearing the unfamiliar word, Daniel forgot to maintain the formal tone with his wife. Frida, undeterred, repeated the word he had questioned.

"Yes, our land. The duchy of Utrecht, where the great 'Twelve Families' Duke Richard and I reside."

Ah, the great 'Twelve Families'. Yes, it is a grand and sacred family. Daniel momentarily suppressed the sneer that threatened to escape his lips. But he couldn't stop the memories flooding his mind.

"Leopold keeps insisting that your contributions are great, so I have no choice. But remember, Daniel. This is just a temporary arrangement. The sacred name of Richard is not something a mere person like you can bear. So, don't be greedy like your mother and know your place."

These were the words of the current Empress and the former Duchess of Richard, Lady Margret, as she granted him a barren land surrounded by the Altas and Raphas mountains, which naturally formed a border without the need for walls. The Empress, known for her cunning and scheming, expressed her displeasure openly. What was the point of receiving such land? He had no time to care, being constantly summoned by Leopold. He only accepted it to give the mercenaries, who suffered endlessly for his sake, a place to rest. It was not a land to be cultivated and cared for by the precious and delicate pocket of a Duke's daughter. And 'our land'? Who is 'us'?

Daniel, who had abruptly stood up, picked up the heavy key and walked around the desk to stand in front of Frida. Ignoring her clear, violet eyes, he placed the key in her palm.

"I heard that the dowry you brought is about 2 million florins in Burenche gold coins. If I am mistaken, you can inquire about the exact amount from the Harkbone family and claim it. If you don't like Burenche gold coins, there are also jewels and ducats. What would you like..."

"Ducats?"

Frida's small hand suddenly gripped the key tightly.

"Did you say ducats? The ducats in the Duke's personal safe? The ducats, the most recognized gold coins in the empire?"

Daniel's fingers, which had not yet pulled away, were caught with the key in Frida's hand.

I wondered if she had any strength, but it was surprisingly strong, which surprised Daniel. He nodded.

"Yes, the ducats made in the Benevato Duchy. They are about..."

"1.5 times more valuable than florin gold coins. If they are new and have never been circulated, they can be worth twice as much. Oh my, you have those gold coins?"

The widely circulated florin gold coins in the empire are 2% less pure than the ducats, which are more highly regarded. In the past, her maternal grandfather, Massimo, received the ownership of a few Raphas mountains as payment for his mercenary work. Gold was discovered in one of those mountains, and it was turned into ducats in the Benevato Duchy. Therefore, his safe contained more ducats than florins, including some that had never been circulated.

"How many? How many ducats do you have?"

Hadn't she just said she didn't need the dowry back? The intense, greedy look in her eyes, which seemed to contradict her previous words, met his. The force pulling the key also increased subtly but clearly. A sudden urge to argue rose within him. What expression would this woman make if he suddenly pulled the key back from his hand? No, it might be more interesting to show her a gold-filled chest and then take it away. Would this pure woman, who seemed untainted by any dirt, reveal her greed when faced with the glittering gold? A faint, subtle smile twisted his lips.

"Do you want to see them?"