TDOT~23

Chapter 23 

Not You, But Me

Clang!

“Wow!”

“Whew—”

The sound of swords clashing rang out, followed by loud cheers from the crowd.

“Muriel is really strong too…”

Frida’s words got buried by the noise, so she closed her mouth and turned her head to watch the training ground. Every time the swords hit—clang, clang, clang!—Frida’s body shook a little. It wasn’t out of fear, but because the force when the swords met was so powerful. Even from far away, Frida could feel the shock. Even Dominic, who was usually playful, became serious.

Muriel Rosivalt was using mostly attack moves instead of defense. Dominic watched as Muriel’s sword narrowly missed Daniel’s shoulder and muttered quietly,

“Just as expected… perfect.”

Muriel’s sword moves were like a textbook—five attack moves coming from four basic stances. She really was the best knight from the Rosivalt family. Muriel was good at finding her opponent’s weak points. She kept attacking Daniel, who wasn’t fully recovered yet, pushing him harder and harder. But by focusing so much on attack, Muriel also showed her own weakness. Dominic noticed it and gave a crooked smile.

I always knew she would lose to the Duchess on purpose. So much for being a cold and strict knight!

Muriel should have finished it if she went that far, but at the last moment, she always pulled her sword back. Maybe because it was a spar, not a real fight. Maybe she thought Daniel would give up since he wasn’t back to full health.

No way. If she really knew Duke Richard, she would know better. Kind-hearted people always end up like this.

Dominic shook his head as Muriel’s sword barely missed Daniel’s armpit.

“Oh no! If they swing so high, they might hurt their eyes!”

Frida was too scared to watch and hid behind Dominic’s back, squeezing her eyes shut. The swords clashed above Daniel and Muriel’s heads, just barely missing each other.

Right. Here’s another kind person. Frida is so scared but still wants to watch.

Dominic looked down at Frida’s white hair peeking out from behind him. After three years, Dominic still couldn’t figure her out. He knew it was his own stubbornness that stopped him from understanding her—he just couldn’t believe someone could live without any ambition. Maybe she had desires, but they were always for others, never for herself.

“Imagine, Dominic. Your children and their children living happily on the land we built in Utrecht. Doesn’t that make your heart race?”

Not at all. Except for the fact that the Duchess looked a little dazzling as she talked, Dominic’s heart felt calm. My children? Their children? Just thinking about children who share my blood is horrible. Like Daniel hated being called an illegitimate child, Dominic hated being labeled “the child his mother abandoned.” His mother left him for a nobleman, wearing fancy dresses and white powder, while his father fought in wars to earn money. She left Dominic crying in another woman’s arms. People called Dominic’s heart cold like ice because of that. Thinking about having children himself just made him uncomfortable, so he quickly changed the subject.

“You’re supposed to keep your sword high to protect yourself. If you keep it low, you can’t attack or defend well.”

Just then, Muriel held her sword with her thumb supporting the flat, and swung up hard from below. Dominic whistled. People all around gave little gasps of surprise. The speed of Muriel’s downward and blocking moves was like lightning. Her strength, plus the power of Koldar, could probably cut down a tree. Even Daniel, who never lost in strength, was being pushed back on the dirt. People who bet on Muriel, expecting her to win, started laughing with excitement.

“It’ll end soon. The Lord is losing his strength.”

“Yeah, but it’s amazing he’s lasted this long. The Rosivalt family is famous for a reason.”

Frida peeked over Dominic’s shoulder.

“Is… is the Duke losing?”

Dominic nodded.

“Well, for now.”

Daniel knew his sword couldn’t last long against Koldar, so he was about to make his move.

“But sword fighting isn’t just about strength. It’s about defeating your opponent and, in the end, being able to kill. In this empire, the person who knows that best is your husband, the Duke.”

“Kill? You mean the Duke is going to kill Muriel?!”

Frida jumped forward, shocked. But Dominic just whistled again.

“Watch. It’s happening now.”

Frida saw Muriel swing with all her strength.

Crash! Daniel’s sword broke in half.

“Waaah…!”

But the cheers didn’t last long. Suddenly, everyone went quiet. Daniel had the broken sword stabbed in his own thigh, and at the same time, was calmly pointing a sword at Muriel’s neck.

“Choose, Sir Muriel Rosivalt. Will you surrender? Or do you want me to end your life here?”

Everything happened in an instant, so fast that even people watching couldn’t understand what they saw.

“Huff, huff, hoo…”

Every time Muriel breathed, the tip of the sword touched her skin. The sword Koldar, which she had been holding, was now in Daniel’s hand, aimed at her neck. Her mind was spinning. She had attacked to break Daniel’s sword, knowing it was weaker, and it worked. She kept pushing harder until it snapped. But she never expected Daniel to take the broken blade in his own thigh. Just when she was surprised, Daniel twisted under her arm, grabbed her wrist, and she dropped Koldar. Before the sword even hit the ground, Daniel had it in his hand and was pointing it at her throat.

She looked up at Daniel’s unreadable, cold reddish-brown eyes and finally understood—he’d planned this. He took the sword in his thigh on purpose just to create an opening.

He’s crazy. Who throws their body in a duel just to win a sword?

Muriel remembered what her second brother once said when she asked why Daniel Richard was unbeatable.

“Who knows. You can never read his mind, so you never know what he’ll do.”

Muriel gave up. She let her arms fall.

“I surrender.”

Just like that, the duel ended in an instant.

A flash of white hair rushed past Dominic as he tried to leave.

“Anton.”

Frida called for the doctor in a calm, cold voice.

Wait. Cold?

Dominic froze, surprised by her tone, and watched as Frida pushed through the crowd to Anton, who quickly hurried over.

“Anton. Please check on the Duke.”

“Yes, Madam. Oh, Your Grace!”

Anton watched Daniel pull the broken sword out of his thigh and grabbed his own neck in shock.

“Please sit and stretch out your leg. I’ll put medicine on it.”

“It’s fine. The wound isn’t deep, so just stop the bleeding so I can walk.”

“No, Your Grace. If we don’t treat it, your leg might get worse.”

Daniel frowned like he was annoyed but walked over to lean against the training yard wall, blood running down his leg. Anton sighed and hurried after him.

While Anton treated Daniel, Frida went to help Muriel, who still looked dazed.

“Are you okay, Muriel?”

“Yes, I’m… okay…”

Muriel, staring at the setting sun, suddenly grabbed Frida’s arm.

“You shouldn’t stay out here so late. Let’s go inside before the sun goes down.”

“I know. Don’t worry, let’s go. If you ask Adele for warm soup, you’ll feel better.”

“Hurry inside. Or better, let me carry you. It’ll be dark soon.”

Muriel tried to lift Frida, but Frida pulled her along instead.

“No need. You’re exhausted. Just walk.”

“Miss, please let go of my arm and watch where you’re going.”

The sky turned red as darkness began to fall. Anton finished bandaging Daniel’s leg.

“All done. I gave you first aid, so stay in your room and I’ll check on you soon.”

Daniel didn’t even look back, just watched Frida disappear with Muriel and replied dryly,

“Do as you like.”

Daniel saw Frida pulling Muriel by the arm—Muriel’s arm was twice as big as Frida’s—and felt oddly annoyed.

As he walked down the stairs, Daniel paused and looked at Frida’s back as she walked away down the hall. For three days now, since the duel, Frida hadn’t spoken to him. Even when they met, she just turned away. Earlier today, he saw clearly on her face that she was upset, but she just put on her big hat and ignored him.

“She’s definitely… angry.”

“Right?”

Dominic, following behind, nodded slowly, also looking at Frida.

“She’s definitely mad about the duel.”

Daniel laughed softly and stepped down the stairs.

“It’s not you. It’s me.”