🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 41
Something That Can’t Be Undone
Although it wasn’t hot enough for midday heat, strangely, sweat formed on the back of his neck.
“Daniel, I have a favor.”
It felt strange to hear his name not from a rough man’s voice, but from a soft, delicate woman. Since his mother’s death, had there ever been a woman who called him “Daniel” so kindly? Maybe only the Empress Dowager, though the feelings behind it were totally different. But that wasn’t the only reason it felt so unfamiliar.
“Baron Boild’s wife is expecting a child.”
Frida’s slightly excited voice was as warm and gentle as the spring breeze, and pleasant to hear.
“She must have had a hard time coming all the way here in her condition. I think it’s best to let her skip tea and rest first.”
As he listened to Frida’s voice, full of warmth, both his chest and head felt hot at once.
“I’d like to leave with the Baroness for a while, if that’s okay. I want to guide her to Scadi Hall myself.”
Although spring wasn’t over, Daniel felt the heat of midsummer. He couldn’t take his eyes off Frida. Frida looked up at him, waiting for an answer, and gripped his arm.
“Daniel?”
Just then, Heinrich was standing behind her husband. Unhappy about the situation, he bit his lips and frowned.
“I thought you’d be lying around half-dead, but here you are, walking around like you’re fine!”
Frida glanced at him and quickly looked away, wrinkling her nose.
Hmph. “Half-dead”? “On your last legs”?
She tried to ignore it, but the more she thought about it, the more annoyed she felt. Even her brow creased along the line of her wrinkled nose.
“Will the Updike heir be offended if the lady of the house doesn’t greet him properly?”
“You don’t have to worry about him,” Daniel replied firmly, without hesitation.
“Leave with the Baroness first. If needed, take Anton with you.”
“Oh, right. We’ll need Anton. I didn’t think of that—thank you, Daniel.”
Looking down at Frida’s bright violet eyes, Daniel gently took her hand and laid it on his arm. Together, they stood before the Boild Baron couple, who were waiting for them.
“My wife told me the news. Congratulations, Baroness.”
Daniel gave a polite greeting, and the Baroness blushed shyly.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Daniel placed his hand over Frida’s hand on his arm and said,
“My wife would like to guide you herself, Baroness. While you rest, we’ll send for the doctor. If you need anything, please let us know at any time.”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
Looking down at Frida, Daniel gently patted her hand a few times and whispered,
“Stay with the Baroness. I’ll let Anton know.”
“Thank you, Daniel.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Baron Boild added politely. Smiling, Frida let go of Daniel’s arm and approached the Baroness, lightly wrapping her arm around the woman.
“I’ll show you the way, Baroness. This is ‘Marihan Hall.’ The room you’ll be staying in is on the third floor, connected by a hallway—it’s called ‘Scadi Hall.’ Please come this way, and watch your step.”
As she guided the Baroness, Frida suddenly turned to Daniel and tilted her head.
“But Daniel, didn’t you say the Updike heir was arriving today too? Is he running late?”
Although she’d never seen him before, there was only one person who could be the Updike heir—a blond young man with innocent-looking eyebrows and a mischievous expression that couldn’t hide his real nature. Daniel simply pointed at Heinrich.
“No, he’s here. This is the Updike heir. Heinrich!”
When Daniel called, Heinrich frowned, clearly annoyed, and gave a curt bow.
What do you mean, I didn’t arrive? Can’t she see me? She’s got eyes, right? I’m standing right here—why act like I’m not?
Puffing his cheeks like potatoes, Heinrich couldn’t hide his displeasure as he muttered to himself.
“I greet the Duchess of Duke Richard. I am Heinrich Muller Updike, son of the Empire’s border Marquis Updike and Daniel’s closest friend…”
“Oh, so you’re the Updike heir!” Frida gasped, pretending to be surprised and covering her mouth with her hand. Then, spreading her lips wide in a big smile, she added,
“Will you forgive my rudeness, Updike heir? You’re so different from your father, who is known to be calm and serious. I actually thought you were a servant following the Baron. But now that I look at you—your voice is too loud and your clothes too flashy for a servant.”
“S-Servant? W-Who? Me? I’m Heinrich?”
Startled, Heinrich’s eyes widened even more as he stammered. He wasn’t the only one surprised—the Baron and Baroness were both speechless, and only Daniel kept a straight face. Frida lowered her eyes and pretended to be flustered.
“I made a big mistake. In that case, Updike heir, since we’ve both been rude to each other, let’s forgive and forget, shall we?”
Wearing a splendid dress for the first time in a long while, Frida curtsied gracefully in perfect etiquette.
“Welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay at Munheim Castle.”
“Will you forgive my rudeness, Updike heir? … I actually thought you were a servant following the Baron.”
“In that case, Updike heir, since we’ve both been rude to each other, let’s forgive and forget, shall we?”
“No matter what, calling me a servant…” Heinrich was about to explode, but Frida simply smiled and turned back to the stairs. Watching from a few steps away, Muriel stifled her laughter. A flower deer could act wild, but in front of a real beast like Frida, he was nothing.
From the unexpected meeting with the Updike heir, everything that happened next was completely different from what Stefan expected. On the way here, he’d exhausted himself just trying not to get swept up by Heinrich’s sharp questions. But what surprised him most was the Duchess herself.
I thought you’d be lying around half-dead, but here you are, walking around like you’re fine!
Although he didn’t say it out loud, Stefan was thinking the same as Heinrich. The Empress Dowager’s opinion wasn’t much different.
“Keep an eye on the Mollies. If Daniel is hiding another woman, those two will be looking after her.”
“Is there a reason you suspect there’s another woman besides the Duchess?”
“Hakborn? Who cares about the daughter of that family, who’s still alive—no one thinks about her.”
The Empress Dowager had insisted that Frida was a dying patient. But the woman who appeared before Stefan didn’t look like someone about to die. She wasn’t lively, but she didn’t look like she was on death’s door, either. Her looks, known only by rumor, really were unique—pale skin, white eyebrows, long hair the same color, and mysterious violet eyes that seemed even more striking surrounded by so much white. If she had a bit more energy, she’d be one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. And, it seemed she had a good relationship with her husband, the Duke. There wasn’t exactly heat between them, but there was a warm affection.
“My clothes! Does a servant wear such expensive fabric and bright patterns? I spent so long picking out this outfit for you!”
Stefan’s long thoughts were interrupted by Heinrich’s loud complaints.
“How could anyone mistake me for a servant? That woman is strange, right, Daniel?”
Did he just call me an old man? Really…
Stefan stared at Heinrich’s golden hair, shining in the sun, and thought to himself. But what surprised him most about the Duchess was her wit in making fun of Heinrich.
“I actually thought you were a servant following the Baron.”
She made it so obvious she was teasing him that it was almost thrilling. For a moment, he almost burst out laughing.
“Heinrich.”
In his office, Daniel lifted his head from his desk where he was writing. He looked completely normal, even though it hadn’t been long since he’d regained consciousness. His calm gaze was sharp, and his eyes looked slightly red.
“‘That woman’ is not ‘that woman’—she is the Duchess of Duke Richard. If you keep forgetting, I’ll have to carve it into your head with a sword.”
His matter-of-fact way of saying such harsh things made Stefan shiver. But Heinrich’s reaction was totally different.
“Wow, Daniel.” With a wide grin, Heinrich leaned in toward Daniel’s shoulder. “You’re really back. That icy, scary sarcasm! I missed it so much. I’m so glad, my friend.”
That the only son and heir of the Empire’s Shield, Marquis Updike, could be so crazy—Stefan let out a deep sigh, worried for the future of the Empire’s children.
“Baron Boild.”
Having finished his writing, Daniel signaled Stefan to come over. Heinrich kept talking at his side, but Daniel ignored him completely. When Stefan stood at the desk, Daniel picked up a completed document and handed it over.
“Rest today. Start work tomorrow.”
Holding the document, Stefan drew a deep breath without meaning to. Squinting at the list, he asked in disbelief,
“How long do you expect me to finish all this?”
“Before the year is over.”
Stefan’s hands shook as he gripped the document listing exactly twenty-two tasks.
With his hands behind his back, Daniel looked out the window into the darkness and took a deep breath. The evening breeze blowing in through the open window cleared his head. With Dominic nowhere to be found, Daniel had been stuck with Heinrich all afternoon. Just as his furrowed brow finally began to relax, there was a knock on the wall between his room and the Duchess’s.
Knock, knock.
He had guessed the wall would be knocked on around this time. To be honest, he’d been waiting for it.
Knock, knock.
He hoped Frida would come see him. There were things he wanted to ask her—no, things he wanted to hear her say again.
Knock, knock…
Listening to the quiet but persistent knocking, Daniel shifted his gaze from the darkness to the door. Whether he made a sound or not, the door would open soon. That was just the kind of woman Frida was. Even knowing that, he didn’t move. Maybe because…
Well, maybe because if she opened the door tonight, something would happen that couldn’t be undone.
Creak.
As expected, Frida didn’t wait for an answer and opened the door.
“Oh, Your Grace. You’re here.”
Frida crossed the wall quickly, looking a bit awkward as she smiled.
“Can I come in?”
Again, she only asked for permission after she’d already entered. Bold in her own way, but for some reason, Daniel didn’t mind it.
“Do as you wish.”
No sooner had Daniel spoken than Frida hurried to his side.
“Baroness Boild is a brave and good woman. I asked her how she could come all this way in her condition, and she said it was better than staying home alone, just worrying. She said that a married couple should help each other and get through hard times together. Isn’t that amazing?”
“…”
What’s going on? Daniel wondered.
Frida looked up at him, searching his silent face, and quietly called out,
“Your Grace…?”
“Would you say it again?”
“Call me Daniel… one more time.”
With calm eyes, Daniel finally spoke.
“Would you say it again? Call me Daniel… one more time.”
