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Chapter 44
Deep, Rough, and Without Mercy
As Daniel pushed himself up, he pressed Frida’s wrist down. Her shoulders hit the bed, and she closed her eyes tightly in surprise as Daniel’s dark shadow fell over her face.
“How can you be so fearless? What are you trusting in?”
Frida’s small, delicate shoulders flinched. When she opened her eyes, she saw Daniel’s face above her—his eyes like a clear violet lake, pure and sparkling. In those eyes, she could see all his confusion. Ironically, the moment he saw her innocent, pure gaze, Daniel’s wildest side began to stir inside him. He realized that he had imagined—often, not just once—messing up this woman’s white hair, rolling around in bed with her, acting anything but gentlemanly. He’d scolded himself countless times for these shameless thoughts. Maybe the first person to ever notice this side of Daniel was the Empress Dowager.
“You’re a true Richard, Daniel. You’ll become the Empire’s greatest knight soon. I don’t know why Laura lets you hang around with low-born kids like Molly’s.”
The Empress Dowager always saw Daniel’s pride and vanity and encouraged it. She acted as if he was better than Dominic, even though she really saw no difference between them. There was no point blaming the Empress Dowager now. He couldn’t just say it was because he was young. He was the fool for being played by her.
Remembering the Empress Dowager usually calmed Daniel’s overheated heart and mind. It was like pouring ice water over a burning fire. But this time, it was different. The sight of his wife, beautiful and dazzling in front of him, chased away every other thought. He felt a strange sensation, almost like pain, shoot through his whole body. Without realizing it, Daniel squeezed Frida’s slender wrist too hard.
“Ah…”
It was a small, weak sound. If he hadn’t seen her eyes scrunch up, he might not have even heard it over the sound of the birds outside. But to Daniel, it was as if she had screamed. He immediately loosened his grip on her wrist.
“I…”
He was embarrassed from the moment he woke up. Just knowing this small woman had stayed with him made him sleep the best he had since regaining consciousness. He kept wanting her. That wasn’t a good thing. His greed usually led to terrible results.
“My lady, I’m not the kind of person you think I am.”
“Thank you. You’re the person who made my dream come true.”
‘A savior?’ That made no sense.
“I’m definitely not your savior. So, if you’re hoping for something from me, you should give up.”
He didn’t want any more nights where she patted his back and comforted him like a child. And he wouldn’t act spoiled or weak in front of her again. Frida wasn’t someone who looked at the world in a crooked way. She believed in responsibility and duty and was a perfect noble. She was so different from him.
“Frida.”
Yes, Frida—you are different from a selfish guy like me. You’re brave even with nothing but your bare hands, much braver than a man with a sword like me. A woman who shouldn’t be tainted by my shadow. Frida pouted her lips.
“Not ‘my lady’—call me ‘Frida.’”
Daniel controlled his rough breathing, sat up a little, and put some space between them. Light returned to Frida’s white forehead as his shadow moved away.
“I want you to call me Frida. I also want to keep calling you Daniel.”
Her little red lips moved as if she was trying to tempt him.
“The Boild couple call each other by name, too. Can’t we do the same? Oh, and the baroness’s name is Ma…tilde. Isn’t that interesting?”
Suddenly, Ricardo’s loud voice came through the window, cutting her off.
“Are you all behaving? You’re not some low-class mercenaries anymore! You’re about to become the duke’s knights, so act like it!”
Daniel’s eyes grew fierce. Frida reached up and gently cupped his cheek, making him look back at her.
“Can we still do it?”
Frida’s forehead darkened again as Daniel’s shadow covered her once more. But even in his shadow, she looked beautiful—like a jewel on fresh white snow.
“I want to.”
The look on her face, the innocent way she looked at him, made Daniel tense up.
‘Damn.’
As he thought about their last kiss, his imagination went wild—this time, a deeper, rougher, and less merciful kiss. Just satisfying his own desires as a man.
‘Crazy idiot.’
Daniel’s head was filled with shame. He tried to turn away, but Frida’s hand stopped him.
“Don’t just say no—think about it some more.”
Maybe she was afraid he would refuse to call her by name. Frida, still holding his cheek, spoke gently, just like she had the night before.
“I don’t expect anything from you. You’re already perfect, so I don’t need more. Wanting more would be greedy.”
Her cheeks turned pink.
“You’re already much stronger and more wonderful than I imagined.”
She felt shy after saying that, but she couldn’t move away. Then Daniel’s face twisted in pain, and Frida reached out with her free hand to touch his forehead.
“I do want one thing. If you’re ever sick or hurting, please tell me. I take care of you better than any doctor, really.”
She checked his temperature.
“You don’t have a fever. Good.”
As she lowered her arm, Daniel caught her wrist again. His large, calloused fingers intertwined tightly with hers.
“Daniel.”
“…Yes?”
Frida swallowed nervously as Daniel leaned closer, his breath growing warmer on her skin.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to call my name?”
Frida noticed Daniel’s eyes growing even redder.
“If you still have a headache, I’ll get you some warm herbal tea. You’ll feel better if you drink it. Let me just—”
Daniel pressed Frida’s wrist into the mattress and called her name.
“Frida.”
He stared down at her, his eyes red.
“You should promise me, too.”
Frida fell silent, overwhelmed by his intensity.
“If you’re ever hurting, or can’t take it anymore, you have to tell me.”
Daniel’s breath grew heavy. He loosened his grip so he wouldn’t hurt her, but tightly grabbed the white sheet under her instead.
“Because I’m at my limit now.”
He looked at her parted lips, and, without hesitation, he kissed her.
(Scene shift)
Even Stefan, who had held himself up straight for an hour, couldn’t take it anymore. He thought he’d delayed as much as possible, but it had already been two hours in the duke’s office and he still hadn’t seen the duke.
“Is he really going to do all this in a year?”
Stefan wandered the office with the paperwork the duke gave him. At the sound of the door opening, he quickly straightened up. But it wasn’t the duke—it was a man he didn’t know.
‘Black hair? Maybe he’s from Lapas?’
Stefan soon realized who it was. Someone who could freely walk into the lord’s office must be close to the duke. Black hair, close to the duke… Oh, right, the duchess called this man yesterday to give him instructions.
‘Is this the famous Dominic Molly?’
The man saw Stefan staring and bowed deeply.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Dominic Molly.”
Stefan was right. The son of Ricardo Molly, leader of the mercenaries, and raised by Laura Chardo, the duke’s mother, almost like a brother to Daniel. Known for doing anything for Daniel—called the “cold-hearted one.” The empress dowager had marked him as a person to watch.
“I’m Stefan—”
“I know. Stefan Gordon Boild, the baron the palace specially sent to help this poor castle. Top graduate of Celeno University, with a powerful father-in-law, Count Chamberlain, but unlucky enough to end up here. ”
Dominic walked to the window and threw open the curtains, letting sunlight into the office.
“If the duke is the emperor’s hunting dog, then you, Baron, are a pet ready to wag your tail.”
Stefan didn’t get angry or make excuses, even after such rude words. He just looked calmly at Dominic, showing no fear. He wasn’t just a bookworm—he had guts, just like the duchess.
‘He really is a nobleman.’
Dominic turned back from the window, laughing to himself. As a child, Daniel was the same way—proud of his noble blood, even if he was only half a noble.
“Whatever else, the weather here is amazing.”
Dominic flung open both windows and stretched.
“Our lord is really heartless, isn’t he? He could at least let you rest for a day after such a long trip. Anyway, there’s nothing for you to do here today, so you’re in the wrong place.”
“This is the only office the duke has, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Dominic walked up to Stefan with a sly smile and suddenly snatched the papers out of his hands. Stefan’s calm face finally frowned.
“What are you doing?”
Dominic flipped through the papers.
“Sorry. I’m just a dumb mercenary, never learned manners. Wow, this is a lot of work. One, two…”
As he counted, he looked up at Stefan.
“When are you supposed to finish all this?”
Stefan snatched the papers back and glared.
“You don’t need to know. This is between me and the duke.”
“I don’t think so.”
Dominic folded his arms and leaned in close.
“Want to know a secret?”
He waggled his finger in Stefan’s face.
“The duke doesn’t actually do anything. Not a thing.”
Suddenly, Dominic snapped his fingers.
“Oh, wait. Right now, he actually is doing something.”
