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Chapter 50
I Won’t Hold Back Anymore
“What if I want her so badly that I go crazy and want to make her mine?”
Daniel imagined it dozens of times every day—running back to her, even from a place so far that it would take Balzac three days to return. Imagining holding her in his arms, kissing her, pressing his lips to her pale, delicate neck. Even when he tried to stop, his mind kept going back to Frida.
What did she truly want?
To make the duchy a better place to live?
If that was what she wanted, he could do it. No matter how many gold coins it cost. He wouldn’t care if he emptied the Munheim treasury or even drained the gold mine in the Lapaz Mountains.
But a child…
A child was different.
Why did she have to want the one thing he couldn’t give?
“If she actually becomes pregnant, do you think the Empress Dowager would sit still?”
No. That woman would never allow Frida to live. The Empress Dowager knew exactly where the Sverggen Empire’s misfortune had started, and she would never tolerate Daniel’s child being born.
Daniel had seen too many of her schemes: she secretly funded rebels, let them gather strength, then sent him to wipe them out. Those rebels died without even knowing they were used.
“If that happens, then what about me? Am I supposed to sit quietly again and bow my head in front of her?”
No. He was done.
Hadn’t he lived obediently enough already?
How much longer did he have to pay for his sins?
“No. I won’t hold back anymore. I won’t let that woman touch what’s mine ever again.”
Dominic quickly glanced around. Thankfully, Daniel’s low voice was lost in the loud sounds of wild animals. But the atmosphere around Daniel was dangerous. Normally, Daniel had extreme self‑control. But once he exploded, no one could stop him.
He had to calm him down. Somehow.
“Daniel, breathe. Please. Nothing has happened yet. Why are you like this?”
Dominic suddenly missed his father, who was the best at calming Daniel down. Daniel stared into the burning fire and whispered in a low, cold voice—so calm that it carried no lie at all.
“Let her try. This time, I’ll drag her to hell with me.”
Harsh. Cold. Merciless.
Leopold stared at Count Chamberlain, who appeared with a cane, and thought these words suited his mother at Schendel Castle perfectly.
Did she have some hidden grudge against the old man? Why else would she send him all the way here, making him suffer like this?
“I’m sorry you had to travel so far because of me.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. I am honored to see you. The Empress Dowager worries greatly for your health. She fears the long journey may harm you.”
Leopold rolled his eyes.
That tongue never gets old.
He almost felt sorry for the man—but not quite.
“My mother is healthy. The Baichen family is known for living long, aren’t they?”
He had shouted at her to leave him alone, yet she still sent this sly old fox after him. Annoyed, Leopold pushed his curly hair back.
“You didn’t come empty‑handed, I assume. What did she send?”
The count immediately took out a document from his coat.
“It’s from the border lord. Someone saw Arthur Nottingen near the eastern border.”
“Damn it. After years of silence, it starts again.”
Arthur Nottingen. That cursed name tied to the fight for the throne. Leopold’s chest felt tight, and he loosened the fancy collar of his imperial robe. He’d only been comfortable for a few days, but now—suddenly—the robe felt suffocating.
“So Mother gave you this to drag me back?”
“Arthur Nottingen is dangerous. Please return to Schendel Castle for your safety.”
Leopold stood, took off his formal robe, and walked to the window. A fresh spring wind from the Altas mountains cooled the sweat on his forehead.
Patricia’s lands felt open, refreshing—full of freedom. Here was something he could never feel in Schendel Castle.
How could he go back there?
He would never return. Not for a long time.
“If Arthur was seen in the east, then the safest place is here in the far west.”
“There is nowhere safer than the imperial palace.”
“Oh? Then what about going a little south… to Daniel? My brother, the strongest man in the empire.”
“Brother?! Your Majesty, you should not use such an excessive title for Duke Richard!”
As expected, the count reacted just like the Empress Dowager. Leopold laughed.
“You gave Duke Richard too great a reward already. Letting an illegitimate child inherit a ducal title is not a small matter!”
Leopold had granted Daniel the empty Richard title when he became Emperor.
“Daniel Richard saved my life—and killed the former Emperor. If someone earned more merit than saving the Emperor, then bring me that person.”
When nobles protested because Daniel was a bastard, Leopold crushed their arguments instantly.
Even now, the Empress Dowager complained about it often. But Leopold disagreed.
“Count. Five of the Twelve Dukes have already disappeared from history. Mad Duke Heidel destroyed the sixth. Daniel eliminated Hatzfeld as the seventh. Without Daniel, Arthur Nottingen might be sitting on my throne right now.”
“Your Majesty, however—”
Leopold raised a hand to silence him and took a deep breath of clean Altas air.
“You know what? Maybe I should go to a safer place.”
Daniel—calm yet never servile, even before the rightful heir of the dukedom—felt especially dear to him today.
Adele had just finished cleaning the kitchen when the door cracked open. She sighed heavily.
“Oh, Madam. You brought more work again?”
Frida peeked in with a shy smile. With her hair pinned up, even her bright smile looked noble.
“Adele, let me stay here. I can concentrate better when I work in the kitchen.”
“If you can’t concentrate, you should sleep! Why look at documents at this hour?”
“I’ll stop coming once the knight appointment ceremony is over.”
“That’s not it! I’m saying you work too much. How many days has it been now?”
Adele sighed but warmed milk for her anyway.
“You’d think with the new steward, your workload would decrease, but it’s increasing! Is that man doing his job right?”
Frida laughed softly and rested her chin on her hand.
“He’s very reliable. Thanks to him, everything is easier. It’s just busy because of the knight ceremony. Once it’s done, I’ll sleep every day.”
Adele clicked her tongue loudly.
“I know what kind of person you are, Madam. You always find more work. Don’t try to fool me.”
Even as she complained, she stirred the milk and honey with care.
“And why did His Grace go hunting at a time like this?! Leaving all the work to you while he enjoys himself!”
It had been fifteen days since the hunting party left the castle. Adele continued complaining until Frida pushed her out of the kitchen.
Finally alone—
“Whew… let’s start.”
Frida spread piles of papers on the table—uniform designs, symbols, banners—half the table was covered. They were for the first knight order of House Richard.
Baron Boild was handling most of the work, but Daniel had left him a list of twenty‑two tasks before leaving. The poor man was overwhelmed.
Still, Frida wanted to choose the uniform design herself.
She studied a blue uniform decorated with silver thread, then pushed it aside.
“Hm… this doesn’t suit Sir Ricardo.”
She looked seriously at each design. Daniel wanted everything fancy, but she wouldn’t let Ricardo look ridiculous.
“Dark colors might be better…”
Her hand moved toward a deep red uniform—it reminded her of Daniel’s eyes.
“No. No. This is for Sir Ricardo, the knight captain. Focus, Frida!”
She tossed the red design aside.
A deep green‑blue uniform with grey knots caught her eye.
“That’s nice too…”
Black with silver embroidery was also okay, but too plain.
She pouted as she compared design after design.
She had to decide the color first so she could finalize the crest and flag. Without Dominic around to interfere, she could choose whatever she wanted.
She was so absorbed that she didn’t notice the kitchen door opening. She didn’t hear the quiet footsteps approaching. She didn’t feel someone standing behind her, watching her with confused eyes.
Holding a purple cloth, she placed it over a black jacket design and murmured:
“This is the prettiest. If only we had the money—black jacket with lots of purple knots… oh! And a purple cloak that whooosh—!”
She pretended to fling a cloak over her shoulders and spun in a circle—
Then froze.
She was so shocked she forgot to scream. She only blinked and stared silently.
The man standing in front of her—she couldn’t believe it.
She should ask when he arrived. How the hunt went. Whether he enjoyed his fifteen‑day trip. Tell him she was glad he came back safely. She should ask why he left without a word.
But nothing came out.
“Today…”
Daniel spoke first, and Frida finally remembered to breathe.
“Do you hate talking to me so much?”
