Chapter 34
Dominic, lips tightly shut, glared at his father while rubbing his jaw with his palm. As the two fell silent, Daniel walked a few steps to pick up Koldar from the grass. Dominic, flinching as if expecting the sword to fly at him, sighed in relief. Daniel strode over, sheathed the sword, and grabbed Ricardo Molly by the collar.
"Are you tired of living, Ricardo Molly? Or have you lost your mind in old age? You're the one who spouted nonsense to her, aren't you?"
"If that nonsense refers to the story of how things soured between you and the Dowager Empress, then yes. I told the Duchess."
Dominic, watching the two anxiously, gaped his aching jaw and shouted.
"Father! Are you insane?"
This was bad. His gut screamed it wouldn't end with a single jaw-cracking blow. Dominic scanned around, hoping someone remained to help restrain Daniel, then bit his split lip hard. The herb garden was empty save for the three of them. He'd have to handle this alone, life or death. Sticking close to his collared father, Dominic whispered.
"Have you really gone senile? Why tell the Duchess that?"
Senile. Senile. Nothing else explained it. His jaw might stay attached, but his head could roll off. Daniel hadn't gripped the collar that tightly, allowing Ricardo to continue with a sly grin.
"A husband and wife should know what there is to know about each other to build affection, my lord. Misunderstandings pile up without words, so better to speak honestly and..."
"Shut up."
"Did you know your wife so well that you missed her cheating?"
Daniel and Dominic raised their voices at Ricardo simultaneously. As Ricardo wiped the spit from his face, now angrier than Daniel, Dominic bellowed.
"What do you know about marriage to butt in? You, who couldn't confess to your first love and let her get stolen by some scrawny noble—then watched her bear his child and crawl into another man's arms without a clue?"
His ferocity was so intense that even Daniel quietly released Ricardo's collar.
"What good does it do for the Duchess to know why the Dowager Empress is desperate to devour Daniel? What will she do with it?"
"I don't know where you heard it, but she was curious, so..."
"All she'd have heard are the vague rumors floating around the empire!"
Dominic wedged between Daniel and Ricardo, yelling louder.
"And do you spill everything just because she's curious? Why not tell her about the Echinacea too while you're at it!"
Seeing his father avert his eyes with sealed lips, Dominic clutched his forehead. My god. He'd told her that too? This was a catastrophe. Lacking the courage to face Daniel, Dominic couldn't even turn around. He was prickly with everyone else but lenient with his father. No wonder he'd swung first—something had seemed off. His approach meant he'd known Father had blabbed that far. Should've realized from how he'd fawned over the Duchess like he'd hand over his liver and gall. But who could've guessed he'd spill that incident too? It had upended Daniel's life entirely. He'd lost his mother and sworn lifelong servitude as Leopold's dog. It wasn't some trivial past to chatter lightly to the clueless. Lives hung in the balance.
"Father. Why on earth..."
Why always make things so difficult? How was he supposed to fix this? Glaring with resentment did nothing. Troublemakers never knew when they caused trouble. Even as a brutish shove pushed his shoulder, Dominic couldn't find a solution to this mess.
"So. Does flapping your mouth needlessly to my wife feel good now, Ricardo Molly?"
The chill from the voice behind him was no different from a midwinter Altas blizzard.
"Far from it. The Duchess pitied you so much it hurt my heart."
Father, please. Shut your mouth. Should've gagged him then. He knew Father caused bigger disasters the longer he went on.
"The Dowager Empress pretending to cherish you to use you, and punishing a child's jealous mistake so harshly—unbecoming of an adult, she said of the Dowager Empress..."
Thwack! This punch came without intent to block—and couldn't be. Two in a row would've been instant death. Shouldn't have taken the first one. Dominic swallowed a sigh, caressing his still-throbbing jaw. Stirring Daniel's rage more might make this madman do anything. Best stay quiet. As Dominic abandoned restraint, Daniel clenched his fist again at the fallen Ricardo.
"Told you to seal your lips if you don't want to die without a trace. You and Dominic survived by luck alone. The Dowager Empress doesn't know you know. Yet you blab to my wife? Why? So eager to drag us to the afterlife together?"
Dominic tsked at his father rising with a broad grin instead of wailing. Ricardo wiped the blood from his lips and smiled at Daniel.
"If Laura saw you now, she'd be thrilled. What a shame."
"Why bring up my mother here?"
"Who would rejoice most at such a good woman by her son's side?"
"What does her being good have to do with me."
Ricardo approached Daniel, grasping his bony fist. Patting it to relax, he spoke fondly.
"What greater fortune than a good wife? You'll live happier than anyone. Don't fear it from the start, don't hide from it—accept the Duchess naturally."
Daniel pulled his fist free, avoiding Ricardo's gaze and stretching his fingers. His knuckles throbbed from the rare punches, but Ricardo noticed like a ghost.
"Cut the nonsense, Ricardo. What couple are we? We're just..."
"You just called her 'my wife.' Twice."
"When did I..."
Daniel shut his mouth, recalling his words.
"So. Does flapping your mouth needlessly to my wife feel good now."
"Yet you blab to my wife?"
Damn. Why say that. Ricardo smirked, wiping his split lip again as Daniel fell silent.
"What's so special about being a couple? Learn each other bit by bit, understand, grow fond—that makes a couple."
Daniel resembled his mother in face and temperament. Ricardo's first love, Laura Czardo. Stubborn and frustrating, yet honest in love—the passionate woman whose son was Daniel.
"You're the son Laura, that brave overflowing-with-love woman, staked everything to protect. Enough self-blame—be happy now. Only then can I rest in peace."
"Shut it. That crap."
Dominic grumbled beside Daniel, turning coldly away.
"Yes. Better shut it if you don't want this nauseating scene neighborhood-famous. Sharp-eyed uninvited guest incoming."
Muriel ascended the field, ponytail whipping like a horse's tail. Dominic handed his father a handkerchief from his pocket, grumbling.
"She was set to guard the Duchess's bedroom all day—why here?"
Ricardo sniffed the handkerchief's scent, wiping blood from his lips.
"The Duchess gave this? Nice fragrance."
"Yes. Said you'd just spill it if given to you, so loaded me up. Insisted you wash hands before meals."
Muriel, three steps away, bowed to Daniel.
"Your Grace the Duke."
"Here for me, Lady Rosivalt?"
"No. Seeking Dominic Molly. May I interrupt your conversation briefly?"
As Muriel finished, Dominic pointed at himself mouthing 'Me?' Daniel, now expressionless, nodded.
"Go ahead."
With Daniel's permission, Muriel spoke somewhat hastily.
"You have an appointment with Lady Frida today, don't you, Dominic?"
"Right. Time to head out. Whoa, when did the sun set?"
Gazing at the darkening crimson sky, Dominic startled, unfolding his arms. Lights flickered on below in the castle.
"The Duchess must want me fetched. Got sidetracked—let's go."
Before stepping off, Dominic glared alternately at Daniel and Ricardo, lips twitching in displeasure. Muriel grabbed Dominic's arm as he hurried down.
"She's not in the inner castle. You don't know where she is either?"
"What? The Duchess is grounded today, right? You forbade her from moving..."
"Damn."
Daniel cursed abruptly and slid down the field like melting.
"Hey, you... no, my lord! Where are you going?"
Dominic's echoing shout seeped into the blackening sky. *** Bang! Bursting from the tower and slamming the door, Daniel set down his lantern and examined the footprints etched in the dirt. His face, lit by the flame, looked quite anxious.
"Where the hell did she go?"
Sun down, yet Frida hadn't returned to the castle. He'd checked the secret passage just in case, scoured every path from tower to castle. All castle servants combed the side paths around. Still no Frida, so he'd used the spare vault key to check inside before exiting. Naturally, she wasn't there. After long scrutiny of the ground, Daniel straightened and raked his hair roughly.
"Damn it. Need something to go on to find her."
How could a woman who came and went daily miss her sunlit bedroom?
"Her sight fails only at night, right? Then she should've come in before sunset—why... Hoo. Damn."
Bracing an arm on a nearby tree, Daniel exhaled deeply and sorted his thoughts. First, not the secret passage. She wasn't dumb enough without a lantern. Not the wide open path either. Whatever he'd said, she'd avoid Lady Rosivalt spotting her—likely took the least visible route. Not the busy left main path, then—maybe the opposite. Shoulders squared, Daniel slowly headed right along the walls. Two spots connected to Marian Hall, neglected after furniture sales: Skadi Hall, recently tidied for Baron Boild. And Brabant Hall, a pain to manage with portraits, armor, ancient junk—and rumored library. Quickly passing Skadi Hall's entrance, frequented by servants, Daniel climbed Brabant Hall's stairs and pushed the main door. Creak.
'Here.'
Spotting dirt tracks on the unexpectedly easy-opening door floor, Daniel dashed inside. Where in Brabant Hall's thirty-plus rooms? If she'd come, only one destination. Reaching Munheim Castle's highest-ceilinged room, Daniel flung the door open, shouting.
"Frida!"
