Chapter 41
Not yet the season when midday heat could be felt, yet strangely sweat beaded on the nape of his neck.
"Daniel, I have a favor to ask."
Hearing his own name in a thin, fragile woman's voice rather than a gravelly man's felt utterly unfamiliar. Since his mother's death, had there been any woman who called him 'Daniel' so affectionately? If he had to pick one, perhaps the Dowager Empress. Of course, the emotions contained within were entirely different. But the unfamiliarity wasn't solely due to the woman's voice.
"Baroness Boild is with child."
Frida's somewhat excited voice was pleasant to hear, warm and gentle like a spring breeze.
"She must have had such a hard time coming all this way in that condition. I think it's best to skip tea and let her rest first."
The moment he heard Frida's voice brimming with warmth, his chest and head heated up simultaneously.
"I'd like to leave first with the Baroness. Is that alright? I want to escort her to Skadi Hall myself."
Feeling the sweltering midsummer heat despite spring not yet over, Daniel couldn't tear his eyes from Frida. Gazing at him wordlessly without an immediate reply, Frida clutched his forearm tightly.
"Daniel?"
Then Heinrich appeared behind her husband. Looking greatly displeased with the situation, he chewed his lips and furrowed his brows.
"Thought you'd be on your last breaths today or tomorrow, but you're alive and walking around just fine!"
Glancing briefly at him, Frida quickly averted her eyes and wrinkled her nose.
'Hmph. On my last breaths? Today or tomorrow?'
She'd meant to ignore it, but the more she chewed on it, the worse it felt. Wrinkles formed on her nose bridge, narrowing her brows too.
"Will the young master of Updyke feel slighted if the Duchess hasn't greeted him properly?"
"No need to mind him."
Daniel shook his head without a hint of hesitation.
"Go ahead with the Baroness first. Take Anton if needed."
"Right, we'll need Anton. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you, Daniel."
Gazing into her brightly smiling purple eyes, Daniel pulled Frida's hand onto his arm. The two stood side by side before the waiting Boild couple.
"I heard from my wife. Congratulations, madam."
As Daniel offered a courteous bow, Baroness Boild blushed shyly.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
Daniel covered Frida's hand on his arm with his own and said,
"My wife wishes to escort you personally. We'll send the physician shortly once you're settled. Please let us know if you need anything else."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Gazing down at Frida, Daniel patted her hand gently several times, whispering,
"Take the Baroness and go. I'll contact Anton."
"Thank you, Daniel."
"Thank you, Your Grace."
Following Frida's beaming smile, Boild Baron bowed politely in response. Releasing Daniel's arm, Frida approached the Baroness and lightly linked her arm.
"I'll guide you, madam. This is Marian Hall. Your quarters on the third floor connect via corridor—it's called Skadi Hall. This way, please. Mind the stairs."
Leading Baroness Boild, Frida suddenly turned to Daniel, tilting her head.
"By the way, Daniel. You said the young master of Updyke came with you today. Is he arriving late?"
Though she'd never met him, only one person here fit the description. Gazing at her innocently blinking brows and bright expression that failed to hide her sly intent, Daniel straightforwardly pointed to Heinrich.
"No. This is the young master of Updyke. Heinrich!"
Called by Daniel, Heinrich irritably raised his brows and bowed curtly.
'Who said I haven't arrived? Is she blind? It's obvious I'm a new face—why act like I'm not here?'
Unable to hide his displeasure, he grumbled, his cheeks puffing like stuffed potatoes.
"I greet the Duchess of Rihardt. I am Heinrich Müller Updyke, son of Margrave Updyke, border lord of the empire. Daniel and I are the closest of friends and......"
"Oh my, so you're the young master of Updyke."
Covering her mouth in mock surprise, Frida widened her smile to both ears.
"Will the young master of Updyke forgive my rudeness? You're so different from your father, known for dignity and gravity in all things...... I thought you were the Boild Baron's attendant. Well, your voice is too loud and your clothes too flashy for one."
"At, attendant? Who, who? Me? Heinrich?"
Greatly shocked, Heinrich stammered, his already large eyes widening hugely. He wasn't the only surprised one. Only Daniel, standing beside the stunned Boild couple, maintained a blank expression. Frida drooped her eyes in feigned distress, making a woeful face.
"I've made a huge blunder. Then, young master of Updyke, we've each been rude once—shall we forgive and forget today's matters?"
In her rarely worn lavish dress, Frida elegantly curtsied with perfect etiquette.
"Welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay in Munheim Castle."
"Ah, even so, calling me an at, attendant......"
Flashing a bright smile at Heinrich on the verge of exploding, Frida turned back up the stairs. Pfft. From a few steps away, Muriel burst into silent laughter. A flower deer could go mad and still be a flower deer. Before the true beast Frida, he was mere prey. *** Starting with the unexpected encounter with the young master of Updyke, everything that followed completely differed from Stefan's expectations. Exhausted from dodging Heinrich's sharp questions probing him the entire journey, what surprised him most was the Rihardt Duchess he'd just met.
"Thought she'd be on her last breaths today or tomorrow, but she's alive and walking around just fine!"
Though unspoken, Stefan had thought similarly to Heinrich. The Dowager Empress's view was no different.
"The problem is the Molly father and son, Daniel's limbs. Watch them closely—what they're up to. If Daniel has a woman hidden away, those two will be tending her."
"Is there reason to suspect another woman besides the Duchess?"
"Harkbon? Who'd care about a daughter from that house still miraculously alive?"
If the Dowager Empress asserted it so firmly, he'd imagined her not on her last breaths today or tomorrow, but a dying patient pale with illness. Yet the woman before Stefan's eyes didn't look on the verge of death, though not overflowing with vitality. Her appearance, known only by rumor, was as uniquely striking as described. Bloodless pale skin, snow-white brows, long hair matching her brows. Surrounded by whites, her purple eyes seemed especially mystical. With a bit more life, she'd rank among the top beauties he'd seen. Moreover, her relationship with her husband the Duke seemed not bad. What was it—fresh? The emotions on their faces gazing at each other weren't passionate, but held warm affection at least.
"Look at my clothes. Would an attendant wear this? This expensive fabric? These flashy patterns? I picked and chose this outfit with such care just to meet you!"
Stefan's long reverie was forcibly broken by Heinrich's endless grumbling.
"What happens to my eyes to make me look like that old man's attendant? That woman's weird! Right, Daniel?"
'Old man...... That guy's really.'
Glared at Heinrich's sun-glinting golden nape while inwardly muttering. Honestly, the most shocking thing about the Duchess was her spirited prank on that madman.
"I thought you were the Boild Baron's attendant."
Not even hiding she was pranking him, her nonchalance was so satisfying he'd nearly burst out laughing.
"Heinrich."
In the office, the Duke sitting at his desk writing looked up. Hard to believe he'd just awakened—utterly fine. Especially his calm eyes, sharply piercing. With a faint red tint to his irises, even more so.
"Not 'that woman' but 'Duchess Rihardt.' Keep forgetting? Seems I need to carve it into your skull with my sword."
His calm delivery of chilling words sent shivers down Stefan's spine. Strangely, Heinrich's reaction differed entirely.
"Wow, Daniel."
Grinning broadly, looking even madder, Heinrich shoved his shoulder close to the Duke.
"You're really alive. This chilling, fearsome venom. How I've missed it! So glad to see you, my friend."
The empire's sole son and heir to border lord Margrave Updyke, called the empire's shield, was such a lunatic. Sigh...... Worried for the empire's future with heirs like him, Stefan let out a deep sigh.
"Boild Baron."
Finishing writing, Daniel set the seal on the document and beckoned Stefan. Ignoring Heinrich's chatter beside him, treating him as nonexistent. As Stefan reached the desk, Daniel removed the seal and handed him the document.
"Rest today, start tomorrow."
Taking the document, Stefan involuntarily inhaled sharply. Squinting suspiciously at it, he twisted his brows in disbelief.
"By when do you plan to complete all this?"
"Within the year."
Stefan's hand trembled holding the document listing exactly twenty-two tasks. *** Standing with hands behind his back, gazing out the dark window, Daniel drew a deep breath. The evening breeze wafting through the open window was refreshing, clearing his head somewhat. He'd endured the entire afternoon with Heinrich due to Dominic's unexplained vanishing act. Just as his furrowed brow finally smoothed, a knock sounded on the wall between the Duchess's and his room. Knock knock. He'd anticipated it around this time. Honestly, he'd waited. Knock knock. For Frida to come see him. Because he had words to ask her—no, words he wanted to hear once more. Knock....... Hearing the timid yet persistent knocks, Daniel shifted his gaze fixed in darkness to the door. Whether he made a sound or not, that door would open soon. For the Frida he'd observed, she'd do as much. Knowing that yet not moving...... Well. A premonition that opening that door today would lead to something irreversible? Creak. As expected, Frida opened the door without waiting for his reply.
"Ah, Your Grace. You're here."
Frida awkwardly drooped her eyes and quickly crossed the wall.
"May I come in?"
Asking his intent belatedly again. Brazen in many ways—why didn't it displease him?
"Do as you wish."
As Daniel finished, Frida hurried to his side.
"Baroness Boild. Seems brave and kind. Asked how she resolved to come here in that condition—she said better than sending her husband alone and worrying back home. Couples must overcome hardships together, helping each other. Impressive, right?"
"......"
'Why is she like this?'
Gazing silently at him, Frida cautiously called.
"Your...... Grace?"
"Call me once more?"
Gazing quietly at Frida, Daniel slowly parted his lips.
"Daniel...... like that."
