TDLOT 06

Chapter 6. Stop Right There

Daniel held the key that Dominic gave him tightly in his hand. Instead of leaving the office, he walked toward the bookshelf against the wall. His body remembered what to do even before his mind did, and Daniel found himself standing in front of the secret passage connected to his office. If you pushed the right corner of the wide bookshelf, you would find a bedroom; if you pushed the left corner, a secret staircase leading out of the inner castle appeared. Even though Daniel had been asleep for three years, everything was just as he remembered. The books he always reached for were still in the same place. But there was something a little different. Daniel reached toward the right end of the bookshelf, then stopped.

Dominic walked over and asked, “Is something wrong, Master? Are you dizzy?”

Daniel’s calm eyes fixed on the end of the bookshelf. On each end, there was a bright red book about the history of the Svergengen Empire. This was a secret code known only by Daniel and the Molly family.

‘This passage is safe.’

The heavy, expensive history books were right where they belonged. But something was strange.

“There’s no dust,” Daniel muttered.

Dominic made a small sound of understanding and brushed the top of the history book with his finger. “The Duchess cleans here every day.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “She does it herself?”

“Yes. The Duchess looks after the office and bedroom herself, with just one maid.”

Dominic leaned in and whispered, “She’s very hard-working. And she’s braver than she looks.”

He even smiled softly. “I told her the master doesn’t like others touching his things. Once, a servant came in without permission and you broke his wrist. But the Duchess wasn’t scared. She just said as long as everything was in its place, it was fine.”

Dominic shook his head, still smiling. Suddenly, he felt a chill and quickly looked at Daniel. As expected, Daniel’s reddish-brown eyes grew sharp as he stared at Dominic.

“When did I ever do that?”

“What?”

“When did I ever break a servant’s wrist? That was the Empress Dowager’s spy disguised as a servant.”

Dominic awkwardly stepped back and nodded. “Yes, that’s true. If you say it exactly.”

Because Dominic grew up with Daniel like brothers, he was better at avoiding Daniel’s sharp temper than most people.

“Dominic,” Daniel called him, his voice cold as a winter forest.

Dominic realized he had already stepped back three paces. “Yes, Master.”

“Watch your tongue, before I rip it out,” Daniel said coldly, then pushed the right corner of the bookshelf. With a loud creak, the bookshelf opened, revealing a staircase. Daniel walked up the stairs, not hesitating at all, even though it was pitch dark. Dominic watched in silence as Daniel disappeared into the darkness.

After Daniel was gone, Dominic finally muttered, “What did I do? He’s got such a bad temper.”

People feared Duke Richard not because of what he said, but because:

‘Daniel Johannes Richard never says anything he doesn’t mean.’

Dominic laughed to himself, realizing how nervous he had just been. “Daniel really is back to his old self.”

Three years wasn’t enough to erase habits built deep into his bones. Daniel walked up the dark stairs, touching the key in his hand. He walked slowly, never losing his way, and memories and thoughts flooded in.

He remembered Countess Harkbourne at the wedding, saying,

“Frida is the only one of my three daughters who survived. Please let us keep her with us.”

He remembered his mother, Laura, full of love, and Ricardo’s endless nagging.

Someone at the wedding had said,

“If you don’t want a funeral on your wedding night, don’t touch her. The Duke is so big, she’d die for sure.”

Daniel grumbled, stopping in the hallway and rubbing his forehead.

He thought, “My wife must be heating the room, just as the doctor said. She’s too hard-working. This is all too much.”

He pressed his head against the wall leading to the bedroom. The wall opened quietly, letting out a bright ray of light.

He heard Frida’s voice coming from inside:

“Lotte, Hestia… I’m really, really having fun here. And now… I’m twenty years old.”

Her voice was weak but full of pride. Daniel held his breath, barely able to catch her next words.

“I’m… proud of myself…”

After that, there was only the sound of the fire burning. Daniel finally pushed the wall open. Warm light filled the room. He waited for his eyes to adjust and saw Frida’s white hair. He quietly walked over and looked at her sleeping with her cheek on the table, her white eyelashes fluttering as she breathed.

He whispered,

“When I first saw you…”

Daniel’s big hand hovered over Frida’s head, making a shadow over her white hair. He let his hand drop.

“You only used to cry all the time.”

Then he quietly said,

“I’m proud of you, Frida.”

Daniel watched her sleep, then tried lifting his arms to see if he could carry her. She was so light, like a feather. He gently moved her to the bed, where she turned over and found her spot. For a second, Daniel thought about sleeping in Dominic’s room, but remembered Dominic’s bad sleeping habits.

He muttered, “Forget it. I’ll just sleep here tonight.” He lay on the farthest edge of the bed, away from Frida.

If he had known how the next morning would be, he would have gone to Dominic’s room for sure.

“I’ll start by massaging your legs,” Frida said, sitting by the bed.

Daniel shook his head firmly. “No, that’s okay.”

He was shocked that the first thing she wanted to do was touch his body. He almost lost consciousness again.

“But I did this every day when you were unconscious. The doctor said I had to, so your body wouldn’t stiffen.”

Wait, so she really massaged him every day for three years? With her tiny hands? Daniel was stunned by her innocent, honest words.

He asked carefully, “So you took care of me all that time?”

“Yes. Of course. The doctor said to do it.”

Daniel sighed. “I’ll have to work even harder to get well, then.”

Frida got ready to grab his leg, wiggling her fingers. Daniel, who didn’t even flinch before hundreds of soldiers, leaned back.

Frida blinked her white eyelashes and asked,

“If you’re uncomfortable, should I call Dominic instead?”

Dominic massaging him would be worse. “No, that’s not necessary.”

Life with a wife was very difficult. Especially a wife who looked at him with those eyes, making him feel guilty for saying no.

“I’m really fine. You don’t have to do this,” Daniel said.

He tried to escape by folding his leg, but for the first time in his life, he was pushed down by someone else.

“Ah, really. Stop right there!”