TDLOT 14

Chapter 14. A Beast in Sheep’s Clothing

Frida’s parents were always anxious, afraid of losing their only daughter. After all her sisters passed away and Frida was left alone, their overprotection became almost like keeping her locked up. Until she was seventeen, Frida had never stepped outside the Harkbourne mansion. Maybe it was different when she was very young, but as far as she could remember, that was her life. If she went out in the sun, her skin would burn and turn red, so she was only allowed to go out on cloudy days. When she first heard she might get married, it felt like a dream.

‘Marriage? I don’t even know how long I’ll live, and I’m getting married!’

When she found out it was a political marriage set up by the Empress Dowager, she was actually happy. Even if her parents didn’t like it, this marriage would happen no matter what. For Frida, marriage wasn’t just about a man and a woman or two families coming together. For her, it was the last chance to see the world outside her home. She couldn’t miss it. The day she rode the carriage to the Duke’s land, her heart almost burst from excitement. Even as she tried to calm her crying mother, she couldn’t stop smiling. Muriel even had to tell her to settle down. The long trip was hard, but Frida enjoyed every moment. Even when she brought her husband—who was still unconscious—she never felt it was too much or too sad. She just wanted to be helpful while she was alive. She was thankful to the person who gave her this chance to be free.

The past three years in the Duke’s land felt like a dream she didn’t want to wake from. At first, Muriel was always watching and scolding her, but compared to her life at the count’s house, it was nothing. People waited for her to decide, followed her wishes, and every day was full of hope for a new future. Only after coming to the Duke’s land did she realize that the word “future”—without thinking about death—could be so exciting. When her husband woke up, that excitement only grew. Duke Richard was so different from the rumors. Even though people called him a war maniac, he almost never got angry.

“Is the Duke always that serious about everything?”

When she asked this, Dominic coughed for a long time and finally answered, out of breath,

“Well, not always… but yes, he’s pretty calm.”

He was so kind and caring. As soon as he woke up, he felt bad about Frida using her dowry, so he gave her his own personal vault. Frida was ready to accept her duties as a wife after he woke, but he never asked for anything. He even gave up his own bedroom for her and moved to a room without a bed. She felt sorry about that. He said not to bring flowers because he worried she might get sick from the sun. He was very handsome, of course. Frida wanted to do anything for him—anything she could.

She made up her mind and looked determined.

“The Turk merchants will arrive in two days. I need money right away to buy all those bulbs. Muriel, you know the one I’ve been watching for a long time.”

“Oh, that one?”

Of course she knew. She’d heard about it so many times. If Frida just had money, she wanted to dig up all the duke’s trees and plant those bulbs. She was sure she would make money if she planted them. Why was this noble lady so good at making money instead of spending it?

“You have to plant those bulbs in late fall, before the first frost, to see flowers in spring. You have to prepare the fields before summer ends. If we just start, I know it will succeed. Nobles are always attracted to things that are pretty and rare.”

‘Um, Miss, your eyes are sparkling right now…’

Muriel clicked her tongue, watching Frida lost in her own world. Why did Frida’s ambition explode only after coming to the duke’s land? Muriel understood, but that wasn’t really the problem. She missed the timing to tell Frida what she was forgetting. By then, Frida was staring out the window toward the land she was working on.

“Every time the Turk merchants came, they said this place was perfect for those flowers. It’s sunny, not damp, and has no shade. When I sell that flower, Utrecht will become the richest land in Svergen!”

I, Frida, will make it happen.

She knew she didn’t have much time left. She barely made it to twenty and could join her sisters at any time. But she didn’t want to just sit and wait for that day. Even if living one more day meant she was weaker, she wanted to do her best every day. When she left Harkbourne for the Duke’s land, she promised herself to live as hard as she could. Even if her life would be short, she wanted to pour everything into this land—so people would remember the name Frida, even if her body was gone. Maybe then, she wouldn’t disappear forever.

Feeling a wave of emotion, Frida gripped the window frame, looking out into the dark. At that moment, Muriel quietly called her.

“Um… Miss.”

Frida quickly wiped her eyes so Muriel wouldn’t notice she’d been about to cry, then turned and smiled.

“Sorry, Muriel. I went on too long, didn’t I?”

“I’ve heard it so many times, I’ve memorized it. But now, you should go to bed. You know, to buy those bulbs, you need gold coins. And the person with the key to the vault is…”

Muriel nodded toward the Duke’s bedroom.

“Him. If you want the key back, your fever has to go away first.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Frida stared hard at the wall where the door was.

“If he won’t give it to me, I’ll just take it back myself.”

‘Ha… And how will you do that, Miss?’

But there was no point in asking. Frida, the beast in sheep’s clothing, would find a way.

In Shendal Castle, almost everyone—noble or servant—had flashy blond hair and blue eyes. That’s why Baron Boild’s light brown hair stood out. While waiting for entry at the Empress Dowager’s palace, he saw Count Chamberlain Ulrich leaving and bowed.

“It’s been a while, Count Chamberlain.”

“Baron Stefan Boild! Haha, how long has it been? I’m glad to see you alive.”

“You look healthy, Count.”

The Count waved his cane-free hand.

“Healthy? Look at my hair, all white now! I shouldn’t be this old already. I’ve aged so much in just a few years.”

“I heard you weren’t well after your long trip. Are you better now?”

“That was a long time ago. Crossing the Jura at this age wasn’t easy. The west of Altas is no place for people. It’s so cold. Since I went to Lyngen, my knees always hurt in winter.”

It wasn’t just the weather. He didn’t want to remember what happened in the western Lyngen Empire. The Count shivered at the memory of the icy emperor there, then looked over at the baron. The Empress Dowager needed someone to watch over Utrecht and suggested Baron Boild.

“Count Chamberlain, I need someone in Utrecht to be my eyes and ears. It must be someone Daniel will trust, someone with a quiet personality, but who has ambition and a weakness I can use. That’s why it should be someone outside the Chelino social circle.”

The Count thought Baron Stefan Boild was perfect. He only had a small estate and no children. He was smart, but his family was not rich or powerful. The Count encouraged him.

“The Empress Dowager has high hopes for you.”

“Thank you for this chance, Count.”

“No need for thanks. We’re practically family.”

The Count left, thinking a lot about what would happen. He didn’t think the Empress Dowager was just jealous of Daniel.

“Count, do you really think I’m worried about Daniel just because I’m jealous? No. Most people in Svergen don’t even know the emperor’s name. In this country, anyone with blood and power can want the throne. That’s how Svergen is.”

The Empress Dowager was right. After years of fighting for the throne, the people didn’t care who became emperor as long as their wealth and power weren’t taken away. When Duke Nottingen rebelled three years ago, few nobles joined, so Daniel killed him quickly. Daniel Richard, known for his heroic stories, was just as royal as the emperor. Maybe people remembered “Duke Daniel Richard” more than “Emperor Leopold Bolstak II.” The Count knew that wasn’t a good thing.

“Whew…”

Frida touched her hot forehead, sighing. Maybe she overdid it. After seeing all that gold in the vault, she felt like she was walking on clouds. She wanted to do so much, but couldn’t. Anyone would get excited seeing so much money. She already had everything planned. First, she needed to get the key back. The Turk merchants who arrived today promised to bring as many bulbs as she wanted if she paid them before fall. Some bulbs were the most expensive ones in Turk. Rich people there were crazy about them. This was a business that would make money for sure. So, no matter what, she needed to pay them before they left tomorrow.

“Oh… ugh.”

Frida moved the warm towel from her forehead and sat up. These days, the Duke rode far away and only came back at sunset. Dominic had no idea where the key was.

‘He wouldn’t carry it with him while riding, would he?’

Frida quietly tiptoed to the wall and crept into her husband’s room. He’d never guess she’d try to steal the key herself. It must be in a drawer. Frida searched the nightstand drawers by the bed. Her fever hadn’t gone away and she was sweating with nerves.

‘Not here… It’s not here either.’

She checked all the drawers, but no key. Maybe he hid it higher. She reached for the top of the bookshelf—then, suddenly, the shelf moved and Frida was pulled into the darkness.

“Uh? Aah…!”