Chapter 16. Please Touch Me
Daniel wiped the blood from his lip, every movement showing how annoyed he was. But he didn’t plan to stay angry for long—his red eyes slowly turned back to brown. The moment Dominic instinctively grabbed Muriel’s arm, someone else’s loud, heavy steps sounded outside. The heavy stomping alone was enough for everyone to guess who was coming. Even Muriel, who had nearly lost control, was brought back to her senses by Ricardo’s booming voice as he arrived late.
“What happened here? Why is this room such a mess?”
Finally, Muriel saw the state of the room—open drawers, books knocked over, and the Duke calmly sitting in the middle, acting like he had nothing to do with the chaos. She remembered Frida’s sharp eyes staring at her husband’s room earlier.
“Just wait. No matter what, I’ll get that key back.”
Of course, Frida was the one who made this mess.
‘Ah, this lady… really…’
Muriel nearly dropped her sword from shock. Frida was always gentle until she decided to do something—then nothing could stop her. Muriel realized she was foolish to think Frida would rest just because she was sick. She could imagine exactly what happened: Frida snuck in to search the room while Daniel was gone, got scared, and fainted. For someone so easily frightened, why did she always jump into trouble? At least if Muriel had been there, she could have helped. Muriel angrily shoved her sword back into its sheath.
Ricardo pushed past Muriel and rushed to the bed.
“I knew this would happen. She always acts like a willow branch, but once she decides something, she’s a stubborn ox.”
Ricardo paced around, worried. He tapped Daniel’s leg a few times, but neither Daniel nor the Duke paid any attention to him. Meanwhile, Anton checked Frida and finally sighed in relief.
“She fainted because of shock, but she’s recovering fine. Her pulse is normal again.”
Immediately, Ricardo grabbed Anton by the collar.
“Who scared our Duchess? Tell me who did it!”
Anton, hanging by his collar, turned as pale as Frida.
“H-how would I know? When I came in, she had already fainted! P-please let go, Captain.”
Dominic pulled his father’s arm off Anton.
“Father, let go and calm down.”
“Calm down? How can I calm down when someone scared our precious Duchess?! Find out who it was! I’ll break their hands right now—”
Dominic finally got Ricardo to let go, and Anton hurried away, rubbing his neck.
“I didn’t say it was anyone, Captain.”
“It’s the same thing! Why else would she faint? Just find out who did it!”
Ricardo yelled, and Dominic tried to calm him down. Muriel just watched them, thinking they were hopeless. Suddenly, a cold command cut through the room.
“Everyone out.”
Everyone looked at Duke Richard. He sat straight, arms folded, slowly tapping his finger on his arm. Dominic, realizing the mood, was the first to move, silently pulling his father out. Anton was already gone. Muriel hesitated because she was worried about Frida.
“Is there anything else you need to say, Sir Rosivalt?”
Daniel’s voice was cold and flat. Muriel bit her lip. She had hit the Duke without checking the facts, and was ready to accept any punishment. She bowed deeply to Daniel.
“No, sir. I’ll accept whatever punishment you decide, whenever you decide.”
Daniel’s lips twisted slightly at her words.
“Good.”
Whatever she expected, it would be worse. Daniel didn’t believe in mercy for anyone who crossed him. Dominic hurried everyone out. Ricardo, though, stopped by Daniel’s side and pointed at Daniel’s bruised lip.
“Why is your lip like that? The great Duke Richard—surely you didn’t get hit, right? You were fine this morning, but now…”
“Ricardo Molly.”
Daniel’s eyes flashed red, and Ricardo jumped back.
“Out.”
Before Daniel even finished, Ricardo was already running away.
“Right now.”
In a blink, the room emptied and the door slammed shut.
Now only Daniel and Frida were left in the room. Daniel looked at his pale wife on the bed. Her dress was ripped, and her breathing was so weak, he wondered if she was even breathing at all. He frowned. She had gotten him in trouble with Muriel because she snuck in to search for the key.
“The key will be taken from you today. You can come get it when your fever is gone.”
She’d been sick for days. Even when he carried her, she was burning with fever—so why did she risk coming here to find the key?
“Unbelievable. Really.”
Daniel scoffed to himself. He had always thought of himself as a gentleman, but after this, he felt stripped of his dignity.
“Are you out of your mind?”
The vault wasn’t going anywhere. He’d told her she could use the money—so why sneak around like a thief? If she just waited until she was well, she could have the key back.
“Why is a noble lady so obsessed with money?”
He wondered if her family was secretly poor, but that couldn’t be true.
“Is she… lacking somewhere?”
Maybe. She’d spent all her dowry on land and roads in this mountain valley that had nothing to do with her. That wasn’t normal.
He looked at her for a long time, unable to understand her at all.
“Who are you, really?”
He realized it was a silly question and let out a small laugh.
The Duke and Duchess’s rooms each had slightly different ash-tree ceiling paintings and the smell of new wooden furniture. Frida closed her eyes tightly, embarrassed. She’d been caught trying to steal the key, cried to be saved, and fainted. Ricardo once called that kind of thing “utter humiliation.” That word fit perfectly.
“Ha…”
Frida squeezed her eyes shut, but then—tap—she opened them wide in surprise.
“Were you looking for the key?”
She sat up suddenly. Daniel was sitting near the bed, looking at her. He never once took his cold, steady eyes off her.
“Madam, if you ever feel like searching my room again, please hold yourself back.”
He wanted to be polite but also set a clear boundary.
“I am not a generous man.”
Frida blushed, her big, clear eyes widening like a deer’s. Daniel tried to look away before that annoying guilty feeling crept in again. But suddenly, Frida leaned close, her bright purple eyes right in front of his.
“Duke, please touch me.”
