Chapter 53. Don’t Spare Them
Daniel didn’t know this name. Dominic let out a long sigh and revealed Matilda’s identity.
“She is the maid who serves the madam.”
That alone wouldn’t be a big problem. Dominic frowned and added,
“She is also one of the most trusted maids, along with Adele in the kitchen.”
“A maid, huh.”
Daniel thought about it. He remembered seeing her in the kitchen a couple of times, and also in the hallway. Recently, she had been lingering in front of Frida’s room.
“A pretty skilled little rat. She moved around the castle, right under your nose.”
Dominic was the most troubled by this. He intercepted Baron Boild’s letter to a relative in Chellino, but didn’t expect to find Matilda’s name in it. From the moment he read it, his head hurt.
<Matilda is doing well. I’ll tell her to keep writing, like always.>
This meant Matilda had been sending out information from Munheim Castle the whole time. They had been careful and on guard, but never noticed a spy right next to them. Dominic’s face twisted with anger.
“I’m sorry, my lord. I let my guard down because her identity was clear.”
There were many questions. Both of Matilda’s parents were servants at Munheim Castle until they died. Just how far did the Empress Dowager reach her hand? She really was someone you couldn’t trust for even a second.
“I told you to leave Baron Boild alone for now.”
“We will. But we should at least know what he’s reporting, so we can prepare.”
Daniel quietly looked over the letter and gave it back to Dominic.
“Take out anything about Frida. Don’t leave a single line.”
“Yes.”
That meant rewriting the letter and sending it. Dominic had done this countless times. He could copy other people’s handwriting as easily as breathing. He already had a fake Boild family seal prepared.
“Arrest the maid.”
Of course, they needed to arrest her. They had to make her confess when she started working with the Empress Dowager. Based on experience, it would be hard. The Empress Dowager, Marguerite, was clever and always had backup plans.
But there was another concern.
“The duchess will be very shocked.”
If a maid who had always been by her side disappeared, Frida would surely dig to find out what happened. Daniel looked at Dominic, then turned back to the terrace railing. Far away, the highest peak of Altas could be seen. This room had been locked for three years. Only Dominic had the key, and even Frida had been told she couldn’t find the key to this room. Only Daniel’s permission could open it. This was the room said to be cursed by the first lord’s wife, Marian. It had a terrible story that didn’t match the beautiful scenery.
Dominic called him.
“Arrest her.”
Daniel closed his eyes and raised his face to the morning sun. He spoke slowly, like someone in a dream.
“Don’t let a single fly that comes near my wife live.”
The person standing at the top of the stairs was the Duchess of Richard. She stood in the same place Stefan and his group saw her on their first day at Munheim Castle.
But something was different.
She was definitely the Duchess, with hair white as the snow of Altas. Even Stefan, who had seen platinum blondes, found her hair surprising. But now she seemed even more lively and bright.
Stefan watched her closely. Behind the duchess, he saw his own wife.
“Matilda.”
Stefan headed up the stairs, and Heinrich followed right behind.
“Is the duchess’s name Matilda?”
“What are you talking about? I was calling my wife.”
Heinrich scratched his chin.
“I thought it was strange you called the lord’s wife so familiarly.”
Heinrich always said random things and only listened to what interested him.
He kept mumbling, “Is that really the same Hawkborn? She looks totally different from the first day. Was she switched while we were gone?”
Before Stefan could answer, Frida called out.
“Baron Boild, you’re early today.”
“Yes, I heard His Grace returned last night, so I hurried.”
Actually, it was the noise from the valley that woke him. When he saw Dominic outside, he realized the hunting party was back.
“I heard you worked late again last night, madam. Aren’t you tired?”
She had brought a stack of uniform designs, so she must have stayed up all night. Stefan was getting used to seeing the duchess more than the duke. No matter how early he arrived, she was always there first, looking over documents. Everyone once thought the little Duchess of Richard was on the verge of death, but in reality, she ran Munheim Castle.
After the duke left, any important decision Stefan had to make was always discussed calmly with Frida. Of all the noble ladies he knew, none were like her.
Matilda came down the stairs.
“Stefan, the madam is having breakfast and a walk with His Grace today. Isn’t our duchess beautiful?”
Now he knew why she dressed up. Frida’s hair was decorated with flowers, and a rosy blush made her violet eyes shine brighter.
“If she debuted in Chellino society, she’d be called the greatest beauty.”
Heinrich suddenly jumped in.
“She’s eating with Daniel? So that’s why she’s dressed up like a peacock—Ow!”
Matilda stepped hard on his foot.
“Oh my, I’m sorry, young master Updike! Does it hurt?”
Heinrich crouched down, groaning, and Matilda secretly stuck out her tongue at Stefan.
Then footsteps came down the stairs.
Daniel Richard came down, neatly dressed. He didn’t look at the commotion, just walked to his wife and held out his arm.
“Here you are. I’ve come to escort you, madam.”
He looked expressionless as always, but when his eyes met Stefan’s, Stefan flinched at the cold feeling.
He stepped back and accidentally stepped on Heinrich’s foot again.
The hairstyle Baroness Boild made for Frida was very pretty. But being so dressed up for just breakfast made her feel awkward, so her hand kept reaching for her hair.
“Isn’t this too much for just breakfast?”
But Baroness Boild picked her fanciest dress without hesitation.
“You’re having breakfast and a walk. And it’s your first meal together, so of course you should look your best.”
Two Matildas helped Frida get ready all morning. She liked how it turned out, but Daniel’s lack of reaction left her disappointed. Then she remembered Baroness Boild’s advice.
“A little push and pull is needed between a man and a woman.”
Push and pull?
As she walked beside Daniel, Frida pushed his arm away. Daniel stopped, looked at her, then gently pulled her hand back onto his arm.
“Just a little more. We’re almost there.”
Only then did Frida realize they were going up the stairs.
“Daniel… where are we going?”
“There’s a place I want to show you. I had breakfast prepared there.”
Above this floor, the rooms hadn’t been managed in a long time. She didn’t even know what was up there.
“This is it.”
Frida stepped inside. Sunlight was so bright, she closed her eyes. When she slowly opened them, heaven appeared before her.
“That’s Winterhorn, the highest peak of Altas.”
