Chapter 10. Hold Tight
“Yes, I want to see it!”
Frida nodded her thin neck so hard, it looked like it might snap. Daniel instinctively reached out to support her, but stopped when she stepped right up to him. She looked up at him with her head tilted all the way back, her veins showing under her pale skin. Daniel didn’t even notice the key leaving his hand—Frida had grabbed it tightly, a pure, bright smile on her face.
Frida, excited, didn’t even notice Daniel’s fingers touching her silver hair.
“I just need to show this key to Dominic, right?”
Her mind was filled with thoughts of ducats. It had cost 4 million florins in gold coins just to make one new field inside the castle walls. She had used the money to track the number of workers and residents, to issue entry passes, and for the first time, they were able to collect taxes properly last year. But still, there was so much more work to do. If only they had more money! Now, hearing about the ducats, Frida was overjoyed. If Daniel could return 2 million florins, that meant there must be at least that much in the vault. She couldn’t wait anymore and turned to run out of the office, calling loudly:
“Dominic! Domi—”
She didn’t get far. Suddenly, her waist was pulled around by a man’s hand for the first time in her life.
“Kyaah!”
She squeezed her eyes shut in surprise, shrinking into herself.
“No one else is needed.”
A deep voice landed on her forehead, and the key was gently taken from her hand. Pulled into Daniel’s arms, Frida opened her eyes wide, blinking quickly, but still searched for the key. Daniel held the key up in front of her eyes. Looking into her jewel-like eyes, he said quietly:
“I’ll take you there myself.”
Meanwhile, outside the office:
Dominic stopped Muriel from opening the office door.
“Let go. I just heard the lady scream—”
“It was just a quick sound. You heard it and so did I.”
If Dominic hadn’t held on tight, Muriel would have broken free easily. He gripped her wrist even harder.
“Don’t be reckless, Sir Rosivalt. This isn’t the Harkbourne estate.”
“I’m Lady Frida’s guard. I have to keep her safe—”
“The person with your lady is the safest man in the empire. By sword and by rank. I understand your concern, but you can relax.”
Muriel stood tall, but her worry showed as she brushed her red-brown bangs aside.
“She’s already at her limit. She’s been pushing herself, and this could be too much for her.”
Dominic smiled slyly.
“Would your lady want to live locked away, waiting to die? If I know Duchess Richard, she’d throw herself into anything—even more difficult things.”
Muriel said, “That’s why we need to stop her. She needs to survive.”
Dominic said, “Would she really want that boring life?”
Muriel fell silent, but finally said,
“Maybe for you and your master, it doesn’t matter if something happens to her. You can always replace the Duchess, but not for us.”
Muriel stepped in front of the window, blocking the light. Dominic felt a shadow fall over his face.
“Am I wrong, cold-hearted Dominic Molly?”
Dominic stepped aside and nodded to the door.
“If you want to die before your lady, go ahead and open the door.”
Muriel pushed open the door without hesitation, but found the office empty. She looked back at Dominic, surprised.
“Where did they go?”
Dominic shrugged.
“Maybe out the window? Or down a trapdoor?”
Muriel glared. Dominic looked around the empty office, eyes settling on the bookshelf.
“Honestly, you should worry more about yourself than your lady right now. You know what my master is capable of.”
As Dominic left, he gave one last warning:
“My heart may be cold, but my master has no heart at all.”
Meanwhile, Daniel led Frida through a secret, dark passage.
Daniel’s lantern cast two clear shadows on the wall. When Frida started falling behind, Daniel stopped and waited for her.
“Do you want to go back?”
Frida shook her head, even as she walked slowly, feeling her way along the wall.
“No, I’m okay. I never imagined there was a secret door in the office.”
Even though she was scared, she smiled brightly.
“You really don’t need to take me yourself…”
“Is the vault far? I’m actually not allowed out of the castle until tomorrow. Muriel banned me from leaving. If I break the rule, I’ll get more days of punishment.”
“Muriel? Your knight?”
“Yes. Sir Muriel Rosivalt.”
Daniel had heard of the famous Rosivalt family. Still, he decided it didn’t matter—he would do as he pleased. He elegantly reached out to Frida.
“If you want, we can go quietly. Let’s go.”
Frida babbled in wonder as Daniel pressed the left corner of the bookshelf to open the secret passage. But once they were inside the dark hallway, she fell silent. Daniel had brought a lantern for her, though he didn’t need it himself. When Frida came close to him, Daniel handed her the lantern.
“Hold this.”
Frida took the lantern, feeling calmer now that she had the only light.
“I’ll carry it.”
She lifted it high, hoping to get out of the darkness as quickly as possible. Then Daniel’s calm, low voice echoed through the passage:
“Hold on tight.”
“Huh?”
“Hold my neck. Tight.”
“What…?”
Suddenly, Daniel swept her off her feet. Frida, startled, wrapped her right arm tightly around his neck. She almost dropped the lantern, but managed to hold onto it as the flame wobbled. Her heart beat wildly.
“Hold on even tighter.”
