Chapter 51. The Amethyst Knights
Even a simple greeting like “Welcome back” wouldn’t leave Frida’s lips. For a moment, she was too surprised, but she quickly showed her feelings on her face. Her lips stuck out in a sulky pout, and her pale cheeks puffed up. Then suddenly, her eyes drooped sadly. She was upset and angry that he left without a word, but she didn’t want to scold him. Each silent answer from her made Daniel’s throat tighten, like he was swallowing a heavy lump. Frida’s final answer to her husband’s long, unannounced trip was simply resignation.
‘That’s right. It’s better for her to live like that—never expecting anything from a man like me.’
He should have felt relieved. But damn it, he couldn’t stand the sight of the girl who least suited sadness being covered in darkness. Daniel took a step back, and his shadow no longer fell across Frida’s shoulders. He knew this distance was best for both of them, so he shouldn’t long for more.
“I’m back.”
When he spoke those short words, Frida placed the design sheets on the table and gave a small curtsey.
“Welcome home, Your Grace. I’m glad you returned safely.”
Her usual bright smile came and went quickly. She folded her hands politely, but her eyes were as stubborn as ever. Seeing her act all cold and sulky was so cute that Daniel couldn’t help but smile. Even when he was away for two weeks, sometimes he saw bright lights in the darkness. Whenever he thought of Frida, it was always like a sunny spring day in his mind. Once, he even reached out his hand for sunlight that didn’t exist. Staring at his empty hand, he wasn’t so much embarrassed as he was angry—surprised at how much he craved what he couldn’t have. After his mother died, he had forgotten how to want things. He had erased that feeling completely.
“Look carefully, Daniel. See what happens when you want something that isn’t yours. All those lives lost because of your foolish, greedy dreams.”
It wasn’t only his mother’s death that haunted his nightmares.
“Young Master Daniel, you’ve grown again. By next year, you’ll be able to wield a longsword easily.”
Mikhail, the cheerful guard, disappeared one day, leaving behind two sons, because he stepped in to stop Marguerite from hitting Daniel. His body was never found.
“Young Master Daniel, here, candy. I saw Lady Laura go out, so eat comfortably. Hehe.”
Eva, the maid who cared for Daniel’s mother, was playful and gave him candy. She died at the gallows at age twenty, simply for caring for his unconscious mother without permission. Because of Daniel, innocent people died so easily. For him, “desire” was always linked to “death.” He learned that if he lived without wanting anything, maybe he could save at least one more life.
‘If I don’t cross the line, people on the other side won’t die.’
He repeated that promise to himself a thousand times during the past two weeks. Yet now, standing in front of Frida, all he wanted was to step over that line.
“It’s very late. It’s dangerous to be alone here at night.”
Frida’s purple eyes glinted in defiance. Daniel bit the inside of his lip to control his expression.
“There’s no need to worry about safety. Sir Ricardo is guarding us better than anyone.”
Frida lifted her chin and looked at Daniel coolly.
“I didn’t expect a guest so late, so I wasn’t prepared.”
“A guest? I thought I was still the master of this castle.”
“That’s… not what I meant.”
Her purple eyes blazed with sudden fire. This girl, in any mood, was always shining. Daniel looked down at the table to avoid smiling. He quickly saw what she’d been doing—working late into the night on uniforms for the knight order. He realized he’d have to order all the wall lamps removed to stop her wandering at night, or better yet, give her an office near their bedroom. He’d add that to Baron Boild’s tasks tomorrow.
“Let’s go back now. I’ll escort you to your room.”
But Frida sat down again with a displeased look.
“You go first. I still have work to do.”
Daniel’s sudden return made her feel strange. Her heart was unsettled, and the colors on the table mixed together in confusion. After leaving for two weeks without a word, he only said, “I’m back”? Unbelievable.
Why did he even worry about her safety? The servants had lit every wall and stairway so brightly. Sir Ricardo had promised that no wild animal or intruder could ever enter. Daniel only ever ignored her, and now he showed up with useless concerns. She unconsciously gripped her papers so hard they started to crumple.
Just then, Daniel put a sheet in front of her—a plain black jacket.
“If you haven’t decided on the knight uniform color, use this one.”
Frida quickly pushed the paper aside.
“I’ll handle it myself. You don’t need to worry about it.”
But Daniel next placed purple cloth in front of her.
“This would be good, too. It’s the one you liked best.”
“But…”
She actually liked that combination best, but using purple cloth would be so expensive. Still, Frida suddenly grabbed it tightly.
‘So what? It’s fine to spend this much for Sir Ricardo.’
She lifted her head to see Daniel looking down at her with a calm face—a face so different from the one he wore two weeks ago.
“You are already my wife, approved by the Imperial family.”
“If you want anything else, just tell me.”
He said he’d do anything for her. He kissed her and touched her with such care. But now he acted like nothing happened. Why was he always so unaffected? She gripped her fist so tightly her nails hurt her palm. She wanted to break that calm face somehow.
“I’m going to make the capes all purple.”
Purple dye would multiply the cost, enough to make more than a hundred uniforms for the knights. When the bill came, they’d probably faint.
“As you wish.”
He agreed like it was nothing.
“I mean the whole knight order—black jackets, purple thread for decorations, and all purple cloaks. Over a hundred sets.”
“Purple cloaks… That suits the name of the knight order.”
Frida stared at him in confusion.
“The knight order’s name? Sir Ricardo said he hadn’t chosen one yet.”
“I just decided.”
Daniel leaned closer, resting his hands on the table to meet her eyes.
“The Amethyst Knights.”
Amethyst? The gemstone? Frida tilted her head in surprise.
“You mean the purple gem found only in deep caves?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Daniel’s lips brushed softly like a feather on Frida’s pale eyelashes.
“It matches my wife’s eyes perfectly.”
The heat in his low voice made her heart pound, just like the morning he left.
“Since you’re finished, shall we go back to your room?”
He gathered up the papers and placed them in front of her so calmly that if not for the warmth in her eyelids, she might not have known he kissed her. How could this man do everything so easily—leaving, returning, turning her heart upside down?
“Just leave them.”
Her voice came out sharper than she meant. Frida hugged the stack of papers and slid to the edge of the table, wanting to get away from him. Even with her signals to keep away, Daniel ignored her and handed her a sheet that had fallen.
“Will you have breakfast with me tomorrow?”
He asked impulsively, hoping that if he gave Frida a piece of the normal daily life she wanted, she’d forgive him.
“I want to share small, ordinary things with you. Talking together, sitting across from each other, eating a meal…”
A life full of peace and ordinary happiness—things Daniel thought were impossible for himself. Things he never even dared to dream of. But why not? If his wife wanted it, couldn’t he give it to her? Ordinary life—what was so hard about that? If there were obstacles, he’d sweep them all away. A piece of longing broke through inside him, no matter how hard he tried to suppress it.
“After breakfast, maybe we can take a walk together?”
Frida’s eyes, once guarded, now glistened with tears. She was still deeply hurt by his wordless disappearance, showing no sign of forgiving him. She turned away, clinging to the paperwork like a lifeline.
“Why?”
Daniel stepped closer. As she turned her face away, a tear finally slid down her cheek.
“Why are you asking for that now? You left for two weeks without a single word… Why only now…?”
He made her feel excited, then turned cold. He rejected her, then now said things that made her heart flutter. She wanted to scold him, but before she could, Daniel’s rough, callused hand cupped her cheek. Tears pooled in his palm, more painful to see than any shadow on her face—even her tear-filled eyes looked beautiful.
“If I told you I regretted leaving you behind, would you believe me?”
‘My girl belongs in the light.’
