Chapter 7. You’re Amazing
Frida was so shocked that she accidentally raised her voice. She quickly let go of Daniel’s knee, surprised at herself.
“This… this wasn’t meant for you, Duke,” she stammered, waving her white hand as if trying to prove her innocence. Anyone could see she was talking to him, but she pretended otherwise. Daniel, still surprised, just stared at her fluttering white hand and forgot to move his knee.
Right then, Ricardo’s loud voice came through the half-open window of the bedroom.
“You fools with nothing but dung in your heads! Why are you all spacing out from morning? Line up properly! Freeze! All of you, stop right there!”
Frida blushed deeply, closing her eyes in embarrassment. Ricardo’s shouts always filled the mornings at Munheim Castle with wild threats and creative curses. After three years of this, even Muriel no longer bothered to correct Frida’s accidental use of rough words she picked up from Ricardo.
“Even the Harkbourne family’s tutor would faint if they heard me speak like this,” Frida thought.
Trying to recover, Frida nervously clasped her hands and spoke,
“Um… What I mean is… If you want to get well quickly, you should listen to the doctor.”
Honestly, Daniel’s recovery seemed impossible to her. Last night, she didn’t remember getting into bed, but woke up there anyway. She hadn’t walked there herself, so that meant Daniel, her husband, must have carried her. But could a man who just woke up after three years really carry her to bed? She had to ask.
“Did you move me to the bed last night, Duke?”
Daniel nodded calmly. Frida was truly shocked. Was that really possible? She was suddenly worried he might faint from doing too much.
She became more serious.
“The doctor said if you move too much too quickly, your body might have trouble. You have to be careful, or you could be paralyzed. That’s why I have to keep massaging you.”
Frida demonstrated massaging in the air with her fingers. For the past three years, she had massaged Daniel’s body every day so it wouldn’t become stiff. Not just his calves, but his thick thighs and strong arms. She also washed him and changed his clothes, especially after Dominic stopped helping.
Frida was proud that, at least, she could say she was the best at taking care of her husband in this castle. There was nothing to be embarrassed about; Ricardo always said if you act weak, you lose.
“The Duchess may look small, but she’s very bold. Don’t shrink back, just keep your shoulders wide and your head up. In any fight, the one who takes the lead at the start wins!”
Frida straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. She remembered Ricardo saying she should glare at her opponent with a “what are you going to do about it?” look, but she settled for staring at Daniel’s forehead instead.
She said clearly,
“If you don’t want to call anyone else, then let me do my duty as your wife. I’ll be careful so you’re not uncomfortable.”
She tried to look confident and dignified as the Duchess.
But… why wasn’t Daniel saying anything? Frida looked down. Daniel’s deep reddish-brown eyes stared straight at her, unaffected by her energy. She blinked quickly to regain her composure. Daniel’s face was handsome in a unique, wild way, different from other men in the empire. This morning, when she woke up, she found herself staring at her husband’s face for a long time—he was just so much more handsome than she imagined.
Daniel finally asked quietly,
“Aren’t you uncomfortable being with me?”
His voice was deep and calm, not too low, not too high. Frida, not noticing the hidden emotion in his eyes, waved her hand and said,
“No, not at all! I’m not uncomfortable. Taking care of you is my duty as your wife.”
Daniel’s face showed no expression, but his voice was suddenly cold.
“I’m uncomfortable.”
Her smile froze instantly. Even though the air wasn’t cold, her fingertips suddenly felt chilly.
Dr. Anton was entering the castle when he saw Daniel walking through the hallway. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Duke… Your Grace?”
Daniel had woken up just yesterday at noon, and now he was already walking—on his own two feet. Not as strongly as before, but still, he was up and moving after three years.
Anton rushed to Daniel.
“Please, you shouldn’t push yourself! Go back to bed!”
Daniel said,
“Bring me Balzac.”
Anton was shocked. “Balzac? Are you thinking of riding a horse?”
Daniel replied,
“Yes. If my horse wasn’t sold.”
He remembered most valuables had been sold. But Daniel didn’t really care about the castle, so he didn’t notice any changes. Just then, Dominic came in.
Dominic said,
“Don’t worry. Balzac is still in the stable.”
Anton pleaded with Dominic to stop Daniel, but Dominic just smiled and waved him away.
“And really, who would buy that crazy horse? The thing is practically a weapon.”
Dominic called to a servant,
“Hey! Tell Adele to bring the Duke’s and my breakfast to the valley by the stables. With lots of meat in the soup.”
As they walked, Dominic explained,
“I understand you feel trapped and restless. But listen to the doctor. Three years is a long time. Focus on getting your strength back.”
Daniel didn’t answer, just changed direction toward the stable. Then he asked,
“Who is Adele?”
Dominic replied,
“Oh, the cook. She came here two years ago. She lost her husband during the Eastern rebellion, wandered here, and the Duchess hired her because she’s a good cook.”
Daniel stopped as he turned around the inner castle wall. He was shocked. Where there used to be thick forests and mountains, now there were terraced fields—step after step of farmland stretching as far as he could see.
He looked at Dominic for an explanation. Dominic shrugged and smiled.
“I told you, didn’t I? While you slept, the Duchess was busy.”
“Details,” Daniel said.
Dominic explained,
“They cut down a whole mountain to make farmland. That’s why she sold all the extra beds. You thought she just cut a few trees, but look at this. She did all this in just three years.”
Dominic finally stretched his hands wide and said with real admiration,
“She’s amazing.”
