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Chapter 68
IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON WHEN DANIEL REACHED HIS CASTLE. He had no idea what to do. He contemplated begging Baron Pruice to return his son and presenting the bill to Parliament again himself. But he needed to inform Magnolia of what had happened first.
As soon as he reached the entrance, Magnolia rushed to him. Killian was following behind.
“What happened? Where is Geoffrey?” Her eyes were searching.
“There were a few complications,” Daniel said. “Let’s discuss it in my office.” There were too many people around, he needed to speak with her in private.
“How did the votes go?” Magnolia did not move to follow him.
“My love, let’s go inside—”
“Answer me,” she insisted.
“The bill did not pass,” he answered as he averted his eyes.
“What was your vote?” Daniel was silent. “What did you vote, Daniel?” Magnolia grabbed him by his collar and shook him.
“I voted against it,” he whispered.
Magnolia’s slap was loud eno
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Magnolia Chapter 69
“MY LADY, YOU SHOULD EAT SOMETHING,” Clara said with a twisted face. Magnolia had not eaten anything for the past few days. She spent every day in her bed either crying, sleeping, or sitting on the edge and staring into the distance. The maid pushed the table closer to the duchess, but just like her previous failed attempts, Magnolia did not even acknowledge her presence. Clara sighed before she left the room. She knew Magnolia was not going to touch the food, but she still left it for her just in case. She would go back to check on her in an hour or so. “How is she?” Henry asked, as soon as Clara closed the door. “The same,” she answered with a dejected face. “I see. Please keep trying.” “Of course, Lord Flock.” Henry walked away to check on Daniel. He too had not been well. He had not left his office since the incident. Henry waited for the duke to burst in rage and march to Baron Pruice and every
Magnolia Chapter 70
MAGNOLIA AND DANIEL SAT ACROSS EACH OTHER SILENTLY, both avoiding each other’s eyes. They had not seen each other for a few days—since the funeral—and they had not spoken since the day they received Geoffrey’s body. They sat there for what felt like hours as the heavy rain outside tapped against the windows and the blazing flames in the fireplace crackled. “How have you been?” Daniel finally broke the silence, but he was still unable to meet his wife’s gaze. “Horrible, as I am sure you can imagine.” Her voice was low and cold. “Right.” Magnolia looked at him, and as soon as she did, her eyes softened. Daniel looked as exhausted as she did. His dark circles and red eyes suggested that he could not sleep and probably cried a lot, just like her. He was disheveled and it appeared he had not shaved in days. There was not even a hint of the confident and proud Duke of Salicera, the man sitting in f
Magnolia Chapter 71
MAGNOLIA RUSHED AWAY, putting as much distance as possible between her and Daniel. She knew that her resolve would falter if she heard him call her once more. His voice was filled with despair, and it broke her heart. She took fast steps to her room where Killian was waiting for her. He did not need to ask her about the result of her conversation with the duke, her tears gave it away. “Do you still want to do it?” he asked. “I owe it to my son,” was all she said. Magnolia grabbed a small bag and packed a few things, not many. Geoffrey’s peluche, the book Killian gave her, and the money she had. “I am ready.” “Mag, are you sure about this? You love the duke.” “Love has nothing to do with this,” Magnolia snapped. “And yes, I am sure.” She left the room first before her brother followed. When they reached the entrance, they found Henry standing there while holding two horses. “Your Grace, at
Magnolia Chapter 72
“HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN STANDING THERE?” Laya whispered. “I am not sure, but at least an hour,” Henry answered. They were outside of Daniel’s office looking through the little opening of the ajar door. The duke was standing immobile, looking out of the window. He was lost in his thoughts like he had been every day since the duchess left the castle. “Lord Flock,” the butler got their attention, he was holding Ben in his arms. “The doctor said that the puppy has fully recovered, but I have no orders as to what to do with it now.” Henry eyed the dog for a moment, and something sparked in his eyes. “I have an idea,” he said before taking him from the butler’s hands. He caressed the cute puppy a few times. “Can you help him, Ben,” he whispered into his ear before opening the office door a little wider and gently pushing the dog into the room. The butler joined Henry and Laya, the three of them watched with anticipation as
Magnolia Chapter 73
DANIEL SAT SILENTLY AS HE READ THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS. Paula waited for him patiently while fidgeting with her dress. She had wanted to tell her nephew everything for a long time, but she knew he would need concrete evidence to believe it. After she had received word from Henry about Magnolia's plans and what happened between her and Daniel, she decided to step forward with the information she had. Her heart ached that he had to find out about the past like this, especially while going through his recent loss, but he needed to know where his loyalty should be. “And you have interrogated this man yourself?” Daniel asked. “Yes, he was the only survivor,” Paula said. “Everyone else involved in your parents’ accident is dead. It appears this man fled before the king’s men could reach him.” “You have put yourself through great danger to get this information, Aunt Paula.” Daniel clenched his jaw. “I don’t regret anything, he
Magnolia Chapter 74
“HIS MAJESTY WILL SEE YOU NOW,” the guard announced. Daniel nodded at Henry before stepping toward the open doors. Laya and his knights were on alert close by. They already had their orders, in case things got out of hand. “My goodness, Duke Van Konigl, it has been too long,” the king said as soon as Daniel entered. “It has, Your Majesty.” Daniel bowed. “Thank you for accepting to meet me, even in such a short notice.” “Nonsense, I always enjoy your company. Please, have a seat.” Daniel complied. He was surprised that the king was alone in the room, apart from the footman serving the tea. He was sure the rooms surrounding them were filled with royal knights though. “Thank you,” Daniel uttered when he placed a cup of Earl Grey in front of him. “I’m sorry to hear about what happened with your adopted son.” The duke clenched his jaw at the mention of Geoffrey, especially the word ‘adopted’. Even if the
Magnolia Chapter 75
DANIEL HAD TAKEN ONE OF THE HORSES FROM THE ROYAL PALACE STABLES. He was not going to ride the carriage back to the house, it would have taken too long. He was almost frantic. Titus had said that Geoffrey was alive and that he would find him at his house. Daniel nudged his horse to go faster. The people in the streets were making way for him, it was the wiser choice when someone was riding that fast in the city. ‘Could he have lied to me?’ His thoughts were scrambled. ‘But he has no reason to, we all believed and accepted that Geoffrey was dead.’ Then, he thought of Magnolia. The way her eyes looked at the funeral had haunted him. She looked like everything inside her had withered and died. ‘I need to tell her as soon as I see Geoffrey.’ “You have a choice, Daniel.” The king’s words resonated in his head. “You saw how easy it is to lose everything, right? Especially now that your wife turned out to
Magnolia Chapter 76
“STILL NOTHING?” Daniel asked as he entered the library. He was finally able to step away from Geoffrey after he fell asleep. He made sure there were knights guarding him, both inside and outside the room. “They are definitely using a blockage spell,” Laya answered. “I can’t locate either of them.” Daniel sighed. “Geoffrey has been asking for his mother, is there any other way we can use to locate them?” “I’m afraid that if they don’t want to be found, the only way would be to break that blockage spell.” Laya shrugged. “Can you?” “I am not a God.” Laya sighed. “I can try, but I have very little to work with here, Daniel.” “Please, just do your best.” Daniel knew that he was asking too much of his old friend. She even postponed her return to the Tower for his sake, knowing that she would be scolded when she finally went back. But he really needed to find his wife, to tell her about Geoffrey and warn her about
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