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Chapter 17
MAGNOLIA TOOK CONFIDENT STEPS TO THE DUKE’S OFFICE. She stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath, then knocked.
“Come in,” Daniel called from the other side.
She entered and found him engulfed in a pile of documents.
“I can come back later, you look busy.”
“No, you are fine. I need a break anyway.” He leaned back in his chair. “Have a seat.”
Magnolia complied, but she did not utter a word. Daniel gave her a moment, but he became impatient.
“So? Are you here to stare at my office rug?”
Magnolia blushed and Daniel regretted his comment right away.
“Yesterday—” She took a deep breath. “The princess invited a woman from my past,” she paused. “The woman who took me in after I lost my family. Her name is Serena Lasen.”
Daniel remembered how she begged him to protect Geoffrey from that woman. She was so desperate.
She was silent for a while again. This time, Daniel gave her all the time she
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Magnolia Chapter 18
MAGNOLIA LAY IN BED, STIFF. She could not sleep, and her eyes were fixated on the canopy above the bed. She could hear Daniel’s deep breaths. He had fallen asleep right away. ‘How can he just fall asleep like that? Does he even see me as a woman?’ She rolled her eyes. She turned to her side and faced Daniel. He looked so peaceful. It was the first time she got the chance to study his face this close without the risk of being found out. His eyelashes were longer from this angle and his parted thin lips were so cute. His silver locks were falling on his face. Magnolia gently pushed his hair back, but Daniel violently grabbed her hand, she yelped in surprise. Daniel opened his eyes, they were cold, dangerous, and they were staring straight at her. A shiver ran through her body. “You are hurting me.” Daniel immediately released her hand. “I am so sorry, it is out of habit,” he said. “Are you alright?” “Habit?”
Magnolia Chapter 19
MAGNOLIA WALKED TO GEOFFREY’S BED AND LAY NEXT TO HIM. “I will protect you no matter what,” she whispered against his forehead and hugged him tightly. Magnolia felt the bed shift and opened her eyes. “Good morning, Mama.” Geoffrey greeted her. “Sorry, did I wake you?” “Was I sleeping?” Magnolia blinked at him a few times. “Yes, but that is alright. I was taking a nap too.” He smiled. “I know it is not morning, I was just being silly.” Magnolia caressed Geoffrey’s face. “You know, what happened earlier was not your fault.” Geoffrey looked down. “The knight will be fine, he was not hurt badly.” “Really?” A smile appeared on his face again. “Yes, your papa told me.” She paused. “You know what else he told me?” Geoffrey looked at her in anticipation. She quickly pulled him and started tickling him. “That you need to laugh a bit more.” Geoffrey giggled as he tried to break free, but he could not. They played for a whil
Magnolia Chapter 20
MAGNOLIA ENTERED THE DINING HALL, escorted by Henry. The room almost seemed to have a never-ending table. The plates and glasses glimmered under the light. The extravagant chandeliers hung from an intricately carved sealing. Large, beautiful paintings decorated the walls. It was the most beautiful dining hall Magnolia had ever seen. Not that she had seen many. Of course, Marquis Flock was sitting at the head of the table and to his right the princess, who was the most important guest of the night. The second most important guest was Daniel, who was seated to the princess’ right. Magnolia found herself facing her husband from the other side of the table. She was seated between the marquise on her right and Henry to her left. “Oh, I am so delighted to have you sit next to me, dear.” The marquise smiled sweetly at her. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady.” Magnolia returned the smile. Dinner seemed longer than normal, or maybe
Magnolia Chapter 21
“I WILL SLEEP IN GEOFFREY’S ROOM TONIGHT. I will do so every night until you have someone prepare a separate room for me.” Magnolia’s words were cold and clipped. “Henry told me—” Daniel started. “Your Grace, there is no need for you to explain. We have a deal. I will do everything that we have agreed upon, so please, hold your end of the bargain and let us sleep in separate rooms.” Magnolia was calm and emotionless, her eyes seemed lifeless. Daniel wanted to explain to her that nothing had happened, that he was asking Aurora about the tea party incident and that she threw herself at him. He wanted to assure her that she did not see how he pushed the princess away, but he could see that she was not going to listen to anything he had to say at that moment. “I understand,” was all he could say. Magnolia walked to Geoffrey’s room. He was deep asleep. She changed her clothes and lay next to her son. She reprimanded herself all ni
Magnolia Chapter 22
“HENRY, I NEED A BREAK. My head is about to explode.” He laughed. “Fine, fine.” He also needed a break anyway. Magnolia stood from her chair and walked to the window to stretch her legs. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the bright afternoon sun. “I wish we could have had this class outside. The weather is divine.” “You are right, but I don’t think you would have been able to focus as much as you did here.” Magnolia’s eyes caught a carriage by the back gate with a coachman walking to it. She had not seen either before. “Henry?” she called. “Yes, Your Grace.” “Does the duke have any guests?” she asked. Henry stiffened. Thankfully, Magnolia was still looking out of the window, so she did not catch his reaction. “Not that I know of.” Henry tried his best to keep his voice as normal as possible, but he was unsuccessful. Magnolia’s suspicions were confirmed when the carriage came to
Magnolia Chapter 23
THE WHOLE WAY BACK TO SALICERA, Magnolia’s thoughts were filled with questions about her family, about her origins and where she was from, about her parents and whether she had any siblings. She had been having nightmares from when she was a little child before. She reckoned it was a memory of the accident from her childhood, but it was always chaotic and fuzzy so she could never get any details from her dreams. The only thing Daniel said to her after Serena left on that day was that they still needed to search more. The only information she gave him was that De Solange was not Magnolia’s real family name.But she did not know what it was. Magnolia absentmindedly stroked Geoffrey’s hair. He had been sleeping on her lap for the past hour or so. ‘Maybe I should not have tried to kill her before she had given up more information.’ She sighed. “Are you alright, love?” Daniel asked. “Yes.” She smiled at him. “I am fine.
Magnolia Chapter 24
A FEW DAYS LATER, they took a trip to Hamelsta. Their carriage arrived there at nightfall, so they decided to spend the night at the town’s inn and visit the house the next morning. Magnolia could not sleep all night. When a sliver of light sneaked into the room in early morning, she got up and watched from the window as the light slowly spread through the dark sky. ‘What am I going to discover in that house?’ Magnolia wrapped her arms around her body. Her anxious feelings had been steadily growing as she got closer to this town, as if she would find something that would only hurt her. “Are you alright?” Daniel embraced her from behind. She slowly turned to face him and hugged him back. “Yes, I am now.” Her words drew a smile on Daniel’s face. He squeezed her against him, and they stayed in each other’s arms, watching the sun rise. A servant from the inn brought them a breakfast tray, but Magnolia could not bring
Magnolia Chapter 25
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Magnolia excitedly finished her tasks one by one. From sending out invitations, to finalizing the dinner menu, and deciding on flowers and tableware for the dining table. Since it was her first hosted dinner party as Duchess of Salicera, she wanted everything to be perfect. Compared to the Flocks’ party, this was a very tiny one, but Magnolia felt even more pressure because Daniel’s aunt was going to be there. Paula was supposed to arrive in the afternoon. “I think I will wear the blue one.” Magnolia finally decided on a dress to wear. Clara helped her get into the indigo velvet dress, then she spent the next half hour perfecting a hairdo, until someone knocked on the door. A maid appeared and bowed to the duchess. “Your Grace, Lady Kalph’s carriage has reached the outer gate and will be arriving soon.” ‘Oh my.’ “Thank you, Lydia.” Magnolia put on the sapphire necklace that Daniel had gifted
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