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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
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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
Magnolia Chapter 26
MAGNOLIA LOOKED AROUND THE DINING TABLE and felt a sense of satisfaction as her guests enjoyed their dinner. Everyone was smiling and conversing. The decoration and service were flawless, the food was delicious, the wine was abundant. It was just the perfect dinner party. Daniel noticed his wife’s high spirits. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, she gave him the widest and happiest smile he had ever seen. His actions did not go unnoticed. “Duchess, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” started Earl Kalwen, which drew everyone’s attention. “We had lost all hope for our grumpy friend,” he continued, nodding in Daniel’s direction. “But it seems you have tamed the beast, he even smiles now.” A few chuckles erupted around the table. “Lord Kalwen, you are too kind, but I am afraid you might have mistaken my husband displaying his sharp teeth for smiling.” Daniel’s laugh echoed around the room and Richard and the othe
Magnolia Chapter 27
DANIEL SEARCHED MAGNOLIA’S EYES FOR A MOMENT. Her words shocked him and made every restraint he had been putting on himself break. “Are you sure?” he finally asked. “Unless you do not want to,” Magnolia said with a smaller voice, wrapping her arms around herself. Daniel took two strides and closed the distance between them. He took her face in his hands and looked deep into her gray pools. “Do you know how much strength it took me to not touch you the way I wanted to?” He kissed her gently. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips. Magnolia took a step back. With her eyes fixed on his, she pushed her dress off her shoulders and stood there with nothing on but her undergarments. The duke gulped. Then, she let the see-through clothing slip down, revealing her scarred body. Daniel picked her up swiftly and carried her to the bed. He put her down and took off his shirt, then he was on top of her. He kissed her sensel
Magnolia Chapter 28
“HENRY,” DANIEL CALLED when he saw his old friend walking. “Join us for breakfast.” “I have already had breakfast at home, Your Grace.” “Then you just have some tea with us.” Henry studied his friend for a moment. “You’re in a good mood.” “I am,” Daniel simply admitted, which made Magnolia uncomfortable. She looked away but not before Henry noticed her blush. He smiled, feeling happy for his friend. Everyone was already sitting for breakfast when they walked in, even Geoffrey. Paula really took a liking to him, so they were sitting next to each other, like it had been for every meal since they met. Geoffrey liked her too, she answered every single one of his curious questions. Even Magnolia got tired of them sometimes, but Paula did not. In fact, it seemed that answering Geoffrey’s questions made her quite happy. They all enjoyed their breakfast with laughter and joy. Magnolia scanned the scene with glittering eye
Magnolia Chapter 29
STAY RIGHT BEHIND ME,” Daniel whispered in his wife’s ear. She immediately moved, almost disappearing behind his massive body. “Gentlemen, it appears that whoever sent you did not quite explain who you are up against.” He held his arm out and a huge sword appeared from thin air. “I am Daniel Van Konigl, Duke of Salicera, and descendant of Queen Magtig herself. Do you think you stand a chance?” Daniel asked with a grin that made even Magnolia’s heart shiver. There was a long silence among the men. “Do not be too arrogant Van Konigl, even you could not defeat two hundred men at once,” one of the men—their leader by the look of it—finally shouted. ‘Two hundred men?’ The words echoed in Magnolia’s head. Daniel felt her hands shake against his back. They had to find a way to escape. Had he been alone, Daniel might have been able to go all out and take minimum damage. But he had Magnolia to protect which lowered his chances by at least
Magnolia Chapter 30
“READY?” THE MAN TOSSED THE COIN and Magnolia prayed the Gods that it would be the head. “Head.” The voice came and a few cheers burst among the men. Magnolia swallowed the lump in her throat as she saw Daniel shaking his head with a pained gaze. Magnolia took off her scarf and dropped it to the ground. She heard a few whistles, which made her teeth grit with anger. Then, the man tossed the coin again. “Head.” Magnolia removed her coat. Daniel took a shaky breath. He had been trying to restore his aura, but it was taking too long. The coin was in the air again. “Head.” Magnolia stared at the duke. Her dress was next. The man crouched next to Daniel and patted him on the shoulder. “I do not know if this is your lucky day for not getting stabbed, or your unlucky day for watching your wife strip in front of all these men.” Then, he let out a loud and evil laugh. He turned bac
Magnolia Chapter 31
MAGNOLIA COULD FEEL HIS BREATH, but it was faint. She checked his wound and found the cloth she had given him earlier soaked. She feared that he would not make it to the house if he lost any more blood. Then, an idea crossed her mind—if she could close the wound and stop the bleeding, he might survive till they got to Paula. She put her hand on the bloody opening, she prayed to the voice she had heard earlier. “Please help him.” But she did not hear anything back, she knew that she had to do it herself. She had read about people using a piece of metal—heated over fire—to close wounds, people who could not use magic. ‘Surely a heated hand would do the trick.’ “You can’t leave me, Daniel.” She kissed his cold cheek then took a deep breath. She felt the heat transferring to her hand and then to the wound, she had to give the exact amount of heat needed. When Magnolia saw that the bleeding had stopped, sh
Magnolia Chapter 32
MAGNOLIA OPENED THE DOOR SLOWLY and saw Paula standing, still using her magic on Daniel. She waited in the corner patiently until Paula finished. “You can come closer, Magnolia.” She cautiously walked to the bed and kneeled next to her unconscious husband. “How is he?” she asked with a choked voice. She took Daniel’s hand in hers. It was so cold. “I healed all his wounds. He just needs to rest and regain his energy.” Magnolia sighed in relief and leaned her forehead on Daniel’s hand. “He would not have made it had you not closed his wound.” Magnolia did not respond. “What happened out there?” she finally asked after a moment of silence. “We were ambushed,” Magnolia answered without looking up. “Baron Cross led a small army to kill Daniel.” She squeezed her eyes as she remembered what she had done. The screams were still echoing in her ears. “I killed them,” she whispered as if she was not talking to Paula
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