Chapter 3

IT HAD ALREADY BEEN A FEW DAYS since the duke had brought Magnolia and Geoffrey to his house. Their stay had been the most comfortable and luxurious. They had warm beds, good meals, clothes, they even had servants helping with everything. Magnolia could not have asked for more.

‘But I cannot get used to this. Soon, we will go back to our old life.’ 

She took a sip of the tea Clara had made for her. She closed her eyes as the flavors exploded in her mouth, then smiled.

‘I guess we can just enjoy the duke’s hospitality until we have to leave.’

Magnolia looked over to her son who was playing with Lady Green. She was an older woman, in her late fifties. The duke had summoned her to take care of Geoffrey while they were his guests. She was so gentle and patient with him that Magnolia felt quite comfortable leaving her son with her. A feeling that she had never had before.

Ever since she gave birth to Geoffrey, she could not even leave him with his own father. Especially with his father. Magnolia pressed her lips together at the thought of the baron. 

“Lady De Solange.” Magnolia jumped at the sound of her name. “Ah, apologies, my lady. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Henry bowed.

“No need to apologize, Lord Flock.” Magnolia smiled. 

A few days ago, the duke had introduced her to his assistant, Lord Henry Flock. When she met him, she thought he had the gentlest face she had seen on a man.

“His Grace asked that you join him for an outing to town,” Henry informed her.

“An outing?” she repeated. Apart from sharing meals together, the duke had never asked to see her, let alone accompany him to town. 

“Please, allow me to show you to the carriage.” 

Magnolia pushed to her feet. She glanced at Geoffrey who was too immersed in the game he was playing with Lady Green. “Please do.” 

When she reached the carriage, the duke was already inside. “Your Grace,” she greeted as she entered.

“Lady De Solange.” Daniel bowed his head slightly. “Apologies for the last-minute trip to town, but we have received information about the whereabouts of those men who attacked you.” 

“Oh?” was all she uttered. She was not even sure that he was still looking into the incident. 

‘There is a matter that needs to be taken care of first.’ She remembered his words from the night they first met.

“Unfortunately, my two recruits only saw one of them. We just need you to identify all of them and we will take care of the rest.”

“You have my gratitude, Your Grace.” Magnolia was truly grateful, but her anxiousness was a hundred times more intense. If this matter was taken care of, then she would have to leave the duke’s house very soon. Maybe even as soon as tomorrow. 

‘He has already done so much for us. I cannot be greedy.’ She shook her head.

Magnolia peeked at the duke’s face and found his eyes closed. ‘He must be tired.’ Not only did he take care of his duchy, but as the Ice Sword of the Kingdom, he had to give his complete loyalty to the king and obey his orders.

Duke Van Konigl had wiped out countless territories that had shown hostility against the throne. Some people even called him the King’s Dog. But she wondered why he had been so nice to her and Geoffrey. 

She studied his features a bit more and noticed his long eyelashes, his strong jawline, and his soft lips. ‘I have never seen a man this beautiful.’

“Lady De Solange.” Daniel’s voice made her jump. “If you keep staring at me in that manner, someone might get the wrong idea,” he said with his eyes still closed. Magnolia felt her face burn with embarrassment. She cleared her throat, trying to think of something to say, but thankfully the carriage came to a stop.

“We have arrived, Your Grace.” The footman opened the door for them. 

Daniel finally opened his eyes, he looked at Magnolia’s scarlet face and grinned in amusement. He descended the stairs first, then offered his hand to his guest.

“Thank you,” Magnolia whispered.

They walked through a few back alleys, accompanied by three knights. “This is the tavern where we think they meet.” Daniel pointed to an old ale house.

He unfolded a cloak and placed it on her shoulders, covering her head with the hood. The action was a bit intimate. It made her heartbeat quicken and she immediately averted her eyes. When she looked up again, all four men were wearing cloaks as well.

“We will go in, you identify the men, and then we will take it from there,” Daniel explained to her again.

“Alright.” She nodded.

They entered the dimly lit tavern, and a disgusting stench hit their nostrils immediately. Magnolia scrunched her nose. She followed them without looking up. They walked to one of the empty tables. It was an even darker corner of the place.

“Five steins,” Victor ordered. 

It only took a minute for a short lad to bring the ale, he could not have been older than fourteen. Magnolia leaned in to smell the ale but retreated immediately as her stomach turned.

“Could you take a look around, my lady?” Daniel whispered near her ear. The proximity made her feel even more uncomfortable than before, but she complied. She pushed up her hood a bit and studied the faces of the men in the tavern. It was dark but she recognized those bastards right away.

“Over there,” she told the duke. Daniel followed her eyes to the table in the far corner.

“All six of them?”

“Yes, one is missing though,” she said as she looked around, “I do not see him anywhere.”

“Alright.” He eyed the men she had identified.

‘How did she even escape from them?’

“Victor, please take Lady De Solange back to the carriage.” The commander frowned but he did not complain. Magnolia was sure he wanted to help capture those criminals instead of walking with her.

“Yes, Your Grace.” He pushed to his feet and Magnolia followed. They made their way to the door and left immediately. 

Magnolia took in the fresh air and let out a breath she did not even know she was holding. Not that she thought she was in danger while being with the Duke of Salicera and his knights, but she just did not want the situation to escalate. She was lucky enough that nothing big happened when she had encountered those thugs last time.

“Thank you, Sir Victor—” Magnolia’s words died as someone yanked her hood back.

“I thought I recognized the little bitch from the other day.” The seventh man who was not with the others flashed a yellow grin at her.

Victor already had his sword in hand and pointed at the man. “How dare you?” The knight stepped between Magnolia and the man.

“I see you are not alone this time, not that it matters,” the man sneered. He unsheathed his sword as well.

“My lady, please take cover.” 

As soon as she took a step back from him, a loud crash drew everyone’s attention. Magnolia turned just in time to see one of the men flying through the tavern widow and slamming to the ground. The man groaned. 

The doors of the tavern flew open and the men who were inside ran away in panic. Then came the five remaining members of the gang. Some were already bleeding and bruised. Finally, the duke and his two knights strode outside. Daniel’s eyes fell on Magnolia right away.

“Why are you still here?” His cold eyes traveled to Victor who stiffened immediately. 

“Apologies, we were interrupted.” Victor motioned to the tall meaty man pointing his sword at him.

“Leave.” 

Victor rushed to Magnolia and pulled her away. The man attempted to block their way, but the duke stepped in front of him in a blink of an eye. 

“You are not going anywhere.” Daniel’s voice was quite menacing. The man’s feet took a step back unconsciously. That was all Magnolia heard before she was ushered into another alley, then another one, until they arrived at the carriage.

“All finished,” the duke informed Magnolia as he entered the carriage a few minutes later. She could smell blood on him, but she did not dare ask him if he had killed them all.

“Yes, all finished,” she uttered. Her words were loaded with more than one meaning.