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 anymore but to herself. "I was–a monster. I didn't even recognize myself, it was like I was someone else. I killed them all." Her voice cracked then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"They would have killed you both." Paula's voice was soft and reassuring. She pulled Magnolia to her and wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you for saving my nephew. I am grateful that you are both alive."

Magnolia sobbed as all the emotions finally hit her. She was so scared and helpless earlier. She feared losing Daniel more than her own life. When she saw him getting stabbed, it was like she was being stabbed herself. It hurt so much.

'It would kill me if something were to happen to Daniel, now I know.'

After she calmed down, she pulled away from Paula's embrace. "Thank you," she mumbled.

"You should get some rest too, dear." Paula patted her back. "Take a bath and sleep for a bit."

"Can I sleep next to Daniel?"

"That should be fine." She smiled at her sweetly.

Magnolia left the room right away. She did not want to be away from Daniel for too long. She took a quick bath and came back to lie next to him.

She watched his sleeping face for a long time. She squeezed her eyes shut every time she thought about the events from the morning, as if that would erase the images she had.

'They were really prepared, Henry said that the dagger is one of a kind. I wonder if Victor and his men found it.'

Magnolia opened her eyes when she felt the bed shift, it was morning already. She rubbed her eyes and turned to find Daniel sitting on the edge of the bed, a gasp escaped her lips.

"Oh my Gods, Daniel, you are awake." She jumped and hugged his back, happy tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank the Gods you are fine." She squeezed him a bit too tight, which got a grunt out of Daniel. "Did I hurt you? I am sorry."

"I am fine."

Magnolia rushed off the bed and knelt in front of her husband. "Do you need anything, love?"

"I just need to use the bathroom." Magnolia took Daniel's hand immediately to help him, but he yanked it away from her. "I am fine." His voice came hard.

Magnolia blinked at him with shock. He has not even looked her in the eyes once.

A shiver ran through her body.

'Is it because of what happened? Does he see me as a monster now?'

Magnolia swallowed the lump in her throat and shook her head in disbelief.

Daniel tried to push himself off the bed, but his weak knees buckled. His body crashed to the floor with a loud thud.

"Daniel," Magnolia yelped and held his arm to try to pull him up.

"I said, I do not need your help," the duke roared.

He finally looked at her, but she wished he had not. His eyes were angry and hurt but what broke Magnolia's heart was something else she saw in them.

'He is disgusted by me?'

Her gray eyes were wide and dark. She was too shocked to move, to look away. She could not blink or breathe because of the atrocious pain in her chest. Defeat finally spread through her body as she looked down.

"I am sorry," she mumbled, barely audible. "I will send the butler to help you."

Daniel's eyes softened, they followed his wife as she walked away. He parted his lips to call after her, to apologize, but nothing came out. He just stared at her back until she disappeared and shut the door behind her.

Magnolia rushed to her room and closed the door. She sank to the floor and cried. Her tears were unstoppable, and her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

'Of course, he would be disgusted by a monster who killed all those men. I am disgusted, myself.'

She curled up on the floor and cried until she could not anymore. Then, she just lay there, absentminded.

"Your Grace," Clara yelped when she saw her on the floor. She rushed to her, all color drained from her face.

"I'm fine, Clara," Magnolia reassured her as she pushed to her feet. She sounded exhausted. "Could you help me get dressed?"

"Of course, Your Grace."

***

MAGNOLIA HAD TO TAKE CHARGE of the duke's affairs so that there were no suspicions about his well being. Henry and Victor's tremendous help made it possible for Magnolia to finish the tasks in a timely manner.

"Victor, I think it's time to send that present to Baron Pruice." Magnolia crossed her fingers on the desk. "Make sure the package cannot be traced back to our house, although they will certainly know who the sender is." She grinned.

"I will take care of it personally, Your Grace." Victor left immediately.

Henry was impressed every day with the duchess' dedication and fast learning. However, he was quite worried about her. She had not been eating nor sleeping, by the look of her face. She had not even been visiting Geoffrey, nor Daniel for that matter.

"Your Grace, are you feeling alright?" he finally asked as he removed some of the stamped documents from her desk.

"I am fine, Henry." She didn't look up from what she was writing.

"You look tired, Your Grace."

"I am tired, but I cannot afford to take a break. There is too much to do."

"Have you seen Daniel today?" he pushed. Magnolia's hand halted.

"I have not," she answered. "The duke does not wish to see me."

Henry frowned. "That is impossible."

Magnolia met his eyes and he finally saw it, deeply hurt eyes, glossy with unshed tears, and full of darkness.

"Why would he want to see a murderer…a monster?" she whispered.