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 Ben slowly walked toward Daniel.

At first, he did not even notice him, but when the puppy barked at him a few times, Daniel's head turned.

He stared at the dog for a moment before crouching and caressing his head. "You are doing better, I see," he uttered.

Ben leaned into the duke's touch and a shadow of a smile appeared on his face.

"How long are you going to just stand there?" Daniel asked without looking away from Ben.

"Your Grace," Henry straightened his back and pushed the door wide open.

"Excuse me, I have some things to tend to," the butler bowed before walking away.

"Me too," Laya hurried away as well.

"Do you also have something to do, Henry, to try to avoid me?" Daniel finally looked at him.

"Why would I avoid you?" He entered the office and closed the door behind him. "They just don't know how to deal with you…in your state."

"My state?"

"Well, you have been cooped up in your office for days, stabbing someone would have been more acceptable to them." Daniel scoffed. "We really need the Duke of Salicera to take charge, Daniel. Rumors are getting worse by the day, and the meetings cannot be postponed any longer."

He pushed off his heels and stared straight into his friend's eyes.

"Henry, you know that I have never given a damn about rumors. As for the meetings, let them wait, I am not ready yet."

"His Majesty has also requested your presence." Henry pointed to the unopened letters he had placed on his desk the day before.

"You can send a response to him as well, tell him that I am grieving and will not be able to leave the castle for a while."

"Daniel, are you sure–"

"That is my order."

"Yes, Your Grace." Henry bowed and took a few steps toward the door but stopped. "Oh, Aunt Paula will be arriving in the evening."

"Then, please make the necessary preparations," Daniel said.

"Of course," Henry uttered before leaving.

Daniel crouched again to pet Ben. "Shall we go for a walk, Little Ben?"

As if he understood him, the puppy barked and wiggled his tail, making Daniel chuckle.

The duke spent his day with the dog. For some reason, he brought him comfort. He also triggered some happy memories of his family, memories that he held dear and that he would cherish forever.

Daniel had no idea what would happen after Magnolia got her revenge.

'Would she come back to me?' The question repeated itself in his mind, but other thoughts followed. 'Where would I stand once my wife is pronounced traitor? Would I be able to protect her then?'

Daniel sighed.

"That was a long sigh." Daniel turned toward the source of the voice.

"Aunt Paula, when did you arrive?"

"I just did a few minutes ago," she said as she took a few steps closer to him. "Henry told me you were here." She opened her arms for her nephew and embraced him. "How are you feeling, dear?"

"I keep telling myself that it will get better, but it doesn't," he answered.

"It has only been a few days, Daniel, you have to give yourself time." Paula patted his back. They were both silent for a moment. "Come, let's have some food, I am famished. I am sure you have not eaten either."

"My appetite these days is not the best, but I cannot refuse having dinner with my dear aunt," Daniel uttered as he offered his arm to Paula.

They slowly made their way through the garden while the puppy followed.

"After dinner, I would like to have a talk with you?" Paula told him.

"A talk? What about?" He raised a brow. "If it is about the rumors spreading in the capital, I don't care much about them."

"It is not." Daniel felt anxious suddenly. "I just think it's high time for you to know some things."

"Alright, let's talk after dinner then."

Daniel could guess that it was probably related to the king. For the first time since King Titus took care of him after his parents died, he was doubting his intentions.

A part of him still wanted to believe that the king was a good man, that is why the talk with Paula made him anxious. If she showed him the true colors of Titus, he could not ignore his doubts any longer. But he knew that he would have to face the truth sooner or later.

After all, he had asked Magnolia to give him some time in order to gather evidence against the royal family.

'I wish she had listened to me.'

Daniel was also afraid of what he would do when he discovered the truth, and where he would stand as a Van Konigl.

'If the King is truly helping with pushing the barons to have more power, then could he have had a hand in Geoffrey's death? Maybe even Cross' attack on the red hill.'

Daniel clenched his jaw. He had been saying that revenge would not bring his son back, and he had believed it, but suddenly he felt the need to stab someone.