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 at times, 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 eyes. She felt her heart ready to burst from all the happiness that filled it.

'Who would have thought that Geoffrey and I would ever be sitting at a breakfast table full of all kinds of food and surrounded by so many people?'

Only a few months ago, they were struggling to stay alive. Her gaze shifted to Daniel who was smiling brightly as he teased Richard.

'It's all thanks to this man. The man I love, my husband.'

Magnolia smiled shyly. It was still a bit strange when she called him that, but she liked it. It felt extremely good to have someone who cared about her, someone who belonged to her and who she belonged to.

She and Geoffrey were not alone anymore, they had a bigger family now. They could be happy. They deserved to be happy.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Magnolia spent more time with Florence, Lord Richard's sister. They had tea together every afternoon and went for strolls and picnics. So, when the siblings traveled back to their home in Geiranger, Magnolia felt a bit lonely.

"You enjoyed Lady Kalwen's company, didn't you?" Paula asked when she noticed Magnolia staring absentmindedly at her cup of tea.

"I did," she answered with a smile. "She is such a genuine person. I have not met many of those in my life." Paula nodded as she took a sip of her chamomile tea.

'I think we have become friends.'

"I am just glad you met my nephew." Her sudden revelation startled Magnolia. "He has been alone for so long. I was worried he would never open his heart to anyone. He is lucky he found you."

Magnolia smiled with flushed cheeks. "No Aunt Paula, I am the lucky one. He is even helping me to look into my family."

"Your family?" Paula had heard the rumors that spread after Geoffrey's magic emerged, but she did not know the details.

"Yes." Magnolia did not hesitate to elaborate. Daniel trusted his aunt, so there was no reason for her not to do the same. "We discovered that De Solange is not my real family name." Magnolia lowered her voice and scooted a little closer to her.

"That must have been a shock for you."

"It was. I lived with an evil woman since I was eleven and she never told me anything about my family." Magnolia looked up at Paula. "That was the person I met when I fell ill in the capital, when you came to help."

"I see." Paula could only imagine the things this woman had done to Magnolia to make her fall into the state she was in.

"But we discovered that my family lived in Hamelsta, we even visited the house, but it was mostly destroyed and had no clues about my family."

An uneasiness spread through Paula's chest, she shifted in her chair.

"What happened to your family? Why were you living with that woman?" she asked with way more curiosity than she let show.

"They all died in an accident when I was a child. To be honest, I am not sure about the nature of the accident."

"How long ago?"

"Eleven years ago."

Paula watched Magnolia's lips move but it took her a moment to register the words. Her hand shook as she put her cup on the table, the tea spilled all over her pecan dress.

"Oh my." Magnolia jumped and grabbed a serviette. "Are you alright?" She quickly wiped the wet dress. But Paula was motionless.

"Magnolia." She met the duchess' gray eyes. "What is your real family name?" she asked, almost whispering.

"Gottanlich," Magnolia answered, a little confused about Paula's questioning.

***

"BUT SHE DIDN'T EVEN JOIN US FOR DINNER. I am telling you, it must be because of that conversation."

"She probably just did not feel well, love."

"Dan," she protested.

"I promise, I will speak with her when we go back. Now come on, we are going to miss the sunrise." He pushed his horse to gallop a little faster and Magnolia followed.

They made it up the hill just in time for the first rays of sun to break through. Daniel dismounted his black beast of a horse, then helped his wife down.

He pulled her close to him in an embrace as they watched the sun slowly rise from behind the hills. The light spread gradually through the valley, making its way to every corner.

The scenery was breathtaking and being in each other's arms made it quite romantic.

"What do you think? Was it worth waking up this early?" Daniel asked with a smirk.

"Yes." Magnolia faced her husband and pulled him from his collar stopping only inches away from his face. "With you, I would go anywhere no matter the time or the place."

His smile widened.

'Gods, have mercy on me, this woman drives me crazy.'

He kissed her, pouring all the passion he felt for her into it. But suddenly his body stiffened.

"What is it, Dan?"

"Shh." Daniel grabbed her wrist firmly. "Thunder," he called.

The black horse rushed to them, but before he could reach them, masked men started to pour from every direction. They circled the couple and stopped the horse from getting to them.

Daniel slammed Magnolia against his chest, squeezing her in his strong arms.

"Who are you?" he ordered with his authoritative voice.

A few chuckles burst out. There were at least fifty men.

"We are the last people you lay your eyes on before meeting your creators, Duke." The man's voice was dripping with venom.

Magnolia's knuckles whitened as her fist around Daniel's shirt tightened.

'Oh my Gods, are we going to die here?'