Chapter 68

IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON WHEN DANIEL REACHED HIS CASTLE. He had no idea what to do. He contemplated begging Baron Pruice to return his son and presenting the bill to Parliament again himself. But he needed to inform Magnolia of what had happened first.

As soon as he reached the entrance, Magnolia rushed to him. Killian was following behind.

"What happened? Where is Geoffrey?" Her eyes were searching.

"There were a few complications," Daniel said. "Let's discuss it in my office." There were too many people around, he needed to speak with her in private.

"How did the votes go?" Magnolia did not move to follow him.

"My love, let's go inside–"

"Answer me," she insisted.

"The bill did not pass," he answered as he averted his eyes.

"What was your vote?" Daniel was silent. "How did you vote, Daniel?" Magnolia grabbed him by his collar and shook him.

"I voted against it," he whispered.

Magnolia's slap was loud enough to get everyone's attention. There was a chilling silence as nobody even dared breathe.

"You promised you would bring him home," Magnolia yelled as endless tears raced down her cheeks. "You promised," her fists slammed against Daniel's chest as he just stood there and took every hit silently. "What will happen to my boy now? Where is my son, Daniel?"

"Magnolia, it was my fault." Laya approached them. "I was the one who hastily told him that we had found Geoffrey before I made sure it was him," she said. "Please, let me explain everything."

Laya convinced Magnolia to accompany her inside. Daniel and Killian followed them to the office where Laya explained everything that had happened.

The duke could not meet her eyes still, he looked outside his window the whole time they were speaking.

"What are we going to do now?" Magnolia asked.

"I already sent a letter to Baron Pruice to request an audience," Daniel said without looking back. "I will beg him to return Geoffrey, even if I have to kneel in front of him, I will. I am going to present the bill again and make sure it passes. So, I think he will not refuse me."

The room was silent. None of them could picture the Duke of Salicera kneeling in front of a baron, begging. But they knew that Daniel was planning on doing just that. His voice did not falter, he was going to do whatever it took to bring Geoffrey back.

"Daniel…" Magnolia called, but she was interrupted by the doors opening.

"Your Grace." Victor entered, his face was colorless. "Please come with me, something happened."

Daniel looked at his agitated commander for a moment, he was usually calm and composed.

'What the hell happened now.'

He excused himself and followed Victor. "What is going on?"

"Your Grace," Victor hesitated. "A coffin was just delivered to the front entrance."

"A coffin?" Daniel's legs moved before his mind could register the action.

'No…'

Daniel reached the courtyard in seconds. A handful of servants had gathered around but no one dared touch the box.

The duke pulled up the top. It was nailed to the bottom part, but it was not hard for Daniel to open it. He dropped the cover to the ground revealing the content, one of the maids shrieked at the sight.

Daniel's knees buckled and he fell to the ground. It was the body of a boy, burned so badly, the features were not clear anymore.

He gently placed his hand on the corpse's face, then he noticed the whistle he had given to Geoffrey a few days ago, it was also burned.

"Geoffrey," Daniel whispered, his tears falling like rain. "Geoffrey," he called again softly, as if afraid his voice would wake him up.

"What is going on?" Magnolia asked from the door.

The crowd had gotten bigger, the servants who had already seen the coffin looked grim and shocked.

Her eyes finally landed on Daniel and the coffin next to him. She felt the blood in her veins freeze.

Her legs could not move any further, she just stood there and stared at the sight, not a single thought in mind.

"Mag," Killian called. She slowly turned to him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I don't think you should see it."

Magnolia drew a shaky breath in. "My son," she uttered as she shook her head. "I have to."

Killian nodded and slowly walked by her side as she leaned on him. Her feet stumbled a few times, but her brother's grasp was firm.

When they reached the coffin, Daniel looked up to her. He was sobbing.

"I am sorry," he said with a choked voice. "I am sorry, Magnolia."

Magnolia took a step closer until the body came into full view. Her body trembled violently. She kneeled at Geoffrey's feet and stared.

"Geoffrey," she called. "Geoffrey," her calls were low at first, but they soon turned into howls. "Geoffrey." Her screams reached every corner of the castle.

She called until she lost her voice and could not anymore.

Suddenly, loud thunder rumbled through the sky and heavy rain started to pour down. The servants ran toward the house, but Daniel and Magnolia were not fazed, as if they could not even feel the drops on their skin.

"Come dear, let me take you to your room." Killian picked his sister up and carried her back to the house. She did not resist.

"Your Grace," Henry called with red eyes. Magnolia's howls made everyone in the castle cry. "Daniel, you should go inside." When the duke did not react, Henry looked over to Laya for help. She approached him immediately.

"Come on Daniel, you will catch a cold." Laya grabbed his right arm while Henry took his left and they pulled him up.

"What about Geoffrey," Daniel finally spoke.

"Victor will take care of him," Henry told him.

They dragged Daniel to his room while he mumbled incoherent words. Henry clenched his jaw.

He had hoped that he would never see his friend in this state again. This was exactly how he was when his parents died.

Laya threw him a concerned look but all he could do was shake his head.

'This is really bad.'