The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

After lunch, the soldiers departed to the temporary quarters that had been arranged for them within the cottage grounds. The long days of travel and the recent operation had clearly taken their toll, and they were eager to rest.

The children, too, had exhausted themselves after playing under the sun for most of the day. One by one, they returned to their rooms, their energy finally spent.

Roman, however, wandered into his parents’ bedroom before anyone noticed.

By the time Eilika and Damian entered the room, they found him already asleep—right in the middle of the bed. His small body was curled comfortably across the mattress, his soft toy tucked under one arm.

Damian stepped closer.

”I’ll move him—”

”No,” Eilika said quickly, stopping him.

”Let him sleep here.”

She walked quietly toward the bed and gently pulled the blanket up to cover Roman, making sure he stayed warm. Then she moved to the window and drew the curtains closer so the bright daylight wouldn’t disturb his sleep.

Roman stirred slightly but remained peacefully asleep.

When she finished, Eilika turned back toward Damian.

”You should rest too,” she said softly.

”I am not tired,” Damian replied.

Eilika gave him a look that clearly said she didn’t believe him.

”Don’t lie,” she said calmly. ”Maurice mentioned earlier that you couldn’t sleep last night.”

As she spoke, she began arranging the pillows on the left side of the bed, making space beside Roman, who still slept peacefully in the middle.

”Resting for a while won’t cost you anything,” she added.

Damian, however, walked past the bed and lowered himself into the recliner near the window.

”I often find it difficult to sleep,” he admitted.

Eilika turned toward him. ”But the night I painted the tattoo on your chest, you fell asleep almost immediately,” she reminded him.

Damian rested his elbow on the arm of the chair. ”That is exactly what confuses me,” he said. ”I don’t usually get sleepy that easily.”

Eilika studied him for a moment before answering. ”That’s because you keep thinking all the time,” she said gently. ”Your mind never rests. Even when your body is exhausted, your thoughts keep you awake. You need to give your mind some rest too.”

She suddenly realized that her voice had risen louder than she intended. So, she immediately lowered her tone.

”I’ve made the bed for you,” she said softly. ”Sleep.”

Her voice was much gentler now as she stepped down from the bed.

Damian watched her for a moment before rising from the recliner.

”Aren’t you tired?” he asked.

He gestured toward the wide bed where Roman lay sleeping peacefully between the pillows.

”You can rest as well,” he added. ”The bed is large enough.”

As he spoke, he walked over and slipped beneath the blanket.

Eilika shook her head slightly.

”I still have some work to finish,” she replied. ”Besides, we’ll be leaving tomorrow since you completed the task earlier than we expected.”

Damian adjusted the blanket around him before responding.

”No,” he said calmly. ”We’re not leaving that early.”

Eilika turned quickly to look at him.

”Why?”

”Come to bed first,” he said. ”Then I’ll tell you.”

Eilika hesitated for a moment before nodding.

She removed her earrings and the delicate necklace she was wearing, placing them carefully on the bedside table.

After that, she slipped under the blanket on the empty side of Roman.

The little boy remained asleep between them. Eilika turned her head slightly to face Damian. ”Why aren’t we leaving?” she asked in a whisper.

”Louis and Maurice planned it for us,” Damian said.

Eilika’s brows immediately furrowed. ”Planned what?” she asked, clearly confused.

”Honeymoon,” Damian replied calmly.

Her eyes widened at once. ”But-but... we came here because of this case,” she said.

Damian gave a faint, knowing look. ”You really think the higher authorities couldn’t have handled that operation themselves?” he chuckled.

Eilika remained silent.

”The Crown Prince was also part of their plan,” Damian continued. ”I haven’t left Varos in five years. And because I refused to acknowledge you as my wife... They arranged this entire situation.”

He shifted slightly before finally turning his face toward her.

”They wanted me to spend time with you. To get close to you.”

For a moment, the room fell silent except for Roman’s soft breathing between them.

”Then... shouldn’t we return?” Eilika said slowly. ”You don’t want to get close to—”

”I would like to know you.”

Damian interrupted her before she could finish.

Eilika blinked in surprise.

”Besides,” he added, ”you were the one who suggested we start as friends.”

His expression softened slightly.

”So... let’s be friends.”

Eilika stared at him, still trying to process what she had just heard. ”Are you serious, Damian?” she asked. ”You know what you’re saying, don’t you?”

Eilika moistened her lips before speaking again, choosing her words carefully.

”You still haven’t come out of the memories of your first wife,” she said softly. ”I know I was the one who suggested that we begin as friends. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder... Can we truly remain just friends?”

Her gaze lowered slightly.

”We are married,” she continued. ”And perhaps... I am becoming greedy in this marriage.”

Damian lowered his eyes, deep in thought. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he spoke.

”I am afraid of losing someone again.”

Eilika looked at him.

”I loved Liliana,” he continued slowly. ”But... she appears in my nightmares.”

His fingers tightened slightly over the blanket.

”I have tried for a long time to forget her. Everyday I tried to not see her,” he admitted. ”Yet I cannot stop seeing her. But when I was with you... she didn’t appear.”

He finally lifted his gaze toward Eilika.

”I don’t know why,” he said honestly. ”I can’t explain it. But for the first time in years... I felt peace when I was with you at night.”

Eilika was stunned to learn that Damian was haunted with the nightmares of Liliana, and it made everything clear to her why that night he shouted at her.