The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

In the evening, Roman was the first to wake.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and slowly sat up in the middle of the bed. For a moment, he looked around in silence. On either side of him, both his parents were still asleep.

Damian lay on one side, his breathing slow and steady, while Eilika rested on the other, her face calm in sleep.

Roman’s lips curved into a small smile.

Carefully, he slid out from under the blanket, making sure not to wake either of them. His tiny feet touched the floor, and he quietly tiptoed toward the door before slipping out of the room.

A moment later, he began making his way down the stairs.

”Young Master, walk slowly on the stairs,” Maurice called out from the bottom. ”You might fall.”

Roman looked down and saw him standing there.

”Did you not sleep, Uncle Maurice?” Roman asked curiously as he continued descending. ”My father and mother are still sleeping peacefully.”

He tilted his head and glanced briefly toward the upstairs corridor.

”I heard Father finished his work here,” he added. ”Will we go back now?”

Maurice shook his head.

”Not yet,” he replied calmly. ”The Duke still has a few matters to look into.”

He bent slightly and lifted Roman into his arms.

”It’s time for your milk and snacks,” he said.

Roman immediately made a face.

”I don’t like drinking milk,” he complained, wrapping his small arms around Maurice’s neck.

Then he spoke again, his voice thoughtful. ”Uncle, one of my friends wants to join the military and become a soldier.”

Maurice listened with interest as Roman continued.

”Father also tells me I should start training,” Roman admitted. ”But I always run away from it.”

He paused before adding with determination,

”But I want to help Father someday... once I learn how to defend myself.”

”For that, you must begin building your strength,” Maurice said. ”You look rather thin, Young Lord.”

He gently lowered Roman onto one of the chairs in the dining hall.

”Please bring some hot milk and snacks for the Young Master,” he instructed a nearby maid.

Roman looked around the hall and then back at Maurice.

”What about the others?” he asked. ”Won’t they drink milk too?”

Maurice paused briefly before answering.

”The girls have already been sent back to their homes,” he said calmly. ”And the boys have also returned.”

Roman’s eyes widened in surprise. ”What?” he exclaimed. ”Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

His small hands gripped the edge of the chair.

”I wanted to say goodbye to them,” he continued sadly. ”I would have asked them to visit Varos too.”

Maurice gave a small sigh.

”You were asleep, Young Master,” he said gently.

Roman lowered his gaze.

”But... they had become my good friends,” he murmured. His voice grew softer. ”I never met children like them in Varos. Back there... everyone used to look down on me.”

He pouted slightly. ”They said mean things because I didn’t have a mother.”

”Who said such mean things to you, Damian?”

Eilika’s voice echoed gently through the dining hall. Both Roman and Maurice immediately turned toward her. Maurice rose at once from his seat and bowed respectfully.

”Mama,” Roman said sadly, ”all my friends have already been sent back to their homes. I couldn’t even say goodbye to them.”

He slid down from the chair and ran straight toward her. Wrapping his small arms around her legs, he buried his face in the folds of her gown.

Eilika instinctively placed a hand on his head, softly stroking his hair as she comforted him.

Then she looked toward Maurice.

”Maurice,” she said calmly, though her tone carried a hint of surprise, ”why were they sent away so suddenly? Even I had no knowledge of this.”

Maurice lowered his head slightly.

”Your Grace, the Duke gave the order,” he explained respectfully. ”Most of the children’s parents had been worried about them.”

He paused briefly before adding, ”His Grace believed it would not be right to delay their return any longer.”

”Did you hear that, Roman?” Eilika said gently, smoothing his hair. ”The parents were worried about their children. That’s why they had to be sent home safely.”

Roman slowly lifted his head, though the disappointment had not completely left his face.

”Don’t be upset,” she continued softly. ”You’ll meet them again very soon.”

His eyes searched her face.

”Your father has already arranged for their education at the finest academy in the capital,” Eilika explained. ”And you will be joining that academy as well.”

Roman blinked in surprise.

”You will enter it in about a month,” she added with a small smile. ”After all, you’re turning five soon.”

Roman’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

”Really, Mama?” he asked eagerly. ”But Grandma said I would have to study at home for a long time.”

Eilika raised an eyebrow slightly.

”And if you stay at home all the time, how will you meet new people?” she asked. ”How will you make new friends?”

Roman thought about it for a moment.

”I’m certain you’ll meet all of them again in the academy,” she assured him.

Roman’s earlier sadness quickly faded.

”I’m excited to go to the academy, Mama!” he said happily.

Just then, the maid entered the dining hall. She bowed respectfully to Eilika before placing a tray on the table.

The tray held a warm glass of milk and a plate of small snacks.

Eilika glanced at it and then looked back at Roman.

”Look,” she said with a gentle smile. ”Your milk and snacks have arrived.”

She nudged him lightly toward the chair. ”Eat them and grow into a strong boy.”

Roman nodded and quickly climbed onto the chair.

Maurice smiled the way Eilika took care of Roman. He bowed to her and left them alone in the dining hall.

Eilika sat on the chair next to Roman and thought of her earlier conversation with Damian. ’Liliana has haunted him inside out. He sees her. That means he’s affected him psychologically,’ she thought in worry.