The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Louis has come from a long journey,” Eilika said gently. ”Let him rest for a while.”

”Your Grace is very thoughtful,” Louis replied with a faint smile. ”I must admit, I am quite tired.”

Just then, the butler stepped forward and bowed.

”I will show you to the guest room, sir.”

”I shall see you both later,” Louis said before following the butler out of the hall.

As he left, Damian’s gaze lingered in that direction, his expression thoughtful, almost suspicious. He could not shake the feeling that Louis’s visit carried more purpose than what had been spoken aloud.

”I plan to take Roman out this evening,” Eilika said, drawing his attention back to her. ”Will you come with us?”

”I won’t let you two go alone,” Damian replied immediately.

He leaned back slightly, his tone softening.

”Roman was very happy today,” he added. ”I realized... I have missed a lot while raising him. He always wanted me to play with me. And today, he spoke about beginning his training again. I remember how he used to throw tantrums just to avoid it.”

Eilika smiled gently, warmth filling her eyes.

”What did he say about training?” she asked.

”He said he wants to begin so that one day he can help me,” Damian replied. ”I felt proud hearing that.”

Then his gaze lowered slightly.

”Eilika, I must thank you. Because of you, I have grown closer to my son.” His voice then deepened with guilt. ”All these years, I failed to give him the attention he deserved. I did him an injustice.”

Eilika’s expression softened.

”Your grief was something no one could truly understand,” she said. ”Losing the person you vowed to spend your life with, so suddenly, it must have shattered you.”

She lowered her eyes slightly. ”Roman understands more than you think. He is a very perceptive child.”

There was a brief silence.

Then Damian spoke again, ”Why are you so kind?”

Eilika looked up at him.

”I still believe you deserve someone better,” he continued. ”A man like me, I am only hurting you.”

His gaze met hers. ”How long do you intend to wait for me?”

Unbeknownst to them, Louis stood behind a nearby pillar, listening intently. Just then, Maurice approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.

”What are you doing here?” he whispered.

”Shh,” Louis hushed him, leaning closer. ”They are finally speaking like a married couple.”

Back in the hall, Eilika bit her lower lip before answering. ”I won’t find a family like this again,” she said softly. ”I am patient. I can wait. And why are you so certain that you will never fall in love with me?”

A faint confusion flickered in her eyes.

”You confuse me, Duke,” she added. ”Yesterday, you asked me to help you forget your first wife. You need to trust the process.”

Damian’s brows knitted together, his thoughts momentarily unsettled. Without waiting for a response, Eilika turned away.

”I’m going to see Roman,” she said, before walking upstairs.

From behind the pillar, Louis shook his head slightly.

”Why is Damian behaving like an idiot?” he muttered under his breath.

Maurice quickly glanced around before replying in a low voice, ”You should be careful not to anger the Duke.”

Louis looked at him curiously. ”Why?”

Maurice leaned closer. ”A few days ago, the Duke and the Duchess argued late into the night.”

Louis’s brows rose in surprise. ”What happened?”

”The Duke saw his first wife again,” Maurice said quietly. ”The nightmares haven’t left him. They still trouble him.”

”What are the two of you whispering about?” Damian’s sharp voice cut through.

Both Louis and Maurice stiffened slightly at his presence.

”Nothing,” Louis replied at once, straightening himself as if he had done nothing at all.

Damian’s gaze lingered on him, unconvinced.

”You were tired, weren’t you?” he said with a faint chuckle, though his eyes remained sharp. ”Then why are you here instead of resting?”

He took a step closer. ”You still haven’t answered my question.”

Maurice, now equally curious, shifted his attention to Louis.

”The Dowager Duchess was worried about you,” Louis said smoothly. ”She asked me to come and check on your well-being.”

Damian’s expression did not change. ”You are a terrible liar, Louis,” he said.

”I will ask you one last time,” Damian continued, his voice now carrying a dangerous edge. ”Why are you here?” His eyes narrowed slightly. ”Do not force me to punish you.”

Louis placed a hand over his chest, feigning hurt. ”Would you truly punish your own friend?” he asked.

Damian did not hesitate. ”Yes,” he said coldly. ”You know me well enough to believe that.”

”Tsk.”

Louis ran a hand through his hair, exhaling lightly as if giving up on hiding the truth.

”I came to take Roman back with me,” he admitted. ”You and the Duchess need time alone. In Varos, people have already begun talking. They say you married only to bring a maid for your son.”

”Maid?” Damian’s face darkened at the word, his jaw tightening. ”Eilika is giving my son the love of a mother.”

”Exactly,” Louis agreed. ”Her Grace is kind enough to do so.”

He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice.

”But the truth doesn’t matter to people, Damian. What they see, or think they see, becomes reality.”

Damian said nothing.

”Many have found out that you weren’t even present at your own wedding,” Louis added. ”The rumors have only grown worse since then.”

His tone turned more serious. ”Some say you avoid her because of the scar on her face.”

Damian’s eyes hardened further.

”And you know how many noble families wanted their daughters to marry you,” Louis went on. ”When that didn’t happen, they began looking for ways to undermine both of you.”

He paused briefly before adding,

”They are trying to bring you down, both as a man and as the Duke.”

Damian’s silence deepened.

”The Dowager Duchess believes,” Louis said carefully, ”that you need time alone with your wife. She feels that Roman, unintentionally, keeps drawing the Duchess’s attention away from you.”