The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Maurice looked into the Duke’s aggrieved eyes. ”Your Grace, the letter clarifies one thing: your late wife was never in love with you. A conspiracy was unfolding right under your nose, one you had no inkling of. I believe it is time to investigate the banished prince.”

”I will begin the investigation after tomorrow,” Damian stated, his tone flat and unreadable.

”Your Grace, thank you for trusting me,” Maurice affirmed. ”I know that the moment I handed you that information, it became difficult for you to discern who was truly loyal to you.”

”Maurice, do not breathe a word of this to anyone, not even to Louis. This stays strictly between the two of us,” Damian commanded, his gaze sharpening.

”Of course, Your Grace,” Maurice assured him, bowing his head. ”You have my word.”

”And I do not believe for a moment that Liliana didn’t love me. Eyes never lie, Maurice. Until I find evidence that proves otherwise, I refuse to believe that,” Damian clarified, his voice laced with a quiet, stubborn pain.

”I understand, Your Grace. Forgive me if I overstepped,” Maurice stated, bowing his head in deference.

”It is fine. Also, take your rest. You cannot serve me effectively while exhausting your body,” Damian told him.

Without waiting for a reply, the Duke turned and walked away. He headed for the stables, intent on taking his horse to a solitary place where he could contemplate for hours.

As he led the horse from the stable and rode it for a few meters, he felt another horse was galloping in his wake.

Sylvian had followed him. ”Damian, where are you heading?”

”To my private residence. I do not wish for anyone to follow me,” Damian stated, his voice tight.

”Roman seemed quite cheerful after seeing his grandfather,” Sylvian remarked, ignoring the dismissal. ”Did you find the peace you were looking for?”

Damian slowed his horse, pulling gently on the reins to turn the beast around. He met Sylvian’s gaze, the weight of the day’s revelations still heavy in his eyes.

”Did you perhaps have hands in it?” asked Damian with a suspicious gaze.

”No,” Sylvian lied with a straight face. ”What made you think like that?” he asked.

”Because my father-in-law suddenly came to bless me. Sylvian, you better tell me the truth,” Damian warned him.

”I am saying the truth,” Sylvian replied, keeping a soft expression on his face.

”I’m going to punish you if I find your hands in this matter,” Damian stated, turning his horse. ”Now, don’t follow me.”

Sylvian nodded and watched Damian leave on the horse.

”He becomes calmly terrifying sometimes,” Sylvian murmured and went back.

~~~~~

”Mama, why can’t you step out? Did you meet my grandfather? I was with him for an hour, and he told me so much about his work. I didn’t know being a calligrapher was even a job,” Roman said, climbing onto the bed to settle beside Eilika.

”Did you enjoy your time with him, then?” Eilika asked softly.

”Yes,” Roman nodded. ”He even cried, and when I asked him why, he said it was just dust in his eyes. But Mama, I could tell he was really crying. Was he missing my biological mother? I miss her too sometimes,” Roman murmured, his lips pulling into a small pout.

”But because you’re here with me, I don’t feel so sad. Grandma once told me that the spirits of those who have left us get hurt if we keep recalling them with sadness, and I don’t want her to be hurt.”

Eilika looked at him, deeply admiring the boy’s intellect and the gentle maturity he possessed at such a young age.

”You really are a big boy. You talk so maturely,” Eilika said, her hand coming to rest tenderly against his cheek.

Roman leaned into her touch, then suddenly lowered his head to her lap. ”I feel sleepy,” he whispered, a soft yawn escaping him.

”Then I will make sure you have a very good sleep,” Eilika promised. She began to pat his chest rhythmically, singing a low, soothing lullaby that filled the quiet room.

Within five minutes, the boy had drifted off. Eilika gently shifted him to the pillow and pulled the soft duvet up to his chin. At that moment, Joanna entered the room, but Eilika immediately raised a finger to her lips to hush her.

Joanna went silent instantly, standing still and letting Eilika finish tucking the boy in.

Once finished, Eilika stepped out with Joanna into the adjacent drawing room.

”Your Grace, the Duke has gone to his private residence. It is the first time he has done so in nearly a month,” Joanna whispered.

”So?” Eilika asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. ”What is wrong with that?”

”Your Grace, that residence is the one he shared with his late first wife. After her passing, rumors began circulating that he kept a mistress there,” Joanna mumbled, her eyes casting downward.

”But we all know that isn’t true,” Eilika countered.

”Yes, we do. However, you and the Duke are to be officially wed in a ceremony tomorrow. Him retreating to that house now suggests he is still unable to move on, that he is only going through with this for the sake of formality. At this rate, Your Grace, he will only end up hurting you again,” Joanna affirmed.

”Damian won’t hurt me anymore. Even if he does, it shall not concern you, Joanna,” Eilika stated firmly.

”Forgive me, Your Grace. I merely wanted my mistress to have her share of happiness,” Joanna replied, lowering her gaze in submission.

”I appreciate your concern,” Eilika said softly. ”But the Duke has his own ways of sorting through his thoughts. Perhaps he simply needs a quiet moment to gather himself. It is not an easy time for him,” she asserted, her voice filled with understanding.

But deep down, her heart ached. Despite her defensive words, she was deeply unsettled that Damian had once again chosen to retreat into the shadows of his past.