The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The moment he uttered that name, a stunned silence descended upon the room. Eilika felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.

”Eilika saved his life,” August remarked with a taunt as he held Eilika’s gaze, ”yet all he can think of is Liliana.” To him, Damian had just handed Eilika yet another reason to honor their pact and walk away.

”Damian, it’s Eilika, your wife, who is here,” Georgia stated, her hand trembling as she caressed the top of her son’s head. She stood and offered the chair to Eilika, silently urging her to take her place at his side.

Eilika sank into the seat beside him, her voice trembling. ”Damian, please. Open your eyes.”

His eyelids fluttered before slowly lifting. The room was a blur of figures, but Eilika’s face eventually sharpened into focus.

”Water,” he croaked.

Eilika was quick to lift a glass to his lips, her hands shaking.

”Just give one sip and not more than that,” August instructed from behind. Eilika nodded, obeying cautiously. The water soothed his parched throat, and as his vision cleared, he finally saw her properly. He took in the tear tracks on her cheeks.

”Did I scare you?” he asked.

”You scared everyone,” Eilika replied, her voice tight. ”Doctor, please, examine him.”

She pulled her hand away from his chest, feeling his heartbeats before standing up. The physician checked Damian’s pulse, relieved to find it steady and strong. He inspected his eyes and the coloring of his lips, noting that the unnatural purple hue had completely faded.

”Everything seems to be in order, Your Grace. The Duke simply requires rest,” the physician stated, bowing deeply.

Eilika felt a chill run down her spine. The doctor had no idea that the cure was incomplete, that a second dose of the Frost Lily was mandatory for Damian’s full recovery. She cast a sharp, dubious glance toward August.

”Son, you’ve frightened us all,” Georgia said, dabbing at her eyes with a silk handkerchief.

”I couldn’t agree more, Aunt,” Sylvian added, his relief palpable.

Maurice breathed a sigh of relief as well, though his chest felt tight. While the Duke was alive, he couldn’t shake the heavy dread of what was to come.

”Mother, you must rest,” Damian rasped, his voice still weak. ”And where is Roman?”

”Roman is sound asleep in his room,” Georgia replied, smoothing his hair.

Damian let out a small, weary breath of relief. However, his gaze drifted past his wife and settled on the figure standing near the entrance, a face he never expected to see within these walls.

”August?” Damian’s brow furrowed, his voice sharpening with suspicion. ”What are you doing here?”

”The Duchess brought me here,” August replied, his tone smooth and cutting. ”She begged for your life.”

Damian’s eyes widened in shock. He whipped his head toward Eilika, who stood motionless, her eyes locked onto August with dread and defiance.

”I informed Eilika that only August possessed the antidote for the poison in your system,” Sylvian interjected quickly, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere. ”But that matters little now. The only thing that truly matters is that you are alive and safe.”

”Yes, Damian,” Georgia agreed, her voice trembling with relief. ”You must rest. Your body has endured so much today.”

”I will escort Prince August to the guest wing,” Eilika announced.

”A servant can manage that,” Damian countered, his gaze intense. ”I need you to stay with me.”

”I will be back momentarily,” Eilika promised with a reassuring smile. She turned to follow August, who had already begun walking out. Damian watched them go, his eyes lingering on the door with growing unease.

Once they were out of his sight, Damian turned his attention to Maurice. ”What is really going on? How did Eilika even manage to contact August?”

”The Duke should not concern himself with this right now,” Maurice replied with a worried tone. ”Please, focus on your recovery. You have no concept of how lethal that poison truly was.”

”Lethal or not, August shouldn’t have been involved with this,” Damian asserted.

”Did you want us to watch you die then?” Georgia’s patience snapped. ”The doctor clearly mentioned that there was only one cure. And August possessed it. Eilika only requested him and he gave it. For now, you need to rest, son.”

Damian turned quiet, realizing anymore arguments with them would result in nothing. But he knew something had happened.

’I will ask Eilika when she returns,’ he thought.

~~~~~

”This is the room you will use for the night,” Eilika said, gesturing toward the door on her right, keeping her distance. She hesitated, then added, ”Thank you for not mentioning our agreement to him.”

August didn’t move to enter. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with detached amusement. ”Damian will find out eventually. How do you intend to secure his signature on those divorce papers, Duchess?” He reached into his coat, pulling out the second tiny glass vial. The second Frost Lily shimmered inside like captured moonlight. ”He needs this dose in exactly twelve hours. You have until then to handle your business.”

Eilika’s grip tightened on the hem of her dress. ”If I simply leave... if I leave the signed papers behind and vanish, won’t that be enough?”

”Damian is tenacious,” August countered, his gaze narrowing. ”He will hunt you down, and I cannot allow that. If you are to leave, you must be erased from his life entirely.”

She narrowed her eyes, the memory of his earlier callousness resurfacing. ”Weren’t you about to expose us earlier? You were practically broadcasting our business to everyone in the room.”

August shrugged, his smile not reaching his eyes. ”I was merely testing your resolve, Duchess.”

”Damian won’t find me. He doesn’t even love me,” Eilika stated. She recalled how he called Liliana’s short name before waking up. Though she understood it might be related to something going in his unconscious mind, but it did hurt.

”He’s a fool not to love you then,” August pronounced.

Eilika met his gaze again and bowed her head in reverence. ”I am grateful for what you did for Damian. You saved a life, Prince August and for that, I’ll forever be grateful to you.”