The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”But I intend to break it,” Sylvian insisted, his resolve unshaken. ”Do you truly believe I am blind to the nature of the noble ladies in the capital?”

”You are not. I only offer this counsel because you know as well as I do how terrible your mother’s temper can be,” Damian advised gravely. ”Do you truly think the Queen will ever give her blessing to a marriage with a woman who does not share the highest pedigree? She is the sovereign, Sylvian. If you choose this path, you must be prepared to fight her for it.”

”You speak the truth. Let us simply hope that when I find love, it is worth the battle,” Sylvian replied, a flicker of resilient hope in his eyes.

”Where is the Duke?”

The distinct voice echoed through the hall, drawing their attention toward the grand entrance where Louis now stood.

”Oh, there you are!” Louis smiled warmly upon spotting Damian, before his gaze shifted to the young royal beside him. ”Your Highness, a very good afternoon to you,” he greeted, bowing his head respectfully as he walked toward the two men.

”I certainly did not expect Prince Sylvian to return to Varos so soon!” Louis exclaimed, his eyes wide with genuine shock.

”Well, circumstances arose, and I deemed it wisest to distance myself from the palace for a time,” Sylvian answered smoothly, offering a vague but knowing smile.

”Please escort the Prince to his chambers,” Damian instructed a valet standing nearby. The servant bowed low and gestured toward the grand staircase, guiding Sylvian’s way.

Once the prince was out of earshot, Damian turned a discerning gaze upon his companion. ”And what brings you here, Louis? You look as though you are about to spill a grave secret.”

”Yes, I do have something of great import to share,” Louis said, his demeanor turning instantly somber. ”Liliana was truly not the gentle woman we all believed her to be. You cannot begin to comprehend what I discovered today.” He cast a cautious look around the grand hall, ensuring no servants were within a distance to overhear them.

”She went to great lengths to ensure public grievances never reached your ears,” Louis began, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper.

”Last night, Maurice and I were at a tavern when we happened to intervene and save a woman from trouble. This poor soul has been ruthlessly harassed by debtors for a long time, so I offered her my assistance. But as she began recounting her plight, it led back to the former late duchess.”

As Louis related the details of what the woman had endured, Damian’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching with growing fury.

”Liliana refused her an audience with you,” Louis remarked, shaking his head. ”Furthermore, I managed to look through a file from the magistrate’s office this morning. Liliana siphoned considerable funds from the duchy’s treasury and used them to secretly finance a few influential noble families. Damian, the former Duchess engaged in deceits that none of us could have ever suspected.”

”And how did you manage to get the hands on such a file? Where was it all these years?” Damian questioned.

”And how exactly did you manage to get your hands on such a file? Where has it been all these years?” Damian questioned, his eyes narrowing with deep suspicion.

”It was lying forgotten beneath the dust in the magistrate’s private archive,” Louis explained. ”I was on an official visit this morning and decided to personally inspect the old records. I originally intended to inform you of all this tomorrow, but I felt you needed to know without delay. I truly believe you must launch a formal investigation into your late wife’s affairs. I am sorry to bring this to you, but it is vital; otherwise, many of the wrongs she committed might remain buried forever.”

”I shall look into it,” Damian answered, his voice tight and strained.

The soft rustle of skirts and a servant’s voice interrupted them from behind.

”Luncheon is served, Your Grace.” The maid bowed respectfully before heading up the grand staircase to inform Eilika.

”Let us head to the dining hall. It seems luncheon was prepared a bit later than usual today,” Damian replied, masking his inner turmoil. ”Just keep these matters entirely to yourself for now.”

”Of course,” Louis agreed, falling into step beside him.

~~~~~

At the luncheon table, the heavy silence broke the moment August took his seat and found himself staring directly at Sylvian.

”What are you doing back here?” August frowned, his mind instantly racing with suspicion that the Queen had dispatched the prince to keep a watchful eye on his movements.

”I have matters to attend to in the province. Let us not disrupt the meal with politics,” Sylvian said dismissively, completely unwilling to engage in a conversation with him.

”And what manner of matters could possibly bring you back so soon?” August’s brow cocked up, his tone sharp with disbelief.

Sensing the sudden tension, young Roman slowly lowered his silver spoon back to his bowl, his eyes darting between both of his uncles. Even the child could sense the distinct coldness passing between the two men.

”It is nothing you need concern yourself with,” Sylvian answered back coldly, shutting down the inquiry entirely.

”Are both of my uncles fighting with each other? My teacher says fighting is wrong,” Roman finally spoke up, his innocent voice cutting through the heavy tension at the table.

”We are not fighting, Roman,” Sylvian assured him quickly, softening his hardened expression to give the boy a reassuring smile.

”Let us enjoy our lunch in silence, please,” Georgia suggested gently, casting a warning look toward the men to keep the peace.

Eilika reached over to fondly ruffle Roman’s hair, then took the crystal pitcher to pour more water into the glass he had already emptied halfway. ”Eat slowly, dear,” she whispered to him softly, redirecting his attention back to his plate.

Once they finished their luncheon, Damian turned to his mother and announced, ”We are going on a brief excursion to the private beach, Mother. We shall return this coming Sunday evening. Roman will be accompanying us as well.”

”Really?” Roman’s eyes lit up with absolute delight at the unexpected news.

”That’s really nice,” Georgia answered with a smile. She was happy that Damian was making efforts towards his family.

”Am I also going?” Roman asked again.

”Yes, your father has arranged this short journey for us,” Eilika stated warmly. ”Come, let us go and pack your trunks together then.” She held Roman’s hand, and the duo walked up the grand staircase toward the family quarters.

Sylvian, however, hurried out of his chair and rushed up after them, eager to speak with Eilika in private before they departed.

He caught up to them in the upper corridor, stopping to catch his breath as he called out her name.

Both Eilika and Roman stopped at the sound of his voice. Turning around, she quietly requested Joanna to escort the young master ahead to his chambers.

”Prince Sylvian.” She offered him a graceful bow.

”I could not speak with you properly downstairs,” Sylvian said, his eyes scanning her anxiously. ”Are you truly recovering well? Your head... I was told it was wounded during the explosion.”

She instinctively touched the crisp linen bandage hidden beneath her hair. ”Yes, it was. But Damian saved my life, and thanks to the physicians, I am recovering splendidly. However, Prince Sylvian, your swift return to the province was quite unexpected. Though I am truly happy to welcome you back.”

”Well, my mother was relentlessly pressuring me to select a bride from the court,” Sylvian replied, a sheepish chuckle escaping him as he rubbed the back of his neck. ”So, in truth, I simply fled the capital to escape it.”

”Your Highness, the Queen will certainly not permit you to remain a bachelor for very long,” she stated with a soft, knowing smile.

”You speak the truth,” Sylvian conceded with a sigh. ”By the way, August has not caused any further disruptions here, has he?”

”No, not at all. He came to the province to make a fresh start,” Eilika asserted gently. ”I believe you may be misjudging your brother. I am aware he was born to a mistress, but he has spent his entire life as a neglected child within the palace walls. That is the true source of his resentment toward everyone. Deep down, however, he possesses a good heart.”

”I know,” Sylvian murmured. ”I tried countless times to understand his nature when we were boys.”

”But you are both grown men now,” Eilika stated softly. ”Prince August is not nearly as bad as everyone perceives him to be. In truth, he simply wishes to be seen. So, you shall try building your brotherly bond with him. We can’t ignore the fact that Prince August did save my husband’s life. He loves sending people through turmoil, I believe.”

She then bowed and walked ahead, leaving Sylvian in a state of contemplation.