The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Is it true? Your Highness, why would someone from the capital be involved in a case of arson here?” she questioned, her gaze clouding with genuine confusion.

”I half expected you to accuse me of spinning tales,” August replied, a genuine surprise crossing his features before he recovered his composure. ”But then, you are Eilika. A woman who rarely judges a situation in haste.”

”Your Highness, I want you to answer the question I asked,” Eilika countered, her tone flattening to draw him back to the matter at hand.

”For that, the true answer lies far from here,” August replied. ”It rests entirely within the capital, inside my step-uncle’s estate. Now, why I told you this? Because I want you to do something for me when I’ll be away. Make everyone believe that I’m in Varos.”

Eilika’s confusion deepened at his demands. ”Why should I be the one to do that?”

”Because my sudden absence from Varos will inevitably breed suspicion,” August explained, his tone sharpening. ”Do you truly believe the King and Queen sent me to this province without placing eyes on me? I maintain a shred of faith in my father, but the Queen is someone I cannot trust under any circumstance. It will become an immense problem if she discovers I have been investigating her brother. Though this minor breakthrough points directly to him, the Queen is entirely capable of turning the entire situation against me.”

Eilika nodded in slow understanding. ”So, you believe they have deployed spies to tail your every move. It is entirely your own doing. Why did you feel compelled to harm the Crown Prince in the past?” she murmured in a low, complaining tone.

”Because I am not a righteous man, and I was forced into a corner,” August replied, a familiar, dark smirk returning to his lips. ”That was the only method by which people would ever acknowledge my existence.”

Eilika glared at him, her expression openly judging him this time. ”Your Highness, that is hardly a matter of pride. Furthermore, you ought to have approached Damian for this favor. He is far better equipped to assist you in these matters than I am.”

”You shall be the one to put in a word with him on my behalf. I must depart for the capital in disguise immediately,” August stated, ignoring her critique. ”Sylvian is present here as well. Ensure you maintain the lie to him, Eilika.”

”Why? I believe—”

”He is the Queen’s second-born son,” August interrupted with bitterness. ”I do not trust him even a fraction.”

Eilika stood in stunned silence at his blunt declaration. She felt an urge to press him for details, but the constraint of time forced her to hold her tongue.

”I shall take my leave then,” August said. He began to walk past her, but abruptly paused. ”I must say, Duchess, that you are quite a lucky charm for me.”

”Prince August ought not to utter such words to me,” Eilika countered, tilting her head to fix him with a steady, warning look. ”If anyone were to overhear, they could easily attribute an entirely wrong meaning to them.”

”Fret not, no one would ever dare to voice such a thought,” August replied with a careless smile, before turning on his heel and walking away.

”He truly possesses no filter when he speaks,” she murmured to herself, watching his retreating figure disappear.

~~~~~

”Miss Rosaline has submitted a formal request, begging for an audience with you,” Maurice informed Damian, carefully placing the letter upon the mahogany desk. ”Furthermore, the council is scheduled to convene this afternoon, Your Grace.”

Damian picked up the parchment, his eyes scanning the desperate lines written within. ”Simply leave her to her duties,” he stated coldly, already picking up his fountain pen.

”I believe Miss Rosaline has learned a sufficient lesson by now. This morning, she was receiving a severe scolding from the head of the palace cleaning staff,” Maurice noted quietly.

”She inflicted pain upon Eilika on numerous occasions,” Damian asserted, his grip tightening on the pen as he looked up. ”This current punishment is nothing compared to the suffering she brought upon my wife.”

”I understand completely, Your Grace,” Maurice murmured, bowing deeply before retrieving the rejected letter from the desk.

”I did not see August at the administrative office today. Where has he gone?” Damian questioned, pausing his pen.

”I have no certain knowledge of his whereabouts. It is possible he is conducting a field visit somewhere within the province,” Maurice replied.

”Hmm.” Damian stared at the paperwork before him, wondering if August was simply slacking in his duties.

The King had requested that Damian keep a close eye on the young prince. Damian sincerely hoped August wasn’t plotting some new piece of mischief just to force the court to look his way. Yet, he had to admit, the prince’s recent efforts to reform his character and actually contribute had been entirely visible as well.

Damian held the first file out toward Maurice, pausing just as Louis stepped briskly into the study.

”Your Grace, I have a matter of great urgency to discuss with you. If your schedule permits at this exact moment, may I speak freely?” Louis requested, his posture rigid with purpose.

”What is it?” Damian asked, looking up from his paperwork to fix his sharp gaze on the commander.

”Your Grace, you must release the necessary treasury funds to rebuild the outer regions, the ones that have consistently been neglected by the provincial administration,” Louis asserted, stepping forward and placing a folder onto Damian’s desk.

”Pardon my insolence for speaking with such haste, but I hold the official assessment reports here. These specific territories within Varos are severely underdeveloped and require your immediate intervention.”

Damian picked it up and opened the file. ”What’s this sudden haste in making me release the funds? You know without the discussion with the provincial council here, I can’t do this.”

”I know, Your Grace. But today you can raise this matter. I think it’s time for the Duke to look at the people at the bottom who are suffering because of us,” Louis asserted.