The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”I shall review these documents thoroughly first. I cannot bring a matter of this financial scale to the council without proper preparation,” Damian stated, resting his hands upon the file.

”But before I do, I would like to understand what prompted this sudden urgency. What has changed for you to compile such a comprehensive report?”

”Your Grace, the night before your departure, Maurice and I happened upon a lady. I mentioned the incident to you briefly,” Louis explained, his expression softening slightly.

”The young woman had disguised herself as a man simply to ensure her own safety. We intervened when some local thugs cornered her, and subsequently escorted her back to her home. It was there that I witnessed the abysmal state of that quarter, it is entirely neglected. While I am prepared to donate a significant portion of my own income to help secure the necessary funds, my primary wish is simply to see those people live in dignified conditions.”

An appreciative smile touched Damian’s features. ”You have always kept that selfless nature of yours buried just beneath the surface, Louis. I will scrutinize these reports before making a final decision to present them to the council. And as you noted, if multiple such areas exist within Varos and across the kingdom, we will require a far more comprehensive plan to address it properly.”

”I understand,” Louis replied, inclining his head respectfully. ”Thank you for taking the time to hear me out, Your Grace.”

”You are my trusted advisor, Louis. If I refuse to listen to you, then who else will?” Damian chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders relaxing.

”Your Grace, it is entirely a reflection of your benevolence that you grant me your ear so consistently,” Louis remarked with a grateful smile. ”I shall leave you to complete your current tasks now. There is plenty of work awaiting my attention at my own desk as well.”

He bowed and walked out while Maurice too left the Duke’s office.

Damian set aside the report and picked up the file which needed his immediate attention.

~~~~

”Yes, we went all the way to the sea villa,” Roman proudly shared with his classmates, gesturing with his hands as they gathered around his desk during the morning break. ”I got to play in the water, and I even built a sandcastle with my mama. My father promised we would go back there often.”

One of the boys in the front row frowned, leaning forward. ”But I heard the Duchess isn’t your real mother. I overheard the elders talking about it at home. They said stepmothers are never kind, but the way you talk about her makes it sound like you actually love her.”

”That is not true at all,” Roman countered immediately as he defended Eilika. ”My mama is wonderful. From the very first day she arrived, she welcomed me with open arms. She comes to my room every single night to read me a bedtime story, and just last night, she sang a lullaby until I fell asleep.”

”Wow! Your mother truly sounds wonderful. My own mother never does any of that,” another boy named Julian remarked with a heavy sigh. ”She is completely exhausted all the time. I cannot help but wonder if she is ill.”

”Has your father not summoned a physician to examine her, Julian?” Roman inquired, his brow furrowing with genuine concern.

”Father did call for one, but I really do not know what is wrong,” Julian replied downcast, staring at his shoes. ”My mother’s condition simply hasn’t improved at all.”

Before their conversation could continue, the classroom doors swung open and their instructor stepped inside, holding a thick stack of grading notebooks.

The children immediately scrambled across the floor to find their respective desks, leaving Roman to fall into a quiet state of contemplation as the lesson began.

Julian’s words had inadvertently triggered a heavy memory. Roman found himself recalling his own biological mother’s passing. She, too, had succumbed to an illness because the medical treatments had ultimately failed to save her after he was born. At least, that was the truth he had been raised to believe.

~~~~~

Eilika stepped out of the carriage as she arrived to personally collect Roman from the academy for the first time in days.

The bodyguards immediately fanned out, forming a tight perimeter around the carriage to ensure the area remained perfectly secure.

Several other noble ladies who had arrived for the same purpose turned their heads, whispering among themselves as they glanced toward the Duchess. Before Eilika could take a step toward the academy gates, Rosaline abruptly stepped into her path.

”Your Grace, might I have a word with you?” Rosaline requested.

Seeing her appear so unexpectedly in a public setting, Eilika felt she had little choice but to give a firm nod of assent.

As she looked closer, she could not help but notice the prominent dark circles framing Rosaline’s face, while her heavily swollen eyes made it entirely evident that she had not known a peaceful night’s sleep in quite some time.

”Rosaline, step inside the carriage for now. I must collect Roman first,” Eilika instructed in a low, firm voice, determined not to let the watching crowd discern any public rift between them.

Rosaline offered a subdued bow and quietly retreated into the vehicle. Eilika composed herself, turning slightly to walk toward the academy gates just as a small group of noblewomen stepped forward to greet her.

”Your Grace, have you been faring well? We were deeply alarmed to hear the news regarding the estate explosion,” one of the ladies inquired politely.

”Yes, I have recovered fully. Thank you for your kind concern,” Eilika replied, offering a gracious smile.

At that moment, the heavy iron gates swung open, and the young students began stepping out into the courtyard in an orderly line. Spotting her immediately, Roman rushed forward and threw his arms around her for a brief hug.

Eilika took his small hand firmly in hers and guided him back toward the waiting carriage.

One of the guards held the door open as Eilika lifted Roman up, ensuring he safely boarded the carriage first. Rosaline reached out to help the boy settle into his seat before Eilika climbed inside after him.

”Aunt Rosaline, good afternoon!” Roman greeted her with a bright smile. He began sliding his leather satchel off his shoulders as Eilika sat down beside him, gesturing through the window for the guard to instruct the chauffeur to start the carriage.

”Good afternoon, Young Master Roman,” Rosaline replied, her voice strained as she forced a small smile.

”Aunt Rosaline, you look rather unwell. Is everything alright?” Roman asked, his brow furrowing. Before she could answer, he turned to his mother and continued earnestly, ”Julian’s mother is very sick too, Mama. He told me today that his mother is always exhausted and her condition isn’t improving. Can we send a skilled physician to their house? I really do not want anything bad to happen to his mother.”

”We cannot simply dispatch a physician without first verifying the details, Roman. However, I promise I will look into the matter and find out exactly what is going on,” Eilika answered gently.

”Okay, Mama.” Content with her answer, he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head heavily against her arm. ”Mama, I was so sleepy during lessons today.”

She smiled down at him, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead before guiding his head down to her lap. ”Sleep for a little while then. It will take some time for the carriage to reach the residence.” She carefully adjusted him, continuing to softly stroke his dark tresses as he drifted off.

Watching the scene from across the carriage, Rosaline finally understood exactly why the Duke and the Dowager Duchess held Eilika in such high regard.

The Duchess harbored no resentment toward the boy, nor did she care that he was the child of her husband’s late first wife. In a nobility driven by malice and strict bloodlines, such genuine devotion was entirely rare.

Eilika caught her gaze across the carriage but remained silent, allowing the quiet rhythm of the ride to continue. Half an hour later, the carriage slowed to a halt within the courtyard. The door was pulled open from the outside, and Rosaline stepped out first.

”I will carry Roman. He is sound asleep,” Rosaline offered, extending her arms back into the carriage.

Eilika carefully transferred the sleeping boy into her arms, then gathered his leather satchel and stepped down onto the cobblestones.

She led the way through the corridors toward Roman’s chambers, where Rosaline gently laid him across the bed.

As Eilika knelt to remove his shoes and socks, loosening the top two buttons of his uniform shirt so he could breathe easier, she heard Rosaline speak from behind her.

”You have truly become his mother, Your Grace.”

Eilika stopped blinking for a moment before rising to her feet. ”We cannot talk here. Follow me outside.”