The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Rosaline, we shall speak in my chambers,” Eilika said in a low voice.

Rosaline nodded, stepping out of the room first while Eilika turned to instruct a nearby maidservant to keep a close watch over the sleeping boy.

As the two sisters walked down the long palace corridors toward Eilika’s quarters, their quiet procession did not go unnoticed by the passing servants.

Once inside the drawing room, they took their seats, and Joanna promptly arrived to serve them refreshing glasses of water before retreating.

”Why did you come to Roman’s academy?” Eilika questioned. ”I suspect you wanted to display your current plight in front of the public to garner sympathy, did you not?”

Rosaline shook her head quickly, her gaze dropping. ”That is not entirely true. I genuinely wished to see for myself if you had recovered well. And yes... I wanted to apologize for everything I have done to you. I am forced to wash and mop the stone tiles at the administrative center as part of my punishment. Can you truly not grant me one final chance?”

”How am I supposed to trust that you will use such a chance wisely?” Eilika countered. ”I have extended grace to you numerous times since the day friction first arose between us. A leopard cannot change its spots, Rosaline.”

Rosaline fiddled with her fingers in anxious anticipation. ”I was always so prideful of my own beauty, while I constantly made you feel inferior because of your face. Now, every single night before I go to bed, I look at myself in the mirror and feel nothing but shame.”

Eilika watched her silently, unable to fully grasp where Rosaline was leading with this sudden confession.

”True beauty isn’t about how a person looks on the outside,” Rosaline pronounced, her voice trembling slightly. ”I have finally realized that. I am honestly not here to beg for any favors or to ask for my punishment to end, Eilika. I simply wanted to apologize to you for always hurting you and ridiculing you. I treated you terribly up until the very day of your marriage.”

Eilika studied her sister’s exhausted face for a long moment before answering calmly, ”If you are truly apologetic, Rosaline, then I would like to see that reflected through your actions, not just your words.”

”I will,” Rosaline replied, lifting her gaze to meet her sister’s eyes with a look of quiet determination.

Eilika felt her own eyes grow slightly misty at the sincerity in Rosaline’s voice. However, she carefully suppressed her emotions, refusing to show any vulnerability that might make Rosaline believe she was easily swayed by tears.

”I shall take my leave now,” Rosaline said, smoothing down her skirt as she stood up from the armchair.

”You should have lunch before you head home,” Eilika stated.

”No, it is fine. If the Duke returns and finds me here, it may only provoke his anger,” Rosaline replied with a faint smile. ”Perhaps one day, when you have truly forgiven me from your heart, you might invite me over for a meal.”

Eilika did not press the matter further, offering only a nod.

Rosaline offered a respectful bow and quietly exited the chamber, leaving Eilika staring at the closed door, deeply contemplative and a bit confused by her sister’s sudden humility.

~~~~~

Damian stepped out of his carriage just as Rosaline was walking away toward the outer gates.

”Why was she here? How many times must I instruct you not to let that woman set foot inside where my family resides?” Damian coldly snapped at the guards positioned nearby.

”Pardon us, Your Grace, but the Duchess herself was the one who brought her sister inside,” the captain of the guard replied, bowing his head in deference.

”Eilika did?” Damian’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Determined to discover the truth behind this unexpected visit, he strode past them and entered the residence.

Finding the grand living room empty, he walked straight to his own study to drop off his belongings. He lowered his file onto the desk and then turned on his heel, heading directly toward his wife’s chambers.

As he stepped inside the bedchamber, he found Eilika sitting before the vanity, brushing her long hair.

”Damian!” she exclaimed in surprise, immediately setting the brush down and standing up. Offering him a slight bow, she walked over to greet him. ”You returned early today. I thought you would be entirely occupied with the council for the rest of the afternoon.”

”Elias’s punishment was carried out earlier than scheduled, so I decided to return,” he affirmed, his voice steady. ”Besides, I still have to personally interrogate that maid who triggered the explosion at the estate.”

”I will accompany you,” Eilika stated firmly. ”I want to hear directly from her why she took such a bold step to hurt me.”

”You already know the reason,” Damian countered gently.

”Yes, but hearing the truth from her own mouth is what I require. Please do not refuse me this,” Eilika insisted. ”Besides, the estate renovation will be entirely completed by this evening.”

”Most of our belongings remained secure within the main structure anyway, so it won’t be a difficult task to shift back,” Damian replied. He paused for a moment, glancing around the room. ”Is Roman busy with his academy homework?”

”No, he is currently fast asleep. I believe he was simply exhausted from yesterday’s journey,” she answered, her gaze drifting toward the door.

”That is for the best.” Damian reached out, catching her hands and drawing her closer to his chest. His nose nuzzled against hers, and a faint smile touched his lips as he whispered, ”Roman barely gives us a moment alone these days. You intentionally brought him into our bed last night to avoid me, didn’t you?”

Before she could offer a defense, he brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, leaning down to capture her lips in a deep kiss.

~~~~~~

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