The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

As August planned, he kidnapped Queen Victoria’s brother, Xavier, on his way to work. After keeping an eye on him for a few days, August had grown fully aware of the patterns of Xavier’s routine.

”Help! Help! Help!” Xavier screamed, his voice breaking as he began coughing intensely. He strained against the thick ropes tying him to the heavy wooden chair, but it was entirely useless. The room was pitch black, leaving him unable to see a single thing.

Just then, the door creaked open and a sharp glare cut straight through the darkness into his eyes. August walked in, his features completely hidden by a mask. Xavier winced and turned his head, nearly blinded by the sharp, flickering light of the lantern.

”Who are you? Why did you abduct me? You have no idea what will happen to your life once they find you. My sister is the kingdom’s queen! She will burn you alive, and your family too!” Xavier openly threatened, his voice echoing off the damp walls.

August snickered at his empty threats and delivered a hard slap across his face. Before Xavier could recover, August grasped a fistful of his hair, violently jerking his head backward.

”Worry for your own skin first,” August sneered, leaning down. ”What if I slit your throat right here? Will your dear sister discover your body in time? I promise you, I will deliver your severed head to her gates as a tribute if you do not answer my questions.”

Xavier’s bravado vanished, his eyes widening with genuine terror. ”What questions?” he choked out.

”Why did you set fire to the Spencer estate?” August demanded.

”The Spencers? I... I know nothing of them!” Xavier stammered.

August wrenched his scalp tighter, forcing a sharp cry of agony from the nobleman’s lips. ”Then strain your memory and think harder.”

Unsheathing a sleek, cold dagger from his belt, August pressed the edge of the blade firmly against the pulsing vein of Xavier’s neck.

”I will count to three,” August said.

”Three!” He pressed the blade into Xavier’s skin, who cried in fear and pain. ”Speak, you bastard! Tell me why did you set them on fire in Varos and killed them?”

”Ahhh!” Xavier shrieked. ”Because Alistair was going to expose it!”

August paused, easing the pressure of the blade. He drew the weapon back, leaving a shallow nick on Xavier’s skin where a bead of blood began to ooze.

”Please, spare my life,” Xavier wept, his chest heaving with desperate sobs. ”I have children at home... a wife... my daughter is to be wed soon. Do not do this, I beg of you! I will grant you gold, as much as your heart desires!”

”Expose what?” August demanded, his tone cold and unyielding. ”Alistair Spencer was a nobleman renowned for his honesty. What truth was he about to unveil? Speak, Xavier. You will find no mercy here until every single question is answered.”

”I cannot speak of it... Please, do not force me—”

Before Xavier could finish, August’s fist struck him squarely across the jaw. The force of the punch sent Xavier into a violent fit of coughing, spitting blood onto the stone floor.

”Then I had better send your head to the palace—”

”The identity of the one who murdered Florence!” Xavier cried out, terror overriding his loyalty. ”Forgive me... I could not keep the secret...” he muttered, thinking of his sister. But he loved his life more.

”Florence?” August’s brow furrowed, a sudden stillness settling over him as the name left his lips. It was his own mother’s name. ”Florence... the King’s...”

”Yes!” Xavier gasped, trembling violently. ”The King’s mistress! Alistair knew. So, he needed to be killed and for that, his house was set into fire.”

”And who did that?” August demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ”Did you do it?”

”Look... I only did what the Queen commanded,” Xavier stammered, his mind fracturing under the pressure. ”I was simply following royal orders. You promised to spare me if I spoke! Please, let me go. I beg of you.”

Beneath his terror, a desperate calculation flickered through Xavier’s thoughts if he could just survive this room and escape, he would have his sister deploy the royal guards to hunt this masked bastard down and execute him.

”Who are you? Why do you care about—”

Before Xavier could finish the thought, August delivered a swift, heavy blow with the edge of his hand to the side of the nobleman’s neck, instantly rendering him unconscious.

Xavier’s head slumped forward, his body going limp against the ropes.

August removed the mask from his face, his features twisting into an expression of rage.

”Victoria,” he breathed. ”I am going to kill you. I knew you were the one who murdered my mother.”

He stared at the unconscious Xavier slumped in the chair. August had initiated this investigation under the impression that he was uncovering a mere web of political corruption. Never could he have anticipated that the trail of breadcrumbs would lead directly to the slaughter of his own mother.

His priorities shifted instantly. Deciding to smuggle Xavier into the palace as his leverage, August tightened his grip on his dagger. He would burn the entire kingdom to the ground if he had to, but he would ensure the Queen faced her rightful, bloody retribution.

He swiftly untied Xavier’s limp form from the chair and dragged him out, hauling him over the saddle of his horse. Mounting the steed behind Xavier, August urged the horse forward and rode straight toward the palace gates.

The sentries stepped forward, weapons drawn, shocked by the sight of August approaching with a body slung stomach-down across his horse. However, the moment August flashed his royal token, the guards stiffened and immediately ordered the iron gates to be flung open.

August tore through the courtyard, pulling hard on the reins to bring the horse to a sudden halt in the center of the grand palace grounds. With a ruthless heave, he dumped Xavier’s body onto the cobblestones before dismounting.

”I demand an audience with the King!” August roared, his voice echoing fiercely across the courtyard and causing the nearby servants to shiver in terror.