The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Your Grace, the King and Queen were unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony today because Prince August got gravely injured last night. However, His Majesty has sent me on his behalf to be a part of this occasion,” said the chief valet of the palace, bowing low.

”Please,” Damian replied, gesturing toward the tombstone. The valet placed the large bouquet of white lilies onto the stone.

After bowing his head to offer a silent prayer for the repose of the King’s late brother’s soul, the chief valet stepped back into the shadows of the mausoleum. The high priest then stepped forward, guiding Damian and his mother through the final, sacred rites of the memorial service.

Roman held the hand of Eilika as he stared at his father, then the portrait of his grandfather. Last year he fell sick and couldn’t attend the ceremony.

They all offered their final prayers and, after a quiet interval, departed the mausoleum. By the early afternoon, they had finished distributing the traditional alms and food donations to all the needy citizens who had gathered on the estate grounds.

As they finally sat down to rest in the cool expanse of the grand hall, Damian turned to his mother. ”Mother, Eilika and I must head to the capital immediately after lunch.”

Roman looked up sharply from across the table. ”I want to accompany you,” he insisted.

”Roman, the atmosphere within the palace is not right at present,” Damian replied. ”Stay with your grandmother. Take care of her behind me.”

Given the sudden weight of responsibility his father had placed on him, Roman’s entire demeanor shifted. He slid down from his seat and hurried across the room to Georgia, sitting down right beside her. ”Grandma, I will not leave you alone here.”

She smiled warmly at the boy’s earnest declaration, then looked up at her son and daughter-in-law. ”Travel safely,” Georgia asserted.

”We will, Mother,” Damian promised.

The chief butler then stepped forward, bowing low. ”Lunch is served, Your Grace.”

”Let us dine then,” Damian stated, rising from his chair. The family walked together into the grand dining hall.

Once they had finished their simple lunch meal, Damian asked Eilika to get ready. ”I will see you outside,” he asserted. Meanwhile, Georgia had already taken Roman along with her to her chamber for his afternoon rest.

Damian headed to his study, gathered the necessary documents from his desk, and slipped them into an envelope. He heard a brief knock on the door. ”Come in.”

”Your Grace, the vehicle is ready,” Maurice informed him from the doorway.

”Excellent. And where is Louis?” Damian questioned, sealing the envelope.

Louis entered the room just then, catching his breath as if he had been running. ”I am here, Your Grace.” He held a thick, dust-covered ledger in his hands. ”I personally searched the oldest archives from that year, and Xavier’s name was mentioned in the original log. However, the official file that was forwarded to our office back then had his name completely scrubbed. That is exactly why, for all these years, we never saw him as a suspect and the entire case remained an unsolved mystery,” he explained.

”So, we have a strong chance to defend August,” Damian replied. ”Louis, you are coming with us.”

”Of course,” Louis agreed immediately. ”But I have not packed anything for a journey. Will we return by tomorrow?”

”Yes, I am hoping we will be back by tomorrow evening,” Damian replied. ”Mostly because Roman has a sports event, and Eilika and I cannot miss it. We only need to ensure August does not get unjustly punished. As for the rest, he will have to stand alone to prove the other matters,” he affirmed.

”You mean the matters where he accused the Queen of murdering his mother. If that happens, chaos will break out in the palace,” Louis remarked, a troubled expression clouding his face. ”And so far, none of us even know if August survived the night or not.”

”The news would have reached our estate by now if the worst had happened to him,” Damian replied calmly. ”Let us focus on the positive for now and head outside.”

He stepped out of the study first, followed closely by Maurice and Louis. But as they approached the carriage waiting in the courtyard, they found Roman standing by the door alongside Georgia.

”Roman wanted to see you and Eilika off,” Georgia said gently, her hand resting on the boy’s shoulder.

Damian went down on one knee, balancing his forearm on it as he placed his other hand on Roman’s head. ”Your uncle August needs our help right now. That is why we must go to the capital. Take your meals on time, and make sure you sleep well.”

Roman didn’t say a word. Instead, he wrapped his tiny arms around his father’s neck and hugged him tightly.

By then, Eilika came out of the mansion as well, softening at the sight of Damian lifting Roman up into his arms for a warm embrace. He caressed his back and turned around only to see Eilika walking toward them.

She hugged Georgia, telling her to take care of herself, when Roman lifted his head from Damian’s shoulder and looked over at her.

”Mama, return soon. I promise I won’t disturb anyone here. And please tell Uncle August that he will be well soon,” Roman stated earnestly.

”Yes, my darling. I will,” she promised. She leaned in and placed a tender kiss on his soft cheek.

Damian then lowered the boy gently back to the ground. He gestured to Eilika to get into the car first, then he climbed in after her.

Maurice closed the door securely while Louis handed a candy to Roman, flashing him a reassuring smile before sliding into the front passenger’s seat.

Roman waved at them, bravely blinking back his tears as he was a bit upset to see them go. Once the car finally drove out of sight, Georgia said gently, ”Let us go back inside, Roman.”

”Yes, Grandma,” he murmured. He walked ahead of her toward the mansion doors, while Georgia followed closely behind his footsteps.

~~~~~

”You mentioned that August would open his eyes in the morning. It is already late afternoon,” King Nyxen complained as he glared at the chief physician, who stood with his head bowed low.

”Your Majesty, we have tried our best. The shock to his mind must be so profound that Prince August is simply unable to wake,” the physician argued defensively, keeping his gaze fixed on the floor.

Queen Victoria smiled internally at the sight. ’It is better if he never wakes up at all. My attempt last night to send him to the other side failed, but it won’t fail today.’ She glanced over at Sylvian, who was staring anxiously at the bed, and shook her head in silent irritation. ’How could both of my sons turn out so terribly soft-hearted?’

Sylvian caught the eyes of his mother and decided to talk to her.

”Let August rest. We shall wait until the evening,” Victoria stated, wanting King Nyxen to head out with her. But the King didn’t budge from his place.

”All of you should leave,” King Nyxen commanded.

Victoria was the first to step out of the chamber while Ciaran stayed behind near the King. Sylvian, however, followed his mother out into the grand corridor. He quickened his pace, running toward her until he caught her steps.

”Mother, you don’t look upset or worried about August at all,” Sylvian said, his voice laced with a suspicion.

Victoria’s feet halted on the floor, and she turned slowly to look at him. ”It is good that you have returned to the palace, Sylvian. I have been delaying your meeting with—”

”Mother,” Sylvian interrupted her, not letting her finish. ”How can you be thinking about a meeting when August is on his deathbed?”

”He accused me yesterday of killing his mother,” Victoria stated coldly. ”What has happened to all of you? Instead of standing up for me, you are standing up for that bastard. Have you completely forgotten the suffering I underwent because of his mother? I am worried for you and Ciaran. You two are the only ones who matter to me, no one else.”

Sylvian saw the deep-seated hatred in his mother’s eyes and her tone toward August. She did not merely hate August’s mother; she despised August’s very existence.

”What if Uncle Xavier indeed ordered the massacre of the entire Spencer family?” Sylvian pressed, his voice trembling slightly. ”What if it gets proven that you were also involved in that? Will you still have the same thing to say, Mother?”

”Lies cannot be proven, Sylvian,” Victoria replied, looking straight into his eyes without a hint of hesitation. ”You are doubting your own mother, and it hurts me deeply.”

Sylvian clenched his fists. But he couldn’t bring to say anything to his mother because he didn’t wish to hurt her with his words.

Victoria turned around and walked ahead towards her manor.