The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Eilika opened her eyes as she felt the weight of a warm duvet over her. Propping herself up on her elbows, she yawned, realizing she had slept for far longer than intended. Reaching over to the bedside table lamp, she switched it on, casting a soft glow across the chamber.

”Why didn’t Damian wake me up?” she murmured to herself.

Just then, a quiet knock sounded at the door, causing her to furrow her brows. ”Your Grace, if you are awake, may I enter?” a maidservant asked politely from the corridor.

”Come in,” Eilika called out.

The heavy doors opened and a petite maidservant walked in. She bowed respectfully before moving toward the mattress to begin making the bed.

”Have you seen the Duke?” Eilika inquired.

”The Duke is currently with the Crown Prince and Prince Sylvian, Your Grace,” the maidservant answered, keeping her eyes lowered.

Eilika hummed in response. Gathering her hair, she tied it up into a quick bun before heading toward the washroom to freshen up.

The maidservant tucked the duvet into one of the cupboards and immediately began searching for the item August had mentioned. She moved stealthily, opening the cabinets and then the drawers, but found them entirely empty.

Stepping quickly to the bedside table, she pulled open the drawer just as the washroom door clicked open. Reacting instantly, she slid it shut and turned to smooth down the bedsheets.

”Your Grace, the dinner hour is approaching,” the maidservant said. ”Shall I have your meals brought up to the chamber?”

”Not yet. I will have my dinner when the Duke returns,” Eilika stated, drying her face with a towel.

The maidservant bowed and walked out, leaving Eilika alone to look around the chamber.

Her mind traveled back to the moment she had unlocked the washroom door; she was certain she had heard the distinct click of a drawer being closed.

’Was she looking for something?’ she thought, a spark of suspicion lighting in her mind. Leaving her face towel to rest on the arm of a nearby chair, Eilika walked out into the adjacent drawing room, and then stepped further out into the corridor, which remained empty and silent.

’I wonder if Roman is missing me,’ she mused, thinking back to the estate as she moved to stand by a large, open window frame. Looking down into the courtyard below, she watched rows of soldiers marching in precise formation from one corner to the other, maintaining the tight security of the palace grounds.

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Eilika turned to see Damian walking down the corridor toward her.

”Where have you been?” she complained, turning to face him fully. ”I was sleeping like a log, and you didn’t even think to wake me up.”

”You were exhausted from the journey. How could I wake you?” Damian asked, a slight smile playing on his lips. Stopping directly in front of her, his hand found hers, wrapping around it warmly. ”Besides, since you have rested enough, we can wander around the capital tonight.”

”Are you not tired from the journey?”

”No,” Damian replied. ”And there are quite a few beautiful places in the capital at night.”

”I don’t think we should go out when the situation is so tense in the palace,” Eilika stated.

”No one will find out. We will sneak out,” Damian said.

”Seriously, Damian?” Eilika arched her eyebrows. ”You never broke rules and protocols.”

”Who said that?” Damian chuckled. ”It’s not like we will come to the capital every other day. We may have to travel back to Varos by tomorrow afternoon or evening.”

”Hmm. I hope Roman is taking all his meals. I wonder if he will sleep well tonight. I have never traveled so far leaving him behind ever since I married you,” Eilika stated, her gaze drifting back to the window.

Damian placed a hand on the small of her back, gently guiding her to look back out at the view. ”Do not worry so much for Roman. He promised you himself that he would take care of the estate while we were gone.”

”You do not understand a mother’s heart,” Eilika said softly.

”No, perhaps I don’t. But I do know a fair amount about my son. He always wants his mother to be happy and at ease,” Damian asserted with a reassuring smile.

Eilika rested her head against his shoulder, letting the warmth of his presence ground her, before she whispered, ”A maidservant came to the chamber earlier. I believe she was searching through our things.”

”I knew it would happen,” Damian replied, his voice dropping to a murmur as his grip on her hand tightened. ”Rest assured. They are in a safe place and will be revealed to the court in the morning.”

”Hmm. And how is Prince August? He must be resting at the moment,” Eilika said.

”Yes, he is.” Damian hesitated, a tight line forming on his lips. He had not intended to speak of it, but the irritation proved too difficult to contain. ”It makes me jealous.”

”What?” She stared at him in utter confusion.

”The manner in which August calls for you. He is well aware that you are my wife. I have no desire to behave like a child, but I reprimanded him for failing to conduct himself properly in your presence,” Damian stated.

Eilika let out a light laugh. ”You did well. Though, since when does the great Duke get jealous?” she chuckled, entirely amused by his admission.

”I have always been jealous,” Damian stated. His eyes darkened as they drifted down to her lips, and he lowered his head to kiss her, but she quickly placed a hand against his chest to hold him back.

”Duke, we are outside. And worse, we are in the palace,” Eilika whispered, her eyes darting warily around the quiet corridor.

”So? We are husband and wife; we can kiss whenever and wherever we please,” Damian stated, entirely ignoring her protests as he leaned in and pressed his lips firmly against hers. ”I have been dying to kiss you all day,” he murmured against her mouth, his other hand sliding up to cradle the back of her head, deepening the kiss despite the eyes of the surroundings.