The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Crown Prince Ciaran chose this name when we were young boys,” Damian replied. They began their descent, walking slowly down a long flight of stone stairs that led into the heart of the illuminated field.

”At the bottom lies a fountain fed by a natural mountain spring,” he told her as they walked. ”The legends say that if you make a wish there, it comes true.”

”Really? Then we must visit it,” Eilika stated, her dark mood suddenly lifting as a smile returned to her face.

She took the final step when her heel twisted beneath her, but Damian caught her before she could fall. ”Are you alright?” he asked, his eyes immediately shifting down to her ankle.

”Yes,” Eilika replied, catching her breath. Then she looked down and groaned. ”Oh, no. My heel.” She sat down on the stone step to slide the shoe off. ”It is broken.” She looked up at him, thoroughly annoyed. ”Why did it have to happen right now?”

”Give it to me.” Damian dropped to one knee and took the shoe from her hand. Aligning the broken heel with the sole, he struck it firmly against the stone step a few times to force the pins back into place. ”Try it now.” He carefully slid the shoe back onto her foot, then took her hand to help her stand.

Eilika took a step forward, and then a few more. ”It is fixed,” she said, looking up at him in surprise. ”How did you do that?”

”You saw it,” he replied with a slight smile.

She hooked her arm around his, leaning her head comfortably against his shoulder as they walked. A cool breeze swept across the open field, causing strands of her hair to sway with it.

”Eilika, we never got to go on our honeymoon,” Damian stated quietly.

”True. But why are you suddenly bringing that up?” She chuckled, looking up at him. ”Besides, we have to travel to the North soon. You told me yourself that we could consider that trip our honeymoon phase.”

”Yes,” Damian said, his tone turning a bit practical. ”But I will be working while we are there.”

”I do not mind it. At least we will get some time alone together,” Eilika replied.

Her eyes fell upon the fountain as it finally came into view. Releasing his arm, she ran toward the stone basin and peered inside. Dozens of silver and copper coins glinted beneath the clear, rippling water. She turned back and extended an open hand to Damian.

”Give me a coin,” she demanded with a bright smile.

Damian slid his hand into the pocket of his overcoat. Pulling out two coins, he placed one into her open palm. She wasted no time tossing it into the rippling water, quickly joining her palms together and closing her eyes to pray.

He smiled at her earnestness and tossed his own coin into the basin, joining her in the quiet moment.

’Keep Damian happy,’ Eilika wished silently. ’And our son, Roman, too. Keep them safe and healthy, and mother as well. I pray that our love keeps flourishing.’

Beside her, Damian closed his eyes, his prayer simple and clear, ’I want Eilika to be happy. May she get everything in life she desires.’

Opening her eyes, she looked up at Damian, who was just opening his own.

”What did you ask for?” Eilika asked curiously.

”Did you not say yourself that prayers are not meant to be shared?” Damian countered, a faint trace of amusement in his voice.

”Hmm,” she conceded, looking away.

Above them, the branches of a grand, blossoming tree began to dance in the sudden rush of air, sending a flurry of pink petals drifting down through the night sky. Eilika lifted her hands to catch the falling blooms, her smile widening at the sight.

Damian, too, lifted his hands, catching a few falling petals while enjoying the sheer happiness radiating from her. Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her high into the air.

She gasped in surprise for a second, her hands flying out for balance, but she quickly laughed and focused her attention back on catching the pink blooms drifting above them.

He lowered her slowly until her feet touched the ground again, and she carefully held out her hands. ”I am going to keep these as a keepsake,” she said.

”Why?” he asked, looking amused and slightly confused.

”Because they are from here. The Paradise!” she remarked, looking around the illuminated field with a smile. Pulling a soft silk handkerchief from her pocket, she spread it out, carefully transferring the delicate pink petals onto the fabric before folding the corners together to protect them.

”Eilika,” he called her name softly.

”Hmm?”

The moment she lifted her head, Damian cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her.

”I love you,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her again. He continued to press light, playful kisses across her face, making her break into a giggle.

When he finally stopped, she smiled and hooked her fingers into the collar of his coat, pulling him back down to meet her lips. They shared a deep, passionate kiss that drove away the lingering chill of the night and left both of them breathless when they finally broke apart.

”Let us go a bit further,” Damian stated, catching his breath as he took her hand and laced his fingers with hers. ”I have more to show you.”

They stopped in front of a cluster of small mud structures, weathered by time but still standing.

”Why are these here when everything else is made of stone?” she asked, looking at them curiously.

”My father and I made them together,” Damian replied, gazing down at the sun-dried clay. ”I remember I was only five or six years old when we came to the capital on a vacation. This area was completely new then, still being constructed on the Crown Prince’s demand. We built these tiny structures just to leave a memory behind.”

He paused, a reflective shadow crossing his face. ”I do not remember the day vividly, but Father did say this to me: Never forget that you will one day melt back into this soil.”