The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The next afternoon,

Damian officially closed the case on the Spencer Family Fire Incident with his pen. Handing the thick file to Louis, he instructed, ”Store this safely in the record room.”

”Of course, Your Grace,” Louis replied, taking the documents. ”Since you have cleared most of your administrative duties ahead of schedule, you will be able to travel north without any lingering worries.”

”There is still a trouble before we depart,” Damian admitted, leaning back in his seat.

”What is it, Your Grace?” Louis asked, concern lacing his tone.

”Roman is hiding something from Eilika and me. Leaving him behind for a whole month does not sit right with either of us. Over morning tea, we both felt that such a long absence might create an unintended rift between us. Yet bringing him along on such an arduous journey would not be wise because his studies require his full attention here.”

Louis hummed, nodding in agreement. ”That is indeed a troubling matter, Your Grace. The Duchess could remain behind while you journey alone. But why would Young Lord Roman keep secrets now? He was never so closed off with the Duchess. He used to share every worry with her.”

”I intended to show Eilika the Northern Territory. It felt like the perfect opportunity for us to travel together, and I did not wish to burden her with caring for a child back home when I should be the one doing it too,” Damian explained. ”I trust you understand my intent.”

”Serving the people is your duty, Your Grace, but so is your family. If I may offer a suggestion. Roman cares deeply for his mother. If you wish to draw out the truth, tell him that his silence is troubling the Duchess. Once he realizes it weighs upon her, I am certain he will open up to you,” Louis advised smoothly.

The lingering tension on Damian’s face cleared in an instant. ”Louis, you remain an indispensable advisor,” he remarked with a rare, approving smile.

”I am merely honored to serve, Your Grace,” Louis replied with a warm bow. ”I hope you find the answers you seek today.”

Damian rose from his seat, retrieving his heavy overcoat from the nearby stand. ”I shall take my leave, then. Until later.”

Leaving the grand study, Damian made his way down to the waiting carriage. Before returning to the mansion, he made a brief detour to the city’s most renowned bakery, picking up a freshly baked apple pie, a sweet treat he knew his son could rarely resist.

~~~~~

Roman lay propped up on his stomach, his elbows holding him steady as he laboriously copied out lessons on traditional philosophy. Recalling the dense passages from his textbook, he carefully jotted the lines down into his notebook.

”Roman,” Damian’s deep voice resonated from the doorway.

The boy turned toward the entrance immediately. ”Father,” Roman whispered, quickly sitting up straight to bow his head before closing his book.

”Stay on the bed,” Damian instructed softly, stepping into the room. ”And close your eyes.”

”Did Father bring something for me?” Roman asked, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. ”Okay, I will shut my eyes.”

Damian stepped forward, placing the box on the bedside table. ”You may open them now.”

The boy opened his eyes instantly, exclaiming in delight, ”Is it a pastry, Father?”

”You shall check for yourself,” Damian replied softly, his gaze drifting to the open notebook on the desk.

Roman carefully unboxed the parcel, his eyes lighting up as he recognized his favorite apple pie. ”Thank you, Father! I was craving this. I was planning to ask Mama to make one for me later.”

”You may enjoy it once you have finished your lessons,” Damian stated gently before motioning to the attendant waiting near the door. ”Take this to the kitchen and serve it to Roman later this evening.”

The attendant bowed respectfully, taking the pie away as instructed.

”Roman, won’t you share with me what has been bothering you? Your mama is worried thinking something is going on in this tiny head of yours, but you are not ready to share with either of us,” Damian said, choosing his words carefully.

The smile instantly faded from Roman’s face. ”Mama does not need to worry. She overthinks,” he whispered, lowering his gaze to his lap.

”She loves you, and that is why she worries. You have never kept secrets from her since the day she first entered this household,” Damian reminded him softly. ”You know how your mother is. What if she falls ill from worrying over you so deeply? She is even considering giving up her trip to the North with me. She believes you need her here.”

Roman snapped his head up, his eyes widening. ”Mama must not do that!”

”Then speak to me. If you do not wish to burden her, tell me instead. What is weighing on you?” Damian pressed gently.

Roman bit his lower lip, hesitation written across his features. His heart hammered against his ribs before he finally found his voice. ”I heard Father speaking about my late mother with Uncle Louis.”

The relaxed air in the room vanished, Damian’s expression instantly shifting into grave focus.

”Father, I did not mean to eavesdrop. I only wanted to show you the drawing I made,” Roman confessed, tears brimming in his eyes. ”My biological mother... She was not a good person. You told Uncle Louis that if her truth ever came out, my future would be ruined. Please do not tell Mama. What if she discards me because my biological mother was evil?”

Damian was shocked to learn that Roman knew the truth about Liliana. He never wanted the truth to touch him but it did somehow. And that was the reason Roman was troubled because he thought Eilika would leave him.

”Roman, look at me,” Damian commanded softly, cupping the boy’s face until their eyes met. ”Listen to me very carefully. Your mother loves you for who you are, not where you came from. Nothing about your biological mother changes the child you are, nor does it change Eilika’s love for you. She would never abandon you. Do you understand?”

Roman fidgeted, pressing his pointer fingers together nervously. ”How are you so sure, Father?”

”Forgive me, Roman. This was never meant to reach your ears,” Damian said softly. ”You are my beloved child. I love you deeply, and so does Eilika.”

He gently cupped his son’s face between his broad palms. ”You must tell Eilika what you have been carrying inside. And knowing her, I am certain she will scold you for ever entertaining such a thought. You were the very first person in this household who showed her the respect and warmth she deserved, a kind of respect I failed to give her at first. That is the kind of irreplaceable space you hold in her heart.”

Roman felt a sudden, grounding warmth bloom within his chest. ”I never meant to cause her worry. I will do as you say, Father. I will go to Mama and tell her everything.” He hesitated, his voice dropping as he looked up. ”But Father... why did my biological mother act like an evil person?”

”Roman, what if I tell you that even I do not fully understand her motives?” Damian replied. ”You are far too young to carry the weight of adult transgressions. My only wish for you is to spend your youth in peace, free from such burdens.”

He patted Roman’s cheeks before leaning down to press a gentle kiss against the boy’s forehead.

”Come, let us go to your mother,” Damian said, lifting his son into his arms for a brief moment before lowering him back to the carpet.

Roman quickly slipped into his leather shoes, hurried to the adjoining washroom to scrub his hands, and returned to step into the corridor beside his father, making their way toward Eilika’s quarters.

Upon arriving at her quarters, they were informed that Eilika was in the kitchen inspecting the afternoon meal.

”Your Grace, I shall inform the Duchess at once,” a maidservant offered, bowing slightly.

”There is no need,” Damian replied smoothly, motioning for her to stay as he settled onto the velvet settee alongside Roman.

A few minutes later, Eilika entered the chamber, pausing in surprise at the sight of her husband and son waiting together. ”Your Grace, I expected your return much later today,” she remarked, stepping further into the room. Her brow creased slightly as she observed their somber faces. ”Why are you both looking so grave?”

”Mama, I have something I must tell you,” Roman said, rising immediately to his feet.

Damian raised a quiet hand, gesturing for the attending servants to withdraw. The attendants filed out in silent order, with Joanna stepping out last to pull the heavy double doors firmly shut behind them.

Eilika turned back toward the boy, her expression softening. ”Yes, Roman. Tell me.”

Roman walked to her and held her hand. ”I was scared that you would leave me if I tell you that my biological mother was an evil person.”