The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”An evil person? What do you mean, Roman?” Eilika asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

”I overheard Father speaking the other day,” Roman confessed, laying bare his heavy heart. ”He said my mother had done terrible things, and that it could ruin my future. That was all I understood. I thought... I thought if you found out my real mother was a bad person, you wouldn’t want me anymore. That is why I was so upset, and why I decided to keep it a secret from you.”

Shock washed over Eilika as she realized what Roman had overheard from Damian’s private conversation. Kneeling to match his height, she gently cupped his small face in her palms.

”Oh, Roman, how could you think that?” she asked softly, her voice thick with emotion. ”You carried such a heavy assumption without ever coming to me. I never knew your biological mother, so I hold no judgment against her. The only thing that matters to me is *you*. I could never abandon you, my sweet boy. Mama loves you far too much.” She leaned in and tenderly pressed a kiss to his forehead.

A bright smile broke across Roman’s face, and he threw his tiny arms around her neck. ”Please forgive me for hiding the truth and lying to you,” he whispered, closing his eyes tight. ”You kept asking, and I kept lying. I am so sorry.”

Standing near the doorway, Damian observed the two of them, his expression softening with deep affection.

”I forgive you,” Eilika murmured, drawing back slightly to meet his eyes. ”Promise me you will never let such thoughts take root in your mind again.” She extended her pinky finger toward him.

Roman instantly raised his hand, interlocking his small pinky with hers. ”I promise.”

”Lunch is almost ready, so head down to the dining hall,” Eilika told him, gently ruffling his dark hair. ”Sister Joanna is waiting outside the door for you. Your father and I will join you shortly.”

”Okay!” Roman’s mood brightened instantly. He pressed a quick kiss to Eilika’s cheek, waved to his father, and dashed toward the heavy wooden door.

Once the boy had scurried out and his footsteps faded down the gallery, Eilika rose, turning a sharp gaze upon the Duke. ”How could he have heard such a thing?”

”He was standing outside the study door while Maurice and I were discussing the matter,” Damian explained.

”I asked you to exercise caution when speaking about her,” Eilika said with reprimand. ”You see the distress it caused? Roman convinced himself I would cast him out simply because of his mother’s transgressions.”

Damian assumed a quiet posture. ”I did not intend for him to hear, Eilika.”

”Though I must ask how did you manage to coax the truth out of him?” she mused, adjusting her skirts as she looked at him.

”I employed a bit of counsel Louis gave me,” Damian replied, a slight smile breaking through his serious demeanor. ”Fortunately, it proved effective.”

”You see? Roman turns to you with his troubles when given the chance,” she remarked, her tone softening. ”Come, let us head down to the hall. Roman and Mother will be waiting for us.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the heavy oak doors, expecting him to follow.

~~~~~

”The wound on your chest has healed remarkably well, Your Highness,” the physician noted, securing a fresh linen bandage in place. ”Do you feel any restriction or discomfort when moving your arm?”

”There is a slight strain, but it is manageable,” August replied, reaching for his shirt to pull it over his shoulders. ”Are there any precautions I ought to follow?”

”None that require strict bed rest, Your Highness,” the physician assured him, bowing slightly. ”Simply refrain from putting heavy strain on the muscles until the tissue has fully mended.”

”I understand. Thank you.”

The physician bowed deeply and exited the chamber.

August stepped off the bed, tucking his shirt into his trousers before pulling on his overcoat.

”I am going to see my father, the King,” August informed the attendant in the room before making his way toward his father’s quarters.

Upon reaching the chamber, he found King Nyxen sitting alone on the balcony recliner, gazing out in quiet solitude.

Hearing the footsteps, Nyxen turned his head. ”August, how are you doing?” he questioned.

”The wound has healed, Father. I am planning to return to Varos,” August stated.

”To Varos? For what reason?” King Nyxen questioned, shifting slightly.

”You assigned me a duty there, Father. I intend to resolve the remaining unsolved cases,” August replied.

Nyxen offered a quiet smile. ”Something has changed in you, August. What brought about this sudden resolve? Thomas mentioned that you have grown rather attentive toward the Duchess of Varos. You ought to remember, she is wed to your cousin.”

”Father, it is nothing of the sort,” August clarified quickly, meeting the King’s gaze. ”Duchess Eilika treated me with kindness when no one else would. She was the first person to see good in me while everyone else deemed me a villain. I hold great respect for her. In truth, she is the reason I reopened the investigation into the fire incident. Were it not for her, the truth would have remained buried.”

King Nyxen smiled, clearly pleased by his son’s words. ”She has altered two lives now—yours and Damian’s. And I suppose three, if we count young Roman,” he remarked with a soft laugh. ”Stand by Damian and offer him your support. You will gain much under his guidance. If you wish to return to Varos, I will not hold you back.”

”Thank you, Father,” August replied, inclining his head slightly. He turned as if to take his leave, then paused. ”And thank you... for securing justice for my mother. I hope your heart is at peace now.”

”It is,” King Nyxen said quietly. ”You ought to rest today and begin your journey to Varos tomorrow. Tell me, do you find the sentences just?”

”I do, Your Majesty. Life imprisonment will force the Queen to confront her crimes every remaining day of her life. And I am satisfied with Xavier’s punishment as well,” August affirmed.

King Nyxen nodded in quiet agreement.

”I take my leave then, Father. Please take care of yourself,” August said. Bowing, he walked out of the chamber.

~~~~~

As evening fell, Roman and Eilika returned from their horseback riding session.

”Mama, you are such a wonderful rider,” Roman praised her as she helped him change into comfortable nightclothes.

”You will grow to be even better than me one day,” Eilika replied, smoothing his hair.

”I hope so,” Roman said proudly. ”I can manage my shirt myself now. I am a big boy.”

”Very well.” Eilika handed him the garment and sat on the edge of the bed to watch him.

Roman quickly fumbled with the wooden buttons, pulled on his silk trousers, and scrambled onto the bed. ”Mama, you and Father are traveling north next week. Please bring me something back!”

”Roman, I was considering staying behind with you. You are still young and require care,” Eilika said softly.

”No, I am grown now!” Roman declared, puffing out his chest with pride, bringing a warm smile to her lips. ”By the time you return, I will have grown another inch.” He stood on his tiptoes to demonstrate his newfound height before leaping onto the mattress.

”Roman, do you intend to break the bed?” She chuckled before he tumbled over.

”Jumping on the bed is fun!” Roman insisted, bouncing right back up. ”Mama is going North, and Mama will bring back toys for me!” he chanted as he bounced on the feather mattress.

A soft knock at the door silenced his chanting. ”Your Grace, His Grace requests your presence in the study. A message has just arrived from the royal palace,” Joanna informed her from the doorway.

Roman paused his jumping, and Eilika instantly rose to her feet.

”Roman, stay with Joanna. I will return shortly,” she instructed before hastily leaving the chamber.

Upon reaching the study, she found Damian placing a broken gold-sealed royal scroll onto his mahogany desk. Maurice and Louis offered deep, respectful bows as she entered the room.

”What has happened?” Eilika asked, sensing the heavy air in the room.

”The verdict from the court has arrived,” Damian replied, looking up. ”The Queen has been sentenced to life imprisonment, while her brother will hang for his crimes.”

”The mood in the palace must be terribly gloomy,” Eilika murmured softly.

”Indeed it is,” Damian agreed.

But he was troubled by the reality of the verdict. So long as the Queen drew breath, she remained a threat capable of orchestrating schemes even from within a prison cell.

To him, lifetime imprisonment felt far too lenient for the true mastermind behind those atrocities; she deserved nothing short of the gallows.

A woman who had once wielded the full weight of royal power would never hesitate to strike again, no matter how tightly bound her hands might seem.