The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”That is wonderful news, Roman!” Eilika said, offering him an encouraging smile as he leaned against her chair, resting his head comfortably in her lap.

She gently stroked his soft hair and asked, ”Tell me, sweetheart... would you like to visit my family’s home?”

”Mama’s childhood home?” Roman straightened up instantly, his eyes brightening. ”Of course! I want to see where you lived when you were little.”

Then, a sudden memory seemed to flash across his face, and his enthusiasm faltered. He recalled the harsh, cold words Eilika’s father had once directed toward her.

”But Mama... your father says mean things to you. Is it truly safe for us to go there?” he asked, his tone turning cautious. ”Though, if you miss your home, then we should go. I remember Grandfather coming to watch me during my school sports match.”

Eilika was stunned as she realized Roman still remembered the harsh remarks Wilfred had aimed at her.

”Mama, I have never met your mother... I mean, my Grandmama,” Roman said suddenly, looking up at her.

”Your Grandmama rests among the stars now, Roman,” Eilika answered softly. ”She passed away when I was older than you are now. I do have a stepmother, though. You might have seen her before.”

Roman shook his head. ”Never. I have only seen Aunt Roseline,” he replied. ”Is your stepmother kind, Mama? Is she like you? You love me so much... Does she love you just as deeply?” His curious, innocent eyes locked onto hers, searching for an answer.

Eilika hesitated, the truth catching in her throat. Choosing a quiet lie felt far gentler than the bitter truth. ”Yes, Roman... she is good.”

Roman, however, remained silent, his sharp young mind considering her words. ’Mama is lying,’ he thought to himself. ’If her stepmother were truly so kind, she would have come to visit Mama by now.’

Eilika rose from the recliner and walked over to her vanity table, taking her seat before the polished mirror.

”Roman, sweetheart, would you fetch Joanna for me?” she requested gently, picking up her silver hairbrush.

The boy darted out of the chamber, returning a moment later with the head maid in tow.

”Your Grace, did you call for me?” Joanna asked with a respectful bow.

”Yes. Please prepare a few gifts. I intend to pay a visit to my father’s residence,” Eilika instructed calmly.

”Right away, Your Grace.”

”Ensure you pack two fine dresses for my stepmother and stepsister, and for my father, select two cuts of premium fabric,” Eilika added.

”Understood, Your Grace,” Joanna replied, offering a brief bow before hurriedly leaving the chamber to carry out the preparations.

”Roman, come here for a moment,” Eilika called softly, setting her hairbrush down on the vanity table.

She knelt before him, her hands smoothing the front of his shirt. ”Would you like to change into another outfit? Though you look very handsome in this one.”

”Mama, I think I look fine in this! I didn’t even get it dirty,” Roman insisted, looking down at his clothes.

”You look wonderful, darling,” Eilika said, offering him a warm, encouraging smile. ”However, as the future Duke, you must always look your best whenever you travel beyond the estate. It is an important responsibility to keep in mind.”

Eilika summoned another maid into the room and instructed her to fetch a three-piece suit from Roman’s bedchamber. ”You really ought to change, darling. There is a faint stain right here,” she noted, pointing to the back of his sleeve.

She unfastened the buttons of his shirt, leaving it loosely around his shoulders until the servant returned with the fresh attire. Working efficiently, Eilika guided him into the crisp shirt, followed by the tailored trousers and the matching waistcoat.

”There now, you look like such a handsome young lord,” Eilika declared with an affectionate smile.

She pinned a finely crafted gold brooch to the lapel of his jacket and gently combed his soft hair to one side. ”Just look at you! The exact image of your father.”

Roman beamed at the praise. Eager to help, he sat down to put on his shoes by himself, assuring her that he was big enough to handle it without troubling her.

Eilika smiled at his eagerness. ”I will be back in just a moment, darling,” she said, leaving Roman under the watchful eye of the servant as she stepped out to review the gifts Joanna had prepared.

When she returned ten minutes later, Roman immediately hopped down from his chair and hurried over to her side. ”I am so excited to see where you grew up, Mama! I just know it must be as lovely as you are.”

He eagerly took the lead, his small feet marching briskly down the corridor, constantly glancing back over his shoulder to ensure she was following close behind.

”Careful, Roman. Keep your eyes forward while you walk,” Eilika warned with a tender smile, gently guiding his attention back ahead.

~~~~~~

Two palace guards rushed forward to open the doors for Damian and Prince Sylvian, immediately stepping back into a rigid salute.

Maurice rounded the motorcar to join Damian’s side, falling into place a precise step behind him. Together, they made their way toward the King’s chambers, but their swift pace came to a halt outside the grand doors upon learning that several ministers were currently in conference with His Majesty.

After waiting ten minutes, the heavy doors finally swung open, granting them an audience with the King.

”Damian, I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” King Nyxen said, acknowledging their respectful greetings. ”Prince Sylvian executed his duties admirably,” he praised, offering a node of approval toward his son. ”Please, sit. Thomas, ensure we are not interrupted.”

”Father informed me this morning of Mother’s recent actions,” Ciaran spoke up, his expression grim.

”Her actions extend further than that,” Sylvian interjected quietly. ”She struck Damian the very night he presented the evidence to Father and provided assistance to August.”

Ciaran closed his eyes briefly, exhaling a heavy breath. ”Mother has lost all reason. You have my sincere apologies, Damian.”

”There is no need for apologies, Crown Prince,” Damian replied calmly. Turning his attention to King Nyxen, he continued, ”I uncovered the full extent of Liliana’s treachery only recently, after Maurice conducted a thorough search of Xavier’s residence.”

Damian extended his hand, and Maurice promptly stepped forward to place a leather-bound dossier, retrieved from Xavier’s private study, into his palm.

”I wanted to examine every detail within these documents before presenting them to you directly, Your Majesty,” Damian said, his voice measured. ”Liliana... was not the woman I believed her to be. Her betrayal cut deeper than I ever imagined, and the truth of it shattered me when it first came to light. But she belongs to my past now, and I have no intention of wasting time mourning her. What concerns me is why this file was hidden in Xavier’s private study.”

”Xavier spoke to Victoria regarding your late wife shortly before his execution,” King Nyxen revealed, his gaze hardening. ”It appalls me that she would attempt to use such matters to slander your name, Damian. I have witnessed your loyalty and service for years; my trust in you remains absolute. I will personally oversee the investigation into why this file was kept in Xavier’s possession. However, I must commend your quick thinking, you secured the evidence before anyone could have his hands on this.”

”I will hold myself accountable for Liliana’s transgressions if required, Your Majesty,” Damian stated, his voice tight as he lowered his gaze. ”She orchestrated fraudulent acts directly under my supervision—acts I remained completely blind to. It may sound like a feeble excuse, but once her pregnancy was deemed high-risk, my concern for her safety overshadowed everything else. Even after her passing, the strain remained heavy. I simply failed to recognize the woman she truly was.”

King Nyxen and the princes observed the faint tremor in Damian’s hands. Moving closer, the King leaned forward from his armchair and gently covered Damian’s hand with his own, offering a steadying press.

”Trust is a delicate matter, Damian,” Nyxen said quietly, his thoughts drifting to Victoria and the years of deception he had endured at her hands.

”You loved her, and I am well aware of the burdens you bore long before her death. Losing your father and immediately shouldering the weight of an entire dukedom is no small task. The truth is, we can never fully know a person, no matter how close we are to them.”

As the King spoke, Damian kept his silence, plagued by the dark memory of how effortlessly Liliana had maintained her facade.

A thought lingered in his mind, how His Majesty would react if he ever discovered that Liliana had played with the hearts of both Damian and Prince August.

”What Liliana did has nothing to do with you. You do the investigation while I try to find out how did Victoria find out about it. Whether she was involved in it or not,” King Nyxen murmured with a suspicious gaze.