The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Eilika, take care of yourself,” Georgia said, pulling back from a warm embrace. ”Send me a message as soon as you reach the North.”

”I will, Mother,” Eilika promised softly.

Nearby, Damian cradled little Roman in his arms before gently setting him down on his feet. The boy straightened his posture, puffing out his chest with serious determination.

”Mama, don’t worry about anything here,” Roman asserted, looking up at her with bright eyes. ”I’m going to be a big boy and keep an eye on everything. I’ll even take good care of my grandmother while you’re away.”

Georgia rested her hand lightly atop the boy’s head. ”He is already stepping up as the young lord of the house.”

”Roman, focus on your studies, eat well, and turn in on time,” Eilika said, kneeling so they were eye to eye. She reached out, her fingers brushing his cheek with quiet affection. ”I will send word to you every few days.”

Roman again stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her neck, holding her tight before she prepared to leave. ”Mama, do enjoy the trip with Father. Bring me gifts from the North. By the time you’ll return, Autumn will be here.”

”I will bring you many fine gifts from the North. I promise,” Eilika said, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

She stood up, smoothing her skirts, as Roman turned to his father and offered a formal bow.

Damian placed a hand on his son’s head, giving a firm, encouraging nod. ”Take care of the household, Roman. Your mother and I will return before long.”

”Yes, Father,” Roman replied, stepping back to stand beside his grandmother as he waved.

Eilika slid into the motorcar first, and Damian followed, taking the seat beside her. Maurice closed the carriage door securely before climbing into the front passenger seat next to the driver.

As the vehicle pulled away, Eilika waved through the open window to Roman, who kept waving until the car disappeared past the gates.

”Roman, let us head inside,” Georgia said softly.

From the second-floor balcony, August watched the boy and his grandmother step through the entrance before turning back indoors to attend to his duties.

As he crossed the main foyer, Roman rushed over and caught hold of his coat sleeve. ”Uncle, where are you going?”

”Roman, do not disturb the prince,” Georgia cautioned, coming up behind him. ”He has royal matters to attend to.”

”In the middle of the afternoon?” Roman asked, tilting his head with innocent curiosity. He looked up at August with wide eyes. ”Uncle, take me with you! I want to explore the market too.”

”I am not headed to the market, Roman,” August replied. ”Besides, your parents have only just departed. It is not wise to step beyond the gates now. Stay within the estate and guard it, are you not a true warrior?”

Roman let go of his hand and bounded back inside the hall.

”Forgive the boy’s persistence, Prince August. He has been restless to go out these past few days,” Georgia said with a quiet smile.

”There is no need to apologize, Aunt. It would not be safe to take him out at present,” August stated calmly. ”I shall see you in the evening.”

August offered a brief bow before heading toward the waiting carriage. The moment he stepped inside, the chauffeur shut the door firmly behind him.

”Your Highness, I retrieved the file you requested,” Samir said, handing the documents to August. ”Two years ago, a farmer’s daughter was brutally assaulted by a group of men. Because the family lacked the resources to press the matter, the case was quietly closed without a proper investigation. However, the district magistrate did grant them a small payout from the regional welfare funds.”

August flipped open the folder, scanning the pages. ”Did Damian never look into this?”

”The matter never reached his desk, Your Highness,” Samir explained. ”Only high-value cases are escalated directly to the Duke.”

”I see. Then I shall pay another visit to the district,” August stated, remembering the woman and her younger sister he had crossed paths with the previous day.

”Is something amiss, Your Highness? Why the sudden frown?” Samir inquired.

”I merely recalled the woman I encountered in that same district yesterday,” August answered, his expression darkening. ”Even the thought of her irks me.”

Samir merely smiled, refraining from adding further comment.

After an hour’s travel, the carriage came to a halt outside the Greenveld District Magistrate’s office. August stepped down onto the stone pavement, ignoring the deep bows of the guards stationed at the entrance as he strode inside.

He had barely crossed the threshold when an elderly man emerged from the inner office, weeping bitterly as his son guided him by the arm.

”They have stolen our land!” the old man sobbed.

August paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as the desperate words reached his ears, before watching the pair pass by.

August continued straight down the hallway, heading directly into the primary office with Samir trailing closely behind him.

At the threshold, he caught the tail end of a quiet exchange between the District Magistrate and the well-dressed man seated across from the desk. ”The sweets will reach your residence shortly, Sir,” the man said with a smooth smile.

As the nobleman stood up to leave, he turned and caught sight of August standing in the doorway. Unaware of the visitor’s identity, he simply offered a dismissive glance and exited with his attendant.

August stepped into the room. The magistrate looked up, his expression a mix of irritation and confusion at the unannounced entry.

Not wasting a single moment on introductions, August drew his royal token from inside his coat and held it up.

”Your Highness!” William’s face turned pale as he dropped into a frantic, low bow. ”Forgive my failure to recognize you, Prince August. Please, sit.”

August slipped the token back into the pocket of his overcoat and leaned back, sitting casually on the front edge of the heavy desk. He tossed the file onto the polished wood.

”William,” August said, his tone razor-thin. ”I require every detail concerning the case documented in that file.”

William rushed forward, his hands trembling slightly as he took the folder off the desk.

Opening the folder, William scanned the contents before offering a nervous clear of his throat. ”Your Highness, this matter is two years old and of little significance now. The girl ultimately took her own life, and her initial accusations were entirely fabricated.”

”Did I request your conclusion on the matter?” August asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy edge. ”I asked for the details. Who were those involved, and if they reside within this district, you will issue an immediate summons.”

William swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. ”It will take at least a day to gather them here, Your Highness. Some may be traveling beyond the district boundaries for business. They are men of prominent noble families, after all—”

”Gather them now,” August interrupted, cutting him off without hesitation. ”Should night fall before they arrive, I shall wait. But every man named in that file will stand in this room before midnight.”

”I understand, Your Highness,” William stammered. He turned to his assistant, who gave a quick nod and bolted out of the office to dispatch the orders.

August reached into his coat, pulled out a folding hand fan, and tossed it to the magistrate. ”Fan me. It is insufferably warm in here.”

William scrambled to catch it, hastily opening the fan and working a quick, rhythmic breeze toward the prince. ”Your Highness, craftsmanship like this isn’t produced within our borders. Did you acquire it from another kingdom?”

”Why does that concern you? Silence yourself and attend to your task,” August said coldly. He shifted his gaze to the door. ”Who was the gentleman who just departed? And what are these sweets he promised to deliver to your residence? I might like to sample them myself.”

”Ah, that...” William faltered, his eyes darting about as he scrambled for an explanation. ”Your Highness, I was merely referring to the chocolate confections his mother prepares. They are quite exceptional, I assure you.”

”Is that so? Then see to it that he brings me a selection of these chocolate sweets,” August said, a grin touching his lips. ”Of all the places I have toured, I find Greenveld to be by far the most intriguing.”

”At once, Your Highness,” William replied, working the fan with increased fervor.

August picked up the red folder and began flipping through its pages, his eyes lazily skimming the documented details.

”Your Highness... If I may ask,” William began cautiously, ”did His Majesty dispatch you here on an official inquiry?”

”No,” August said, setting the file back down onto the desk. He looked up, his gaze locking onto the magistrate. ”I selected this district myself, specifically because of the case you failed to resolve. I am excited to find its end result, the outcome that will bring justice to the right party.”