The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Does that warning not apply to Your Highness as well?” Xenia countered, holding his gaze. ”No one will tolerate your interference for long. In seeking to expose them, you will only end up making dangerous enemies of your own.”

August offered no reply, turning abruptly and heading into the rest house. As he walked, a sudden memory surfaced, the exact manner in which Liliana had first approached him on the day they met.

Slamming the door of his suite shut behind him, he crossed the room and sank heavily into the recliner. He rubbed his forehead, closing his eyes as the past resurfaced, every detail still vividly etched in his mind.

~~~~~

Xenia washed the kitchen utensils, her mind consumed by Prince August’s warning.

She found herself wishing he would remain in town longer, though she could not fathom why.

Even stranger was the quiet urge growing within her. It was a sudden desire to offer him her help.

After placing the clean pans into a large bamboo basket, she worked the iron handpump to fill a wooden bucket with fresh water.

She rinsed her hands thoroughly before stepping out of the courtyard and heading back inside the house kitchen.

”I will help you,” Henry said, taking the knife from her hand.

”Brother, you ought to be resting,” Xenia protested, trying to reach for the knife again.

”I have been resting since early morning, Xenia,” Henry replied, pulling a onion from one of the woven baskets nearby.

He began peeling back the skin while Xenia brought two ripe tomatoes over to the flat stone counter. ”Now tell me, what has turned you so upside down? You have been completely distrait ever since you came back from meeting him.”

”Prince August was asking whether I had received any complaints from the townspeople,” she answered, rinsing the tomatoes in a basin before beginning to chop them into neat slices. ”I wanted to help him gather information, but he cut me off. He told me I should stay entirely away from the matter, warning that it could prove far too dangerous for someone in my position.”

”Of course he is right,” Henry replied, his knife pausing mid-slice. ”Have you not heard the rumors circulating among the people? The high-born are already whispering of taking this entire matter directly to the King. Justice is a tough thing in this world, Xenia, and those in power will never permit true equality to be served. If you interfere, they will target you, and we have Lara to protect. You must look at the danger through that lens as well.”

”But Brother, if we refuse to raise our voices, then who will?” Xenia insisted, her fingers tightening around the edge of the stone counter. ”If everyone stays silent out of fear, these atrocities will simply continue unchecked.”

Henry held out his hand, his expression hardening. ”Pass me the pan. And do not dare forget how your parents met their end, Xenia. They were of noble blood themselves. They sought to do good for the common folk, to alter the way of things, and look at the fate it brought upon them.”

Xenia felt her heart sink as the painful truth hit her.

Her parents had perished in the most tragic manner years ago, back when they still resided in the northern province.

Even now, the dark mystery of their deaths remained unsolved, and she was no closer to discovering who had murdered them.

”Your mother’s final words to you were a plea to stay away from all of this and stay hidden,” Henry reminded her softly, his tone softening with genuine concern. ”Do not draw unwanted attention to yourself here. You are far safer living quietly like this, as a commoner.”

Xenia stared down at the counter, swallowed the lump in her throat, and gave a faint nod. ”Hmm. I am.”

”Let us cook potato broth then. You are going to love it,” Henry pronounced, his tone brightening as he sought to disperse the lingering gloom. ”Why do you not put some rice on to boil? The others will be joining us shortly.”

”Yes, sir!” Xenia offered him a crisp, mock salute, breaking the heavy silence as a shared laugh bubbled up between them.

Once the tension cleared, Xenia grew quiet again for a while, her eyes shining with warmth. ”Brother, were it not for you and the others, I would never have survived to make it this far. I can never truly forget that night. I am deeply grateful that you kept your solemn oath to my father, that you shielded me and kept my little sister safe.”

Henry paused, his gaze softening with quiet remembrance. ”Your father was a good noble man. Helping his children was the very least I could do to honor him. Besides you and Lara are my sisters.”

Xenia smiled softly and walked toward the far wall where the heavy iron pans hung from rusted iron hooks. She lifted one down and carried it over to the stone fire altar, setting it firmly above the glowing embers.

”Not a single one of you is married,” Xenia mused, adjusting the pan so it sat level over the heat. ”What will happen if I marry and leave this place someday? Who will be left to look after all of my foolish brothers? You ought to start looking for wives.”

”Take that matter up with our eldest brother first,” Henry countered with a chuckle, tossing the freshly chopped onions into the warming pan with a sharp sizzle.

He glanced at her sideways, a sly smile touching his lips. ”Besides, do you already have someone in mind to speak so boldly of marriage?”

”Not at all,” Xenia said quickly, shaking her head as a faint flush touched her cheeks. ”I was merely speaking of a future possibility, that is all.”

”Then, start looking for one. Or we can find a suitable man for you,” Henry pronounced. ”Just tell me your preference, then I will discuss it with my brothers.”

Xenia suddenly thought about it and the first man that came into his mind was August. Someone like him, who didn’t scare away from doing right even when the entire world was against it.