The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Sylvian escorted Iliana all the way to the waiting carriage, his heart heavy with a swelling tide of unexpressed affection. Yet, beneath the weight of his unspoken feelings, his mind was clear; he knew precisely what duties he must fulfill before assuming the grand mantle of the Dukeship.

”Your Highness, thank you for bringing me here last night,” Iliana said, pausing beside the carriage step. ”I never dreamt of setting foot within the palace, and my stay here has been truly lovely. Thank you for bestowing such fine hospitality upon me—I shall treasure the memory until my final breath.”

Sylvian offered a warm, quiet smile. ”I am glad you enjoyed your time here, Iliana. Truthfully, I wish you could stay longer, and part of me aches to hold you back. But I respect your work, and I know you cannot abandon your shop for extended periods.”

”Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness,” Iliana replied, her eyes bright with gratitude. ”And as for the answer to your previous question—”

”Iliana, please, do not give me your answer here,” Sylvian interrupted softly, stepping closer to gently halt her words. ”I am not prepared to hear a rejection today. I truly wish for you to consider a life by my side, and perhaps it simply means I must make far greater efforts to win your heart than I have so far.”

Iliana’s heart had never acted strangely around a man before, yet in Sylvian’s presence, it had betrayed her not just once, but many times.

”Your Highness, do you truly believe our world would allow us to stand together?” Iliana questioned softly, a hint of reality checking her tone.

”I do,” Sylvian affirmed without hesitation. ”There will certainly be opposition from the palace officials, but what power do they truly hold once I choose you as my bride?”

”What? Your bride?” Iliana let out a soft chuckle, caught off guard by his conviction. ”His Highness has already thought so far ahead for us.”

”Dreams have no limits,” Sylvian replied, holding her gaze with a gentle smile.

”That is true,” Iliana agreed, her voice soft with warmth.

Sylvian took a step closer, reaching inside the inner pocket of his velvet overcoat to draw out a small, plush box. ”This is a small token from me, to remember your time here.”

Iliana accepted the box from his hands. ”Thank you, Your Highness.”

She carefully unlatched the lid, her breath catching as she revealed a gold bracelet resting against the dark lining, its links gleaming in the soft daylight. Smiling up at him, she extended her wrist. ”Then His Highness must do me the honor of fastening it.”

Sylvian lifted the bracelet from the velvet, his fingers gently brushing her wrist as he secured the gold clasp around her wrist.

Iliana turned her wrist slightly, admiring the way the gold caught the light. ”It is exquisite. Let us meet again on the night of the full moon event in Varos. Since Your Highness is bound to be consumed by palace duties, I can easily travel to the city myself.”

Sylvian stared at her, caught completely off guard by her words. ”Wait... You truly wish to see me again?” he asked, a look of genuine surprise taking over his features. ”I had resigned myself to believing this was to be our final parting,” he murmured softly.

”I wish to see the prince once more,” Iliana answered, her eyes sparkling with quiet warmth.

”Then I will travel to Varos myself,” Sylvian stated firmly, unable to hide the bright relief sweeping across his face. ”You need not make the journey here. Thank you, Iliana... Thank you for giving me this chance.”

”Your Highness, please do not say such things,” Iliana replied softly, shaking her head. ”It is not a matter of simply granting you a chance. Truthfully, your mind and your spirit draw me in more than I care to admit. If anything, I am the one who keeps trying to push you away out of fear.”

Iliana then took a pause before carefully threading her words. ”To find someone who would willingly stand by your side, it is something every woman dreams of,” Iliana admitted, her eyes softening as she looked at him. ”I do not fully understand what Your Highness sees in a person like me, but I wish to give this a chance as well. I want to see where the road leads if we keep walking it together.”

Sylvian couldn’t help but let his smile broaden even further, feeling relieved. ”I believe we will both find so much to discover, about the world, and about each other, if we simply keep walking forward together.”

Iliana hummed in soft agreement and finally stepped up into the carriage. As the door clicked shut, she leaned toward the window, offering Sylvian a gentle wave. He stood tall, waving back until the horses shifted into motion.

”Ensure she is escorted all the way to her home. Safely, Ansel,” Sylvian instructed, turning his focus to the high guard who had recently entered his service.

”You have my word, Your Highness,” Ansel assured him with a deep bow before striding toward the front to take his place beside the coachman.

Sylvian stepped back, his eyes fixed on Iliana’s smiling face through the carriage window. As the wheels began to turn against the stone path, he walked along with it for a few steps, stopping only when the carriage rounded the gates and vanished completely from his sight.

The prince turned and strode back toward the palace, a lingering warmth in his smile.

’She changed her mind,’ he thought, carrying a warm smile. ’I can only hope that during our next meeting, we take another step closer to each other. This is merely the beginning. I must be careful not to rush her... yet at the same time, I must ensure that no one discovers what lies between us before she accepts me completely. If the court catches wind of this now, they could seek to harm Iliana in my absence.’

~~~~~

”Did Mama send a message for me?” Roman asked the messenger, his dark eyes wide with eager curiosity.

”Yes, Young Master. There is a letter for you, and one for the Dowager Duchess as well,” the courier replied, bowing deeply. He handed the first sealed envelope to the young boy before presenting the second, heavier parchment to the Dowager Duchess.

Roman tore the wax seal open without delay and unfolded the crisp paper inside.

”My dear son,

Your father and I have arrived safely at the northern outpost. The journey was long, but we are both in good health. The climate here is already cold, even as autumn approaches back in Varos. Mind your tutors, wear your heavy coats, and do not linger outdoors in the drafty courtyards. Mama will return home as soon as our duties here are finished.

Lots of Love,

Your mother.”

Roman looked up at his grandmother, his face brightening. ”Mama says she and Father have reached the North safely. She will return to the palace soon.” He carefully folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. ”I will go take my riding lessons now, Grandmother.”

”Are you not exhausted from your combat training?” Georgia asked, studying her grandson. Just yesterday, Roman had approached her out of the blue, requesting a instructor to teach him how to fight. When she pressed him for a reason, he declared his ambition to become a fierce warrior like his father and grandfather before him.

”No, Grandmother, I am fine,” Roman insisted. ”The instructor only trains me for half an hour. He says it is merely the beginning.”

He turned toward Joanna, handing over the letter. ”Sister, please place this in my bedchamber. Thank you.”

”I will, Young Lord,” Joanna replied, receiving the envelope with a soft bow.

Roman bowed respectfully to his grandmother before turning on his heel and striding out of the hall.

Georgia watched his retreating back, shaking her head with a weary smile. ”I do not know what has come over that boy all of a sudden.”

She broke the wax seal on her own letter and read Damian’s message. ”I pray these two continue to flourish together,” she murmured softly.

Louis entered the quiet courtyard, bowing low as he greeted the Dowager Duchess.

”Your Grace, may I ask where Roman is?” he inquired.

Georgia set her letter down, looking at him with raised brows. ”Has something occurred?”

”Not at all, Your Grace,” Louis assured her quickly. ”I promised the young lord yesterday that I would take him for a stroll through the estate grounds today.”

”Roman has gone to the training grounds for his combat lesson. I do not know what has gotten into his head, but you should find him near the barracks,” Georgia said, shaking her head softly.

”He is taking combat lessons?” Louis murmured, a sudden smile spreading across his lips. ”Like father, like son.”

He bowed respectfully to Georgia and turned, heading toward the barracks.