The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”You can think that,” Sylvian replied smoothly.

”That is remarkable news, Prince! Does she live here in the town? What is she like? You should have introduced her to me at least,” Georgia stated, a bright smile spreading across her face.

”Well, I do not think it is the right time yet, Aunt. Furthermore, I would like to request that you do not tell anyone about this,” Sylvian said, lowering his voice slightly. ”Please keep quiet about it.”

”Rest assured, Prince Sylvian. I will not say a word to anyone,” Georgia promised him warmly.

Sylvian let out a quiet breath of relief, just as the cheerful sound of Roman’s voice echoed down from upstairs.

”Uncle Sylvian, I have been practicing art these days! You should take a look at my sketches,” the boy called out with a wide smile, hurrying down the grand staircase.

”Careful, Roman,” Sylvian said, immediately rising to his feet and walking toward the base of the stairs. Behind the boy, Joanna hurried close on his heels, watching his steps anxiously.

Halting on the final step, Roman eagerly held out his sketchbook toward Sylvian.

Sylvian took the book and flipped it open, discovering several detailed drawings. Most were portraits of Damian and Eilika, alongside crude renderings of the furniture in Roman’s bedroom and simple arrangements of fruit.

”I must say, for a beginner, these are drawn remarkably well,” Sylvian complimented, offering the boy a warm, genuine smile for his efforts.

”Thank you for the praise, Uncle,” Roman beamed, his face lighting up with pride. ”Uncle Louis helped me a lot. He is the best.”

”Who is speaking of me? I suddenly began hiccuping the moment I stepped out of the carriage,” Louis declared from the entrance, dramatically fanning himself as he faked another small hiccup.

”Greetings to the Dowager Duchess,” Louis added, bowing his head respectfully to Georgia, who returned the gesture with a fond smile.

”Uncle Louis! I was just talking about you with Uncle Sylvian,” Roman announced eagerly, running over to show off his work.

Louis quickly greeted the prince before focusing his attention on Roman. ”I saw those yesterday, Young Lord Roman.”

”Uncle, but at the academy today, I drew another one!” Roman insisted, eagerly flipping to a fresh page.

Louis looked down at the sketch of a potted plant the boy had drawn and gave him a proud pat on the shoulder.

”Lunch is served, Your Grace,” the house butler announced, stepping forward to inform Georgia.

”Let us have lunch first. You can admire the drawings later,” Georgia told them, rising gracefully to her feet.

Roman quickly handed his sketchbook back to Joanna and scampered off toward the dining hall, bounding ahead of his grandmother.

”Louis, you look rather happy today,” Sylvian remarked as they walked side by side.

”Really? Though I must say, Prince Sylvian is practically glowing himself. How did your journey to the central district go?” Louis mused, entirely unaware of the woman Sylvian had gone to see.

”Well, my journey was indeed joyful,” Sylvian replied smoothly as the two men headed toward the dining room.

”Did Your Highness hear the latest news regarding Prince August?” Louis asked, lowering his voice slightly.

”No. Has he returned?” Sylvian inquired, looking over at him.

”Not yet,” Louis answered. ”I heard he recently exposed and removed the corrupt district magistrate of a town. The common people are quite pleased with his actions. As for the nobles, however, their opinions remain divided.”

”Nobles always find good things wrong. Not all but majority,” Sylvian answered. ”Let’s talk later.” He walked into the dining hall first and took a seat beside Roman.

~~~~~~

As predicted, it took Eilika more than three hours to complete the portrait. Setting her charcoal down, she stepped back from the easel to inspect the finished sketch.

Maurice leaned forward to examine the likeness, his brow instantly furrowing in recognition. ”It is Xavier’s son,” he declared.

”What?” Eilika exclaimed, turning to him in disbelief.

”I saw him the afternoon I entered Xavier’s estate,” Maurice explained, his tone growing grim. ”It is troubling to see he has chosen the same path as his father.” He crossed his arms, staring down at the sketch. ”He must have been trailing our movements ever since that day,” he muttered quietly.

From where he remained on his knees, the shabby man looked up between them, his hands clasped in desperation.

”May I be dismissed now? Please... I beg you, do not throw me into the dungeons,” he pleaded. ”Your Grace, I provided every detail for your drawing. I have fulfilled my end. Please grant me my freedom.” Toby got on his knees once again.

”That cannot happen just yet,” Eilika replied calmly. ”Rest assured, you will not be punished merely for delivering a message. However, for your own safety, you must remain here until the Duke returns.”

Her measured words brought an immediate wave of relief over Toby’s face.

”Thank you, Your Grace,” Toby stammered, leaning forward eagerly. ”I can tell you where the man is staying. I followed him after he gave me the letter, thinking he might have more errands for me to run so I could earn a few extra coins.”

Before he could continue, a loud, sharp growl echoed from his stomach.

”Forgive me, Your Grace,” Toby muttered, hastily ducking his head in embarrassment.

”Maurice, instruct the butler to bring Toby a warm meal. He has rendered us a great service today,” Eilika said, addressing the bodyguard.

”Right away, Your Grace,” Maurice answered. Turning to the messenger, he added in a stern tone, ”Follow me.”

Eilika finally sat down on the chair, breathing deeply. ”We ended up making one more enemy. We need to catch him before things go wrong. But why hasn’t Louis sent any reply yet? Did the message not reach him?” she murmured and looked outside the large window with an anxious gaze.

~~~~

After finishing the lunch meal, Georgia instructed Joanna to take the boy upstairs while she headed to her room.

Sylvian and Louis returned to the living room, only to find a messenger stepping through the grand entrance.

”The Duke has sent a message for you, Sir,” the messenger said, bowing politely to Louis.

Louis took the sealed envelope and tore it open. Unfolding the thick parchment, he began reading the contents aloud, while Sylvian leaned in to focus on the text.

Both of their expressions turned solemn.

”You may go,” Louis told the messenger, regaining his composure. ”Thank you for bringing this.”

Once the messenger bowed and departed, the two men made their way to the quiet privacy of Sylvian’s chamber, securing the door behind them.

”Someone knows the truth?” Sylvian remarked, his voice laced with shock as he digested the contents of the letter.

”It must be someone close to the Queen,” Louis replied thoughtfully, pacing near the window.

”My mother is locked away in the high fortress,” Sylvian countered, shaking his head. ”She did threaten Father with Iliana’s name, but I highly doubt she would pass such sensitive information to just anyone. Besides, the letter mentions that Damian received the message merely a day after shifting to the cottage. Whoever this is, they have been trailing them directly from here.”

Louis knitted his brows together, unable to deny the sound logic of the Prince’s conclusions.

”I will go to the capital and find out what is going on,” Sylvian stated, his voice resolute.

”Now?” Louis asked, taken aback by the sudden decision.

”Of course,” Sylvian answered without hesitation. ”I cannot afford any delay in this matter. Eilika and Damian have only just begun to piece their lives back together. And Roman... that child is finally finding a bit of happiness. I will not allow anyone to ruin it.”

He spat the last words out under his breath, his mind turning bitterly toward the shadow of his mother’s lingering influence.

”Your Highness, I think you shouldn’t meet your mother,” Louis advised cautiously. ”I believe that if the Queen finds out someone else also knows about this, she may try to use it against Damian.”

”She is the one who delivered this truth to an outsider,” Sylvian argued, his hands clenching into fists at his side.

”Yes. But so far, nothing has happened. Not a single rumor has spread,” Louis murmured, his tone dead serious. ”The person must want something in return; that is why he sent a direct threat to the Duke instead of exposing it to the court. What I must do now is find out who accompanied the Duke and Duchess on their journey to the North.”

”Louis, but once it starts spreading, we won’t be able to control it. That’s why I must find out from my mother if she has told anyone about it or not,” Sylvian stated sternly.

”What if Xavier left this truth before dying not only to the Queen but someone else in his family? Maybe his wife or the son,” Louis suggested.

Sylvian contemplated and recalled meeting his cousin, Garrett, who asked him about Damian’s wherebabouts before he came to Varos.