The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Your Grace, what is that mark on your neck?”

Maurice suddenly noticed the faint mark as Damian stepped into the drawing room to ask for the carriage keys. He moved closer, narrowing his eyes as he examined it.

Damian instinctively touched his neck.

The moment his fingers brushed the mark, he remembered how Eilika had bitten him while they were bathing. A faint smile threatened to appear on his lips at the memory.

”I understand now,” Maurice remarked, a knowing smile spreading across his face. ”The Duchess seems to be getting rather bold with you.”

”Shut up.”

Damian quickly took the keys from his hand, but despite his attempt to remain serious, he could not completely hide his smile.

Maurice noticed immediately.

”You’re blushing, Your Grace.”

Damian let out a quiet laugh and touched both cheeks with the backs of his hands, as though checking whether Maurice’s accusation was true.

”Enough, Maurice.”

Maurice only grinned, clearly enjoying the rare opportunity to tease his usually composed friend.

”Seeing you like this fills me with joy, Your Grace,” Maurice said, his earlier teasing expression replaced by genuine warmth. ”I have seen you through the darkest period of your life, and it is truly wonderful to see that you have finally allowed yourself to be happy. You have accepted the Duchess with your whole heart, and I can see how much she has changed you.”

Damian’s smile softened.

”I made many mistakes in the past,” he admitted. ”I hurt her in ways I regret deeply. Even today. Yet she has such a generous heart that she still chose to love me despite everything I did.”

He paused, his expression filled with gratitude.

”I am truly blessed to have her.”

Before Maurice could say anything else, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them. The distinct click of heels against the wooden stairs made both men turn toward the staircase.

Eilika was descending slowly, dressed in the local attire Damian had bought for her. Her hair had been neatly braided, and the simple style suited the dress remarkably well.

Damian’s heart began beating faster the moment he saw her.

He immediately walked toward the staircase. Just as Eilika reached the final step, Damian gently took hold of her wrist and helped her down.

Once her feet touched the floor, his hand shifted to the small of her back, and he drew her a little closer.

”Are you trying to stop my heart?” Damian asked, tilting his head as he looked at her.

Eilika gave him a puzzled look.

”What? How can you say such a thing?” she scolded gently.

”But it is true,” Damian insisted, unable to hide his smile. His gaze travelled over her dress before returning to her face. ”That local dress looks beautiful on you. And you have made a very lovely braid as well.”

Eilika’s expression softened at the compliment, though she still tried to maintain a composed face.

”You are becoming quite flattering lately,” she remarked.

Damian simply smiled, keeping his hand at her back as though he had no intention of letting her move away just yet.

Maurice smiled to see them and quietly walked out to let them have their movement.

~~~~~

”Is it true?” August asked, looking between Louis and Sylvian.

The three men were seated in the garden beneath the clear evening sky, each holding a glass of wine. The conversation had taken a serious turn despite the otherwise peaceful surroundings.

”Yes, it is true,” Sylvian replied. ”It was definitely my mother who sent someone outside the capital to deliver such a threatening message to Damian.”

August gave him a skeptical look.

”Then what are you doing here?” he asked, a mocking edge entering his voice. ”Shouldn’t you go and confront your dear mother?”

Before Sylvian could respond, Louis intervened.

”Prince August, please tone down,” he said calmly. ”In my opinion, going to the capital right now would not be a wise decision.”

August looked toward him.

”Nothing has happened yet,” Louis continued. ”Besides, Damian specifically does not want anyone travelling to the capital. I believe he must already be searching for the person responsible, most likely somewhere within his own vicinity.”

Sylvian remained silent, his expression becoming more thoughtful as he considered Louis’s words.

”Hmm.”

August brought the wine glass to his lips and took a slow sip before setting it back down.

”In Varos, most of the cases I have been looking into involve nobles who are exploiting those beneath them,” he said. ”Louis, there is something I would like your help with.”

”Of course, Your Highness,” Louis replied with a polite smile. ”I will assist you.”

Sylvian looked at August with concern.

”You should be careful, August. Angering powerful nobles could work against you,” he warned. ”I know what you are doing is just, but you should still proceed with caution.”

”Then ask the Crown Prince to remove the corrupt nobles from their positions,” August suggested. ”Ciaran is your brother, and I doubt he would hesitate to act if you brought the matter before him.”

He took another sip of his wine before continuing.

”The noble class has gained influence over almost every important field. That is precisely why these problems continue. As long as they remain protected by their positions and connections, ordinary people will have little chance of receiving justice.”

”Ciaran is your brother as well. You should suggest it to him yourself, not ask me to do it for you,” Sylvian replied, giving August a pointed look. ”I am not your personal chauffeur, Your Highness. You can handle some matters yourself, especially those where you are likely to receive the praise.”

Louis smiled at Sylvian’s remark and gave a small nod of agreement before reaching for the wine bottle and pouring more into his glass.

”I agree with Prince Sylvian,” he said, lifting the glass toward August.

August rolled his eyes. Clearly outnumbered, he lifted his own glass and finished the remaining wine in a single swallow. He placed the empty glass on the table with a faint sigh, looking thoroughly unimpressed by the two men.

”I have to travel somewhere tomorrow,” Sylvian announced after a brief pause. ”I may not return for a few days.”

Louis immediately raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile appearing on his face.

”Are you going to visit the woman you love?”

August turned toward Sylvian at once, his brows arching in surprise.

”You are seeing someone?”

”Yes,” Sylvian admitted.

A small smile formed on his lips as he lowered his gaze for a moment. He had considered keeping it from August, but he felt there was little reason to lie to his brother about it.

”She’s a commoner,” Louis remarked, glancing at Sylvian before turning his attention to August. ”Prince August, when are you going to start looking for a partner yourself?”

”Why would I look for a partner?” August replied casually. ”I am perfectly happy on my own.”

”Are you sure about that?” Louis pressed, keeping his gaze fixed on him as he took another long sip from his glass.

August did not answer immediately.

His thoughts had already drifted elsewhere, taking him back to Liliana, the woman who had changed his understanding of love completely.

Before meeting her, he had never given much thought to what it meant to trust someone with his heart.

After everything he had witnessed and experienced, he had learned to keep his distance from women. There were only a very few he trusted, and perhaps there was only one he had ever truly allowed himself to care about.

”Your mother always wanted you to bring a noblewoman into the palace,” August suddenly said, turning his attention toward Sylvian.

Sylvian’s expression changed slightly.

”And I never wanted to follow her choice,” he replied. His voice remained calm, but the warmth in it had disappeared. ”Besides, she is no longer in the palace.”

He lowered his gaze to his glass for a moment before looking back at August.

”Please don’t bring up my mother in every conversation. It still hurts.”

”Prince August, if you ever do find a woman for yourself, try to keep your mouth shut around her,” Louis remarked. ”You can be rather harsh with your words sometimes.”

August frowned at him.

”What did you just say?”

”I said your mouth might become your greatest problem,” Louis replied calmly, taking another sip of his wine.

Sylvian could not hold back his laughter. The tension that had settled over quickly faded, replaced by the familiar teasing between the three men.

”Think about your own advice, Louis,” August retorted.

Louis straightened in his seat and gave him a proud look.

”I have nothing to worry about. I happen to be quite good with ladies. They admire me for a reason.”

August stared at him for a moment, clearly unconvinced, while Sylvian shook his head with an amused smile.

”Is that why you’re roaming single all this time?” August chuckled, refused to believe him.

”No. I couldn’t find the one who could handle my love,” Louis replied with a smirk.