The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Xenia was turning the handle of the grain crusher when a pair of small arms suddenly wrapped around her neck from behind.

”Sis, are we really going to the big city?” Lara asked excitedly.

Xenia paused and glanced over her shoulder, keeping one hand firmly on the stone handle.

”Huh? No, we aren’t,” she replied, looking puzzled. ”Who told you that?”

”Brother Charlie said he wanted to set up his business there,” Lara answered.

She slowly loosened her arms from around Xenia and walked over to a small wooden chair, settling herself down as she fiddled with the beads around her wrist.

”What?” Xenia asked, her interest immediately piqued. ”Which city?”

For a brief moment, excitement flickered across her face. The thought of leaving this place and moving to a large city sounded almost impossible, yet she could not help wondering what life there might be like.

But the excitement quickly faded when reality returned to her. They barely had enough savings to manage their household, let alone enough money to move to a city and start a new life there.

”I don’t know,” Lara admitted, swinging her feet beneath the chair. ”I only heard Brother Charlie talking about it.” ℴℴ𝘮

Xenia stared at her for a moment before quickly returning to her work. She finished grinding the remaining grain, wiped her hands against the fabric of her dress, and hurried toward the main courtyard.

The physician carefully wrapped a fresh bandage around Charlie’s injured arm while Henry’s dressing was already being secured. Once he had finished tending to both brothers, the physician gathered his supplies and left the room.

Xenia waited until he was gone before approaching them.

”Brothers, it must be hurting quite badly,” she said, looking at the bandages with concern. ”I will prepare a flour paste for both of you. It should provide some relief in the long run.”

”Yes, it does hurt,” Charlie admitted, carefully moving his injured arm. ”But thankfully, neither of us suffered serious burns.”

He glanced at Xenia and immediately noticed the questioning look on her face.

”What is it that you wish to ask?” he asked. ”You have been waiting to speak to me about something.”

Xenia hesitated before finally speaking.

”Lara told me that you were talking about moving to a big city and setting up the business there,” she said. ”Is that really possible? We have already suffered such a great loss. I remember how much effort all of you put into building the rest house.”

Henry looked toward his elder brother, waiting for him to answer.

Charlie smiled faintly.

”I bought a piece of land in Varos last year,” he revealed. ”A broker offered me a very good deal, and I decided to take it. I have always wanted to move to Varos because there are far more opportunities for us there. And now, after everything that has happened, I feel this is the right time.”

Xenia stared at him in disbelief.

”But what about the money?”

”Don’t worry about that. We have enough savings to manage the move and start again.”

”You bought land in Varos?” Xenia asked, her eyes widening. ”That place is so expensive, Brother.”

”Haha, yes, I did,” Charlie replied with a proud smile. ”Even your other brothers were surprised when they found out. We will build our restaurant there along with a house for all of us.”

”I agree,” Henry said with a nod. ”Starting over in Varos may actually be the best thing for us.”

Xenia remained quiet as she listened to them.

Prince August also lived in Varos.

Perhaps, if she went there, she might have the chance to meet him again. She could finally thank him properly for what he had done for her.

But the moment the thought crossed her mind, she frowned.

Why was she thinking about him again?

”And we will find a suitable groom for you in Varos,” Charlie broke her thoughts with a teasing grin.

Xenia immediately frowned. ”Brother, I don’t want to marry.”

”There is no need to rush into it,” Charlie assured her. ”But as your eldest brother, it is my responsibility to make sure you are married into a good household. I want you to have a husband and family who will treat you with respect.”

He gave her a playful smile.

”Who knows? Perhaps you will even find love there.”

”Brother, you are the eldest among us,” Xenia countered. ”You should be the first one to marry.”

Charlie laughed.

”I will marry after I have seen all of you settled. Besides, I am only twenty-five. I still have plenty of time to find a woman.”

Xenia lowered her gaze, her earlier smile fading.

”I really don’t want to marry,” she murmured. ”What if the man I marry turns out to be a terrible person? I am frightened even thinking about it.”

Her brothers fell silent for a moment.

”Don’t think that way,” Henry said gently. ”Not every marriage brings misery. There are good people in this world, Xenia.”

He gave her a reassuring smile. ”And good people deserve good things. You should believe that something good can happen to you too.”

Xenia pouted but said nothing more. Her views on marriage were deeply rooted, and she was not easily persuaded to change them.

”Then tell me what kind of man you would want to marry,” Charlie asked. ”Take a seat. It may take us some time to find someone who meets your expectations.”

”You will never find a man like that, Brother!” Xenia said with a small laugh as she sat down on the bamboo chair.

A moment later, Lara came running toward her with a flower clutched in her little hand. She climbed onto Xenia’s lap and settled comfortably against her.

”Tell us the kind of man you desire,” Henry encouraged, amused by his sister’s seriousness.

Xenia thought for a moment before speaking.

”Hmm... Someone who stands up for what is right and continues to fight for it, no matter how difficult things become. Someone who respects my opinions and considers them instead of expecting me to simply follow his decisions. And I want him to stand beside me even when the entire world is against me.”

Lara listened quietly, though most of her sister’s words went over her head.

”That is how a husband should be,” Charlie said, nodding in agreement.

”But men like that are difficult to find,” Xenia replied. ”When a man has to choose between his mother and his wife, whom do you think he chooses? His mother, of course. I have seen it happen so many times. Wives are expected to obey whatever they are told, even when they have a different opinion.”

She lowered her gaze, her expression becoming more serious.

”That is why I do not wish to marry. I would rather remain alone than spend my life with someone who does not respect me.”

Lara finally looked up at her, her little brows furrowing in confusion.

”Are you getting married, Sis?”

Xenia looked down at her and shook her head with a gentle smile.

”No, sweetheart. I am not getting married.” She caressed her sister’s head while Charlie and Henry exchanged glances with each other.

”But if you get married, Sis, will you leave me behind?” Lara asked, her little face filled with concern.

”Why would I ever leave you behind? And I already told you, I’m not getting married,” Xenia replied, lifting her into her arms. Lara immediately wrapped her small arms around her sister’s neck.

Xenia glanced toward her brothers. ”I’m going to the market. I’ll see you both later. Wave goodbye to your brothers, Lara.”

The little girl obediently turned toward Charlie and Henry and waved her tiny hand before Xenia carried her away with her.

Charlie watched them disappear through the doorway before letting out a quiet sigh. ”Xenia’s fear of marriage is understandable. The kind of man she wants is certainly difficult to find.”

”But difficult does not mean impossible,” Henry replied with a bright smile. ”We’ll find someone good for her. And if we don’t, she can stay with us until we grow old. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

He looked toward the doorway through which his sisters had disappeared, his expression softening.

”I promised her parents that I would take care of Xenia and Lara. I intend to keep that promise.”

”You’re right. They have never been a burden to us,” Charlie affirmed. ”It’s just that I want Xenia to have a family of her own someday—a husband, children, and a home filled with people who love her. But if she chooses to remain single for the rest of her life, we will support her decision. As long as she is happy, that is what matters.”

Henry smiled at his brother’s thoughts. ”She will get everything she desires. Right now, her fears are speaking. There should be a good man for her, who will provide her the warmth that disappeared from her life after losing her parents and grandmother.”