The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Sir, would it really be alright for me to travel with you back to the Duke’s estate?” Iliana asked, nervously fiddling with her fingers. ”Earlier, I saw a carriage heading there, and there were some noble ladies inside. I can get down a little distance away and walk the rest of the way once we are near the gates.”

”Miss, you need not worry,” Louis assured her from the front seat. ”The noble ladies you saw were most likely guests of the Dowager Duchess. They visit the estate almost every day.”

He paused for a moment before adding with a teasing smile, ”Besides, Prince Sylvian would be rather displeased if he learned that I made his woman walk to the estate instead of bringing her there in the motorcar.”

Iliana stopped fidgeting and stared ahead.

His woman?

Her eyes widened slightly at Louis’s words. Had Sylvian already told him everything about the two of them?

I thought he didn’t want to reveal our relationship yet.

She lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling even more self-conscious. The thought that Louis knew about her made her wonder what else Sylvian might have told him.

Soon, the grand gates of the estate came into view once again, and Iliana’s anticipation grew with every passing moment. As the motorcar approached, the gates opened, allowing them to pass through without question.

Iliana looked out through the window, taking in the vast manicured lawns, elegant fountains, and the tall structures rising beyond them. Everything around her spoke of wealth and privilege, a world far removed from the modest life she had always known.

She tightened her grip on the edge of her seat as the motorcar continued along the long drive. Her heart began beating faster. She had imagined meeting Sylvian countless times, yet now that she was finally so close to him, she found herself unsure of what she would say.

The motorcar eventually slowed and came to a stop.

Louis stepped out first and walked around to her side. Iliana reached for the door handle, but she struggled to open it herself. Before she could try again, Louis opened the door from the outside and offered her a polite smile.

Iliana held her cloth bag tightly against herself before stepping out of the motorcar. As she straightened, her eyes wandered across the grand estate. The tall pillars supporting the entrance immediately caught her attention, making her feel even more conscious of how different this place was from anything she had ever known.

Before she could look around further, she noticed a man dressed in dark blue robes walking out of the estate.

Iliana immediately lowered her head in respect.

Louis, however, turned toward the man and greeted him. ”Prince August, are you going outside?”

”Yes.”

August stopped a short distance away and glanced at Iliana from head to toe. His brows lifted slightly as he studied the unfamiliar woman.

”Who are you?” he asked. ”And why were you coming out of the motorcar?”

Louis quickly approached him and leaned closer, whispering something into his ear.

August listened for a moment before a quiet chuckle escaped him. He glanced at Iliana once more, then simply turned around and walked away without saying another word.

Iliana watched him leave, unsure of what had just happened.

”Come this way, Miss,” Louis said, drawing her attention back. ”Prince Sylvian’s room is this way.”

He led her around the other side of the estate, taking her through a quieter corridor until they reached Sylvian’s room. Louis knocked, though the doors were already open, and stepped inside.

Sylvian was seated near the window, completely absorbed in a scroll his father had sent him. The bright daylight streamed through the open windows, falling across the parchment in his hands.

”Your Highness, there is someone here who wishes to see you,” Louis announced politely.

Sylvian lifted his head in confusion and set the scroll aside. ”Who?”

”Why doesn’t Your Highness make a guess?” Louis asked teasingly.

Sylvian frowned thoughtfully for a moment before shaking his head. ”Just tell me. I’m terrible at guessing.”

Louis smiled and turned toward the doorway.

”Please, come inside,” he called, loud enough for Iliana to hear.

Sylvian’s curiosity immediately grew. His gaze shifted toward the door, and a moment later, Iliana slowly stepped into the room.

The instant he saw her, Sylvian rose to his feet.

His surprise was evident on his face.

Louis, meanwhile, smiled as he watched their reaction. ”I shall leave you two alone.”

He gave Sylvian a slight bow before stepping outside and quietly closing the doors behind him.

Sylvian barely noticed because his attention remained fixed on Iliana.

”Iliana!” he exclaimed, a warm smile spreading across his face as he walked toward her. ”Why are you here? You truly surprised me.”

”I wanted to surprise Prince Sylvian,” Iliana replied with a small smile. ”So, I traveled all the way to Varos.”

Sylvian’s expression softened. He gently took her arm and guided her toward the sofa. ”You must be tired after such a long journey.” He helped her sit before reaching for a glass and pouring some water for her. ”You traveled so far just to see me. It brings me great joy.”

He handed her the glass. ”Here. Drink some water.”

”Thank you.”

Iliana accepted it and paused when she noticed the silver glass in her hand. She had rarely seen such things used for something as ordinary as drinking water. She took a few slow sips before placing it carefully on the table.

”I forgot that the Duchess isn’t in Varos,” she admitted. ”Young Lord Roman was very kind, though. He stopped the motorcar when the gatekeepers refused to let me enter. But I understand. Not everyone can simply walk into a noble estate.”

”The security was increased after the attacks that happened in the past,” Sylvian explained. ”And since my parents aren’t here, the guards were instructed to keep unfamiliar people outside. If you had told me you were coming, I would have brought you here myself.”

”But I wanted to surprise you,” Iliana replied promptly, almost as though she had been waiting for him to say that.

Sylvian couldn’t help but smile at her answer. ”And I’m happy you wanted to surprise me. But next time, please tell me beforehand. I want to make sure you’re safe. Did you travel here early this morning?”

He moved to the chair across from her and sat down, keeping his attention on her.

”No. I arrived yesterday evening and stayed at a rest house,” Iliana replied.

”By yourself?” Sylvian’s expression immediately changed, concern appearing in his eyes.

”Yes. But nothing happened. I’m used to traveling alone,” Iliana assured him.

”I know you are, but I’m still not comfortable knowing you went through all that trouble to come here alone.” Sylvian sighed softly. ”The world isn’t always a kind place, Iliana. You live by yourself, and that worries me too. I don’t want anything to happen to you while I’m not there to protect you.”

Iliana looked at him quietly, touched by the genuine concern in his voice.

”Why are you looking at me like that?” Sylvian asked, noticing the way she had been watching him.

”Nothing.” Iliana quickly shook her head and lowered her gaze.

”Tell me,” he insisted gently.

Iliana took a small breath before looking at him again. ”I came here to give you my answer, Your Highness.”

Sylvian swallowed hard. His fingers began fidgeting against each other as he waited for her to continue. He had been expecting her answer, yet now that the moment had finally arrived, he found himself strangely anxious about what she was going to say.

Iliana noticed the nervous movement of his fingers but did not pay much attention to it.

”Your Highness, I—”

Iliana was interrupted by a knock at the door.

”Your Highness, Lady Charlotte wishes to have an audience with you,” a servant announced from outside.

”Tell her I’m not available,” Sylvian replied immediately.

Iliana looked at him in surprise, wondering why he had dismissed the visitor so quickly.

”Your Highness, I can wait,” she said softly.

Sylvian shook his head. ”No. This is more important to me than anything else. Besides, I have no idea who Lady Charlotte is.”

He leaned forward slightly, his attention never leaving her. ”So, please, tell me your answer. You see...” He swallowed and glanced down briefly. ”My heart is practically pounding right now.”

His nervousness was becoming increasingly obvious. He tapped the heel of his shoe lightly against the floor, unable to keep himself still.

”But whatever decision you make, I will accept it,” he continued. He paused, then corrected himself with a nervous breath. ”No. That isn’t entirely true.”

Iliana blinked.

Sylvian looked directly at her.

”I want you in my life, Iliana. I want you to stay by my side.”

Iliana couldn’t help but smile at his confession. ”I want to trust you, Prince Sylvian. I know you won’t ever break it,” she pronounced, smiling at him.

”So, do you accept my proposal?” Sylvian asked.

”Yes, Your Highness,” she answered.

~~~~~~

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