The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Pardon me for intruding, Your Highness, but the Dowager Duchess has sent a message,” a servant announced from outside Sylvian’s room.

”Come inside,” Sylvian ordered.

The doors were pushed open, and the servant stepped inside. She bowed respectfully to the prince before delivering the message.

”Your Highness, on the Dowager Duchess’s orders, a guest room has been prepared for Miss Iliana. She is to stay there, as Her Grace is waiting for her.”

Iliana looked at the servant in surprise. She had not expected Georgia to make such arrangements for her, and the realization left her slightly flustered.

”I shall go,” she said, rising to her feet. She turned toward Sylvian with a gentle smile. ”Please take some rest.”

With that, she followed the servant out of the room, leaving her cloth bag behind without realizing it.

As Iliana entered the room, she heard the Dowager Duchess giving instructions to one of the maids. Georgia immediately stopped speaking when the servant announced Iliana’s arrival.

”Dear, forgive me for not attending to you earlier,” Georgia said warmly, turning toward her. ”Some guests had arrived, and I didn’t know about you until a few minutes ago.”

Iliana lowered her head respectfully.

”Please, don’t worry about it, Your Grace.”

”Stay here for as long as you wish,” Georgia continued. ”You are welcome in this estate. However, I would advise you to avoid going out in public for the time being. You are no longer an ordinary woman. Once people learn that you are connected to Prince Sylvian, their attention will naturally turn toward you.”

Iliana nodded quietly.

”Prince Sylvian did mention you to me yesterday as well,” Georgia added. ”So I wasn’t completely unaware of your relationship.”

Iliana looked up, slightly surprised.

”And whatever happened between Prince Sylvian and Prince August earlier, please don’t let it affect the decision you have made for yourself,” Georgia said gently. ”The two of them have a history that goes all the way back to their childhood. There are wounds between them that cannot be understood simply by witnessing one argument.”

She paused before offering Iliana a reassuring smile.

”Sylvian is a very gentle soul. Despite receiving countless marriage proposals over the years, he never chose to marry. He was waiting for someone who would truly complement him, someone with whom he could share his life rather than simply fulfill an obligation.”

Iliana listened quietly, her heart warming at Georgia’s words.

”I believe he has finally found that person in you,” Georgia said. She then closed the distance between them and patted Iliana’s shoulder. ”Take some rest.”

With that Georgia left, leaving Iliana alone in that room.

~~~~~

Instead of resting, Sylvian went to see August. He pushed open the doors in anger and found his brother reclining in the chair as though nothing had happened.

”I’m not entertaining you, so just leave before I kick you out,” August said without opening his eyes.

”I won’t leave until you agree to apologize to Iliana,” Sylvian replied firmly. ”You hold grudges against me, so take them out on me. Not on the woman I love.”

August finally opened his eyes and sat upright.

”I did take my revenge on you,” he said coldly. ”I can’t destroy Ciaran, but I can do this to you. Iliana is a naive woman who believes that merely having your word means she can become your wife. I’m helping you in some way by making her understand what she’s getting herself into.”

Sylvian shook his head. ”I’m not the kind of man you think I am. And you don’t know even a fraction of who I am, August. I can tolerate anything you say about me, but I won’t tolerate you hurting Iliana. You had better apologize to her before this day ends.”

”What if I don’t?” August arched a brow. ”Don’t tell me you’re going to kill me.”

Sylvian frowned and dragged a frustrated hand through his hair.

”There’s no use talking to you. August, you seriously don’t understand what love is. All you seem to know is how to destroy other people’s lives.”

August laughed bitterly.

”The kind of sacrifices I’ve made for love, you couldn’t even begin to understand,” he said, his expression turning dark. ”Just because I don’t brag about them doesn’t mean I don’t have a heart capable of understanding love.”

”If you did, you wouldn’t have said something so cruel to Iliana,” Sylvian argued.

”Why are you even afraid?” August chuckled. ”If she loves you, she won’t leave you.”

”That isn’t the concern. You spoke wrongly to her.”

”Don’t tell me what is right and what is wrong.” August finally stood. ”Now, get out of my sight.”

”Uncles, why are you both fighting?”

The small voice came from the doorway.

Both princes turned toward it. Roman stood there holding the broken kite in his hands.

”What are you doing here?” August demanded, his irritation immediately returning.

”Um... I saw Uncle Sylvian coming here, so I followed him.” Roman stepped inside cautiously. ”Mama says fighting isn’t good.”

He moved between the two princes as though his small presence alone could prevent another argument.

August rubbed his temple and turned his back to them.

”It’s nothing, Roman.”

”Young Master, what are you doing here?”

Joanna hurried into the room, keeping her head lowered as she approached Roman. She gently took his hand, preparing to lead him away.

”Do your duty properly,” August scolded without looking at her. ”Why would you leave the child without proper supervision?”

”Uncle, please don’t scold Sister Joanna,” Roman pleaded.

”Boy, you’d better leave my room. I’m not in the mood to listen to anyone.”

August’s voice almost became a growl as he walked toward the balcony, clearly wanting to be left alone.

”Let’s go, Roman.”

Sylvian took Roman’s hand and led him out of the room, giving August one last glance before closing the doors behind them.

As they walked away, Sylvian’s expression hardened with determination. He understood now that he needed to leave for the capital as soon as possible and speak to his father himself. He could not allow August’s resentment, or anyone else’s, to interfere with the decision he had made about Iliana and his future.