The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

By evening, Samir returned to the Duke’s estate to see August. As he made his way through the corridor, he heard the servants talking about August getting into a fight.

’Did Prince August get himself into trouble again?’ Samir wondered, his expression tightening with concern.

He hurried toward August’s room and knocked on the door. After waiting for permission, he heard August’s voice from inside.

”Come in.”

Samir opened the door and stepped inside. August was sitting on the bed with a book in his hands, his attention seemingly fixed on its pages. However, the small wound on his lower lip immediately caught Samir’s attention.

”Your Highness, I heard that you got into a fight with your brother,” Samir said carefully, his eyes lingering on the cut for a moment.

”I don’t wish to speak about it,” August muttered without looking up. ”Tell me, did you find out what I asked you to?”

”Yes, Your Highness.” Samir straightened. ”The Queen met Xavier’s brother a few days ago.”

August’s fingers stopped moving.

He slowly closed the book and placed it beside him before straightening on the bed. A dark expression settled over his face as the pieces fell into place.

”I knew it.” His jaw tightened. ”That bitch won’t stay quiet unless she destroys Damian’s life.”

”Be careful with your words, Your Highness,” Samir warned in a low voice, his gaze shifting toward the closed doors. He lowered his voice further. ”There are servants everywhere. Someone might overhear you.”

August scoffed, his expression still filled with resentment.

”I don’t care who hears me. Besides, she’s no longer the respected Queen of this kingdom. She’s a disgrace.”

Samir remained silent for a moment. He knew better than to argue with August when his temper had been stirred.

”I wonder if she sent Garrett after Damian and Eilika to the North,” August murmured, his brows drawing together.

”No one knows for certain,” Samir replied. ”But I do think it is a possibility, especially since Duke Damian received a threatening message while he was in the Northern Province.”

August’s expression darkened. His hands slowly curled into fists against the bedsheet.

”I hate all of this,” he muttered. ”Father should have given her a death sentence. She doesn’t deserve to live after everything she has done.”

Samir remained silent. He knew there was little point in trying to reason with August when his anger had reached this point.

”We need to go to the Northern Province,” August finally said.

Samir looked at him with concern. ”What about the work assigned to you, Your Highness?”

”I don’t want Eilika’s life to be destroyed because of all this.” August’s voice hardened. ”If it weren’t for her, even Damian wouldn’t have helped me. I owe her more than that. I’ll deal with Garrett myself.”

He paused before adding, ”As for my work, it’s not as though I was given a specific deadline to finish it.”

Samir considered his words before nodding. ”Then I’ll make the arrangements for your departure.”

”Do it discreetly,” August ordered, keeping his voice low. ”No one should know where we are heading. It would be better if you arrange two horses rather than taking a carriage.”

”Understood, Your Highness.”

Samir bowed and turned toward the door. Once he had left, August leaned back against the pillows, his gaze lingering on the ceiling.

”Liliana...” he murmured, his voice losing some of its earlier anger. ”You destroyed me, but at the very least, you should have lived an honest life.”

His jaw tightened as old memories resurfaced.

”And you left too soon to give anyone the answers they deserved for what you did.”

A weary sigh escaped him. He closed his eyes, wanting to rest for a while before the journey ahead.

~~~~~

Later that evening, Iliana finally woke from her long sleep. She had been asleep for several hours, and as she rubbed the drowsiness from her eyes, the first person who came to her mind was Sylvian.

’I need to check on him. And I should thank the Dowager Duchess as well. I could barely say a word in front of her earlier.’

She pushed the blankets aside and climbed out of bed. After lighting the lamps, she straightened the bed and washed her face before stepping out of the room.

As she entered the corridor, one of the servants noticed her and offered a polite smile.

”Good evening, Miss Iliana.”

”Good evening. Please, just call me Iliana. I’m no different from you,” she replied with a gentle smile. ”I would like to see the Dowager Duchess.”

”At the moment, Her Grace is occupied,” the servant explained. ”The young master usually comes to play with her around this hour.”

Iliana nodded, understanding that Georgia was spending time with Roman.

”Oh, I see. Then I would like to see Prince Sylvian.”

”This way, Miss Iliana,” the servant replied, turning down the corridor.

Iliana followed her until they reached Sylvian’s room. The servant stopped outside and gestured toward the door.

”You may go inside. I’ll wait here.”

”Of course. Thank you.”

Iliana stepped into the room and immediately noticed several servants gathered around Sylvian. His belongings were being packed into travel trunks, while another servant was checking a list and making sure nothing had been forgotten.

”Is His Highness going somewhere?” Iliana asked curiously.

”Iliana!”

Sylvian’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her. The surprise on his face quickly turned into a warm smile. He dismissed the servants with a gesture, and they bowed before leaving the room.

Once they were alone, Sylvian walked toward her.

”How was your rest?” he asked.

”Wonderful,” Iliana replied with a smile. ”I slept for several hours. I think I needed it.”

”I’m glad.” Sylvian glanced briefly toward the packed luggage before looking back at her. ”I’m going to the capital. Would you like to accompany me?”

”The capital?” Iliana repeated, her eyes widening slightly.

”Yes. You told me you still have three days before you have to reopen your bakery, didn’t you?”

Iliana nodded. ”Yes. I closed the shop for three more days.”

”Then we have enough time.” Sylvian stepped closer, his expression becoming more serious. ”Come with me to the palace, Iliana. I want to introduce you formally to my father and my elder brother.”

She looked at him quietly, sensing there was more behind his words.

”I want you to see for yourself that whatever August said was wrong,” Sylvian continued. ”I don’t want you to carry those doubts in your heart because of him.”

He reached for her hand and gently held it.

”I want to prove to you that I meant everything I said. You will be my one and only wife, Iliana. I want my family to know that you are the woman I have chosen.”