The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

By evening, Damian and Eilika arrived at the private forest residence Maurice had secured for them.

Curious to see their surroundings, Eilika pushed open the balcony doors and stepped outside. Before her stretched a vast lake, its still waters reflecting the fading light beneath the canopy of the dense forest. The autumn air brushed against her face, carrying with it the earthy scent of fallen leaves and damp wood.

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the peacefulness of the place.

A moment later, Damian came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her gently against him. His hand rested comfortably at her waist as he lowered his head, his lips near her temple.

”It seems the location pleases you,” he whispered.

”It does.” Eilika turned within his embrace and rested her hands against his shoulders. ”Listen carefully. Can you hear the crickets? Their calls are always so distinct on autumn evenings.”

She lifted one hand and gently covered his eyes.

”Close them.”

Damian obeyed without protest. With his eyes closed, he allowed the quiet sounds of the wilderness to surround them—the distant rustling of leaves, the soft movement of the trees, and the steady chorus of crickets rising from the forest.

”I hear it,” he murmured.

Eilika lowered her hand, and Damian opened his eyes.

Instead of looking toward the lake, however, he looked directly at her.

She noticed his fixed gaze and tilted her head. ”Why are you staring at me like that?”

”You are breathtaking when you are happy,” Damian replied, his expression softening. ”And your eyes... there is a quiet calm in them that draws me in.”

Before she could answer, he leaned down and kissed her.

Eilika readily returned the kiss, her back eventually coming to rest against the wooden balustrade. Damian’s arm tightened around her waist, keeping her steady, while his other hand rose to the back of her neck. He tilted her head gently, brushing a series of warm kisses along her jaw and down toward her neck.

”Damian...” she breathed, glancing instinctively toward the forest. ”Someone might see us.”

”There is no one here,” he murmured. ”Maurice and the servants are stationed at the outer cottage.”

His reassurance earned him a small frown, but before Eilika could respond, he pressed another kiss against her neck. She startled slightly at the sudden sensation and instinctively caught his shoulder.

She gave it a light smack.

Damian pulled back just enough to look at her, one brow arching in quiet amusement.

”What?” he whispered, the corner of his mouth lifting. ”Do not pretend you dislike it when I leave my mark upon you.”

”You do it deliberately in places everyone can see,” Eilika countered, searching his face with an accusing look.

”You are free to do the same to me.” His voice softened, his amusement giving way to sincerity. ”I wear every mark you leave with pride. Maurice noticed one already.”

Eilika blinked.

”What?”

”Are you truly feeling modest now?” Damian teased, a faint smile playing across his lips.

”Why would you let him see it?” she demanded, her cheeks warming. ”Could you not keep your shirt properly buttoned?”

Damian chuckled at her embarrassment and drew her a little closer.

”I suppose I could,” he murmured. ”But then I would have missed seeing you blush like this.”

Eilika bit her lower lip when Damian’s thumb brushed over it. He traced the soft curve for a moment before finally lowering his hand to his side.

”Do you want to swim in the lake?” Damian asked casually.

”What? I—I can’t swim,” Eilika admitted, looking at him with slight embarrassment.

”So, there are things you can’t do after all,” he mused, a teasing smile appearing on his face.

Eilika narrowed her eyes at him. ”There is no need to sound so pleased about it.”

Damian chuckled. ”Well, it’s autumn now. I won’t take you into cold water anyway. You could catch a cold and become sick.”

”What about you?” Eilika asked. ”You could get sick too.”

Before Damian could answer, Eilika suddenly sneezed.

His expression changed immediately.

”Eilika.”

”I’m fine,” she assured him, but Damian was already removing his large coat. He draped it around her shoulders and pulled it securely around her to keep the cold air from reaching her.

”I’m not cold,” she protested softly. ”Don’t worry so much.”

”I’ll decide whether I should worry.”

Eilika looked at him, unable to hide the small smile that appeared on her lips.

”Come on,” Damian said, placing a protective hand over her shoulder. ”Let’s go inside.”

He guided her back through the balcony doors and into the warmth of the residence, keeping the coat wrapped securely around her as they walked in.

Once Damian had made her sit on the bed, he looked at her for a moment before speaking.

”I’ll ask the staff to bring some tea for us.”

”Hmm.”

Eilika watched as Damian left the room. Once he was gone, she lowered the coat from around her shoulders and looked down at it, a small smile touching her lips.

’He has become so warm toward me.’

She gently ran her fingers over the fabric.

’I’m grateful to God for melting his heart for me. I only hope his fears have disappeared as well.’

Her thoughts inevitably returned to Damian’s greatest fear, the possibility of losing another woman through childbirth. After losing Liliana that way, he had struggled with the grief for years. The memory had left such a deep wound in him that he had once been terrified of allowing himself to love or become close to anyone again.

But things had changed between them.

”We overcame it,” Eilika murmured to herself. ”That night, he didn’t pull away. He chose to be with me willingly, without letting his fear stop him.”

Her expression softened as she remembered the tenderness he had shown her.

”He finally allowed himself to trust me completely... and to accept our relationship without fear.”

Damian returned shortly afterward and removed his boots, finally allowing his tired legs to rest as he sat beside Eilika on the bed.

”They’ll bring the tea shortly.”

He reached for her hand and held it beside his own, comparing their sizes. A faint smile appeared on his face.

”Look at that. Your hand is so tiny compared to mine.”

”You’re taller than me, so that’s hardly surprising,” Eilika replied, glancing at their hands. ”Don’t tell me you noticed that only today.”

”No.” Damian looked at her with quiet amusement. ”I’ve noticed it many times.”

She looked down at their hands, suddenly unsure of how to ask what had been on her mind. After a moment, she gathered enough courage to speak.

”Can I ask you something?”

”Hmm?”

Eilika swallowed, her fingers shifting slightly in his grasp.

”I... I was wondering if all your fears have ended or not.”

She could not bring herself to ask him directly what she truly wanted to know. Yet Damian seemed to understand immediately. His expression changed, becoming more thoughtful as he looked at her.

”I also want to have beautiful children with you,” he said simply.

Eilika’s breath caught.

For a moment, she forgot to blink. She stared into his eyes, almost certain she had misunderstood him.

Damian, however, remained completely calm, as though he had merely spoken aloud something he had already accepted in his heart.

”Truly?” Eilika asked, almost unable to believe what she had heard.

”Yes.” Damian nodded. ”I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the way... I stopped being afraid.”

His fingers continued to gently rub against hers as he gathered his thoughts.

”However, if any complications arise, I will choose you. You cannot stop me from making that choice.” His voice remained calm, but there was a quiet firmness beneath it. ”That is only a worst-case possibility, and I don’t want to live my life fearing something that may never happen.”

He looked into her eyes.

”If heaven has given me a second chance with you, then I believe things will be all right.”

Eilika’s eyes softened.

”I want to have children with you,” Damian continued. ”Your happiness is mine, after all. I know you have wanted to know how I truly feel about this for a long time.”

He paused, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles.

”Forgive me for remaining emotionally detached for so long.”

”No. Don’t apologize,” Eilika whispered, shaking her head.

A warm smile slowly curved across her lips.

”I’m not in a rush to have a child right now. I simply want to enjoy every moment with you.”

She squeezed his hand affectionately.

”And, of course, I want to give Roman all my attention for now.”

Damian looked at her for a moment before planting a kiss on the middle of her forehead. ”You are a wonderful woman, Eilika. I admire you so much for everything. I always longed for this kind of love. You understand me in ways I couldn’t even understand myself. You’ve been so patient with me. I still feel sorry for the terrible things I did to you.”

”Don’t be. Forget the past. Let’s move forward for a better future,” Eilika stated, passing a smile to him.