The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The next morning, August arrived at the Duke’s estate in Varos. The moment he stepped out of the carriage, he heard the hurried patter of footsteps approaching from across the courtyard.

”Uncle August!”

Roman came running toward him, his small chest rising and falling rapidly by the time he stopped a few steps away. He was clearly out of breath, but his face was bright with excitement.

”It is so nice to see you again!” Roman exclaimed. ”You disappear every time I come looking for you, and then you suddenly reappear. I have a holiday today. Please take me to the market. I need to buy a new toy!”

August’s stern expression softened at the sight of the boy.

He raised his hand, and Samir immediately stepped forward and placed two small boxes wrapped carefully in silk cloth into it.

August lowered himself onto one knee, resting the other against the tiled ground so that he could meet Roman at eye level. He held the parcels out toward him.

”Forgive me for disappearing without saying a word,” August said gently. ”I went to see your parents. Your mother sent these for you.”

Roman’s eyes immediately widened with curiosity as he stared at the wrapped boxes.

”And she also sent you a message,” August continued. ”They will return soon, so you need not worry about them. She wants you to focus on your studies while they are away.”

Roman looked down at the gifts, then back at August.

”Did Mama really send these for me?”

”She did.”

A delighted smile spread across Roman’s face as he reached eagerly for the parcels.

”Thank you, Uncle August!”

Joanna stepped forward and carefully took the parcels from Roman.

”Young Master, I shall keep these safely in your room.”

”Sure.” Roman nodded before looking back at August. ”Uncle, you should have taken me with you too. I could have surprised them!”

August watched him with a faint smile.

”The journey is a long one, and you are still young. Besides, your mother would have scolded me if I had taken you there and made you miss your classes.”

”Hmm.” Roman nodded thoughtfully. ”Mama would definitely have been angry.”

He glanced toward the parcels Joanna was carrying, then his expression brightened again.

”But I am happy that you went to see them. I am eagerly waiting for their return. There are only twenty days left.”

His eyes drifted toward the courtyard, as though he were already imagining the moment his parents would return.

”By the time they come back, it might even snow. Then I can play with them in the snow.”

August simply watched him dream aloud.

Roman was still a child. He could speak of the coming winter with nothing but excitement, already imagining himself running through the snow with his parents, without knowing how quickly such moments could become precious memories.

August had once been a child too.

There had been a time when he, too, had wanted nothing more than to enjoy the simple pleasures of winter—to run outside, to feel the cold air against his face, and to believe that the warmth of the people he loved would always remain.

But his mother died in the winter. With that, he lost the only person who loved him dearly.

Somehow, winter had become the season he hated most.

Liliana had too left him during that season.

And with her departure, it had felt as though the warmth in his life had vanished with her.

August’s faint smile slowly faded as he looked at Roman. As August rose to his feet, Roman began walking ahead of him, his small steps quick and energetic.

”I learned horseback riding too, Uncle!” he announced proudly. ”I only know the basics for now, but I hope that as I grow older, I will become as skilled as Father.”

He suddenly stopped and pivoted on his little heels to face August.

”And, Uncle, the toy gun you gave me, I practice with it sometimes.”

August raised a brow, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

”You seem to be learning many things.”

Roman grinned before continuing toward the grand drawing room.

As they entered, August glanced around the spacious hall.

”You are roaming around the mansion by yourself. Where is your grandmother?”

”Grandma went outside with her sister,” Roman replied.

He climbed onto the sofa and picked up the soft toy lying beside him, settling it comfortably in his lap.

”Uncle Louis is busy too. And Uncle Sylvian left with Sister Iliana for the palace.”

Roman released a heavy sigh, his expression turning slightly disappointed.

”It was fun flying the kite, though.”

He looked up at August again, his eyes brightening.

”Uncle, do you like flying kites?”

Before August could answer, a maidservant entered carrying a tray. She approached respectfully and lowered herself slightly before offering the glasses.

”Thank you,” August said as he accepted one.

The maidservant then stepped toward Samir, who took the other glass and gave her a small gesture of thanks.

”I used to, when I was a child,” August replied. ”But now that I am grown, my interests lie elsewhere.”

”Where?” Roman asked curiously.

”Catching criminals and seeing that justice is served.”

Roman’s eyes lit up.

”That sounds fun.”

”It is.”

”When I grow up, I will catch criminals too,” Roman declared confidently.

August gave him an amused look.

”You will become the Duke one day. You will not have time to chase criminals yourself. You will have far more important matters to attend to.”

”But Father is the Duke,” Roman argued. ”I will help him.”

”Damian will grow old.”

”What?” Roman’s tiny brows furrowed together. ”Old?”

August nodded.

”I do not want him to grow old,” Roman said immediately. ”Then what about my mother? Will she grow old too?”

”Everyone grows old one day,” August answered with a small smile.

Roman’s expression fell as he looked down at his soft toy, clearly troubled by the thought.

”Even you, Uncle?”

August’s smile faded for a moment.

”Yes. Even me.”

Roman considered this in silence before looking up again.

”Then I will grow old too?”

”You will.”

Roman sighed dramatically. ”I don’t like growing old.”

August let out a chuckle. ”You still have plenty of time before you need to worry about that.”