The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”What is it, Louis?” Eilika asked as soon as the study doors clicked shut behind them.

Louis withdrew the ledger from the inner pocket of his coat and handed it across the mahogany desk. ”I acquired this yesterday from a reliable source.”

Eilika looked down at the weathered binding with a furrowed brow. ”And what does it contain?”

”An old account book kept in the storehouse of a restaurant owned by Liliana’s distant cousin,” Louis explained. ”The transaction entries are riddled with anomalies. When the Duke returns, this will provide him with considerable leverage.”

Eilika knitted her brows together as the implication settled over her. ”This is yet more proof of what she was orchestrating behind Damian’s back.”

”Indeed. It sometimes becomes unbelievable that a woman who appeared so innocent, and spoke with such apparent kindness, could do something like this,” Louis observed.

”I believe she never foresaw how terribly things would unravel for her,” Eilika replied quietly. ”Whatever she did was driven by ambition, perhaps securing her future. Little did she know what the future actually held.”

Louis nodded in agreement.

”I will keep this safe. Thank you for bringing it to me, and extend my gratitude to the one who assisted you in acquiring it,” Eilika said.

”Of course, Your Grace,” he replied with a bow. ”How is your father faring? With the royal physician from the palace intervening, I trust his treatment is progressing well.”

”It is, though his recovery will be a long process. I intend to visit him this afternoon,” Eilika replied, deciding to bring Roman along since the boy had been insisting on it, as well as to give him a pleasant outing. ”Thank you for asking, Louis.”

”Your father will be well soon, Duchess. Ah, before I take my leave, I would like to know if Prince August is calm and acting upon sound advice?” Louis asked.

”Yes, he has been. In fact, he assured me this morning that he intends to wait for Damian’s return before taking any further steps,” Eilika answered, offering a slight nod of appreciation. ”I am quite glad you enlightened him regarding the severe consequences he could face.”

”I believe the credit belongs equally to the Duchess,” Louis remarked with a polite tilt of his head.

Eilika’s expression shifted, her brows drawing together in genuine perplexity. ”Me? How so?”

”Prince August was not always as he is today. In the past, he would have shown me disrespect rather than engage in proper conversation,” Louis explained. ”I believe he has finally found someone genuinely trustworthy around him, and that is you. Naturally, he extends that trust to the people you vouch for.”

Eilika hummed thoughtfully. ”The people around him rarely saw him for who he truly was, nor in the way he wished to be seen. Perhaps that is why. Even I had my differences with him in the past, though those were resolved soon enough. It is certainly true that Prince August has matured considerably over these past few months.”

”That is the beauty of Your Grace’s heart. You have transformed many of those around you.” Louis’s eyes reflected genuine admiration for her. Bowing respectfully, he turned and took his leave, heading toward the administration center to resume his duties.

”Louis never misses an opportunity to offer praise,” Eilika murmured to herself. The gentle smile on her lips faded as her gaze drifted back to the weathered binding of the ledger resting in her hand. Securing the study doors behind her, she locked them firmly before turning down the corridor toward her private chambers.

”Mama!” Roman’s voice echoed down the hall, causing her to pause halfway down the grand staircase.

”Yes, Roman?” she asked, turning as the boy hurried up to her side, small fingers instantly wrapping around her hand.

”Won’t you play with me? Are you still busy with your work?” he asked, looking up with big, hopeful eyes. ”Grandma is busy with her circle of friends today.”

”Shall I have some of your friends brought over?” Eilika offered gently, a pang of guilt touching her heart. ”I am sorry, sweetheart. I let the morning slip away from me, even though I promised to dedicate today to you.”

”No, Mama. Most of my friends are away visiting family for the short break,” Roman replied, shaking his head. ”Even though we have examinations coming up soon, they still went away. That is what they told me when we last were at the academy.”

”We will be going out this afternoon. Mama still has a few matters to attend to first,” Eilika answered.

”Really?! We are going out?” Roman cried out, jumping with excitement.

”Yes. Now, calm down and go with Joanna. You may play or spend some time on your studies, as you prefer,” Eilika told him gently.

”I choose to play!” Roman declared, darting down the steps. Eilika watched him go with a soft smile before continuing up the grand staircase, leaving the boy in Joanna’s attentive care.

Eilika placed the ledger safely inside the cupboard. As she closed and locked the door, her gaze lingered on the key resting in her palm.

”Damian, I hope you are doing well there,” she whispered into the quiet room. ”The weather has turned even colder... and somewhere, your absence makes it coldest of all.”

~~~~~~~

Iliana stared in astonishment out the bedroom window, taking in the heavy ring of guards stationed around the perimeter. Letting the curtain fall back into place, she hurried downstairs.

To her surprise, Sylvian was seated comfortably on the sofa.

”Your Highness,” she called out softly.

He looked up, his gaze softening as he took in her appearance, fresh from her bath, with strands of damp hair clinging lightly to her shoulders. ”The guards have been deployed outside,” he informed her, standing up finally.

”Yes, I saw. I imagine the everyone knows by now,” Iliana admitted, ”about us.”

”You seem afraid,” Sylvian noted, his gaze softening as he watched her.

”I am nervous, Your Highness,” she admitted. She cleared her throat, gesturing slightly toward the inner rooms. ”Once the water heats, I will have the tub prepared so you can freshen up.”

”I will do that,” Sylvian said, rising from the sofa. ”Or better yet, tell me how, and I can manage it myself.”

Iliana’s eyes widened slightly in alarm. ”Your Highness, I could never allow you to do that. There is another way. You could stay at a nearby rest house instead. My home is small, and while I permitted it before when our association was a secret, everyone knows now. People will find it odd, and more importantly, you should not subject yourself to such discomfort here.”

”Iliana, not another word,” he said, pressing a finger gently against her lips. ”This place is my home, too. I intend to embrace whatever comes with you. Consider it my way of understanding how ordinary people live. I am not uncomfortable at all. I find it pleasant here.”

Lowering his hand, he locked his fingers behind his back before leaning in to press a kiss to her lips.

She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.

”Now, show me where I need to get the warm water. Last time, I let you do it, but not this time,” Sylvian stated, already folding back his sleeves.

”This way.” Iliana led him through the kitchen and out through a back door into the small yard. Over a stone fire altar, water was heating inside a large metal vessel. ”First, the water needs to be transferred into the bucket, and then carried upstairs,” she explained.

”That sounds simple enough,” Sylvian said, reaching directly for the hot vessel.

”Your Highness, what are you doing? Do you want to burn your fingers?” she cried out, catching his arm. ”You need to use thick cloths on both sides to grip it. Here, take these.” She handed him a pair of padded cloths. ”Be careful, it is quite heavy.”

Sylvian hummed in acknowledgment and lifted the vessel with care. To his surprise, it was remarkably heavy, making him wonder just how Iliana managed all of these daily chores entirely by herself.

Sylvian carefully poured the steaming water into the bucket, while Iliana used a long iron poker to drag the glowing embers away from the stone hearth, smothering the flames with a shovelful of ash.

Noticing the taut line of his jaw and the slight strain in his posture as he gripped the heavy pail, she stepped closer.

”If the weight troubles you, Your Highness, let me take it,” she offered.

”No,” he replied.

He stepped into the house then. Iliana paused only to secure the kitchen latch behind them before hurrying up the narrow wooden stairs toward the corner bathing chamber.

By the time she reached the doorway, Sylvian was already tipping the hot water into the bath tub. Moving quickly, she fetched a smaller bucket of cold water and poured it in, stirring the mixture until the temperature was suitable.

”The bath is ready, Your Highness,” she said, gesturing to the clean linen robe resting on the wooden stool. ”I have left fresh garments here for you. Take your time. I will go out then.”

She bowed slightly and walked out, closing the door behind her.