The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Unless you try, you’ll never know,” Eilika replied.

August offered no response. He quietly finished his tea before rising from his seat and taking his leave. Eilika watched him go, wondering whether he had disliked her suggestion about Xenia.

I suppose he didn’t appreciate my suggestion, she thought, letting out a quiet sigh before turning her attention back to the table.

”Your Grace, a messenger has arrived from the palace,” a guard announced as he hurried into the room.

”Bring him in,” Eilika ordered.

A servant immediately stepped forward to clear the tea things while the guard went to fetch the messenger. Moments later, a young man entered and bowed respectfully before the Duchess.

”Greetings, Your Grace. I bring a message from the palace for Prince August,” he said humbly, keeping his head lowered.

Eilika glanced at him before turning toward the second servant standing nearby. Understanding her silent instruction, the servant promptly left to inform August, who was staying in another room of the estate.

A short while later, August returned to the room and glanced at the messenger waiting before the Duchess.

”Your Highness, His Majesty the King has sent this message for you,” the messenger announced respectfully, extending the scroll toward him.

August took the scroll from his hand while Eilika rose from her seat, watching him with quiet curiosity. A message from the King was unusual enough to draw her attention, and she wondered what had prompted His Majesty to contact August.

”What? Father has selected a bride for me? Why?” August muttered, his brows drawing together as he read the message again, as though hoping he had misunderstood its contents.

He turned a sharp glare on the messenger, who flinched under his intimidating gaze and lowered his head further.

”The messenger might not know the reason, Your Highness,” Eilika pointed out calmly, hoping to prevent August from taking his frustration out on someone who was merely delivering the message.

”I have to go to the palace. I don’t understand what Father means by this.” August clenched his jaw, his irritation evident as he lowered the scroll and tightened his grip on it.

He had never agreed to let anyone choose a bride for him, and the thought that the King had already made such a decision without consulting him left him deeply displeased.

”Shall I arrange a carriage for Your Highness?” Eilika asked.

”No, don’t trouble yourself. I’ll leave later this evening,” August replied firmly. He still had something to take care of before heading to the palace, a matter he had sacrificed his sleep to handle the previous night.

”Very well. I’ll make the necessary arrangements before your departure. It won’t be any trouble,” Eilika assured him.

She then turned toward the servant standing nearby. ”Please show the messenger to a guest room and see that he is made comfortable.”

The servant bowed and led the messenger away. August remained where he was for a moment, his gaze troubled as he stared at the scroll in his hand. The King’s decision had come as an unwelcome surprise, and he had no intention of accepting it without an explanation.

”I’ll see you later,” he said to Eilika before turning to leave.

”Where are you going, Your Highness? Breakfast will be served shortly,” Eilika reminded him.

”I have no appetite,” August replied curtly, walking away before she could say anything more.

~~~~~

Xenia raised the axe above her head and brought it down hard on the log resting on the chopping block. The wood split cleanly into two pieces, and she set the axe aside for a moment before arranging the smaller logs into a neat pile.

Lara sat on a bench in the open courtyard, watching her sister with admiration. With a candle in a stick still in her mouth, she clapped enthusiastically.

”You’re so strong, Sis!” Lara exclaimed once she had taken the round candy out of her mouth.

Xenia smiled at her younger sister before picking up another log. ”Winter is approaching, so we need to stock up on firewood. We can’t afford to run short when the weather turns cold.”

”Sister, there’s going to be a fire show at the market tonight. We should go!” Lara said excitedly. ”Brother Charlie will come with us, too.”

”What about our other brothers?” Xenia asked.

She gathered the chopped logs into a sturdy bamboo basket and lifted it with ease before carrying it toward the porch. Although the basket was heavy, she managed it without much difficulty, accustomed to helping her family with such chores.

Lara hurried after her sister and caught hold of the edge of Xenia’s skirt.

”I believe they’ll come, too,” she said confidently before rushing ahead to open the storage room for Xenia.

”Thank you.” Xenia carried the heavy basket inside and set it down in a corner. After dusting off her hands, she turned toward her sister. ”We’re done for today. Let’s go and help our brothers.”

”Okay!” Lara replied cheerfully. She finished her sugary candy and tossed the wooden stick into the rubbish bin before following Xenia outside.

Xenia locked the storage room, secured the house, and then headed toward the restaurant her brothers owned. The moment they entered, she found the place bustling with customers. Conversations filled the room, and the servers were moving between the tables with trays of food and drinks.

Worried that Lara might get caught in the crowd, Xenia took her younger sister’s hand and guided her through the busy restaurant. When they reached a small space near the counter, she lifted Lara into her arms and carried her the remaining distance before setting her down beside a chair.

”Sit here and don’t wander off. I’ll go help our brothers,” Xenia instructed gently.

Lara nodded, already turning her attention toward a tea server nearby.

Xenia had just begun to turn away when a familiar voice stopped her.

”Miss, could we speak outside?” Samir asked.

She looked back at him and nodded. Before following him, she glanced at Lara, who was already chatting animatedly with the tea server, seemingly content to stay where she was.

Xenia followed Samir outside, and the two made their way to the backyard, where the noise from the busy restaurant faded into the distance.

”Does Prince August need my help?” she asked, wondering why Samir had come looking for her.

”Kind of,” Samir replied. ”If you’re free, you’ll need to come with me. Otherwise, I can wait until you’re done with your work.”

”I’m free at the moment,” Xenia answered.

”Then let’s go.”

Samir turned and led her toward the front of the building. A carriage was waiting nearby, and he gestured for her to get inside. Xenia glanced at him briefly, curious about what August wanted from her, before stepping forward and climbing into the carriage.

Xenia glanced out through the carriage window before drawing the curtain closed. She turned toward Samir, who sat opposite her, and asked, ”Where are we going?”

”Somewhere safe and private,” Samir replied.

He noticed her fidgeting with her fingers, a clear sign of nervousness, but chose not to comment. Instead, he let her sit quietly with her thoughts as the carriage continued along the road.

After roughly twenty minutes, the carriage finally came to a stop. Samir stepped out first and offered Xenia room to follow. When she climbed down, she found herself standing before an old coffeehouse. The street was unusually quiet, with hardly anyone passing by at that hour.

Samir gestured toward the entrance, silently asking her to go inside.

Taking a deep breath, Xenia stepped into the coffeehouse. The faint aroma of roasted coffee lingered in the air, and the few occupied tables offered little distraction from the man seated farther inside.

Her gaze settled on August.

He sat at a table near the far wall, away from the windows, his posture composed and almost effortless. Even in such an ordinary setting, he carried himself with the confidence and dignity of a prince.

Xenia approached the table and bowed respectfully before him. ”Your Highness.”

”Take a seat,” August instructed, meeting her gaze.

She settled into the chair opposite him, trying to conceal her nervousness. August signalled to the server, who promptly approached with two cups of steaming coffee. A pair of raspberry pastries was placed on the table before the server withdrew, leaving them in the quiet coffeehouse. Before long, the remaining staff had moved away, giving the two of them complete privacy.

”Drink,” August said, picking up his dessert spoon and cutting into one of the pastries.

Xenia lifted her cup with practiced grace and took a cautious sip. August noticed the elegance of her movements but paid it little attention, keeping his thoughts fixed on the reason he had asked her to meet him.

After setting down her cup, Xenia looked at him hesitantly. ”Do I have to—”

”No,” August interrupted before she could finish.

His eyes settled firmly on hers, and the sudden intensity of his gaze made her heart race. She had expected him to ask for her help with something related to his investigation, but his expression gave her no clue about what he intended to say.

”Would you come with me to the capital?” August asked.

”Huh?” Xenia stared at him, caught completely off guard by the unexpected question.