The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Damian didn’t look back as he stepped out of the mansion. He took the keys from the startled driver and climbed into the driver’s seat.

"Your Highness, I will drive—" before the man could even finish his sentence, Damian had already accelerated, the tires screeching against the gravel as he tore away. He pushed the car down the winding road at a dangerous speed, his knuckles white against the steering wheel as memories from years ago began to reel through his mind like a dream.

I decided to move on, but at what expense? Liliana was my past, and I thought she would be my present forever.

"That’s why you should not showcase your second wife in Varos," Liliana’s voice suddenly boomed through the quiet cabin.

Damian flinched, his head turning instinctively toward the empty passenger seat before he slammed on the brakes. The car skidded to a violent halt in the middle of the deserted road.

"I am not showcasing her. It is her right," Damian said with a strained tone. He stared straight ahead, refusing to look at the empty space beside him again. "But why are you revealing yourself now? I know you aren’t real. You’re just a memory."

"Didn’t you promise me your forever love?" Liliana’s voice was like a cold wind, whispering. "How could you bring a mother for Roman? You have snatched my place and given it to some other woman. You lied to yourself, Damian. Don’t forget that I died because you failed to provide the best assistance to me. What if Eilika dies too?"

Damian shook his head violently as hot tears began to blur his vision. "No, she can’t die. I won’t let that happen."

"But she can. I died too, didn’t I? Loving you comes with a cost, Damian. I lost my life for the sake of being with you. Eilika looked beautiful in that dress, didn’t she? Remember, I looked beautiful too. Then, what happened? I was gone for a year after giving birth to Roman. Eilika will share the same fate, Damian. You won’t be able to do anything to stop it."

Damian gripped the steering wheel so hard his hands trembled.

"And you’re falling in love with her," the voice in his head continued, mocking him. "You find peace around her, just as you once found it around me. You are the reason for my demise, and you are the reason for Roman’s aloofness for four long years. How can you dare to be happy again?"

"I–I won’t," he murmured as fresh, hot tears poured down his cheeks.

~~~~~

Eilika changed back into her everyday gown with frantic haste and hurried after Damian. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she moved through the corridors, gathering fragments of information from the confused servants until she reached the mansion’s entrance.

"Did any of you see the Duke go out?" Eilika asked, her breath hitching as she addressed the guards stationed at the heavy stone archway.

"Your Grace, I did," the driver replied, stepping forward with a worried expression. "The Duke left in a sudden rush. He took the keys and drove off in his motorcar himself."

"What?" Eilika’s frown deepened, her eyes scanning the empty road ahead. A sense of cold dread settled in her stomach; she had seen the haunted look in his eyes before he slipped away. It was the same look from that night when he yelled at her to leave.

"Can you arrange a horse for me? Immediately," she demanded. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"But Duchess—" one of the guards began to protest. "It isn’t safe for you to go alone."

"I need to find him before nightfall," Eilika replied. "Prepare the horse now. You all can follow me, but I am not staying behind."

The guards looked at each other, still unsure if they should let out the Duchess.

"Do you seek punishment? Follow my command," Eilika stated, her voice sharp and echoing with a royal authority the guards had never heard before.

Startled by her intensity, one of the guards rushed toward the stables. He didn’t return alone; Sylvian appeared, leading the horse with Roman sitting proudly at the front of the saddle.

"Eilika, what’s happened? You called for a horse in such a state!" Sylvian looked at her in bewilderment, noting her pale face and the urgency in her eyes.

"Mama, look! I learned the basics today!" Roman called out, a bright smile lighting up his face.

"Very well done, Roman. But I am in a great hurry. When I return, I will speak with you properly," Eilika told the boy, her tone softening just enough to comfort him as she helped him down. She signaled for the guards to take the boy inside, then quickly hopped onto the horse.

Roman’s eyes widened and brightened with joy as he watched his mother mount the animal with the grace and confidence of a seasoned rider. He had never seen this side of her—strong, capable, and fearless.

Without wasting another second, Eilika and Sylvian rode out of the palace gates in search of Damian, a small contingent of guards following closely behind.

"Damian would have returned by himself. Why are you so worried?" Sylvian asked, maneuvering his horse closer to Eilika’s as they galloped down the forest path.

"Your Highness, Damian did not look well when he left. That is why I must find him. I am sure you are aware of his nightmares," Eilika pronounced, her gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.

Sylvian’s eyes widened for a moment. He realized she wasn’t just talking about bad dreams; she knew about the haunted figure of Liliana that had plagued Damian’s mind for years. "When did you find out? I was certain Damian would never share that burden with you," he asked, his voice laced with surprise.

"I found out in Netham," Eilika answered shortly, her grip tightening on the reins. "I saw the toll it takes on him. And in that state, he’s going to get himself hurt."

Sylvian went silent, his respect for her deepening. He had spent years watching Damian suffer in isolation, but Eilika had seen through the Duke’s walls in just a few months. He spurred his horse faster, no longer questioning her urgency as they pushed deeper into the misty outskirts of the estate.