The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

"I know you don’t love me yet. It’s fine. You can take your time," Eilika said softly. She could feel the rapid thrumming of her heart against her ribs as she spoke.

Deep down, a nagging doubt flickered in her. She wondered if Damian only initiated this intimacy because the truth about Liliana had finally surfaced. If that secret hadn’t been exposed, she feared such closeness might have stayed out of reach for much longer.

Her mind drifted back to that night on the beach when she had sat alone in the sand. Damian had come running to her, and in that moment, she had seen a kaleidoscope of emotions in his eyes: genuine care, fear, and perhaps even the beginnings of love. That had happened before he knew the truth about Liliana, just as he had told her.

"What are you contemplating?" he inquired, his voice low as he watched the play of emotions on her face.

"Nothing. Shall we go and check on Roman?" Eilika suggested, pulling herself back to the present. "Tomorrow is your day off, so I thought we could take him out. Perhaps a picnic, or to the park where he can play with other children."

Damian’s expression hardened slightly. "I don’t want him in public so soon after the attack on me," he asserted. "We can arrange a private picnic for him here, within the safety of the estate grounds."

"Okay."

"When is your birthday?" Damian asked suddenly.

"Mine?"

"Hmm."

"It’s in the first week of autumn, October 5th," Eilika replied. "Why do you ask?"

"It will be your first birthday since our marriage," he answered, his gaze steady on hers. "I wanted to hear the date from you, rather than asking someone else."

Eilika smiled. "Yours is in June. It’s a grand celebration every year. I remember seeing your carriage once... I think it was a year ago, when you made a public appearance."

"I have always found it to be a mere formality," Damian stated, his tone indifferent to the pageantry of his position.

"Then, stop thinking like that. People are genuinely wish you with their hearts and are eager to get your one glimpse," Eilika affirmed.

"What about you? What did you think when you saw me that day?" Damian questioned.

"I didn’t think anything. I wasn’t even excited to see you," Eilika replied.

"Don’t lie," he chuckled, clearly refusing to believe her.

"Why would I lie? It’s the truth. I only went because Father scolded me for staying at home. He wanted me to go out, hoping some man might find me attractive," she explained.

Damian let out a genuine laugh.

"What? Do you find that funny?" Her brows arched up.

"Yes. To think you were so close to me then, yet so far," Damian replied. "Other men lost their chance to have a jewel like you. I am glad you were wedded to me."

"Those are your current thoughts. But tell me honestly," Eilika said, her voice dropping slightly, "did my face never bother you?"

"Why do you undermine your beauty? I see you, not the scar, whenever I talk to you. And even if it is present, nothing can change the fact that you are beautiful, just as Roman always says," Damian asserted.

"Mama! Where are you?" Roman’s voice suddenly caught them off guard.

They both hurried back into the bedroom and found him frantically itching his face.

"Your Grace, something has happened to the Young Lord. He insisted on being with you, which is why I brought him here," the attendant informed them, looking worried.

Eilika rushed to Roman’s side and dropped to her knees. Meanwhile, Damian turned to the attendant. "Have you called for the doctor?"

"Yes, Your Grace. I sent a servant to bring him immediately," the attendant replied humbly.

"Don’t itch it, Roman," Eilika said, gently catching his hands as she noticed the spreading redness on his face. "Did you eat something? Anything at all?"

"I only ate the chocolates Aunt brought for me," Roman replied, his eyes filling with tears. "It itches a lot, Mama!"

"It will be fine soon. If you scratch your cheeks, it will only hurt more. The doctor is on his way and you’ll be better in no time," she said, placing her hands on his face and offering gentle, soothing caresses.

Roman fought back his tears as Joanna hurried into the room.

"Where are those chocolates? I want them checked immediately. What on earth did Rosaline feed my boy?" Damian demanded, his voice laced with growing anger.

"I’ll bring them right away, Your Grace." Joanna turned and left at once, while Eilika guided Roman to the bed. She pulled off his shoes and carefully checked his hands, arms, and legs for any further signs of a reaction.

"The redness is only on his cheeks," she murmured, more to herself than the others. "I should have checked exactly what she gave you." Guilt washed over her as she watched Roman begin to weep.

"It hurts, Mama," he whispered, his small voice trembling.

Damian moved closer to the boy’s side, his expression tight with concern, while Eilika leaned down to press a soft kiss against Roman’s forehead.

"You’ll be just fine, my love. Don’t cry. Please," she whispered, trying to remain a source of calm for him.

The doctor entered the bedroom moments later and offered a quick greeting.

"Please, check on my son. He’s had a strange reaction after eating those chocolates," Damian told the doctor in a single, rushed breath.

Eilika moved aside, making room for the doctor to examine Roman.

"Where are the chocolates?" the doctor inquired.

"They are here," Joanna announced from the doorway. She handed the ceramic box to Damian, who immediately passed it to the doctor. He inspected the chocolates closely, soon realizing they were filled with almonds.

"The Young Lord has an almond allergy," the doctor concluded.

Damian froze, the realization hitting him instantly, Liliana had suffered from the exact same allergy.

"I will administer medicine now. The redness should fade within the hour," the doctor stated, looking between Eilika and Damian. "Thankfully, the reaction is mild, Your Grace."