The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Once the medicine was administered to Roman, the itchiness began to subside within minutes.

"The redness will take some time to fully fade," the doctor explained as he packed his instruments.

"Is there anything else we need to keep in mind?" Eilika inquired, her hand resting protectively on Roman’s shoulder.

"Avoid serving him any spicy or hot food for the next day, and do not apply any ointments to his face. The allergy will clear up on its own," the doctor advised. "Thankfully, the reaction hasn’t spread to the young lord’s arms or other parts of his body. It is quite mild and will pass soon."

"Thank you, Doctor," Damian said. The doctor bowed and made his exit.

Roman rested his tiny head against Eilika’s arm as she sat beside him on the bed. "Mama, I didn’t wish to disturb you," he murmured sleepily.

"You didn’t disturb me at all. Why would you think such a thing?" Eilika asked softly, stroking his hair. She looked up at the doorway. "Joanna, please bring some pomegranate juice for Roman."

Damian angrily left the room. The thought of Roman getting hurt was enough to make him summon Rosaline to the estate immediately.

"Your Grace, I have sent soldiers on your orders to the Wolanski house," Maurice stated, catching up to him in the corridor. "But no one knows that the young master will get a reaction from almonds. I think punishing her directly for this will be a problem."

"Are you worried for her?!" Damian frowned, his hand extending to his hair in frustration.

"Absolutely not!" Maurice refused promptly. "I—I only thought she might speak more negatively against the Duchess. There is no other reason."

"She is already spewing nonsense to Eilika. This time I will punish her. I have had enough of her," Damian stated firmly. "What if something serious had happened to Roman? Who would have been held responsible then?"

Maurice comprehended the intense emotions that Damian was displaying at that moment.

"Liliana had the exact same allergy to almonds," Damian suddenly murmured, his voice dropping.

Maurice looked at him with concern. "Why are you suddenly bringing her up, Your Grace? After what she did, you shouldn’t even think of her. She betrayed all of us."

He felt he spoke out of his line and apologized quickly. Bowing, he walked out of the Duke’s sight.

"It’s not that I want to remember her. But some things are hard to forget," Damian murmured.

~~~~

Eilika saw that the redness had lessened on Roman’s face. "You’ll sleep with mama today. As for dinner, what would you like to eat? I’ll cook your favorite dish."

"No, just stay here, Mama," Roman said, his grip around her arm tightening. "I don’t want you to go anywhere. I feel full after drinking that juice. I wonder where Father has gone. He didn’t even ask me if I was fine. Is he angry?"

"No, he’s not angry," Eilika answered, her hand continuously caressing his head. "But he’s upset with the fact that his son got such a reaction from eating chocolate. He will be back soon." She glanced up at Joanna, gesturing for her to go and call Damian.

Joanna turned toward the door as Damian walked back in.

"Father!" Roman’s eyes lit up the moment he saw him.

"Roman thought his father was angry with him," Eilika said softly, looking up from the bedside.

"I went to instruct my bodyguard to bring the person who inflicted this pain on you," Damian answered, walking over to the bed. He reached down and gently placed his hand on Roman’s cheek. "I am glad nothing worse happened."

"How many did you eat?"

"Only two, Father," Roman replied with a pout.

"I should have checked them first," Eilika said, her voice dropping lower. "It’s my fault. You didn’t have to send your men to bring Rosaline here."

"Whenever she steps into this place, something dangerous happens," Damian stated firmly.

"What happened to Roman?" Georgia’s anxious voice echoed from the doorway. "I stepped out into the garden to take some fresh air, and I just heard the news from a servant."

She stopped in her tracks, almost gasping when she saw Roman’s face.

Damian stood up from the bed, his hands locking behind his back. "He ate chocolates that contained almonds and had an allergic reaction. The doctor has already administered medicine, so he is doing much better now," he explained to his mother.

Georgia sat on the edge of the bed and opened her arms to Roman. He quickly shifted across the mattress to his grandmother’s side.

"We have never given him almonds before," she noted softly, wrapping her arms around the boy.

"Yes," Damian replied.

"Did you give him those chocolates?" Georgia asked, her gaze shifting toward Eilika.

"Rosaline brought them," Damian answered instantly, cutting in before Eilika could speak.

"It was my fault for not checking them," Eilika said, her voice heavy with guilt.

"It wasn’t. You didn’t even know Roman had an allergy to almonds," Damian defended her immediately.

"Yes, you are not to be blamed," Georgia agreed, offering Eilika a reassuring look. "The allergy will fade in a few hours now that the medicine has been given. Sleep with Grandma tonight, will you?"

"But Mama wants to sleep with me," Roman said, looking up into his grandmother’s eyes.

"But Grandma wants you to sleep with her. Your mama needs time with your father, too," Georgia said with a knowing smile.

"Okay!" Roman agreed immediately, his mood lifting.

"I will take Roman with me now," Georgia said, smoothing down the boy’s clothes.

"What about dinner, Mother?" Eilika asked promptly.

"We will have it served in my chamber. You two can enjoy dinner together tonight," Georgia replied with a warm smile.

Roman scrambled down from the bed and slipped his shoes back on. He offered a cheerful wave to Eilika and a polite bow to his father before happily walking out of the room with his grandmother.

Once the door closed, Eilika turned to Damian. "Are you seriously going to punish Rosaline? She had no way of knowing about Roman’s allergy."

"I have already sent a summon for her. She needs to be punished for real this time," Damian pronounced, his tone turning completely stern.