The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Damian’s expression softened, an unexpected smile touching his lips as her words resonated within him. She possessed a rare ability to stir his composure, a sensation that had once irritated him but now felt like a welcome shift in his own nature.

His gaze drifted to the tray resting nearby, where two silver glasses sat.

"I do see your heart, Eilika," Damian replied. He crossed the room, his eyes narrowing as he examined the glassware.

He lifted the full glass, inhaling the scent of the liquid; it was peculiar, and a dark suspicion began to take root in his mind. The erratic, uncharacteristic nature of her behavior suddenly clicked into place. Was it an aphrodisiac? He noted the empty glass beside it, the implication clear.

"Really?" Eilika lifted her head, her movements sluggish as she realized he was standing mere inches away.

"Yes," he confirmed, setting the glass firmly back onto the tray, his jaw tightening.

"You should drink it. Joanna said your mother sent it as a tonic for your health," Eilika murmured, her voice laced with distress. "Ah, I feel the heat again. My skin... it is prickling."

Damian leaned down, his sudden proximity startling her. Before she could react, his lips met hers in a deliberate, grounding kiss.

"I will continue to give you a goodnight kiss until my heart beats with the same intensity as yours does for me," he affirmed, pulling away to look into her flushed face.

Eilika reached up, trembling, and touched her lips, watching in a daze as Damian turned and walked toward the door.

"Are you leaving?" she asked, her voice tight with a mixture of confusion and lingering desire.

"No," Damian replied, his voice firm. He crossed to the door, turned the lock, and then faced her again. "We agreed to share this room."

"Ah, yes. But I do not feel sleepy. My body feels as though it is on fire." Eilika stood abruptly, her movements jerky as she rushed into the bathroom. Damian followed, arriving just in time to see her seizing a metal mug, splashing cold water repeatedly over her flushed face in a desperate attempt to quell the heat.

A cold, calculated fury settled in Damian’s chest. He resolved to confront his mother at first light for subjecting Eilika to such a state. He stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Take a bath if you are able. The immersion will help you feel much better."

Moving to the basin, he turned the taps, letting the tub fill with icy water. "You can handle the rest, I trust. Do not lock the door from the inside."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked back into the bedchamber, leaving her to the cold relief of the water.

He did not remain idle. He retrieved a clean nightgown from the cupboard, anticipating her need, and took up a position by the bathroom door, standing with his back turned to ensure her privacy. The cool air drifting in from the balcony swayed his hair, but also his heart.

’I shall pamper her more,’ he mused, a newfound determination hardening his resolve. ’I must ensure she sees that I do adore her now.’

Fifteen minutes elapsed, and the silence from within the bathroom began to prick at his composure. His concern mounted with each passing second.

"Eilika! Are you still in there? You have not come out," Damian called out, his stance rigid as he kept his back firmly toward the door. "I have your nightdress. I can pass it to you if you are ready."

"Yes," her voice floated back, dampened by the steam of the room. "I have finished the bath. Please, pass me the gown as I accidentally wet the other one."

"Hmm. Open the door," he said.

A soft click echoed in the quiet room. A slender hand reached through the narrow gap, and Damian was quick to pass the garment to her. He then retreated to the balcony, hoping the cool air would allow her mind to settle.

A few minutes later, Eilika emerged. Her hair was damp, with loose strands clinging to her forehead, and her expression was guarded as she glanced at the silver glasses. She walked toward the balcony, stopping a few paces behind him.

"Damian," she began, "I blabbered a great deal, didn’t I? Please forgive me. After drinking what your mother sent, something... Something strange happened to my mind and body."

He turned around, his gaze softening as he found her standing there, looking like an innocent, albeit guilty, child caught in a transgression.

"You did nothing of the sort," he replied, his tone gentle. "You said nothing more than how you struggle with the fear of being selfish."

Eilika walked toward him and shook her head, her expression earnest. "I did not mean that."

"You mean I do not smell good?" Damian mused, a teasing light in his eyes.

"No, you do," she answered promptly, her cheeks flushing.

He smirked, leaning slightly closer. "And you do not wish to hug me anymore? You became quite bold after that drink." His fingers reached out, gently brushing the loose, damp strands of her hair behind her ear. "What else do those noblewomen say about their husbands? Do they not mention how many of them keep mistresses?"

"Huh? Truly?" Eilika looked genuinely shocked, her eyes widening.

"Yes. Many of the things they boast about are not entirely true. I have personally seen many married men who keep mistresses despite their public image. People whispered that I kept a mistress simply because I refused to marry, yet those same people would not dare criticize the men who are actually involved in such affairs," Damian remarked.

"That is terrible. Those women... they must be suffering in silence," Eilika said softly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Perhaps," Damian replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he considered the hollow nature of their social circles.

"Next month a trip has been scheduled for me. It’s related to business with the North Duke. Accompany me there. And we can’t take Roman with us," Damian stated.