The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

"Father!" Roman exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy the moment he saw Damian. He ran toward him and hugged his leg, a wide grin spreading across his face as Damian lowered his umbrella to shield him from the harsh sun.

"Where’s Mama?" Roman asked, pulling back slightly while still gripping the fabric of his father’s trousers.

"Your mother is at home. She sent me specifically to bring you back," Damian replied. "Let’s get in." He placed a firm, protective hand on the boy’s head, guiding him into the car before handing the umbrella to the bodyguard who had accompanied him in place of Maurice.

As the father and son settled into the car, Roman began excitedly recounting his day at school. He pulled his art book from his satchel and flipped it open.

"Look, Father. I drew us. You, me, and Mama," Roman said, pointing to the scene he had sketched of the three of them standing in front of their home.

"That is truly beautiful," Damian said, his gaze softening as he looked at the drawing.

Roman beamed at the praise, carefully tucking the art book back into his satchel. "Father, we have a sports event too. Everyone in my class is participating. Will you and Mama come to see me compete?"

"Of course, we will. When is it?" Damian asked.

"Next Friday," Roman replied.

"Great! I will clear my entire schedule for that day," Damian promised. He felt a swell of happiness at how easily and openly his son was interacting with him now. "Shall we pick up some cookies for your mother from the bakery nearby?"

"Yes!" Roman immediately agreed, his face brightening.

~~~~

Eilika woke to a soft rustling sound and found Roman hunched over, flipping through the pages of a textbook.

"Roman!" She propped herself up on her elbows, sitting up quickly. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she checked the time. "Why did I sleep so long?" she murmured, noticing it was nearly three in the afternoon.

"Mama, I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to disturb you," Roman said, looking up. "I memorized this entire page while you were sleeping."

"You did very well, my love. Did you have your lunch? And where is your father?" Eilika asked, throwing back the duvet and swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

"Father departed shortly after, saying he had urgent matters to attend to," Roman replied. "Yes, I ate with Grandmother and Father earlier. Mama, you must be hungry, too. Shall I have Joanna bring you something to eat?"

"That would be welcome. I will just freshen up," Eilika said. She rose from the bed and crossed the room to the washroom, splashing cool water against her face to shake off the remaining sleep.

Dabbing the towel dry against her skin, she stepped back into the chamber to find Roman gathering his belongings.

"Mama, I have already notified Joanna," Roman said, clutching his heavy stack of books to his chest.

"Thank you, Roman. Come, let me help you with those," Eilika said, reaching out to relieve him of the weight. "Have you finished your lessons for the day?"

She moved to take the books, but Roman instinctively stepped back, his face set with a determined independence.

"Mama, do not trouble yourself," he replied firmly. "I can carry them. Please, focus on your meal."

"Very well." Eilika smiled, observing the growing sense of responsibility in her son.

She gathered her hair into a neat bun and walked into the hallway, meeting Joanna as she approached with a tray of food.

"I have slept far too long, Joanna. You should have woken me," Eilika remarked.

"Your Grace, the Duke gave strict instructions that you were not to be disturbed," Joanna replied respectfully. They entered the bedchamber together, where Joanna placed the tray on the table.

"Please, enjoy your meal, Your Grace. I shall inform the Duke of your arrival," Joanna said with a shallow bow before retreating from the room.

Eilika sat at the table and began to eat, though her thoughts drifted back to the elderly couple from earlier. She resolved to discuss the matter with Damian as soon as possible. Once she had finished, she summoned Joanna back into the chamber. The maid quietly cleared the table, gathered the remaining dishes onto the tray, and departed.

"I shall check on Roman’s studies," she murmured, turning toward the doorway, but she halted as Damian appeared in the hall.

"How was your rest? You appeared quite exhausted," Damian said, pausing before her.

"I have only just finished my meal," she replied. "Is your work concluded for the day?"

"One file remains, but I will attend to it later," Damian answered. "I encountered the elderly couple earlier. I have already dispatched summons for Landlord Anthony, the village magistrate, and every official associated with the matter."

"You have acted with remarkable speed," Eilika remarked with genuine admiration.

"It was necessary. The couple were in a state of deep distress," Damian said, his expression grim. "I intend to secure employment for their son as well. I believed that my directives issued upon returning from Netham would suffice to rectify the situation, yet it is clear they did not. Corruption remains pervasive. As for the landlords, I am convinced that formal legislation is required to curb their influence, though only the King holds the authority to enact such laws."

"Hmm. For that, you will have to bring the matter before the King," Eilika replied.

"It will not be a simple task. The council will obstruct any law that threatens to diminish the landlords’ influence, especially since they line their pockets with a generous share of those profits," Damian asserted.

Eilika nodded, acknowledging the grim reality that the political entanglements in such matters ran far deeper than she had initially perceived.

"Let us go out tonight," Damian said abruptly.

"For dinner?" she asked, a small smile appearing.

"Yes, and for a boat ride on the lake. They say the view is quite stunning at night. I suspect you have been on one before?"

"Yes, when I was sixteen," Eilika answered. "But is it safe?"

"It will be," Damian replied with a faint smile, "because I intend to secure the region and restrict access for an hour."