The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Just as Damian had expected, the display of strength had worked in their favor. The brigands who had earlier attacked them were still groaning on the floor, while the leader of the group looked at Damian and Maurice with a surprise and reluctant respect.

Damian and Maurice exchanged quick, satisfied glances. Their plan had unfolded exactly the way they had hoped.

The leader of the group finally stepped forward, brushing the dust from his robes as if reclaiming his authority over the room.

"I am Mantis," he announced with a confident tone. "And this brigand group is known as The Stealers."

His sharp eyes studied both Damian and Maurice carefully.

"You two fight exceptionally well," he continued. "That is the only reason I am allowing you to join us. But remember this, do not create such chaos again in the future."

Damian bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment.

"Rest assured, Master, we will not," he replied calmly. Then a faint smile appeared on his lips. "In fact, we might even be able to help your group improve."

Mantis raised an eyebrow.

Damian continued, "We can train your men in combat. With proper skill and discipline, your gang could easily overpower the others."

For a moment, Mantis stared at him before breaking into a loud laugh.

The idea clearly pleased him. To him, this arrangement felt like a perfect opportunity, two powerful fighters joining his ranks and offering to strengthen his gang.

A win-win situation, at least in his mind.

"Let’s go," Mantis said curtly, glancing at the men still sprawled across the floor. "We leave immediately."

The remaining brigands quickly gathered their belongings, eager to move before any further trouble could arise. Damian and Maurice followed them out of the restaurant, though not before Damian quietly placed a few coins on the counter to cover the damage they had caused during the fight.

Outside, several carriages waited along the roadside.

As they walked closer, Damian’s eyes immediately fell upon the second carriage. Its windows were covered with thick cloth, but faint whispers and muffled sobs from inside made it clear who was being transported there.

The captive girls.

Damian and Maurice exchanged a subtle look before slowly walking toward that carriage.

Just as they were about to reach it, Mantis’s voice cut through the air.

"Where do you think you two are going?"

Both men turned back to face him.

Damian gestured casually toward the carriage. "Isn’t that one meant for us and these men?" he asked, nodding toward the brigands who had earlier been defeated by him and Maurice.

Mantis shook his head immediately.

"That carriage is not for you," he said firmly. Then he gestured toward the front carriage.

"You two will ride with me."

Maurice quickly stepped forward and opened the door of the front carriage. Mantis climbed inside first with the confidence of a man used to being obeyed. Damian followed him, and Maurice entered last before shutting the door behind them.

Outside, the remaining four brigands climbed onto the second carriage, the one that carried the captive girls. They positioned themselves carefully around it, clearly instructed to keep a close watch.

Soon the drivers cracked the reins, and the carriages began to roll forward along the dusty road.

Inside the carriage, silence hung in the air for a moment. Damian leaned back slightly, observing Mantis with quiet interest before finally speaking.

"You bought children for work?" Damian asked casually, as if merely curious. "We actually tried to buy a boy earlier. We wanted someone young so we could train him to join our group. But the woman refused."

Maurice nodded along, playing his part.

"She said those children were only meant for household chores," he added. "And the price she was demanding was far too high."

Mantis gave a short laugh.

"That place isn’t meant for everyone," he replied. "We’re carrying out an order for an official. He needs those girls for some work."

Maurice leaned forward slightly. "What kind of work?" he asked. "Household work?"

"Yes," Mantis answered without hesitation.

Damian and Maurice exchanged a brief glance.

Both of them knew instantly that the man was lying.

Damian slowly arched an eyebrow, studying Mantis more closely.

"Are they all adults?" he asked calmly. "Because it’s hard to believe that a place like that would have many adults available. From what I know, people hired for household work are usually trained for years before they’re sent anywhere."

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"You’re lying, aren’t you?"

"What?" Mantis frowned, clearly taken aback by Damian’s blunt accusation. "What’s with that tone of yours?"

Confusion and irritation appeared on his face as he tried to understand what Damian was implying. But before he could react further, Damian moved with sudden speed.

In one swift motion, he pulled a dagger from inside his coat and drove it into the wooden wall of the carriage, the blade sinking deep just inches from Mantis’s head.

"Ahhh!" Mantis cried out, instinctively jerking away as fear flashed across his face.

At the same time, Maurice quickly reached over and pulled the curtain across the window, blocking the view from outside so no one riding alongside would notice what was happening inside the carriage.

The interior of the carriage fell into tense silence.

Damian leaned slightly forward, his hand still resting on the dagger embedded in the wood.

His voice was calm, but the threat behind it couldn’t be ignored.

"Now," Damian said coldly, his hand still gripping the dagger lodged in the wood beside Mantis’s head, "tell me the name of the official who ordered you to do this."

His eyes locked onto Mantis’s frightened face.

"Speak the truth," he warned. "Or the next time this dagger moves, it won’t miss."

Panic flickered across Mantis’s expression. Instead of answering, he suddenly tried to strike Damian.

But Damian was faster.

He caught Mantis’s wrist mid-air and twisted it sharply. In the same motion, he pulled the dagger free from the wall and drove the blade straight through Mantis’s palm, pinning his hand against the wooden seat.

A strangled cry escaped Mantis as pain shot through him. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Ahh—!"

Damian leaned closer, his grip tightening on the dagger. Slowly, he pressed down on the already injured palm.

Mantis writhed in agony.

"Ahh! Ahh! Stop! Let me go!" he pleaded, his voice breaking.

Damian’s expression remained completely unmoved.

"You’ll be free," he said calmly, "the moment you tell me the truth."