Chapter 305: Relocate to a cottage
Damian trailed a trail of hot kisses from her shoulder up to her jawline once more, while his other hand flattened against her bare back. His fingers traced a lingering path straight down her spine, making her shiver against him.
"Damian," she whispered, leaning back slightly to meet his gaze. Her fingers found the nape of his neck, caressing the soft hair there before pulling him back in.
Their lips met again in a deep, hungry kiss. Damian brought his hand down to trace the soft curve of her waist, drawing her flush against his chest. A breathless moan escaped her throat, completely swallowed by the heat of their mouth-to-mouth embrace.
Her head fell back as their lips parted, her chest heaving for air. Damian leaned down, pressing his mouth to the center of her throat and sucking gently before nipping the soft skin, drawing a breathy cry of his name from her lips.
With agonizing slowness, he lowered her back onto the soft mattress, hovering over her as his lips trailed down her neck to her collarbone. His hands worked carefully, pushing her nightdress down past her chest.
Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of shyness, Eilika pressed the back of her hand against her mouth to quiet her shallow breaths. Damian paused, lifting his gaze to meet hers. He gently took her hand, pulling it away from her lips, and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles.
"Feel it, Eilika," he whispered into the dim warmth of the room.
"I am worried someone might hear us," she whispered softly. "That is my primary concern."
Damian paused, lingering directly above her. "I ought to rent a private residence for the remainder of our stay," he said, his tone resolute. "Forgive me. I should have anticipated this sooner."
"No, that is not necessary—"
He cut her off with a swift, firm press of his lips against hers.
"This is meant to be our honeymoon," he murmured against her skin. "I will not have our time together compromised by lingering hesitation. Your peace of mind matters to me. Tomorrow, we shall relocate to a cottage, where we may have complete privacy. I had intended to make the arrangement next week, but securing it immediately will serve us far better."
Damian drew her nightdress back over her shoulders, his fingers catching the loose ribbons. "Shall I tie these back for you?"
"I did not mean to ruin the mood," Eilika confessed, a wave of guilt settling over her.
"You have ruined nothing," he assured her gently, pressing a reassuring kiss to the center of her forehead.
He helped her turn away from him, his fingers working methodically to secure the ties along the back of her bodice. Once the garment was in place, Damian pulled the heavy duvet over them both, shielding them from the chill of the room.
Eilika shifted closer against his side, resting her head against his shoulder as her fingers idly traced the warm, bare expanse of his chest.
"I wonder if Roman is asleep," Damian said quietly into the stillness of the room. "I suddenly recalled how he used to crawl into my bed at night, right up until last year. Back then, I was so consumed by my own grief and pain that I completely overlooked his. I was barely present, even for my own child."
"You were neglecting everything and everyone," Eilika said softly, her fingers pausing against his chest. "Including yourself."
"You held me together," Damian murmured, wrapping his arms more tightly around her. "If not for you, I would never have found this peace, and neither would Roman. But when we return to Varos, I must finally lay bare the truth about Liliana. It will be difficult, but it is necessary."
"If it brings you clarity and peace, then you must do it," Eilika gently agreed, looking up at him. "Roman understands the truth of his mother now as well. My only fear is that others might harbor resentment toward him for her transgressions."
"I will never allow that to happen," Damian stated firmly. "I will protect both him and you, no matter what comes. The truth that can destroy us later, I want to bring it to the world beforehand so that the people won’t misunderstand me."
~~~~~
Xenia looked at the doctor with wide, terrified eyes as they explained the extent of her brothers’ burn injuries.
"Will they be safe? I do not understand such heavy terms... Please, do everything you can to save them," Xenia pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Miss, only their arms and legs have been burned. Their lives are not in danger," the physician reassured her in simpler terms. "The burns are not deep, though they will take time to heal. You need not worry."
Xenia let out a long breath of relief, her trembling shoulders easing as her other three brothers stepped closer to comfort her.
Leaving them with a brief nod, the physician moved off to examine the remaining victims.
"They are still not awake," Xenia murmured, gazing toward the cots.
"They will be soon," her second brother gently told her. "Xenia, why do you not return to the house now? Lara is alone with the maid, and you have been awake since last night. You need to rest."
"I am not leaving until I see them open their eyes," Xenia insisted, her chin set with stubborn resolve.
The three brothers exchanged helpless glances, but before anyone could speak further, a pair of attendants hurried into the ward, announcing the arrival of Prince August.
A quiet stir swept through the room as the patients and their families immediately turned toward the entrance, bowing low with lowered heads.
August walked through the doors, with Samir trailing a step behind him alongside the district inspector and several local officials.
The head physician rushed forward to greet the prince, quickly offering a report on the victims’ conditions.
"Most have escaped with minor harm, Your Highness," the doctor informed August, gesturing toward the far corner. "Only two patients sustained more serious injuries than the rest."
August glanced at Xenia, taking in her exhausted appearance. Her dress was still stained with ash and soot from the night before, and her face remained pale beneath the harsh light of the infirmary.
"I will personally ensure that proper compensation is provided to every victim," August pronounced to the room, his voice calm and authoritative. "The Duke of Varos is currently away from the province, so there may be a slight delay in the formal disbursement of funds. But rest assured, I will personally arrange for immediate relief in the interim."
The injured patients and their families murmured their deep gratitude, bowing again toward the Prince.
August gave a single, quiet nod before making his way directly to the cots where Henry and Charlie lay motionless. "When will they awaken?" he asked the head physician, his gaze lingering on the bandaged limbs. "And what is the true extent of their injuries?"
"They should awaken within the hour, once the effect of the anesthetic wears off, Your Highness," the doctor explained promptly. "Their wounds are superficial burns across the limbs, requiring careful redressing, but nothing life-threatening."
"Ensure they receive constant care. I will tolerate no oversight in their recovery," August instructed sternly.
"Of course, Your Highness," the doctor assured him with a low bow.
August turned to leave, his dark eyes pausing briefly on Xenia for a silent moment before he swept out of the infirmary, the officials following closely in his wake.
"Xenia, please go home now. Lara must be crying in your absence," her fourth brother insisted, his voice laced with gentle concern.
"I will return soon," Xenia murmured, finally giving in as she stepped out of the heavy wooden doors of the infirmary.
Outside, she spotted Prince August climbing into his carriage after finishing a quiet conversation with the inspector. The coachman snapped the reins, and the carriage slowly pulled away down the cobblestone road.
Xenia quickened her pace toward the inspector, who was just about to mount his horse. "Sir," she called out, stopping him in his tracks. "Did you find out who initiated the fire?"
"The investigation shows the fire originated in the kitchen," the inspector replied, adjusting his reins.
"It has never happened in all these years, sir. Something is wrong."
"Do you suspect someone would intentionally try to harm you or your family?" The inspector looked down at her sternly. "Regardless, your brothers will receive an official summons soon to answer our inquiries. Be ready for it."
With that, he swung his leg over the saddle, kicked his horse into a trot, and rode away, leaving Xenia standing alone there.
"What kind of inspector is he? Why would my brothers be summoned?" Xenia muttered, her brow furrowed in frustration. She resolved to seek out Prince August regarding the matter, but knowing her family needed her, she first hailed a local carriage and headed toward her home.
The moment she stepped through the threshold, little Lara came running across the hall.
"Sister!"
Xenia dropped to her knees, opening her arms and embracing her little sister tightly.
"She has been standing out in the courtyard ever since finishing her breakfast," the maid mentioned softly from the doorway.
"Why did you trouble her so?" Xenia scolded gently, pulling back to look at Lara.
"I was worried about you," Lara replied, a small pout forming on her lips. "None of our brothers were home either. Did something happen, sis?"
"Nothing happened. Come, let us go inside," Xenia murmured, carefully concealing the terrifying ordeal of the previous night and the extent of their brothers’ injuries.