Chapter 265: You broke my trust
"Mama, are you not tired? It was a long journey," Roman said with earnest concern. "You should rest, and I promise I will not make a sound to disturb you."
Eilika looked down at her stepson, a soft smile temporarily easing the tension in her face. "I am tired, yes, but if I sleep now, I will find no rest after supper. I mean to check on your father. Will you accompany me, or would you prefer to remain here?"
Roman hesitated, his small brow furrowing as he weighed the invitation against his duties. "I ought to review my tutors’ lessons, Mama. If I neglect them today, I shall surely forget them by tomorrow."
"My boy is such a diligent scholar," Eilika said, her smile widening as she patted his head affectionately. "I shall see you at the dinner table, then."
"Yes, Mama!" Roman replied, waving a cheerful farewell as she slipped out of the chamber, leaving him to his books in the quiet room.
Eilika arrived at her husband’s chambers shortly thereafter, only to find his valet standing watch near the double doors.
"Your Grace," the valet murmured, bowing low. "The Duke has requested to be left undisturbed."
Eilika paused, her hand hovering near the brass handle. "Has something happened to the Duke?"
"I cannot say, Your Grace. But he appeared deeply troubled upon his return," the valet replied in a hushed, respectful tone.
A quiet dread settled in Eilika’s chest. ’Is it because of what he unearthed regarding Liliana?’ she wondered. The specter of his late wife already cast a long shadow over their lives, and she feared that if Damian continued to dwell on those dark thoughts, the weight of them would break his spirit.
"I must see him," Eilika said.
The valet, recognizing the futility of refusing the Duchess, bowed and stepped inside the chambers to announce her. Within moments, he returned, opening the door to let her pass before quietly pulling it shut behind her.
"Damian, what is troubling you?" Eilika asked softly.
She crossed the spacious room toward the tall arched window, where Damian stood motionless. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the final embers of the sun were sinking behind the distant hills. Stepping beside him, she tilted her head back to study his shadowed profile.
"I am wondering what to do with the truth of Liliana’s actions," Damian confessed. He turned his head slowly, looking down at her. "Am I even worthy of the title of Duke when my own house is built upon such deceit?"
"Do not say such things," Eilika said firmly, cutting off his self-doubt.
"You should not defend me," Damian countered, his gaze locking onto hers. "You should scold me instead, for falling in love with entirely the wrong person. You are usually quite skilled at keeping me grounded."
"You fell for the persona she carefully presented to you, Damian. Yes, she committed terrible acts behind your back, but you possess the power to set those wrongs right," Eilika stated, her voice unwavering. "You have never been a bad Duke. That is something I have come to realize fully since becoming your wife. You are far greater than the rumors and praise people speak of you. And as I told you this morning, take the time you need to make this decision. I stand with you."
She reached out, gathering his hands into her own and caressing them gently, her steadfast gaze offering the comfort he so desperately needed.
Damian took a small step forward, closing the remaining distance between them, and rested his forehead against her shoulder. "What would I have done without you?" he murmured, the tension finally leaving his shoulders.
"Probably ruined yourself," she whispered back, a faint smile touching her lips.
He let out a quiet breath, nodding in agreement. His arm slipped behind her waist, drawing her closer into a comforting embrace. "I will not hide the crimes Liliana committed. Neither the betrayal against me, nor the suffering she inflicted upon the people of Varos. That is my decision. It is the only way I can set things right before the truth is turned against us."
"Are you certain?" Eilika asked, searching his face to gauge his resolve.
Damian pulled back slightly, his gaze steady and clear as he looked down at her. "I am. But I will not act rashly. I must investigate the full extent of her trade monopolies and alliances before we bring any of this to light."
Eilika nodded, a quiet sense of relief settling over her. "That is the wisest path," she agreed. Then, patting his cheek, she continued, "Just keep a faith in yourself and the people who know you can never do wrong with them."
~~~~~
"Your Majesty, why have you refused to grant me an audience since this morning?" Queen Victoria demanded. "Why are you so hellbent on punishing my brother’s family as well?"
King Nyxen slowly lowered his wine chalice to the table, his gaze sharpening into a cold glare.
"Why do you not tell me the truth instead, Victoria? Did you truly believe I would remain ignorant of your visit to the central prison last night?" King Nyxen replied, his tone cuttingly sharp. "I forbade you from seeing him, yet you defied my command. Xavier claims that I ruined your life. Tell me, did I?"
"Yes, you did, Your Majesty!" Victoria spat. "You shared the bed and the love that belonged to me with a whore!" she screamed in her anger.
"Victoria, watch your mouth!" King Nyxen roared, slamming his hand onto the table as he rose to his feet.
"Have you forgotten the very foundation of our marriage? Do not dare play the victim with me, Victoria. I told you, from the moment our families arranged this match, that I would never give you my heart. I made it entirely clear that I loved someone else, and that the moment my father passed, I would seek a divorce."
He took a slow, menacing step toward her. "And what did you say to me then? You pleaded. You agreed to those terms. I kept my end of the bargain and buried your family’s treacherous crimes under the royal seal on that single condition. A condition you broke the moment you seized the crown. You broke my trust, refused the divorce, and chose to trap us both in this misery."
"I built this kingdom alongside you," Victoria stated, her chin lifted, entirely refusing to back down.
"What? By commanding the slaughter of innocents!" King Nyxen spat, his chest heaving with rage. "You are the sole reason I was forced to keep Cecilia as a mistress. And how did you repay that? You poisoned her and buried the truth from the world. You did not hesitate for a fraction of a second when you ordered your brother to massacre the Spencers. Cecilia was meant to be the rightful Queen, yet her life ended in the shadows of a mistress’s quarters!"
He leaned in closer, his eyes ablaze with resentment. "Go and tell your brother the truth you have concealed from him all these years. You are entirely prepared to let him become the goat led to the slaughter, taking the fall for your own vicious crimes, Victoria!"
"You did not deserve a woman with no family backing," Victoria retorted, her voice hard as she continued to justify her broken promise. "My father, and yours, saw me as the perfect match for you. And as for August, he is a madman. He does not even possess the sense to manage the nobles."
"Do not change the subject, Victoria. And you will speak of my son with respect," King Nyxen warned. "Tell me the truth. You killed Cecilia, did you not? And now you are manipulating your own brother to face the gallows in your stead. Know this, I will not let him die for your sins. If you refuse to speak the truth, I will extract it from him by my own methods."
Victoria’s resolve finally began to fracture. If she confessed, Nyxen would show no mercy; he would strip her of her title and throw her into the deepest dungeon. Worse, the disgrace would completely ruin her sons’ futures and strip them of their birthright.
"You still remain silent," Nyxen sneered, his contempt palpable. "Leave my sight instantly. Pray that I do not extract the truth from Xavier’s own mouth. If you refuse to speak now and I am forced to unearth the proof myself, your punishment will be severe. History itself will remember your treachery."
Victoria remained outwardly unbothered, keeping a rigid posture as she stared back at him. "I did not kill your mistress. And if no crime can be proven against me, I will ensure August is driven from this palace and the capital for good. You will not be able to stop me then, Your Majesty."
A bitter edge crept into her voice. "I sacrificed everything to stand by your side, yet even after all these years, you dare to speak of that woman so lovingly in front of me."
Beneath her calm exterior, her heart burned with a jealousy. There was no room left for mercy; all she wanted now was to see August dead.