Chapter 254: Could be an informant
Eilika was flabbergasted seeing the huge structures in the capital. The streets were filled with numerous motorcars rather than standard carriages.
"The capital is so different from Varos, Duke," she said, turning to look at him.
"Because simplicity isn’t what nobles believe in," Damian replied.
"I think societal pressure is stronger here. The need to look better and greater than everyone else," Eilika opined.
Maurice carefully drove the car through the busy street. Upon spotting the ducal emblem on the vehicle, the pedestrians started moving away while the other vehicles immediately gave side to them.
Eilika found that the people were now looking at them with intense curiosity, and she quickly looked straight ahead to avoid their gazes. Damian brought his hand to hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Why are you nervous?" he asked softly.
"It is nothing," she murmured, offering a faint smile.
Maurice sped up the car and shortly arrived at the palace. The guards at the outer gates immediately recognized the vehicle and allowed it to drive in without delay. Looking out across the broad cobblestone path, Eilika watched as the palace structure finally came into full view.
The car slowly came to a halt. A guard quickly stepped forward and opened the door for the Duke. He stepped out first, while Louis and Maurice climbed out from their respective seats.
Damian then turned around and bent down to offer a hand to Eilika, who caught it and lowered her legs to the ground. He pulled her out gently, smoothing her gown with his hand before checking her hair. Brushing a few loose strands away from her face, he offered his arm and walked inside with her.
A palace valet received them just a short distance from the entrance, greeting them respectfully before leading the way inside.
"Your Graces, please take your seats. I will inform His Majesty and the Crown Prince of your arrival," the valet said politely once they reached the hall.
Damian nodded and sat down on the upholstered sofa beside Eilika, while Louis and Maurice took their respective seats nearby. Meanwhile, a team of servants had already begun carrying their luggage up toward the guest wing.
A palace maid approached with a silver tray and poured them glasses of water.
Damian had just taken a sip when the heavy doors opened and Crown Prince Ciaran entered. Setting his glass down, Damian stood up to greet him, and the two men shared a warm embrace. Louis and Maurice immediately stood at attention, while Eilika rose to her feet out of respect for the Crown Prince.
They pulled away, and Ciaran turned his attention to Eilika first. She offered him a formal bow of her head, followed by respectful greetings from Louis and Maurice.
"How is August?" Damian asked without delay, cutting straight to the matter.
"He regained consciousness just a short while ago with your grace of the God," Ciaran replied. "The chief physician is with him now, checking his vitals."
"Let us go see him," Damian suggested, glancing briefly at Eilika to ensure she was ready.
"Of course. Follow me," Ciaran said, gesturing toward the grand corridor. The group moved together toward the royal wing, guided by the Crown Prince.
When they arrived at August’s chamber, the entire royal family had already gathered around the prince’s bedside.
"Your Majesty, Prince August’s condition has stabilized, but he remains exceedingly weak," the chief physician announced, addressing the room. "I advise complete bed rest for at least a week. He must avoid moving his injured arm entirely. Furthermore, his diet must be strictly managed to accelerate his recovery."
The chamber fell into a heavy silence as everyone listened closely to the diagnosis.
Eilika quietly shifted her gaze toward Queen Victoria, noting the strange, rigid expression on the woman’s face. It was entirely evident that the Queen was not pleased by August’s awakening.
"Thank you, Gabin. You and your team will be rewarded handsomely for saving the life of my son," King Nyxen pronounced.
Physician Gabin bowed his head low in gratitude. "I merely performed my duty to the Crown, Your Majesty," he replied smoothly before excusing himself and leading his assistants out of the chamber.
King Nyxen then turned a sharp eye toward the personal attendant standing by the wardrobe. "See to it that the physician’s dietary instructions are followed to the letter," he instructed. The King then lowered himself into the armchair beside the bed, reaching out to gently brush the hair from his son’s forehead. "You gave us quite a scare, August."
"Your Majesty, why do you not instead demand to know why he fabricated such vile lies?" Queen Victoria interjected, her voice dripping with bitterness.
"You should not even be in this room, Victoria," King Nyxen stated, not once looking up from his son, his tone dangerously cold.
Every eye in the chamber shifted toward the Queen. Clenching her fists tightly, she stepped forward and retorted, "So, His Majesty truly chooses to believe the baseless slander of his mistress’s son?"
"Mother, let us leave," Ciaran intervened, quickly walking to her side to de-escalate the tension.
"I am going nowhere!" Victoria snapped, pulling her arm away.
"Silence!" King Nyxen’s voice thundered through the stone chamber, the force of it causing the Queen to visibly flinch.
Humiliated and trembling with rage, Victoria turned on her heel and stormed out of the chamber.
"The rest of you shall leave as well," King Nyxen ordered, his gaze still fixed on his recovering son.
"Eilika, did you bring..." August began, but he abruptly cut himself off, his face contorting as a sharp pain shot through his chest.
King Nyxen looked up, his sharp eyes shifting toward her, drawing the attention of every other person left in the room.
Eilika quickly gave a greeting to the King first, then August.
"The Duke has brought everything, Your Highness," Eilika replied quickly, keeping her voice calm to avoid causing him further distress. "We will return later to visit you. Please, focus on getting some rest for now."
One of the maidservants assigned from the Queen’s household frowned at the exchange, quietly slipping out of the chamber unnoticed to report the matter directly to Victoria.
"I shall speak with you both later as well," King Nyxen told Damian and Eilika, his nod dismissing them for the time being.
"Your Graces, please follow me. I will escort you to your chambers," the valet said respectfully from behind them.
Eilika and Damian offered a formal bow to the King and the Crown Prince before turning to leave the royal quarters.
~~~~~
"Your Majesty, I heard it with my own ears. Prince August asked Duchess Eilika if she had brought what he requested," the maidservant informed her, keeping her voice low.
"Eilika is colluding with him?!" Victoria muttered, her fingers clawing into the velvet bolsters of her chaise lounge.
"Your Majesty, shall I inspect what they have brought into the palace?" the maidservant asked.
"Yes. Search their quarters and bring me whatever evidence they intend to use against me," Victoria commanded, her eyes narrowing. "But be extremely cautious. You cannot afford to be caught."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you," the maidservant replied, bowing deeply before slipping away.
~~~~~
Eilika sat down on the soft mattress and slipped off her heels. She pulled her legs up to rub her aching soles, a motion that Damian caught immediately. Moving quickly to her side, he dropped down onto his knees before her.
"Damian, what are you—" Her words cut short as he spoke.
"Massaging your feet." He gently guided her feet down to rest against the plush rug, taking one into his hands to rub it with steady, soothing pressure. A soft smile reached her lips as she watched his careful movements.
"The Queen looked deeply troubled," Eilika noted quietly.
"Shhh." Damian looked up, meeting her gaze. "Even the walls have ears in this palace."
She pursed her lips, a sudden chill settling over her as she realized just how treacherous living within these stone walls truly was.
"I feel much better now," Eilika told him after a few moments.
Damian released her foot and stood up, sliding onto the mattress to sit closely beside her. "August made another foolish mistake," he whispered directly into her ear. "He called out your name far too casually."
"What do you mean?" Eilika asked, her confusion apparent as she dropped her voice to a bare whisper.
"Didn’t you notice? The chamber was filled with attendants. Any one of them could be an informant who has already run to the Queen with the news that August was asking for you. I despise how recklessly he handles things. If he weren’t already bedridden and injured, I would knock some sense into him myself."
Damian’s frustration was clear, prompting Eilika to reach out and wrap her hand around his.
"Do you think I am in danger?" she asked.
"Yes. We must be entirely on our guard. Do not trust a single servant in this place," Damian warned her.