"You made me see more than a family with you, Eilika."

Those words echoed in Eilika’s mind throughout the night, tethering her to wakefulness until the grey light of dawn finally seeped through the curtains. By the time she stirred, it was already well into the afternoon.

"Joanna, why did you not wake me?" Eilika asked, sitting up with a start. "And Roman... he must have been searching for me."

"Your Grace, the Duke gave strict instructions," Joanna replied, moving to open the drapes. "He said you were exhausted and that you were not to be disturbed under any circumstances."

As Joanna turned to assist her, her gaze lingered on Eilika’s collarbone. She paused, her brow furrowing as she caught sight of the dark crimson mark on Eilika’s neck.

"Your Grace," Joanna asked, her voice tinged with genuine concern, "did you suffer an insect bite during the night?"

"What?" Eilika moved quickly to the vanity and leaned toward the mirror. Her eyes widened as she inspected the dark mark on her skin, the memory of the previous night rushing back—the intensity of the moment and the force with which Damian had nipped her neck.

’Could he not have been more careful?’ she thought, a flush creeping up her cheeks.

"Your Grace, shall I fetch a salve from the physician?" Joanna asked, hovering nearby with concern.

"No, that will not be necessary. It will fade on its own," Eilika replied, keeping her gaze fixed on the mirror to avoid further scrutiny. "I will freshen up now."

She retreated to the washroom and splashed cool water on her face. Standing before the sink, she found it difficult to steady her thoughts. She had never expected their night to take such a passionate turn, and the memory of his touch still sent a jolt of electricity through her limbs.

"What has possessed me to think of this so early in the day?" she murmured to her reflection, patting her burning cheeks in an attempt to compose herself.

~~~~

Damian dropped a heavy file onto August’s desk with a dull thud. August slowly lifted his gaze, his expression unreadable. "The reports I have collected regarding the fire incident," Damian said, his tone clipped. "Go through them."

August remained silent, his eyes lingering on the file, until Damian finally broke the tension with an apology.

"Eilika should be the one begging for my forgiveness, not you," August stated coldly.

Damian stood his ground. "Prince August, since you have chosen to remain in Varos, would it not be better for all of us if you conducted yourself with more restraint? You know exactly what the consequences would have been yesterday if someone had overheard your outburst. As for Eilika, I cannot fault her actions. You simply chose to speak inappropriately, in the wrong place, and at the worst possible time."

"You may leave," August said, his eyes turning away from Damian. "I have no desire to continue this conversation; it is only giving me a headache."

Damian remained unmoved. "I would like to invite you for a formal dinner at my estate tomorrow evening."

August’s expression froze, his eyes locking onto the Duke’s face with disbelief.

"It is a gesture of apology for the recent friction, as well as a means to express my gratitude for you saving my life," Damian continued, his voice steady. "The suggestion came from Eilika, and I felt it was the proper course of action to take."

"I have no intention of attending a dinner at your estate," August retorted, his tone final.

Damian felt as though he were speaking to a stone. Realizing his efforts were wasted and having more pressing matters to attend to, he turned and left the room.

Upon entering his office, he immediately addressed Maurice. "Did you ensure the elderly couple returned to their village? And do you know when the summoners will be back?"

"They should be back by this evening, Your Grace," Maurice replied.

Damian nodded, glancing at the clock on his wall. "It is almost time for Roman to leave school. Go and bring him here."

"Shall I take him directly to the estate, sir?" Maurice asked.

"No, bring him here," Damian decided. "He was curious about my workplace last night. It is time he saw the place for himself."

Maurice bowed and turned to leave just as Louis entered. Louis offered a brief wave to Maurice before stopping before Damian’s desk, an official scroll clutched in his hand.

"Is your home renovation complete?" Damian asked. "I told you to move to the estate for a few days. How much longer do you intend to stay in the rest house?"

"Your Grace, my luggage has already been sent to your estate," Louis replied. "I am grateful for your hospitality. However, the King has dispatched a message for you."

Damian took the scroll from him and scanned the message. His brow furrowed as he read the contents regarding August.

As he laid the document down on the desk, Louis asked, "What does it say?"

"The King demands that I house August at the estate," Damian stated. "He claims that due to August’s status of illegitimacy, there are factions determined to see him dead."

"What?" Louis exclaimed, his shock evident. Almost instantly, however, his expression shifted to one of relief. "But August is a menace. If he draws trouble upon himself, surely the consequences are his own."

"Louis, we cannot ignore that August has spent his life fighting for a recognition he was never granted," Damian countered, a slight frown deepening on his face. "When he found no foothold, he became this man. Even the Queen refuses to acknowledge him."

"Be that as it may, Prince August has no right to walk such a crooked path," Louis opined. "In doing so, he has only dug a pit for himself."

"Whatever it is, let’s not make feel August low. He returned from banishment and even saved my life. I must help him in every way I can," Damian pronounced with a determined gaze.