"Your mother is here," Damian said as he noticed Eilika standing by the door.

At the sound of her name, Roman spun around. His face lit up instantly, and he scrambled across the floor to bury his face against her skirts, his small arms wrapping tightly around her leg. "Mama!"

Damian stood slowly, regaining his composure as he cleared his throat. "Roman was feeling neglected," he explained, his eyes meeting Eilika’s. "He feared your entire heart was being occupied by the boys we brought back."

"What?" Eilika’s expression melted into one of deep sympathy. She looked down at the boy clinging to her. "Why did you feel like that, sweetheart? Those boys are guests who need our help. That is the only reason I have been so busy."

"But I don’t want them to have my mama’s attention," Roman insisted, his tiny lips forming a stubborn pout that made his eyes look even larger.

Eilika couldn’t help but let out a soft, melodic laugh at his honesty. "That will never happen," she promised, dropping to her knees so she was level with him. She cupped his warm, tiny face in her hands, her thumbs stroking his cheeks. "Roman, listen to me. You are my son, and you will always be my first priority. Always."

She took a deep breath. "But Roman, when someone is in pain and asks for our help, we must give it. When they are in dire need, we cannot simply turn our backs. Those boys are very frightened; they are scared of grown-ups because no one has been kind to them for a long time. Unlike you and me, they have no family to love them. They are all alone in the world."

Roman’s pout softened as he listened, his young mind trying to grasp the weight of her words.

"They have no family? Why?" Roman asked, his large eyes filled with a confusion that only a protected child could possess.

Eilika hesitated, her heart aching. How could she explain the cruelty of the world to a boy who had only known the warmth of the Duke’s mansion? How could she tell him that some parents were forced by crushing debts to sell their own flesh and blood, or that others had their children taken away by the very man Damian had just dealt with? The words felt too heavy for a child’s ears.

"Because..." she started, her voice trailing off as she looked toward Damian for help.

"Roman, you are still very young," Damian intervened. He stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on his son’s shoulder. "The reasons are complicated, but you must understand one thing: those boys are in need of love and care. They have forgotten what it feels like to be safe."

He tilted Roman’s chin up, forcing the boy to meet his steady gaze. "As the son of the Duke, you have a responsibility. You must lead by example. While they are under our roof, you are to ensure they never feel small or unwanted. You must be their strength, not their rival. Do you understand me, Roman?"

Roman looked at his father, then back at Eilika. The jealousy in his expression was slowly being replaced by a burgeoning sense of duty. He clutched his soft toy a little tighter, but his nod was certain. "I understand, Father. I’ll be a big brother to them."

Eilika beamed, her eyes shining with pride. "That is the spirit of a true gentleman," she praised, pressing a final kiss to his forehead. "Come, let’s get you settled in your room." She offered Damian a subtle, appreciative nod before leading the skipping boy out into the hallway.

Left alone, Damian finished dressing, pulling on a dark waistcoat and adjusting his cuffs. He needed information if he was to dismantle the network that had stolen these children.

When he reached the drawing room, the scene was far more peaceful than he had expected. The five boys were huddled together, tentatively eating bowls of creamy pudding. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

However, the moment Damian stepped into the room, they scrambled off the plush sofas and dropped into deep, terrified bows after putting the bowls onto the table.

"Keep eating and make yourselves comfortable," Damian said. He crossed the room and lowered himself into a high-backed sofa chair, keeping his posture relaxed to lessen their intimidation.

"Now," he began, watching as they slowly sat back down, though they remained on the very edge of the cushions. "What are your names? I imagine my wife has already asked you many questions, but I must hear your story as well. You are safe within these walls, and I give you my word: we will find a way to return you to your homes."

The boys looked at one another, stunned by the promise. The eldest, a boy with sharp features and wary eyes, cleared his throat. "My name is Kael, sir. And this is Toby, Leo, Sam and Bram..." He pointed from his left to right. "Kael and I are brothers. I’m ten years old while Toby is seven. Leo and Sam are also seven. Bram is youngest, six years old."

As he gave their introduction, Damian asked, "So, how did you all end up with them?"

"Our parents couldn’t pay off the debts," Kael said, lowering his head in a sigh.

"Mine passed away last year," Leo said, "so my uncle and aunt sold me."

"My parents couldn’t either pay off their debts, sir," Sam replied.

"What about you, Bram?" Damian’s eyes fixed on the youngest, whose eyes were glistening in tears.

"They kidnapped me from my village. I don’t know where it is, except it’s name. I miss my mother. I want to go back," Bram said, tears escaping his eyes.

Damian was quick to stand up and got on his knees in front of Bram. He wiped the tears from the boy’s face. "I promise you to find your family soon. Don’t cry and stay strong. Did those people do anything to any of you?"

"They used to starve us and beat us," Toby said. "Even girls are captured by them. That place is scary. It’s dark there."

"Where are all of you kept?" Damian asked.

"It’s dark like an underground place. We have no idea," Leo murmured.

"Well, I will find it out. Thank you for telling me everything. If there’s more, you can tell me or my wife anytime" he stated, giving a small smile to them.