As evening fell, Damian and Eilika prepared to leave. A small crowd from the school had gathered at the gates to wave them off, their cheers echoing as the car pulled away.

Once they were on the open road, Eilika glanced at the seat behind them. "They made such a beautiful flower crown for you," she said, her voice warm. "And even gifted one for Roman. He is going to love it. But why didn’t you wear yours inside? It would have looked great on you."

"I did wear it for a brief moment," Damian remarked, a small smile touching his lips. "Until one child told me quite plainly that it didn’t look good on me."

Eilika laughed softly. "Really? That child must have been teasing you. We have a few who are quite naughty and love to see if they can get a reaction out of people."

"You can’t take words of a kid seriously," Eilika answered. "I’ve been thinking to meet them for such a long time. Too bad I came empty-handed. But I’ve decided to send a candy cart along with a few other gifts for all of them tomorrow."

"Why didn’t you ever tell me you met my mother here?" Damian asked, the question finally breaking through his silence.

"You were never interested in knowing," Eilika replied simply. "Besides, it came as a surprise to you today, so I’m happy with how it turned out."

Damian remained quiet for a moment before shifting the subject. "Liam... does he have feelings for you?"

"What? No! He’s just a friend," Eilika answered, sounding genuinely surprised by the suggestion.

"But he is quite a gentleman. And his words made it clear he cares deeply for you," Damian pronounced. His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed intensely on the road ahead.

"Why are you suddenly speaking of him?" Eilika asked, her brow furrowing as she turned to face him.

"Because I never realized you had a male friend, especially one who has known you since childhood," Damian replied, the words tumbling out with a sudden honesty. "The moment the two of you began talking, I felt sidelined. It was as if I were standing outside a world I didn’t belong to."

Eilika caught his gaze, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "Don’t tell me you’re jealous."

"It isn’t jealousy," Damian countered, his voice tightening with annoyance. "It is simply a fact that, despite being your husband, there are parts of your life that remain entirely closed off to me."

"That is your own fault," Eilika asserted. "You never showed any interest in learning about me. Besides, I wasn’t part of your childhood either, yet I don’t act this way."

"I told you, it isn’t jealousy," Damian said, letting out a short, dry chuckle.

"It certainly looks like it," she murmured, reaching up to adjust the flower crown resting on her hair. She shifted the subject, her tone softening. "But tell me, did you actually enjoy the day?"

"I did," Damian admitted. "Your world isn’t as dull as mine."

"I don’t think your world is boring," Eilika said thoughtfully. "There are more restrictions, certainly, but every position of power comes with its own cost."

"That’s also true. We didn’t have anything during the lunch. Let’s dine somewhere close," Damian suggested and winded the car toward a quiet yet luxurious restaurant in the city.

The moment he applied the brakes an usher stepped forward, opening the door for him. Damian stepped out and moved to the other side, helping Eilika out.

"I just realized how simply we’re dressed," she whispered. "Your reputation as a Duke—" She cut off as he pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her mid-sentence.

"Sometimes it is better to be casual," Damian said, lowering his hand. They stepped inside the establishment, where the manager greeted them with a respectful bow.

He led them through the building to a high-end terrace that offered a sweeping, unobstructed view of the city skyline as the evening light began to settle.

Once they were seated, Eilika scanned the menu and placed their orders. She took a slow sip of water, her attention drifting to the sun as it hung low against the horizon.

"Roman is likely happy to see us finally get out," Damian replied.

The waiter arrived with the food trolley, efficiently setting the dishes across the table. Damian caught the man’s attention before he could leave. "Bring a bottle of red wine as well," he requested.

"You cannot drink. You are still recovering," Eilika interrupted, reaching out to pull the bottle toward herself as soon as the waiter presented it. "Please, take this back."

"I have recovered enough," Damian insisted. "I only want a few sips, nothing more."

"No. Even a small amount will interfere with your medicine and slow the healing process," Eilika argued, firmly handing the bottle back to the waiter. "Please, take it away."

The waiter bowed and retreated, though Damian’s gaze lingered on the departing wine bottle.

"A few sips wouldn’t have done any harm," he mumbled, picking up his napkin and tucking it into his collar.

"You don’t understand how medication interacts with the body, do you?" Eilika said, her gaze sharpening. "Even a small amount of alcohol can interfere with internal healing. I won’t stop you from drinking once I’m certain you’ve fully recovered, at that point, you can have as much as you like. But until then, you are strictly prohibited."

Damian pouted, a look of silent protest that immediately reminded her of Roman.

"Roman does that exact same thing," she pointed out.

"What?"

"That pout," Eilika clarified. "He makes that same face whenever he’s told he can’t have something." She picked up her fork and knife, preparing to cut into her meal.

Damian’s expression softened into a smile, and he quickly moved to cut the steaks for her.

~~~~~

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