Rosaline was shoved onto the stone floor by the soldiers, the harsh impact causing her to cry out in pain.

Wilfred and Susan rushed into the drawing room through the double doors, their faces pale with alarm. "Your Grace! For what reason is our daughter being dragged about in this manner?" Susan demanded. She lunged forward to reach Rosaline, but two guards stepped into her path, crossing their pikes to block her advance.

Damian remained seated in the center of the sofa, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, his hands resting quietly in his lap as he watched them with cold detachment.

Did you not explain her the crime she committed?" Damian asked, his cold gaze shifting to one of the guards.

"I did, Your Grace," the guard replied, offering a swift bow. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"I had no knowledge of Young Master Roman’s affliction!" Rosaline cried out from the floor, attempting to steady herself. "Ask the Duchess herself. I did not bring those chocolates with any malicious intent."

"Your Grace, I packed those sweets for your son myself, alongside homemade delicacies for the Duchess," Susan pleaded, stepping forward against the guards’ restraint. "Had we any inkling of the boy’s allergy, we would never have permitted such a thing. Do not visit your wrath upon my daughter, I beg of you." She then sharply nudged Wilfred with her elbow. "Speak, my lord!"

"Your Grace, my daughter is innocent of any malice in this matter," Wilfred requested, his voice trembling as he bowed low. "Please, show mercy. The whole province knows the depth of your generosity."

"Is that the only offense you committed this evening?" Damian asked.

Rosaline’s eyes widened in sudden panic, fearing Eilika had disclosed the full bitter truth of their private quarrel to the Duke. Yet, she kept her lips pressed tightly together, too terrified to speak.

"Master Wolanski, I gave you explicit instruction to discipline your daughter," Damian said, shifting his hard gaze directly to Wilfred. "She came to this house seeking a favor from the Duchess, only to turn her tongue to cruel mockery of her appearance. She dared to insult my wife by weaponizing the very scar she bears. To my knowledge, that scar was earned in service to your own life. Had she not placed herself in peril to save her father, she would not now be subjected to such brutal remarks from her own kin."

Damian did not arrest his speech, unburdening his mind of the cold fury he had harbored since the moment those words were spoken.

Wilfred lowered his gaze to his daughter, his countenance pale, before casting a tense look toward Susan.

"Whosoever chooses to disrespect the Duchess, or speak ill of her character, I shall not hesitate to punish them," Damian continued.

"This evening, your daughter must answer for the humiliation she inflicted upon my wife. My patience with your household has been entirely exhausted over these past two months. I will not tolerate tears in her eyes on account of anyone, most especially when they pertain to that scar. Tell me, Miss Rosaline, what grand beauty do you presume to possess that grants you such arrogance?"

Susan swallowed hard, her lips dry as she took a tentative step forward.

"Your Grace, I—I offer my profoundest apologies on behalf of—" She was cut short as Damian raised a hand, severing her words mid-sentence.

"Mrs. Wolanski, you cannot offer apologies for your daughter’s arrogance, for I have no intention of granting forgiveness this time. I had no desire to unearth your past greed, but you dared to demand a sum of money from my wife on the very day of our official wedding, using the petty justification that you had merely clothed and fed her. You saw fit to remind her of it as if it were a debt, boasting that you did not banish her to her aunt’s residence. As I have stated, I did not wish to address these sordid private matters, but my patience has its limits."

Susan swallowed the hard lump that had formed in her throat, lowering her head in a display of genuine shame and guilt.

"The three of you have spent a lifetime inflicting wounds upon Eilika," Damian declared, rising slowly from the sofa to his full height.

"And my warnings were treated as mere trifles by Miss Rosaline. Her punishment will be a permanent banishment the ducal estate and she will have to serve as the servant in the administration center for fifteen days. Furthermore, the stipends and trade concessions your family enjoys under my grace are hereby revoked. If she is ever seen within these walls, or heard whispering any kind of malice against the Duchess again, I shall ensure your entire household faces the magistrate for treason against the ducal house."

"Your Grace, I beg you, please show mercy upon us!" Wilfred cried out, dropping heavily to his knees, and Susan was quick to follow her husband’s suit. "My business is already enduring a tough phase... Please... I implore you. We are your kin by marriage. Be merciful to us."

As he lifted his head, his frantic gaze caught sight of Eilika standing at the gallery atop the grand stairs, looking down upon the scene with a completely impassive countenance.

"My child, please, appeal to the Duke to show some small measure of mercy!" Wilfred requested, his eyes bright with a desperate hope. "Intercede for us, I beg you. Do not let him revoke the trade concessions and our stipend. Please, my child."

"The Duchess will not sway my resolve. This retribution is entirely merited for the offenses your household has committed, and for how poorly you have tested my patience," Damian pronounced. He turned his back upon them, casting his gaze upward toward Eilika.

"Furthermore, my son was placed in mortal peril on account of Miss Rosaline’s negligence. Any other subject in her position would have faced the executioner’s block. Consider this punishment the highest form of mercy I shall offer," Damian asserted. He then looked toward the standing men. "Show them to the gates."

At the absolute command, the guards seized the family and dragged them from the drawing room, their protests fading as the heavy doors of the mansion closed behind them.

Eilika descended the grand staircase, her steps echoing softly now that the drawing room stood entirely vacant. She came to a halt directly before him, her gaze searching his face. "Do you truly believe this will compel them to amend their ways?"

"I do not," Damian replied bluntly. "But henceforth, every soul who has dared to bring you harm shall face their proper reckoning."

"Do not invite unnecessary enmities for my sake," Eilika told him, her brow furrowing with concern. She bit her lower lip, releasing a heavy sigh. "You harbor enough hidden enemies as it is. We must not forget the poisoning incident."

"You occupy your mind with too many anxieties at times," Damian murmured, his expression softening as he looked down at her. Then, he held her hand and took her upstairs.

~~~~~

"Very well. I shall grant you a commission on the morrow," King Nyxen informed his son.

The Queen turned an astonished, sharp gaze upon her husband. "Your Majesty, by what reason should he be entrusted with any authority? Lest you forget—"

"My dear," King Nyxen interrupted, his voice firm as he addressed her. "I desire for him to prove his worth to this kingdom. Though he may not stand as equal to my other two sons, he remains of my blood. I cannot relegate him to the shadows for the entirety of my days."

August smiled and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Father, for believing in me. I shall let you two continue." With the final bow to both them, he left.

August smiled, offering a deep, respectful bow. "Thank you, Father, for placing your trust in me. I shall leave you both to your evening." With a final inclination of his head toward them, he turned and departed from the room.

"Your Majesty, you gave me your word that August would never cross the threshold of this estate again once his banishment was decreed," the Queen stated, her countenance filled with sharp disappointment. "Yet you have permitted his return, and now you see fit to invest him with a royal commission."

"Victoria, I never maintained that he would be barred from our presence for eternity," King Nyxen clarified.

"I stated that during the period of his exile, I would grant him no audience, regardless of his entreaties. I have remained entirely faithful to that vow. As for this appointment, he must offer proper penance to Damian for the strife he brought upon him and the Duchess. For that reason, I intend to dispatch him to Varos. The succession remains secure with our eldest, so do not trouble your mind over the matter."

The Queen frowned as she held the stem of the wine glass. She wanted to get rid of August but it didn’t seem easy anymore.