"I have not come here as the Duchess," Eilika replied. "I am here simply as a daughter to you." She kept her gaze fixed on her father, waiting for the weight of her words to settle.

Wilfred and Susan exchanged a wary glance, their expressions caught between confusion and trepidation as they struggled to parse her intent.

"I know you harbored many expectations of me once I was married to the Duke," she began, her tone measured. "But you seem to have forgotten that there was once a man who taught me the very values I hold dear. You taught me to be honest and upright. You taught me never to resort to dishonorable means to win."

Wilfred looked away, a flicker of pained recognition crossing his features. Those were indeed his words from a different life, spoken before the relentless pressure of their circumstances had begun to erode his principles.

"It is all in the past," Wilfred murmured, his voice thick with resignation. "The world is full of nothing but corruption now."

"I agree," Eilika conceded. "But you were not always that person. Your greed destroyed things, slowly but surely. I simply refused to be a part of that decline."

Susan, who had been listening with increasing agitation, finally stepped forward. "Are you here to make your father feel low?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing as she challenged the daughter she had once tried to mold.

"I am not speaking to you," Eilika said. "I am here to speak with my father. You could have been the woman who turned this house into a home, a better place. But what did you do as a mother? Rosaline and I were close in the beginning, but as you began to poison her mind, a vast distance grew between us. She started to hate me, and to this day, she makes no effort to hide that animosity."

Susan frowned, but she found no words to defend her actions.

"My son’s interschool sports event is approaching soon," Eilika continued, her gaze remaining locked on her father.

"Every family is expected to be there to cheer for their own. I want Father to be a part of it. Roman keeps asking me about my side of the family. He has met Rosaline twice, but she only made those encounters terrible for him. I have no trust in my stepmother because she never offered me a shred of love, so she wouldn’t do it to Roman either. As for my father, however, I do want him to be there to encourage Roman."

Eilika recalled how Wilfred had ridiculed her for that mark just a few days ago at the estate, the sting of his words still fresh. Yet, she had set her pride aside, coming here solely for Roman’s sake. She wanted her son to be surrounded by love and to feel cherished by those who shared his blood.

"He asked for his grandfather early this morning," Eilika continued, her voice softening slightly. "Since the Duke’s father is not here, I thought you could perhaps fulfill the role of a better grandfather for him. Consider this a chance, not only for him but for you to regain the trust of mine and the Duke."

As she rose from her chair, Wilfred quickly asked, "Where exactly do I have to come?"

"The Aurelian Institute of Excellence," Eilika answered. "The sports event is scheduled for next Friday. It will begin sharp at nine in the morning."

"I will be there," Wilfred promised.

Eilika gave a single, curt nod and turned toward the door. "Do not come empty-handed. Susan will pack—"

"It is alright. I require nothing further," Eilika stated, cutting him off before walking out and leaving them behind.

"Come to think of it, Eilika has never asked for anything from me. You shall accompany me as well. Young Master Roman will appreciate it," Wilfred stated, his gaze fixed on the space where she had stood. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Has my lord lost his mind? Didn’t you hear the Duchess? She was here to lecture you," Susan complained, her face flushing with indignation. "She thinks that as her stepmother, I did nothing for her. The audacity she has to humiliate me like this! Why did you not say a word in my defense?"

Wilfred looked at her, his expression weary. "She said nothing wrong, Susan. You and I both know that you were never a mother to her. And as for me, I lost myself in the world’s hollow pleasures, building selfish connections and ignoring the fact that Eilika was my own daughter."

Susan knitted her brows, a disbelieving laugh escaping her lips. "My lord, until only a few days ago, you were unable to hide your resentment toward her. And now, you are defending the Duchess? I told you when we married that I would only stay if you sent Eilika away, yet you kept her here all those years."

"Susan, that is all in the past. Rosaline is currently suffering for her actions, and word of her punishment has already spread among the nobles. If I am to win the Duke’s favor, it can only happen if we finally treat Eilika with the respect she is due," Wilfred stated. "We have no other choice but to demonstrate our remorse. Tell me, do you see any other way forward?"

Susan stood silent for a long moment before slowly shaking her head.

"Then let us do exactly as Eilika wishes. It is not as if she is living under this roof anymore, and we must consider our own future," Wilfred reasoned.

"You are right, my lord," Susan answered.

~~~~~

Damian lifted his gaze from the file, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the document now resting atop his desk.

"The fire incident," August began, his tone uncharacteristically grave. "I need a full report on it. May I use your name to extract the necessary information from the officer in charge? I am aware you were investigating this case personally before you were forced to set it aside for more pressing matters."

Damian leaned back. "You have been granted oversight of the department for unresolved cases, August. You are free to do as you please, even invoke the King’s name if you find it necessary. So, tell me, why have you come here to disrupt my work?"

August chuckled, a dry sound that lacked any real humor. "I cannot simply invoke the King’s name at every whim. Are you unfamiliar with the protocols? Besides, I am in Varos, and it seemed only fitting to use your name. I will not disturb you further." He turned to depart, but Damian’s voice snapped out, halting him in his tracks.

"Why are you truly here in Varos? I know you did not come merely to pursue a cold case." Damian’s brow furrowed, his expression sharpening with suspicion.

August turned back slightly, his silhouette framed by the doorway. "Will you even believe me if I tell you the truth?" He offered a thin, mocking smile. "No, you will not. So, let us simply pretend that I do not exist in this city. I shall do the same. I take no pleasure in seeing your face, either."

"That is my line, Prince," Damian said, rising from his chair and letting the file drop onto the desk with a heavy thud. "Stay out of my sight. I have no desire to see your face."

"Hate Liliana if you must," August retorted, turning to face him fully, his expression chilling. "After all, she was the one who caused you such immense pain."

Damian crossed the room in two long strides, his hand shooting out to seize August by the collar. August responded instantly, his grip just as fierce as he grabbed Damian back, the two of them locking into a tense, silent struggle.

"You have the audacity to speak her name in my office," Damian hissed with fury.

"I have never been afraid of you, Damian," August replied, a taunting smirk touching his lips.

A familiar voice cut through the tension in the room.

"What are you two doing?" Eilika hurried toward them, her hands grasping Damian’s wrists. "Let him go," she urged, her voice trembling with anger.

"Eilika, your husband still gets so easily irked by the mention of Liliana’s name," August muttered, his grin widening.

The two men simultaneously released their grips, but before they could settle, Eilika did the unthinkable. With a swift motion, she slapped August across the face.

The room fell into a stunned silence. Damian and Maurice stood frozen, while August’s smirk only deepened; he pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, tasting the sting of the blow.

In a flash of aggression, August reached out to clamp his hand around Eilika’s throat, but he stopped just inches before making contact. Damian reacted instantly, shoving August’s arm away with a powerful jolt.

"This is humiliating," August growled, his teeth gritted as his eyes darkened with malice. "Why am I always the one painted as the villain here?"

Near the door, Maurice stood guard, his eyes scanning the hallway to ensure they were still entirely alone.

"Because you take pleasure in hurting others," Eilika replied as she stepped closer to Damian, taking her place at his side.