Damian turned the pages as he reviewed the official complaint filed against Wilfred.

"Your Grace, I assure you, these accusations are baseless. It was a smear campaign born of my recent financial misfortunes," Wilfred stammered, his posture betraying his desperation. "That is why I sought your intervention. And for that day... I deeply regret the words I spoke to the Duchess. It was never my intention to cause such offense."

Damian did not look up. His gaze remained fixed on the ledger entries, his expression utterly unreadable.

"I find it difficult to believe these claims are fabrications, Wilfred. The discrepancies are too precise, and they have been verified by two senior officials," Damian said. "Why do you persist in this charade? Your daughter is an epitome of integrity, yet you seem intent on tarnishing not only your own reputation but hers as well."

Wilfred stiffened, his gaze dropping to the floor to mask the flash of agitation in his eyes. Once again, the Duke had found a way to strip away his defenses and leave him feeling diminished.

"I have no desire to facilitate your ruin, but I will not allow you to continue on this path," Damian continued, finally meeting Wilfred’s eyes with a cold, unrelenting stare. "If you wish for my assistance, it will be on my terms. You will conduct your business with absolute transparency, and every cent owed to those you defrauded will be repaid. Do you understand?"

"I am already in the process of repayment, Your Grace. That is the very reason I find myself so heavily indebted," Wilfred stated, his voice tight with anxiety.

"Is that the true nature of your financial woes? Or was it to satisfy your wife’s demand that the Duchess reimburse you for the cost of her upbringing?" Damian inquired, his tone unnervingly calm.

"What?" Wilfred gasped, his throat suddenly parched. "When did such a thing occur, Your Grace?"

"Yesterday," Damian replied coldly. "The Duchess was prepared to sell her personal jewelry to settle what she perceived as a debt to you. It is inconceivable to me that a father could value his own daughter so poorly. Is she worth nothing more than a few coins?" His gaze locked onto Wilfred’s.

Wilfred’s hands curled into fists as he shook his head vigorously. "Absolutely not. I... I offer my sincerest apologies for my wife’s appalling conduct." He was stunned, struggling to comprehend that his wife had stooped to extorting Eilika so shamelessly.

"I will not tolerate you or your family inflicting further harm upon the Duchess. I have extended unprecedented leniency toward you solely because you are Eilika’s father. You are well aware of the power I wield, Wilfred. For your own survival, I suggest you change your course," Damian stated. He slammed the file shut, the sudden sound causing Wilfred to flinch violently.

"You shall hear no further complaints from my household. That, I assure you," Wilfred pledged, casting his eyes downward in a display of practiced humility.

"Furthermore, your daughter had been caught poisoning my son’s mind. I expected you to discipline her properly. Spewing such venom in front of the Duke’s son... she seems determined to drag your entire family into ruin. Attempting to convince my child that stepmothers are inherently malicious, that they merely feign goodness? It is an unforgivable transgression."

Wilfred was struck dumb by the revelation. Despite his explicit warnings, it was clear that Rosaline had refused to abandon her malicious path.

"I understand perfectly, Your Grace," Wilfred replied, his voice barely rising above a whisper, heavy with the weight of the Duke’s ultimatum.

"You may leave," Damian dismissed him with a curt wave. "I will dispatch an associate to your offices to assist in restructuring your business operations and auditing your accounts. Consider this your final reprieve. Should you be found engaging in further duplicity, I will not hesitate to initiate formal legal proceedings to see you incarcerated. Furthermore, you will be compelled to pay double the damages to every individual you have defrauded. Do not test my resolve again."

Wilfred bobbed his head in frantic, repetitive nods, offering a stream of breathless thanks for the Duke’s unexpected mercy.

"You are dismissed," Damian stated, his voice cutting through the man’s babble like a blade.

With one final, deep bow that bordered on desperation, Wilfred hurried from the study. Damian allowed himself a moment of sharp exhaling before reaching for another important file. He had barely cracked the seal when a soft knock announced a servant at the door.

"Your Grace, the Duchess has arrived to see you," the servant informed.

"Send her in," Damian replied, straightening his posture.

Moments later, Eilika appeared in the doorway, carrying a small hamper. "I brought lunch for you," she explained as she crossed the room. "Maurice mentioned earlier that you wouldn’t be able to step away, so I thought it best to bring it to you instead."

"You really didn’t need to trouble yourself," Damian said. Even as he offered the polite disclaimer, his hand moved quickly, sliding the sensitive file regarding August beneath a stack of mundane paperwork to shield it from her view. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"It is no trouble at all," Eilika replied with a soft smile.

Damian moved toward the sofa as she began unboxing the meal. "It is still warm, so you should eat while you can."

"And you?" Damian inquired.

"I already ate with Roman and your mother," Eilika said, handing him the spoon.

Damian took his first bite, finding the meal unexpectedly delicious.

"I was wondering if I might assist you with your work," Eilika ventured. "I find myself bored at the estate. Once Roman is enrolled in the academy, my days will be even emptier, and I am not sure how I shall fill the time."

"You could cultivate friendships," Damian suggested.

"Talking to them gives me a headache," she answered with blunt honesty.

He arched a brow at her response, his curiosity piqued. "What happened? Did someone say anything to you?"

"I reprimanded the ladies today," Eilika finally said.