His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 69

“Welcome back, Your Highness,” Blaine greeted him at the threshold of his office. “How was the inspection?”

“Everything was in order,” Kassian replied, pulling off his jacket. The weather was so hot outside that he had almost suffocated in his military uniform. But this was an inspection, not a casual walk among the soldiers and their dwellings, so he had to be presentable. Or so Blaine said. Kassian undid a few of the buttons of his shirt and let out a tired sigh. His aide set a tray with a pitcher of water on the desk, pouring some into a cup and handing it to Kassian. He gulped it down in a single breath, giving him a sign to pour some more. As he finished the second cup, he dropped into his chair, leaning his head on the backrest.

“Did anything happen while I was gone?”

“You were gone just for a few hours, Your Highness. What could have happened in such a short time?” he asked. Kassian didn’t reply, keeping his eyes on the door despite the piercing look Blaine gave him. “Or do you mean at your wife’s party?” Kassian moved his eyes to his aide, giving him a dark look.

“You knew of that already?” he frowned.

“Of course, I am informed of everything related to you and your residence.” Blaine smiled readily.

“Then why don’t I know of things that are related to me and my home?” Kassian raised an eyebrow.

“Because it’s irrelevant to your schedule, Your Highness. Since you were not invited,” Blaine replied with the same infuriating smile. The two of them stared at each other for a few long seconds before Blaine’s smile faltered. “We’re going there, aren’t we?”

“Just to check what she is scheming this time. We’re not staying!” Kassian said defensively, pushing himself to his feet. He heard Blaine mumble something that sounded very much like

“You’re not fooling anybody. ‘ under his breath, but when Kassian looked at his aide, he was already wearing his blank expression, waiting patiently for him by the door.

They didn’t talk much on the way and when they reached the North Palace’s gates, the guards there straightened up, saluting them. One of them opened the gate to let them in, and Kassian strode toward the mansion, raising an eyebrow when he didn’t notice anyone. The front door was wide open, but everything was quiet.

“Where is everyone?” he muttered, his hand reaching for his sword. He spotted a lone figure crossing the corridor inside, and he called for them to stop. The maid, who was carrying a basket with washed linen, almost dropped the load when she recognized him.

“Why is this place so empty? Where is my wife?” he demanded.

“S-s-she is in the garden!” the maid replied nervously. “M-m-most of the s-s-servants were sent o-o-out of the palace for p-p-privacy.”

For privacy? What was that supposed to mean?

“You can go,” he said with a sigh while the young girl shivered like a leaf. She didn’t wait to be told a second time, grabbing her basket and sprinting up the stairs. He glanced at Blaine, who shook his head that he didn’t know what was going on either, then the two of them headed down the empty corridor. As they stepped out into the garden, Kassian frowned. There was a long table set under one of the trees, but there was no one nearby.

“What is going on here?” he murmured. Before his aide could say anything, the sound of laughter echoed through the garden. Kassian moved forward, trying to follow the voices, and they walked for a good while until they reached the end of the garden. He was just wondering if the voices were coming from the other side of the wall surrounding the palace when something bright caught his attention. He turned his head toward the corner of the garden where a group of trees had been left untouched, only to realize there was something white shimmering in the distance, half hidden between the trees. Another burst of laughter filled the air, and this time, he was sure he came from there.

Kassian headed toward it with growing curiosity, and just before he reached it, he noticed the first servant. Several maids stood outside of a wide space surrounded by white, slightly transparent fabric that fluttered under the faint wind. The first one to spot him was Raena’s new personal maid, but instead of greeting him, she quickly disappeared behind the white fabric.

The other servants bowed as he stopped in front of the strange construction. Metal poles were secured in the ground on all four sides, at least seven steps each, with small loops attached to them. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t a sudden whim. Where was she getting these ideas and what exactly was this?

The merry laughter and amused voices on the other side seemed to continue as if they had no idea he was there, but as much as he tried, he couldn’t see anything more than the outlines of bodies.

“Where is…?” he started, turning toward the closest maid when the flowing fabric moved aside and the blonde servant stepped out. He was just directing his attention to her when held the fabric up until a second person followed.

Kassian’s eyes widened as Raena stepped out, wearing nothing but a tight-fitting piece of cloth scarcely covering her breasts and intimate parts.

Her hair was tied with a ribbon on top of her head and tiny droplets covered her exposed skin from head to toe as if she had just stepped out of the bath. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he tried to get a hold of himself.

She raised her hand and wiped her face, her eyes finally stopping on him.

“I don’t remember inviting you today, Your Highness,” his wife said in a displeased tone, and Kassian finally looked at her face.

“Why the hell are you naked?” he hissed, shocked at her complete lack of shame. This definitely wasn’t how he imagined seeing her na.ked for the first time. And the fact that she stared back at him, completely unbothered, made him both excited and annoyed at the same time. He reached for his jacket so he could cover her with it, but quickly realized he had left it in his office. His head snapped toward where Blaine had stood a few moments ago, only to find his aide with his back turned to them and eyes locked in the trees. Kassin returned his attention back to his wife, trying to keep his attention on her face. “Well?”

“I’m not naked, I’m wearing a swimsuit,” she replied with a smile, shifting her weight to one leg and crossing her arms in front of her. “Is there anything you…”

“How is this any kind of suit?” he interrupted her. “And where do you swim in a freaking forest?”

Raena let out an exasperated sigh and took a step aside, reaching for the cloth and lifting it so he could see inside. His eyes darted toward the scene on the other part of the construction, gaze gliding over the long rectangular hole covered with tiles and filled with clean water. There were even stairs starting from one end and disappearing into the waters. Around the pool stood a dozen chairs, but they had a weird shape as if the person was supposed to lie on them, not sit.

It took him a second to realize there were other women inside, all wearing similar swimsuits some were soaking in the water with pleased expressions, others lying down on the chairs or directly in the grass. The entire scene was so surreal that he flinched as Raena dropped the white cloth back in place.

“Why have you come here, Your Highness? Were you afraid that your women will have more fun with me than they do with you?” Raena asked with a bright smile, but to his regret, it didn’t look genuine at all. Kassian gave her a dry look, trying to hold back his frustration.

“What are you up to?” he asked instead.

“I got bored and I decided to have fun with the ladies. As you can see, we are attended only by women and I have sent all male servants out for the afternoon, so we’re perfectly safe and hidden,” she replied in a tone that suggested she was sure he’d ask her that.

“So you have time to be bored and organize parties, but not to talk with your husband?” he asked without thinking. Her smile froze on her lips, but she didn’t look away.

“Are you feeling lonely, Your Highness?” she asked with a mocking expression, and Kassian gritted his teeth before he said something he’d regret. More than her teasing, it was her calmness that annoyed him the most. She was smaller, weaker, naked and entirely at his mercy, yet she stared into his eyes as if she had put a collar on his neck and was firmly holding the leash. He wantedto wipe that smile off her face.

“What if l am? What are you going to do about it?”

She blinked in surprise, which lasted only a second, then tilted her head, the mocking smile returning.

“Well, I would have invited you to join us by the pool, but considering how you’re staring, you’ll make everyone uncomfortable,” she replied. “But now that I think about it… One of your lovers couldn’t make it today, so I’m sure that she’ll be happy to help you with your loneliness.” Her eyes flashed dangerously as she said that, but Kassian couldn’t tell if it was out of hate or jealousy. Before he could think of a reply, Raena caught the white cloth again, preparing to lift it. “Please go back, Your Highness,” she said in a much gentler tone.

We’re only having innocent fun. We’re not going to cause any trouble.”

She turned her back on him and stepped through the white cloth, letting it fall behind her. Kassian continued to stare after her until the sound of laughter and conversations picked up again. He cursed under his breath and turned around, striding past Blaine.

“Your Highness?” His aide spoke as they were just crossing the garden. “I was going to tell you earlier in the office, but you were set on coming here and I didn’t get the chance.

“What is it now?” Kassian sighed in annoyance.

His head was throbbing again and the needles piercing his temples were getting sharper.

“Her Highness ‘s Secret Palace is being sold,” Blaine said. Kassian froze midstep, turning to face his aide. “l got word that there are two bidders for it, but Madam Lydia hasn’t made a decision yet.”

“She is selling?” Kassian frowned. “Why?”

“She has told them that she has other projects in mind far away from the capital, so she wouldn’t be able to run the business. She is also selling all the other businesses she had-I found at least ten places that have recently been purchased by your wife,” Blaine said carefully. “She is supposed to choose the buyer for the restaurant by the end of the week. The transfer of property can be done in just a day if both sides are present.”

“How much money are we talking about?” Kassian frowned.

“Enough to rival a member of the Imperial family. All of her businesses had flourished ever since she purchased them,” Blaine said, barely hiding his approval. “She also told the buyers she plans to explore ventures outside the Empire, which means she might be planning to leave the continent.”

“So she is planning to leave,” Kassian repeated quietly, looking back to the way he came from. “ls this what this party is about? A farewell party?”

“I doubt the concubines know,” Blaine shrugged.

“Well, she is not going anywhere,” Kassian said with growing determination. “Find out who the two buyers are and set up a meeting immediately. We’re going to make them back out. Also, warn every boat owner in all the nearby harbors that if someone dares sell her a boat or allow her on board, “l personally kill them.