Louis stepped down from the carriage as it came to a halt before the cottage where Damian, Eilika, and Roman had been staying. Straightening his coat, he walked toward the entrance with an easy smile on his face.
A servant opened the door for him, and Louis stepped inside.
"Louis?" Eilika exclaimed in surprise when she saw him standing there.
She quickly dismissed the servant who had been attending to her and walked toward him.
"Greetings, Your Grace," Louis said respectfully, bowing his head. "Forgive me for arriving so suddenly without sending word beforehand."
"Please, have a seat," Eilika said, gesturing toward the sofa.
As he sat down, she instructed a maid to bring water for their guest.
"Where is the Duke?" Louis asked, letting his gaze wander briefly around the room. "And the young master?"
"They both went out early this morning," Eilika replied. "Roman insisted that his father take him to the pond nearby."
She rose slightly from her seat.
