102 - The Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 102
102
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Cesare sometimes asked for Aileen's opinion. Each time, Aileen would carefully consider and offer her thoughts.
However, she never expected him to ask her about such an important matter, especially in front of so many people. It would be one thing if it were before knights or soldiers, but the question was posed in front of important guests, making it all the more difficult.
Aileen could only stare with wide eyes for a moment. She had studied possible questions and answers while preparing the tea party with Sonio, but this question was not among them.
She would have to answer carefully, as it could lead to political implications. She desperately looked at Cesare, hoping he would give her a small signal or wink to guide her response.
But Cesare only chuckled. He seemed indifferent to whatever answer Aileen might give.
Aileen tried to read Cesare's expression, gathering every hint she could, but ultimately found no guidance. With no other choice, she cautiously offered what she thought was a reasonable suggestion.
"Attending... might be good...?"
Lacking confidence, her voice rose in a question at the end. Cesare's smile deepened.
"If my Grand Duchess wishes it, then we must."
As his easygoing answer fell, the noble ladies' eyes sparkled, almost gleaming. To be the first to know about Archduke Erzeht's attendance at the Hunting Festival! The rewards for attending the Grand Duchess's tea party were overflowing.
The Grand Duke rarely attended the Hunting Festival. Everyone had assumed he would skip it this time as well, making the news even more delightful. The noble ladies reveled in the grand gossip they had unearthed, and they scrutinized the Erzeht Grand Duke and Grand Duchess anew.
They observed the Grand Duchess, her face flushed as she gazed at the Grand Duke with an innocent and pure expression, and the Grand Duke, watching over her with loving eyes.
The noble ladies continued to chat about various topics afterward. Cesare mingled with them for a while but couldn't stay until the end.
Everyone knew that his time was precious, so no one dared to detain him. They were simply honored to have spent even a short time in his company.
After Cesare left, the tea party became even more lively. The noble ladies rejoiced, saying it was the first time they had ever had such a long conversation with the Grand Duke so closely.
"I never knew the Grand Duke was such an affectionate person."
"He even cut the cake himself. How incredibly kind."
"He doesn't usually attend the Hunting Festival, but he readily agreed because the Grand Duchess wanted to go."
Aileen smiled sheepishly at the outpouring of praise for Cesare. She was used to his affection, but others were always greatly surprised by it.
As Aileen responded to the lively conversations of the noble ladies, she glanced at Ornella. She wore a picture-perfect smile but was quiet, unlike her usual self, when she would actively lead the conversation and dominate the tea party.
Now that her shallow connection with Cesare had been exposed, she had nothing to say. However, she showed no outward signs of embarrassment. She simply sat elegantly, just as she had when she first entered the tea party.
When her eyes met Aileen's, she subtly twisted her lips. Aileen quickly lowered her gaze.
Between observing Ornella and attending to the noble ladies, the sun had already begun to set. It was time for the tea party to end.
"I enjoyed myself so much that I lost track of time. I hope you'll invite us again soon?"
"Next time, let's all have tea at my house. It can't compare to the Grand Duke's Residence's garden, but my greenhouse is quite nice."
The noble ladies were eager to secure a future meeting with Aileen. They proposed making this tea party a regular event and, having heard somewhere that Aileen liked plants, openly tried to entice her with the lure of a greenhouse.
Aileen received their invitations and saw them off. She gave the noble ladies small gifts of tea leaves and cookies from the tea party and bid them farewell.
The last to remain was Ornella. Her demeanor suggested she was waiting for the surroundings to quiet down, and the noble ladies glanced back even as they boarded their carriages. They were curious about the conversation that the Archduchess of Erzeht and the Parbellini Duchess Young Lady would have.
However, they were seasoned members of high society. No matter how obsessed they were with gossip, they knew they shouldn't interfere at this moment, so they all quietly disappeared.
Aileen took a deep breath to calm her trembling hands and then offered a gift to Ornella, who was the last to remain.
"Thank you... for today."
Ornella didn't immediately take it but instead looked down at the gift. Just as Aileen's hand, suspended in the air, began to feel awkward, she accepted it.
"Aileen."
Aileen flinched slightly. Ornella reached out. She pretended to fix Aileen's hair ornament, which was already perfectly in place, and touched Aileen's hair. Leaning closer, she opened her lips.
"Come visit the Parbellini Duke's Residence. I should treat the Grand Duchess to a cup of tea as well."
Ornella subtly gripped Aileen's hair with her gloved hand. Before Aileen could show any sign of pain, Ornella smiled brightly.
"Don't refuse, okay?"
Aileen bit her lip. As Ornella withdrew her hand and tried to conclude the conversation as if nothing had happened, Aileen replied.
"...Yes."
Swallowing the throbbing pain, she met Ornella's eyes and promised.
"I will definitely go, Ornella."
Ornella's eyes narrowed. She then let out a scoffing laugh and adjusted her dress before getting into her carriage.
Aileen watched the departing carriage for a moment. After Ornella's carriage had completely disappeared, Aileen went back inside the residence.
Sonio greeted Aileen with a bright smile and praised her. He skillfully supported Aileen, who was drained of energy, and sent her to the dressing room first. After changing into comfortable clothes with the help of the servants, Aileen headed straight to the laboratory.
As she fiddled with the experimental tools, her exhausted body gradually regained its strength. It seemed that repeating experiments thousands of times suited her much better than dealing with people.
Suddenly, the potted poppy by the window caught her eye. The poppy she had grown on the second floor of the inn was thriving even in the Grand Duke's Residence.
"It's abnormal to think you can live as you please."
Ornella's words from before the tea party came to mind, as did the sense of kinship she had felt with her, even if only for a moment.
Aileen remained in the laboratory until dinner, then headed to the dining room. Having eaten so much at the tea party, she lightly ate a bowl of porridge and finished her dinner. After that, she took a newly released academic journal and headed to the bedroom.
She planned to read in bed until she fell asleep. Entering the room without a second thought, Aileen's eyes widened. Cesare was sitting on the bed.
Leaning against the headboard and reading documents, he smiled silently and gestured for Aileen to come closer. Aileen hesitated and approached Cesare.
Cesare wrapped his arms around Aileen's waist, kissed her cheek, and then pulled her into his embrace. Aileen ended up sitting on the bed with him using him as a backrest. Aileen hugged the academic journal and looked up at Cesare.
His crimson eyes were too close. His arms, loosely wrapped around her waist, were firm.
"Cesare."
Normally, she would have rattled on about everything that had happened today. There were many things she wanted to ask him.
Whether it was okay that she had arbitrarily decided he would attend the Hunting Festival, how he had ended up coming to the tea party today...
But perhaps because of her position, the words didn't come easily. Her heart was pounding from Cesare's body heat against her back, and she couldn't focus.
Aileen fidgeted with the corner of the academic journal. Cesare glanced at the journal Aileen was holding and casually asked.
"Weren't you going to read?"
With no other choice, she opened the journal. Once the letters entered her eyes, she quickly became engrossed again. It was thanks to a paper about an interesting experiment.
Without realizing it, Aileen leaned comfortably against Cesare and diligently read the journal. She didn't even notice that he was playing with her hair. Of course, she didn't know that he was touching the same part that Ornella had touched.
