106 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 106
106
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Though he told me to say more, I had nothing left to say. Talking more here would only make me sound like I was whining.
"I don't have any more… Really."
I stared at Cesare, hoping he wouldn't ask any more questions. I carefully examined him, wondering if he was displeased with what I had said, but thankfully, he didn't seem to be.
Aileen inwardly sighed in relief. It was a small sigh, trying not to be too obvious, but Cesare seemed to have caught it, as he smiled again.
He took the academic journal Aileen was holding and placed it beside her. Then, he touched various parts of Aileen's body, asking,
"Isn't there anything you want?"
His touching hands casually delved into sensitive areas. With only a thin Night Robe between us, I could feel his touch completely. The rubbing of fabric against skin felt even more stimulating than bare skin being touched.
Aileen groaned and shrank back. As if waiting for it, a ticklish sensation arose in her stomach. Enduring the feeling of heat rising below, she replied,
"I did, but you already gave it to me today."
He had brought her a cake that she couldn't buy even with money, thanks to the Grand Duke's power, so she really couldn't ask for anything more. But Cesare gently touched Aileen and asked again,
"Not something like cake. Clothes or jewelry, or maybe a villa. Books or experimental tools are also good. Should I build another greenhouse?"
Aileen wasn't someone without materialistic desires. She wanted a huge library, a laboratory filled with all sorts of cutting-edge tools, a greenhouse full of rare plants, and so on.
However, now that she was the Grand Duchess, Cesare had already created everything Aileen wanted in the Grand Duke's Residence. Besides that, there were plenty of pretty dresses, accessories, and delicious food.
It was no exaggeration to say it was a small paradise for Aileen. She was almost afraid to be greedy for more.
"Ugh, i-it's okay, I already, have everything…"
Aileen leaned against Cesare's chest, trembling slightly. She clutched his clothes with her hands, panting softly. The hand that had entered between Aileen's legs brushed against her intimate area.
"I wonder what I should give my wife to make her happy."
Unlike his lewd hands, Cesare spoke leisurely. Aileen, who was melting under his touch, suddenly had a tremendous idea. She abruptly raised her body, which had been melting like grilled cheese.
"I have one!"
She realized she had shouted too loudly and belatedly gasped. But Cesare was only smiling. Aileen felt relieved but couldn't easily open her lips. Now that she was about to speak, she thought that the gift she desired was truly presumptuous.
When Aileen showed signs of hesitation, Cesare tilted his head slightly to the side.
"Why are you hesitating so much about what to say?"
He clearly showed that he didn't like Aileen's hesitation. He grabbed Aileen's thigh tightly and asked mischievously.
"Why, do you think your husband can't buy it for you?"
"No, it's not that."
Aileen was distracted by his hand and trying to organize her thoughts. But no matter how she said it, it would inevitably be rude.
'Can I really say this?'
This was the second time she had directly asked him to do something for her. The first time was when she asked to borrow money for her mother's funeral. Compared to that time, this was a truly presumptuous request.
'Am I acting tactlessly again? But Cesare told me to be honest.'
Her heart was pounding, but her unusually bold heart today was giving her courage. Recalling Cesare smiling at her as if praising her for being honest, she threw out the words.
"Just one day…"
The moment she said it, she immediately regretted it. She wanted to close her mouth and say it was nothing, even now. But the crimson eyes staring at Aileen were quietly waiting for the words to follow.
Aileen reached out her trembling hand. It was an attempt to grab Cesare's hand, but she was so nervous that she couldn't grab it properly and only held one of his little fingers. Aileen held his finger tightly and continued,
"Could you give me just one day of your time?"
The gift Aileen wanted was a day with him.
***
Ornella stared at the teacup with a blank expression. The woman reflected in the tea was surprisingly beautiful. She had a pure beauty that made the title of lily not seem wasted, but that was all.
Ornella knew the creature that God had created with the most care. When the mysterious eyes, mixed with gold and green, looked at her, she felt suffocated. She wanted to pluck out the clear, shining eyes from that innocent face that sparkled like a fairy.
"His Excellency the Grand Duke was also human."
After Cesare attended the Grand Duchess's Tea Party that day, the entire social circle talked about the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Erzeht. The noble ladies who had been invited to the Tea Party attended social gatherings and proudly told their stories.
"Somehow, he feels more like a god than a human, doesn't he?"
"That's right. It's hard to approach him rashly… and he doesn't show his face at social gatherings very often."
"He's praised as a god on the battlefield, so it's no exaggeration to say he's not human."
"Yes. But he was so affectionate towards the Grand Duchess. It made me think that the Grand Duke is also human and a husband to a woman."
It wasn't just the noble ladies. The yellow press also covered the Grand Duchess's Tea Party to the point of wearing out the paper. They repeated the same words in a similar way for days, and amusingly, the sales soared like crazy as long as there were mentions of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.
So, the yellow press naturally followed the flow of money and only published articles about the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Erzeht. The whole world was talking about the Grand Duke's Residence of Erzeht. The Grand Duchess's first Tea Party was a great success.
But the part that Ornella felt the most insulted by wasn't the events at the Tea Party or the fervent interest people had in the Grand Duchess.
"I lived as my father ordered, and I will continue to do so."
Those were the words she had blurted out to Aileen, unable to overcome a moment of impulse. Ornella couldn't understand herself.
'Why did I do that?'
The same question kept repeating in her head. She felt like she was going crazy every time she remembered the moment she had revealed her weakness.
Even now, she wanted to throw the teacup in front of her. She wanted to scream and break everything around her, but she endured it because of where she was. Here, Ornella had to be the lily of Traon.
The place where Ornella was drinking tea was the Emperor's audience chamber. Today, she had promised to meet her fiancé, Leone.
Unlike the previous Emperor, who was called a tyrant, Leone was worthy of being called a wise ruler. He did not deny that his younger brother, Cesare, had created the throne for him. Rather, he proudly accepted it.
Considering those in history who had gone mad with inferiority and acted foolishly, Leone could be said to have a truly wise and righteous character.
However, the twins were also of the Traon imperial family's bloodline. Who had inherited the madness that ran in the family was a topic of gossip among the public.
Most people speculated that it would be Cesare. He was a coldly burning fire. Cesare's cruel nature on the battlefield was already known secretly.
But had only Cesare inherited that nature? Even if Leone resembled his mother's nature, she was no less insane than the previous Emperor.
"I greet the Imperator."
Ornella rose from her seat and greeted the Emperor, who was entering the audience chamber, with courtesy. The man with dark dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, who resembled the previous Emperor's appearance, wore a gentle smile.
"Lady Parbellini."
Ornella smiled at the name called in a soft voice. Although it was a marriage of convenience without affection for each other, Leone was an excellent fiancé. If it weren't for Cesare, he would have been the most outstanding man in the empire.
"It's been a while. I should have taken care of it first, but you came to see me…"
"Your Majesty."
Ornella interrupted the Imperator, committing an impolite act, and stood closer to him. She placed her hand firmly on Leone's chest, who raised his eyebrows, and asked,
"What does Your Majesty think of the Archduchess of Erzeht?"
