111 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 111
111
====
Cesare rarely spoke about himself. Naturally, Aileen had never heard him mention his mother.
All Aileen knew were the widely known stories: that she had caught the eye of the late Emperor, given birth to twins, was consumed by superstition, and ultimately ended her life by suicide...
Aileen had never even considered asking Cesare about it. Not just because it would be a rude question, but because she thought even mentioning it might hurt him.
Unlike Aileen, who was more cautious than necessary, his brother, who had experienced the pain firsthand, spoke of their mother without hesitation. Aileen cautiously replied, watching his reaction.
"I haven't heard any specific stories."
"I see."
Leone quickened his pace slightly. Aileen scurried to keep up, glancing back. Diego and Michele were following at a reasonable distance.
Their expressions were unreadable, but judging by their sharp eyes, they were undoubtedly on high alert. After all, it was Emperor Leone, Cesare's twin brother and their superior.
Leone wouldn't do anything bad to me, she thought, but they seem more wary than necessary.
'But meeting like this is strange.'
It was definitely odd. To run into the Emperor on the street, not in the Imperial Palace or the Erzeht Grand Duke Residence.
'Maybe it wasn't a coincidence...'
Just as Aileen had that realization, Leone confirmed it himself.
"Sorry to surprise you. I wanted to talk quietly with you, but there hasn't been an opportunity. As you know, eyes are always on us, aren't they? This is the only way to prevent rumors from spreading that we met alone."
Leone and Aileen walked down a secluded path slightly off Venue Street. The neat street transformed into an unpaved road with old walls and slightly dilapidated buildings.
No one would imagine that the two people walking in such a place were the Emperor and the Grand Duchess. After walking for a while, Leone spoke in a casual voice.
"Cesare took a relic from the Parbellini Dukedom. I heard he gave it to you as a gift."
As soon as she heard the word "relic," Aileen thought of the large golden feather Senon had brought. She had been so focused on other problems when she received the gift that she hadn't properly thanked Cesare.
She had briefly thought it seemed valuable as she looked at the feather in the glass case, but she had completely forgotten about it while visiting Cesare. It was probably stored somewhere safe.
'But he took it from the Parbellini Dukedom?'
They weren't on friendly terms, so they wouldn't have given it willingly. Cesare must have stolen it. The memory of Ornella coming to her, angry, flashed through her mind, and she felt a sense of foreboding.
Why on earth would he break into the Dukedom in the middle of the night and take something from them? And why give it to her of all people?
Leone watched Aileen's reaction. Aileen was aware that he was observing her, but she didn't know what face to make.
"It's said to be a treasure, a feather of the Winged Lion."
The Winged Lion was a legendary creature from the founding myth. Aileen blinked rapidly at the story that seemed straight out of a history book, and Leone continued slowly.
"You may know this, but our mother was a very girlish person. She seriously believed in astrology, fortune-telling, and all sorts of superstitions, and it troubled us twins. As a result, Cesare and I grew up as brothers who disliked unscientific things."
"..."
"Why would Cesare, of all people, covet a feather of a legendary creature from the founding myth, an object whose authenticity is even uncertain?"
Aileen's heart sank. She realized why Leone had come to her.
"I wanted to ask if it was at your request. Cesare wouldn't give me a straight answer if I asked him."
"I, I just thought Cesare gave it to me as a gift... I didn't even know what it was..."
As she stammered excuses, Leone stopped walking. The hem of his robe, which had been fluttering with his steps, settled down.
Leone's eyes rested on Aileen's face. Aileen, who had been too busy keeping up with his quick pace to notice, belatedly felt his gaze and swallowed hard.
Leone, noticing Aileen's nervousness, spoke in a gentle voice, as if to soothe her.
"The Parbellini Duchess Young Lady is my fiancée, isn't she? There are aspects that make me troubled in many ways right now."
But Aileen was already completely frozen. When Aileen couldn't say anything, Leone smiled awkwardly.
"Oh dear. Have I been interrogating you too much? I should let the Grand Duchess go."
Saying that they should part ways at the main street at the end of the road, Leone started walking again. Aileen was able to match Leone's pace more easily as he slowed down.
Aileen struggled with whether to tell Leone that she was fine and that he could feel free to talk more if he wanted. Leone, as if reading Aileen's mind, playfully squeezed and released the hand he had been holding for escort.
"I didn't intend to talk for long anyway. Nor could I. It seems the Grand Duke's knights won't leave me alone."
Leone asked with a light laugh.
"Does the Grand Duchess know what the Imperator, the title for the Emperor, originally meant?"
He asked it like a joke, but Aileen felt as if a cold knife was piercing her chest.
"I know it meant... Commander-in-Chief."
"Yes. The commander of the army is also the Emperor, so the title Imperator became established."
Leone finished his sentence with a smile still on his face.
"Though that's no longer the case."
Aileen couldn't smile back. Leone's words felt like a reprimand to Cesare's knights for not following him.
As Aileen's complexion, which had barely recovered, darkened again, Leone raised his eyebrows slightly, as if puzzled.
"There's no need to take it so seriously. It was just a joke."
She felt a little relieved at those words, but her startled heart didn't calm down easily. Aileen stammered a reply.
"I, I'm sorry. I was worried I might have made a mistake..."
"What mistake? But is the reason you're dressed like this today to hide your outing from others? Certainly, no one would know you're the Grand Duchess. You don't usually go around like this, do you?"
"No, not usually."
"I didn't know my brother cared about the Grand Duchess's attire."
A nonchalantly thrown voice cut off Aileen's words. Leone and Aileen turned their heads forward at the same time. Cesare was standing at the end of the road leading to the main street.
He slowly entered the alleyway. He was neatly dressed in his uniform, but Cesare blended strangely well with the old and dirty street. Red eyes, filled with a sharp light, stared directly at Leone.
"Is there a reason for the two of you to meet while hiding it from me? It'll look stranger to others that way."
Cesare lightly grabbed Aileen's arm and pulled her toward him. Aileen was instantly pulled from Leone's side into Cesare's arms.
"Isn't that right, brother?"
At Cesare's question, Leone chuckled like a sigh.
"That's why I'm doing this, because of you."
Leone even shook his head.
"You make it impossible to say anything, so what can I do? I have to use methods like this."
Cesare held Aileen in his arms and silently stared at Leone. Despite the prolonged gaze, Leone didn't avert his eyes and waited quietly before opening his lips.
"Your knights don't trust me either, Cesare."
Leone wore a docile smile. As if the words he was about to utter were a truly absurd joke.
"It felt strange. It's like you're treating me..."
He spoke calmly in a low, subdued tone.
"As an enemy."
