114 - The Villainous Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 114
114
It wasn't a random thing she blurted out without reason. It was the culmination of numerous questions she had harbored, and Cesare's words and actions.
Aileen prided herself on having a better memory than others, even if she lacked perception. And it concerned Cesare, of all people. When it came to him, she remembered everything, even the smallest details.
He had said that the Pocket watch Aileen gifted him was identical to a dead man's keepsake. But it was a custom-made watch from Luca.
No matter how she thought about it, there was no way a dead man could have the same watch. Especially a dead man with whom Cesare was close enough to identify his belongings. It wasn't just the watch that was strange.
'He kept saying and doing strange things.'
Aileen recalled Cesare strangling her. He had soothed her with practiced ease as he choked her.
Perhaps she had died in Cesare's dreams in various ways. In those dreams, she might have died as a prisoner on the Guillotine, or at Cesare's hands.
'Cesare isn't someone who would be shaken by a mere dream, but...'
However, if he repeatedly experienced similar or identical dreams, it could have some impact on his mind.
Of course, all of her speculations were just Aileen's delusions. Cesare had wandered the battlefield for a long time. It was much more logical to assume that he was having nightmares due to other traumatic memories, rather than something as trivial as Aileen's death.
'But it seems like my death is included in Cesare's nightmares.'
She still couldn't believe that she had an effect on him. But just like when she saw Cesare's perfectly clean palms, Aileen held a vague but definite conviction.
So, she mustered the courage to ask him.
She asked with determination, but to no avail, Cesare didn't answer. He only stared at Aileen, as if telling her to say more. Aileen added an excuse in a timid voice.
"So... in your dreams, Cesare. I don't mean that I actually died. If I had, I wouldn't be here right now..."
The surroundings were silent. It was so quiet that she could almost hear the ticking of the Pocket watch. Just as Aileen, who had been staring into his crimson eyes for a long time, was about to avert her gaze,
"What if it wasn't a dream?"
Aileen's thoughts momentarily froze at the leisurely voice. In the meantime, Cesare put the Pocket watch into his uniform pocket. Then, he wordlessly opened his arms.
As always, Aileen reflexively approached Cesare. Cesare naturally embraced Aileen.
He cupped Aileen's cheeks with both hands. His large hands covered her face, and the texture of the leather gloves felt cool all over. Aileen unknowingly parted her lips slightly at the strange chill.
His face drew closer. His eyes, with their long, dense eyelashes, held a strange and mischievous light. The crimson eyes, as red as if they were filled with blood, were filled with Aileen.
"What if I experienced it all myself?"
The hands that had been cupping her face slowly moved down. His two hands gently gripped Aileen's neck.
"You were beheaded on the Guillotine, and at other times, I killed you with my own hands."
He put a subtle pressure on his hands. It wasn't enough to suffocate her, but enough for Aileen to feel discomfort in her breathing.
Cesare didn't release his grip on her neck, even as he watched Aileen tremble slightly. He tilted his head slightly, as if to kiss her. Beneath his disheveled black hair, a breath containing a low voice brushed against Aileen's lips.
"If I killed you by strangling your neck."
Aileen slowly closed and opened her eyes. She didn't want to, but her breathing quickened and her body trembled. She focused on her thoughts to swallow the instinctive fear that rose up.
What answer should she give?
But this time, she couldn't figure out what answer Cesare wanted. Not even a small guess came to mind, so she just spoke honestly as she thought.
"I think I'd want to ask why you had to go through such things."
Aileen inhaled the scent emanating from him deep into her lungs. Gunpowder, perfume, and a subtle hint of blood. Her body, which had been twitching slightly, gradually calmed down at the familiar scent.
Aileen carefully grasped the sleeve of the hand that was gripping her neck. Unable to grab his wrist, she only weakly clutched his sleeve. She breathed raggedly and whispered to him.
"I want to find the cause... so that you don't have to suffer anymore."
Like finding the germ and treating it with medicine, Aileen wanted to eliminate the pain Cesare was feeling. Whether it was a dream, reality, or something else.
Cesare's lips twisted. He pressed his lips together, still gripping her neck. His probing tongue was violent. It was completely different from his usual kisses, which were soft and gentle, as if caressing Aileen.
Without any leisure, he anxiously and impatiently invaded Aileen's mouth. Aileen wanted to close her eyes. But his crimson eyes wouldn't let her go.
She was helplessly kissed, her gaze entangled with his. His hard teeth mercilessly bit Aileen's lips and tongue. Only after leaving teeth marks on her soft flesh did he stop kissing.
Cesare, who licked away the long trail of saliva with his tongue, looked at Aileen with lowered eyes. The hand that had been gripping her neck slowly released. Aileen quickly gasped for breath, which she hadn't been able to take freely until now.
He reached out and rubbed Aileen's wet lips with his reddened face and heaving chest. The smooth leather brushed against her lips, sending a shiver down her spine.
Cesare embraced Aileen with the hand that had just been strangling her neck. He smoothed her hair and said soothingly.
"That's why you're my nightmare, Aileen."
At that moment, Aileen felt as if the world had stopped. Then, she felt as if the ground beneath her feet was collapsing. Her heart throbbed. Feeling a pain as if it was shattering into pieces, she hurriedly opened her mouth.
"If there's anything that makes you suffer, even just a little bit..."
Then what should she do?
She spoke in surprise, but her head was as white as a snowfield. Aileen stammered and continued.
"If you tell me, I'll fix it..."
Before she could finish saying that she would fix herself, Cesare twisted his lips and smiled. He pressed his lips against hers again, preventing Aileen from saying anything. Aileen hiccuped briefly at the tongue invading her mouth, but even that disappeared into Cesare's mouth.
Her vision blurred with the continuous, intense kisses. Perhaps it was because she was kissing while short of breath. Aileen twisted her waist at the dizzying sensation, but still tried to finish what she was saying.
"Haa, Cesare, ah, just a moment."
But he didn't stop kissing her. After pouring out kisses as if desperately clinging to her, he finally bit Aileen's neck. Aileen was as still as a rabbit caught by the neck by a beast.
The force of his bite gradually loosened at some point. Cesare licked the spot he had bitten. After doing that for a while, he buried his face in Aileen's chest. He held her in his arms, as if listening to her heartbeat, and then opened his lips.
"Aileen."
"Yes..."
"Aileen."
"Yes, Cesare."
There was no reason for calling her name. Only after she answered several times did Cesare say what he wanted to say.
"I misspoke when I said nightmare."
The one who had spoken of the mistake slowly raised his head and met Aileen's gaze. Aileen blinked. She was trying her best not to show her emotions, but she didn't know what kind of expression she was making. She could only hope that it wasn't too miserable.
"It's okay, Aileen."
Knowing that it wasn't okay, Cesare soothed Aileen. Saying words that Aileen couldn't understand.
"It will be different this time."
