116 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 116
116
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He hoped for a denial. He expected Cesare to say that he had his reasons, his intentions, but hadn't yet had the chance to tell his brother.
He wanted a firm denial without a moment's hesitation, but no answer came. Cesare merely narrowed his long eyes, staring directly at Leone. A thunderous realization split Leone's mind.
It's all because of Aileen.
It was the intuition he felt as a twin. The moment the conjecture became truth, Leone couldn't stop his face from contorting.
"Why the Winged Lion's Feather…! What reason could you possibly have to take that feather, even if it meant antagonizing the Parbellini Dukedom?"
He had stirred up trouble knowing full well that the Imperial Family had a marriage alliance with the Parbellinis. He had heard that Parbellini Duke had touched the Archduchess of Erzeht first, but considering his original brother, a nighttime raid was an absurd act.
Cesare, who usually enjoyed handling things quietly behind the scenes, had blatantly caused trouble; it was unlike him. Leone couldn't understand his brother's change.
To even steal an artifact like the Winged Lion's Feather, something that only children would be interested in.
The memories of being tormented by their dead mother were still vivid, yet Cesare, of all people, was showing interest in legends, which even felt like a betrayal.
Had he forgotten the times when they drank the raw blood of beasts together because of their mother? All those memories of relying on each other and overcoming the most difficult moments as twins.
His head was not only dizzy but also felt like it was spinning. Countless emotions seethed and mixed within him. Leone himself couldn't clearly understand what he was feeling right now.
And while Leone was agitated and ranting, Cesare remained silent. He merely watched Leone's outburst of emotions with endlessly calm eyes.
It was as if he was weighing something on a scale.
Leone suddenly had a strange thought. It was absurd, but he couldn't ignore the thought that was so clearly etched in his confused mind.
Everything he had given to his brother, even the affection he had poured out, transmuting even his feelings of inferiority…
Perhaps it had been a survival instinct.
"Brother."
Leone startled out of his reverie at the short call.
"I took the feather because I needed it. The Parbellini Dukedom may have a marriage alliance, but it won't last. They are too greedy."
Cesare was right. They had joined hands because they needed each other right now, but Parbellini would eventually become a force that would threaten the Imperial Family.
Leone bit his lip. He calmed his trembling voice and said,
"...You're right."
"And Leone."
Cesare, who always called him 'brother,' rarely called him by his name. Leone looked up at Cesare with trembling eyes. He looked at his brother, not even knowing if he was breathing or not.
"Don't equate me with you."
Cesare whispered, capturing Leone, who was trembling slightly, in his crimson eyes.
"Don't act like the late Emperor."
As if giving him one last chance.
[The new drug released by the Archduchess of Erzeht, Aspilia, has become an essential item for those who want to keep up with the latest trends in the capital.
A medicine bottle stamped with the Grand Duke's crest! Shouldn't you buy it even if you don't have any ailments?
But one surprising fact is that Aspilia is not just a pretty ornament.
Including the writer, most people probably didn't expect any medicinal effects from the Archduchess's new drug. But in reality, Aspilia showed effects beyond what was advertised in advance!
Praise is pouring in from all walks of life, saying that it is surprisingly effective not only for headaches but also for various illnesses, including colds.
What the Archduke Erzeht said in response to reporters' questions before attending the Grand Council may soon become a reality.
Meanwhile, last weekend, the Grand Duke showed off his affection by visiting a pharmacy with the Grand Duchess….]
Aileen put down the magazine she was reading. Despite the fact that Aspilia was receiving rave reviews, she didn't feel happy or joyful.
It might have been because she had seen the sentence mentioning Archduke Erzeht. Aileen listlessly fiddled with the magazine with a heavy heart.
Through this incident, Aileen realized one new fact. That Cesare had a tendency to cover up unwanted stories with hugs or kisses.
It was something she hadn't known before. There was no reason or occasion for him to tell her unwanted stories.
She was happy that they had become close enough to learn new aspects of each other. But on the other hand, she somehow felt like she had grown further apart from him.
"That's why you're my nightmare, Aileen."
Cesare's words kept swirling in her mind. He immediately added that it was a slip of the tongue, but the words that had already pierced her heart didn't come out.
That she was a nightmare to Cesare. Even though she thought that he didn't mean it that way, she didn't know what expression to make or how to act in front of Cesare.
She had never felt that way before.
So, without realizing it, Aileen had done something a little strange. She had been avoiding Cesare ever since that day.
Of course, the range of Aileen's movements was limited to the narrow Grand Duke's Residence, so there were hardly any places to avoid him.
But the Grand Duke of Traon was a very busy man. Couples had to make special time to see each other. If Aileen locked herself in the laboratory or went to bed early, she could avoid him as much as she wanted.
Aileen, who used to hang around the dining room and office to spend even a little time with Cesare, and who used to stay up late reading in the bedroom, enduring her sleepiness, now only focused on her experiments.
Now that Aspilia had successfully established itself, it would be good to introduce Morpheus as soon as possible. Aspilia would serve as a shield to minimize the controversy that would arise with Morpheus.
'And I'll be a little more useful if I release Morpheus.'
Aileen stared blankly at the red petals of the poppy flowerpot before lowering her gaze. Several pieces of brown crystals were placed on a flat plate.
It was the first crystal with only pure ingredients extracted by removing impurities. She had finally succeeded in making the crystal, but her joy was not great. She was only filled with the pressure to somehow produce results quickly.
Now it was time to experiment to see if it showed proper efficacy.
"……."
Her heart was beating fast. She felt a little short of breath, so Aileen listlessly tidied up her experimental tools. She took off her gloves and apron, left the lab, and entered the bedroom.
As soon as she washed up and put on her pajamas, she collapsed on the bed. She wasn't sleepy, but she forced herself to close her eyes. She couldn't fall asleep any later than this. It was getting close to the time Cesare would come.
'Of course, he might not come…'
For the past few days, she had either fallen asleep first, or Cesare hadn't even come to the Grand Duke's Residence, so she hadn't been able to see him. As the time she hadn't seen him grew longer, her heart ached so much that it felt tight, but Aileen endured it.
Because the pain of facing him would be greater than the pain of not seeing him.
She was anxiously waiting to fall asleep when she heard the bedroom door open with a click.
Aileen forcibly relaxed her stiffening body. She tried to breathe as naturally as possible.
With her eyes closed, her other senses became more sensitive. She could clearly hear the sound of Cesare taking off his coat, his low breathing, and even the sound of his footsteps approaching the bed.
When his presence stopped right next to the bed, Aileen tried her best to pretend to be sound asleep. She felt his gaze tickling her cheek. When his fingers brushed her hair, she almost flinched, but thankfully she managed to hold it in.
Soon, Cesare moved away. He must have gone to change his clothes. Aileen, who had overcome a major crisis, felt relieved and continued to pretend to sleep. She even gained confidence that she would be able to do it this way.
Not long after, the mattress on the bed tilted. Just as she was trying not to disturb her breathing at the sensation of him lying down right next to her,
A firm arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back deeply. The moment her back hit his chest, Cesare asked in a low voice.
"How long are you going to pretend to be asleep?"
Aileen was so surprised that she made a strange noise, "Hick." In the end, she pretended to have just woken up and yawned, turning to look at Cesare.
"When did you get here…?"
"Finally, you're paying attention to me. You've been busy avoiding me for the past few days."
Aileen swallowed hard at his words, which pinpointed the unfavorable fact.
"Aileen."
"...Yes."
"Are you angry?"
"Pardon?"
"Are you doing this because you're upset with me?"
Then he tried to bring his lips to hers. But just before their lips met, Aileen unknowingly pulled her head back. Cesare's eyes narrowed.
