Translator: Nox

118 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 118

118

====

The voice that said he killed without using any tools, only his own hands, was calm. The hand that had been rubbing his neck fell and embraced Aileen. Strands of her disheveled hair tangled in his fingers.

"The affection I have for you is like that. It's not determined by mere usefulness."

Aileen didn't react for a while. But the answer she could give was ultimately decided. When she replied, "Yes," he stroked her hair as if praising her small answer.

"If you don't want to become my nightmare, you must not die for me. Understand?"

Cesare reminded her of words he had already told her several times. His coaxing voice was gentle. But this time, Aileen couldn't answer easily.

She had grown up hearing that she should die for him her whole life. In fact, the grace Cesare had shown her was something she could never repay, even with death.

It wasn't easy to abandon a proposition that had dominated her entire life. Her mother's voice, repeatedly saying that they existed to live for The Prince, still lingered in her mind.

'But I don't want to be Cesare's nightmare...'

Cesare quietly watched Aileen as she struggled with her thoughts. It was hard to endure his gaze, which was waiting for an answer. After hesitating for a long time, Aileen tightly closed her eyes. Then, she nodded very slightly. Cesare chuckled briefly at her faint affirmation.

Aileen, who belatedly opened her eyes slightly, felt her heart drop at his laughter. His red eyes seemed to know her lie all too well.

But instead of pressing her, Cesare just smiled silently. It was as if he was satisfied with just her nodding, even if it was a lie.

After laughing for a while, he suddenly pinched Aileen's cheek. Aileen, suddenly pinched on the cheek, stared at Cesare with wide eyes.

"This isn't a kiss, so it's okay, right?"

The dark light that had swirled in his red eyes just a moment ago was completely gone. His face, playfully smiling as if he was so happy, was clean.

But Aileen couldn't smile along with him. There were still many questions she wanted to ask Cesare.

What sacrifices he had made, what he had done such unscientific things for, and whether he had obtained what he wanted.

But Cesare made it impossible for Aileen to ask.

"You'll soon find out what you're curious about."

He covered Aileen's eyes with his hand. Her vision turned black.

"You would believe anything I say, but you're the type of child who understands quickly when you see it with your own eyes..."

As if wishing she wouldn't see anything for now, even if she would know all the truth in the near future.

"Let's just sleep today."

She still wasn't sleepy, but Aileen slowly closed her eyes in the darkness. Her mother's voice, saying she had to live for The Prince, and Cesare's voice, saying she must not die for him, crossed in her ears.

Her mind was confused, but one thing was certain. Aileen didn't want to be Cesare's pain. Amidst all the opacity, that alone was a clear truth.

---

The Hunting Festival of the Traon Empire had a strong meaning of ritual. Therefore, its formalities were more demanding and solemn than those of a typical hunting competition.

Since it was a hunt for the gods, all the tools used for hunting had to be neat. Excessively ornate decorations were not allowed, and the use of tools that were too old or unsightly was regulated.

Also, winged beasts were not hunted. Since the gods had given the Winged Lion to Traon as a symbol, it meant that they would not break the wings that connected the gods and humans.

There was also a ban on catching lions, but it was a useless rule since lions did not inhabit the forest where the Hunting Festival was held.

The most stringent ban was 'do not offer the hunted beast to humans.'

Usually, in hunting competitions, the hunted beast was offered to one's lady, wife, or lord. However, the Hunting Festival was a ritual for the gods. Until the burnt offering was completed, any words or actions that offered the beast of the Hunting Festival to others were strictly prohibited.

On the last day of the week-long Hunting Festival, freedom was allowed only after performing a burnt offering and offering the finest beast to the gods.

Therefore, those participating in the Hunting Festival were careful not to express or show in action whom they were thinking of giving the beast they had caught as a gift.

This Hunting Festival was more competitive than usual. It was because of the news that the Archduke Erzeht family would be attending the Hunting Festival. Even nobles who were not usually interested in the Hunting Festival expressed their intention to attend, causing the imperial family to have quite a bit of trouble with the preparations.

The joint association of court dressmakers, who were in charge of Aileen's clothing, had been making hunting clothes for the Hunting Festival for some time. The hunting clothes, prepared by the three dressmakers who fought fiercely this time as well, were easy to move in and neat in appearance.

As it was a ritual, ornate decorations were not allowed on clothing at the Hunting Festival, so conspicuous jewels or embroidery were excluded as much as possible.

Aileen awkwardly looked at herself in the mirror wearing the hunting clothes. It felt strange to wear pants after so long.

She didn't have to hunt, but she still ended up wearing hunting clothes. It was thanks to Cesare's opinion that it would be too uncomfortable to walk around in a dress since it was a forest.

'But all the other noble ladies will be wearing dresses.'

She was worried if it was okay for only she to wear hunting clothes like this, but she actually liked it because it was easy to move around in. Aileen carefully avoided looking at her face in the mirror and only glanced at the clothes before quickly turning her gaze away.

Sonio, who was helping Aileen finish her attire, immediately offered praise.

"It suits you very well. You should try falconry next time."

"Thank you, Sonio."

She gently asked him, as he hadn't urged her even though quite some time had passed.

"Where is Cesare?"

"I heard he finished preparing quickly. Shall we go downstairs now?"

Aileen touched the hunting clothes and moved her feet. Aileen, who was about to go down to the hall on the first floor, paused for a moment on the stairs.

Cesare and the knights were talking in the hall. The knights were wearing uniforms, but Cesare was in hunting clothes.

Cesare's hunting clothes, which the dressmakers' association had made along with Aileen's clothes, were similar yet different. It was obvious at a glance that they were a couple's clothes, but the differences between men's and women's clothing were clearly shown by distinguishing the colors and designs.

The hunting clothes, tailored to fit his well-trained body, made his lines look the most beautiful and prominent. Aileen could hardly believe that he was wearing clothes similar to hers.

Cesare turned his head as he felt her gaze. Aileen bit her lip as she met his red eyes.

She hadn't been able to see Cesare for a while since that night.

It wasn't because Aileen was avoiding him this time. It was because Cesare had become busier. The other knights also seemed to be frantically busy preparing for the Hunting Festival, and they couldn't even show their faces to Aileen.

During the time she couldn't see Cesare, Aileen felt both loneliness and relief at the same time. The reason for her relief was a feeling that had not yet been clearly organized.

Cesare had assured her that his affection would not easily change. That he would not abandon Aileen, no matter how useless she became.

But Aileen realized through that day's conversation that what Cesare and she wanted were fundamentally twisted. Aileen wanted something more certain than his affection, which was an unclear standard.

For example, succeeding with Aspilia and Morpheus to build a career as a pharmacist and be helpful to Cesare. Or solving Cesare's suffering.

'He told me not to die for him.'

But would there really be a time when I would die for Cesare? Aileen couldn't readily accept his words. Cesare was a person who was perfect in his very existence.

'He said that I would soon find out what I was curious about...'

Her head had been constantly complicated lately because of the fragments he had been leaking to her. If she was going to find out anyway, why wouldn't he tell her now? What was she lacking that he was doing this?

She continued to suffer alone with unresolved problems, but there was no way to find an answer. With a complicated heart, she finally came to the day of the Hunting Festival.

"Aileen."

Cesare called her name. Aileen, who had been standing on the stairs, carefully went down. As soon as she went down to the hall, the knights rushed to Aileen's side.

Rohan and Diego, Michele and Senon, praised Aileen's hunting clothes, each vying to add their own compliments. In particular, Senon praised her with a more serious face than anyone else.

"To see such a precious sight... I think today's Hunting Festival participants should pay tribute to the Grand Duke's family."

The other knights chuckled at Senon's words. Aileen smiled slightly along with them, but she couldn't laugh comfortably.

Cesare, who had come a step late, looked down at Aileen. Aileen looked up at him with unconsciously nervous eyes.

The knights, noticing the strange atmosphere in the silence, exchanged glances with each other.