12
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A slender woman moved with hurried steps. Her long hair was neatly braided and pinned up, and she wore a dark navy uniform, her chest adorned with numerous medals.
The woman was Michele, the Grand Duke's personal knight.
Michele was typically a man's name. Those who met her knowing only her name were often surprised. Some were merely impressed, marveling at how a woman could become the Grand Duke's personal knight. Others were openly dismissive.
However, Michele didn't much care what others thought of her. She believed her skills only needed to be recognized by her master. Besides, those who made a fuss usually quieted down when they saw her shoot a gun.
But even Michele, indifferent to the gazes of others, had someone she wanted to impress and be acknowledged by.
The first was, of course, her master, and the second was Aileen Elrod.
Michele first met Aileen when she was working as a maid in Cesare's Imperial Palace. The small, ten-year-old young lady was so adorable that her footsteps made a "ppojjak-ppojjak" sound as she walked.
Michele watched her grow from a child who shyly gave her a ring made of wildflowers into a young woman coming of age. Having gone through so much together, she couldn't help but develop affection for her.
To Michele, Aileen was like a daughter and younger sister she had raised in her heart. This was true not only for Michele but also for the other Grand Duke's knights and soldiers. They all cherished Aileen as if she were their own child or sibling.
"Where is Aileen?"
Michele, who burst into the banquet hall, immediately asked about Aileen's whereabouts upon spotting Rohan and Diego. She had rushed as quickly as possible after hearing that Aileen would be attending the banquet today, but she was still too late.
Diego chuckled at Michele, who was anxiously stamping her feet and searching for Aileen. Rohan, too, had a subtly relaxed expression, though his face was generally stoic.
"Where is Aileen? Don't tell me..."
Michele pressed them again, asking in disbelief, "Did you ask her to dance? Without me?"
Diego crossed his arms and smugly raised his eyebrows. "You should have been faster."
"...Ah, damn it. You bastards."
Despite the rough curse, Michele's shoulders slumped. Her freckles, dotted on her nose, twitched as she made a tearful face. Michele said, almost in a sob, "You guys have no loyalty. I asked you to save a spot for me."
"How could we stop our hardworking subordinates from asking the young lady to dance?"
"You should have put my name instead of yours!"
"Oh, please, have some decency."
While Diego and Michele were bickering, Rohan glanced at the wall clock. It was much later than expected for Aileen to return from the greenhouse. The Emperor would be arriving soon, and it would be problematic if they were delayed any further.
'Should I wait just five more minutes?' Rohan thought, setting a final limit in his mind. He separated the growling Diego and Michele and asked, "Where's Senon?"
"Not here yet. Doesn't look like he'll finish today," Michele replied, pouting. Knowing that he was late because of work, Diego comforted her in a slightly softer voice.
"Hey, you worked hard."
"Get lost."
"..."
Diego, who tried to be considerate but got nothing in return, looked back at Rohan with a wronged expression. However, Rohan had also confidently secured the third dance, so he couldn't take Diego's side.
Rohan cleared his throat awkwardly and tried to lighten the mood by suggesting they all visit Aileen's house soon.
Just then, a heavy thud echoed through the banquet hall.
The banquet hall, filled with peaceful music and quiet conversations, was thrown into turmoil by the sudden noise. Those who discovered the source of the noise screamed in horror.
The one who had roughly thrown open the banquet hall doors was Cesare, the protagonist of the day.
Covered in blood, he walked into the banquet hall, staining the pristine marble floor with blood. Drops of blood fell along his path.
His red eyes gleamed in the light of the chandeliers, revealing the excitement of slaughter.
The nobles of the Empire, who had at most hunted small animals in the forest, were overwhelmed by Cesare's aura and couldn't even breathe properly. Then, they belatedly realized that he was not alone.
Cesare was escorting a young lady, whose face was completely pale, by the hand. Although it looked more like a forced march than an escort, his demeanor was at least polite.
The young lady held by Cesare was dressed in a rather peculiar manner. Her dress was elegant and followed the latest trends. However, the young lady's face above the dress was the epitome of unfashionable, something not even seen ten years ago.
Hair covering her eyes, glasses, no makeup, and hair tied up messily.
Those who were inwardly surprised remembered that she was the young lady who had been surrounded by the Grand Duke's soldiers earlier.
However, they couldn't freely gossip about the young lady as they had before. They were afraid of the Grand Duke holding her hand.
Cesare stopped in the middle of the banquet hall, pulling the young lady with him. He silently looked around the banquet hall for a moment.
His crimson gaze reached the nobles of the council. Those who met his eyes froze like statues. Cesare sighed and began to speak.
"I understand your intention to celebrate my victory."
He swept back his blood-soaked hair and asked, "But isn't this a bit excessive?"
There was no reply. The hall was so silent that the sound of cold sweat could be heard. Cesare, who enjoyed the chilling silence for a while, smiled.
"I appreciate your sincere intentions, and I will repay you soon."
He declared coldly with a brilliant smile, "You can look forward to it."
Cesare turned and walked out slowly. At the same time, the Grand Duke's soldiers in the banquet hall all followed their master.
Even after all those in uniform had left, the banquet hall remained silent for a long time.
It was when Aileen was eleven and Cesare was eighteen.
That day, Aileen was having tea time with Cesare in the Imperial Palace garden, chattering about her impressions of the <Encyclopedia of Plants> he had bought her before.
Just as she was explaining about gymnosperms and angiosperms, a servant brought out the second tea. It was a flower tea made from dried marigolds.
Aileen held the teacup with the flowers tightly in her hands and eagerly told Cesare that marigolds were good for the eyes and could also be used to treat wounds. She was finally about to take a sip when...
"Aileen."
Cesare called her name and gently grabbed her wrist. He made Aileen put down the teacup.
Aileen, who had been eager to try the pretty flower tea, tilted her head in confusion. Cesare gave Aileen a cookie and then handed the teacup to the servant, ordering, "Drink it."
The servant's face turned dark immediately. He trembled as if he had a chill, then suddenly knelt on the floor.
"Your Highness...!"
The servant begged for his life. Cesare, who had been quietly looking down at the begging servant, smiled.
"I told you to drink the tea."
Cesare said with a smiling face, "I didn't tell you to beg for forgiveness."
The servant's eyes were filled with despair. When he refused to drink to the end, Cesare's knights forcibly poured the tea into the servant's throat.
As the servant began to foam at the mouth, roll his eyes, and convulse, Cesare ordered them to remove him. After the servant was dragged out of the garden, he nonchalantly turned back to Aileen.
"It seems we can't drink any more tea. Shall we have a cookie instead?"
Aileen was holding the cookie, completely dazed. She wanted to act calm somehow, but it was a scene that the young Aileen couldn't handle. Even though Cesare was waiting for an answer, she just stared blankly with her mouth open...
"Hic, sob...!"
In the end, she shed tears. Cesare was greatly flustered and comforted Aileen for a long time. It was a tragedy that occurred because they didn't know each other well yet.
