121 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 121
121
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Michele's legs were trembling. It was unbecoming of a soldier in uniform, not civilian clothes, to act in such a manner.
Rohan, standing next to her, wordlessly nudged her shoe with his foot. Michele's legs, which had been shaking as if in an earthquake, stilled.
But after standing still for a while, Michele started waving her arms. Diego clicked his tongue and grabbed Michele's forearm. Then Michele started dangling her hands.
Michele sighed at her inability to keep still. Still, he couldn't bring himself to scold Michele. He knew why she was so nervous.
Rohan looked down at her trembling form and asked casually, "Can you do it?"
It was a consideration for her to speak up now if she couldn't. Rohan also knew how cruel the order given to Michele was. Michele gave a distorted smile and replied,
"I can... I have to."
She slapped her cheeks with a loud smack. Then she kicked Rohan's leg. It was revenge for being kicked in the shoe earlier. Rohan casually brushed off the dirt on his leg.
"By the way, does anyone know why Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are in such a bad mood?"
Even if it was just to relieve the tension, Michele deliberately brought up a new topic.
Diego, feeling somewhat sorry for her, with her face red with handprints, trying to find anything to distract herself, readily answered her question.
"Aileen must have sensed it too."
Aileen, as the knights had observed, was quite oblivious. But, true to her nature of enjoying being engrossed in research, she was skilled at thinking based on the situations and evidence she had accumulated.
She must have been feeling a sense of alienation, having carefully observed Cesare, who had changed since the Kalpen victory, but he hadn't told her anything properly. It was a situation where Aileen couldn't help but feel hurt.
However, it wasn't as if Aileen was good at expressing her emotions. In the end, she must have been agonizing inwardly, unable to do anything, and creating a strange atmosphere.
Michele, guessing the general situation, clenched her trembling fingers.
"But won't Aileen be very angry this time?"
"...Probably."
At Diego's short reply, she sighed, "Haa." Cesare wouldn't be able to get away with it this time. Michele, who had been sighing repeatedly, looked up at the sky.
The clear and clean sky was spread out in blue, but gray clouds were visible in the distance. Looking at the dark clouds, Michele muttered gloomily,
"I hope it doesn't rain."
She had said several times that she wanted to walk on her own. But Cesare didn't even pretend to listen. In the end, Aileen arrived at the Grand Duke's tent in his arms.
She was worried that they might have been too affectionate in front of others. While Aileen was being held with a flushed face, Cesare simply accepted the salute of the soldiers guarding the front of the tent and went inside.
The spacious tent was brightly lit inside with lamps placed throughout. However, it wasn't as bright as the daylight, so darkness was gathered in places.
As it was the tent where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess would stay, there were various pieces of furniture inside, including a bed. It seemed a bit excessive for only a few days of use.
Looking around the tent, which was no different from a small house, Aileen thought that transporting all this furniture to the forest must have been a difficult task.
While she was looking around, Cesare set Aileen down on the sofa. Aileen, who had been laid down lengthwise, tried to get up immediately. But as soon as she raised her body halfway, a large hand pressed down on her shoulder.
"Stay still."
Aileen had no choice but to sit still. Then Cesare knelt down in front of Aileen. She was startled by his unhesitating action of lowering himself and tried to stop him, but it was already too late.
He took off Aileen's right shoe and placed her foot on his thigh.
"Cesare! It's dirty."
Aileen hurriedly tried to pull her foot away, but it was a futile resistance. He held Aileen firmly and even rolled up her pants leg. Her foot, wearing white silk socks, was clearly revealed.
Aileen couldn't bear the embarrassment and curled her toes tightly. Cesare asked again, pressing his hand firmly on her ankle, to the foot wriggling on his thigh.
"You have to relax."
"Does it hurt?"
"No..."
Aileen finally realized why Cesare had carried her to the tent. She had almost fallen earlier, so he must have been checking to see if she had hurt her ankle.
Although she replied that there was no pain, Cesare didn't let go easily. He checked everything, even whether there was any heat or swelling in her ankle.
"It really doesn't hurt. I just made a little mistake because the pants I'm wearing today are awkward. You don't have to worry."
Aileen, wanting to get her foot out of his sight as soon as possible, eagerly asserted that she was fine. However, Cesare didn't release her foot until he was satisfied after examining it thoroughly.
Aileen, who was about to quickly grab her shoes, belatedly realized that her shoes were placed far away. She wanted to go get her shoes, but Cesare, who was blocking her way, had to move.
Aileen slipped her foot, which was still on his thigh, to the floor and looked at Cesare's face. His red eyes were as calm as a still surface of water.
Today, when she had acted awkwardly, and before, when she had avoided his kiss...
Even though Aileen had done many things that were unlike her usual self, Cesare didn't seem to be shaken at all. In fact, it was only natural.
'It was wrong of me to even think that I might have an effect on Cesare.'
Nevertheless, she wondered if she had come to think this way because she had learned about his nightmare. After sitting still for a moment, Aileen was startled as she remembered something much more important than retrieving her shoes.
"Could you please get up now?"
Cesare had been kneeling on the floor all this time. She panicked, thinking that she was unqualified as a Grand Duchess for making the Grand Duke kneel like this. Only after Aileen made a face as if she was about to cry did Cesare finally get up.
But instead of sitting in a chair, he brought Aileen's boots, which had been dropped far away, and put them on her himself. Leather boots made by gently tanning calfskin wrapped around her legs.
Aileen, who finally got her shoes on, jumped up from the sofa.
"Let's sit down and talk..., Ah!"
Cesare pulled Aileen by the waist and sat on the sofa. Aileen straddled his lap, facing him.
With her legs falling between his open legs, she naturally put her hands on his chest to balance herself. Aileen wanted to run away immediately because they were too close. But there was no time for that.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about so urgently?"
She had to tell him about the rumor first.
"I heard a rumor that I'm giving away Aspilia for free at the Hunting Festival. Baroness Contarini told me today, and the rumor is already widespread, so the nobles attending the Hunting Festival are all expecting to get Aspilia."
"Ah."
As expected, Cesare seemed to already know about the rumor. But he reacted as if it wasn't a big deal at all, as if he had forgotten about it altogether.
"I don't know who spread such nonsense. But even if we announce that it's just a rumor, I'm worried that it might tarnish the name of the Grand Duke's family..."
Aileen, who had been anxious, suddenly asked a question that came to her mind.
"Perhaps... is that why you said I would be angry?"
Cesare's words in the carriage had remained in her mind, and she had been worrying about it all along. He chuckled at Aileen's question.
"Just for that?"
She thought this was a big deal, but he said "just for that." Then what on earth could it be?
It was just as Aileen, who thought she knew the answer even faintly, was drooping her shoulders. A sharp scream was heard from outside.
