122 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 122
122
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Aileen reflexively turned toward the tent entrance. But it was covered with cloth, so she couldn't possibly see outside.
She tried to get up, but couldn't even move due to the hand holding her down. Aileen turned to Cesare in surprise. She had expected him to try to assess the situation even before she did. But Cesare looked as calm as ever.
"Lord Cesare..."
"So, is that all you have to say?"
He looked only at Aileen, as if the screams outside were of no importance whatsoever, and asked her that. Receiving the question, Aileen blurted out without realizing it.
"You wouldn't tell me properly anyway."
She thought it was too presumptuous an answer, but the words kept flowing.
"Ah, you said you'd tell me, but you won't tell me anything I'm actually curious about..."
Her heart pounded after she spoke. Aileen tried to shake off his hold and get up. But Cesare's arm didn't release her waist, so she only ended up struggling for a moment.
Aileen gripped his forearm tightly with her hand and gasped for breath. Only after her breathing calmed down a little did he whisper in a low voice.
"I told you, you'll know soon enough."
But Aileen couldn't fully accept his words. She knew that it was also just a truth that Cesare had allowed.
He was frustrating, dropping fragments of truth as if wanting Aileen to realize, saying he would answer if she asked, but never allowing her to go beyond the permitted range.
Perhaps in the past, she wouldn't have dared to harbor such thoughts and feelings. She would have simply acted as she was told. But it was Cesare who had changed Aileen to be greedy.
'What on earth does he want from me?'
Aileen couldn't understand him. She was just about to open her lips again when.
This time, a gunshot rang out. Aileen flinched as the peaceful forest was torn apart by a single gunshot, and Cesare finally helped Aileen up and stood up himself.
"The rumors... I don't think we need to worry about them."
He said casually as he approached the gun rack inside the tent.
"Everyone will be too busy to care about such rumors."
There were several types of guns on the rack, but he picked up a hunting shotgun and slung it over his shoulder. The long rifle hung down his back. Cesare then picked up a pistol, stuck it in his waistband, and held out his hand to Aileen.
She hesitated for a moment, but the answer was already decided. Aileen took the hand that was offered to her.
Cesare escorted Aileen, using his other hand to pull back the tent flap and step outside.
The screams had come from the altar. Aileen covered her mouth with her hand when she saw the altar.
A huge bear lay collapsed beneath the altar. The altar, which should have been used for sacred rituals, was dirtied with the animal's blood and remains. The fragrant incense trees and flowers were also scattered everywhere, stained dark red with blood.
The stench of blood wafted through the air. Aileen examined the bear's corpse with a stunned expression. The hole piercing its head was the first thing that caught her eye.
It was Diego who had killed the bear instantly with a single shot. He aimed his gun to make sure the bear was completely dead.
'It wasn't Lord Michele.'
Other knights were also skilled at shooting, but not as much as Michele. She was a sharpshooter blessed by the gods. So usually, if there was a need to fire, Michele would step forward, but for some reason, Diego had fired the gun.
Michele was nowhere to be seen when she looked around. She must have been away on other business.
One of the more faint-hearted nobles fainted at the sight of the slaughter before her eyes and was supported by servants. Even those who enjoyed hunting and were familiar with animal carcasses had dark expressions as they looked at the dead bear.
The altar was defiled before the Hunting Festival even began. It was an ominous sign. Everyone must be thinking the same thing, but they couldn't easily say it out loud.
'But why did the bear come all the way here?'
Generally, bears were afraid of people. Occasionally, a bear that had tasted human flesh would become a cannibal, but it wouldn't recklessly rush into a place with so many people. She found it strange.
As she was trying to guess the reason, she suddenly felt a stinging gaze. Aileen turned her head slightly. A young priest was glaring at Cesare openly. He was holding an armful of flowers, as if he had been decorating the altar.
The flowers of various colors were all in full bloom, exuding a fresh vitality. All the flowers were beautiful because they had selected only those that were not wilted or damaged in any way for use in the ceremony.
There were extra incense trees and flowers, so the altar could be rebuilt. But the fact that the altar had been contaminated once would not change. They had carefully selected only the most perfect top-quality incense trees and flowers, but all their efforts had been reduced to nothing.
The priests' situation, facing an ominous situation even before the ceremony, was unfortunate, but Aileen couldn't understand why they were glaring at Cesare, who had nothing to do with it.
Aileen also knew that the temple didn't like Cesare. It was because he had returned victorious from Kalpen and was praised and respected by the people of the Empire as the God of War.
Since humans were being compared to gods, it would be difficult for the priests to look favorably on Cesare.
'But even so...'
She didn't like the feeling that even an accidental accident was being blamed on Cesare. Aileen glared at the young priest, putting strength in her eyes for no reason.
The priest, who had been glaring at Cesare as if he were his mortal enemy, turned his head and looked at Aileen. As soon as he met Aileen's eyes, he flinched and trembled.
Then, his face gradually turned red, and he abruptly turned his steps elsewhere. He even dropped the flowers he was holding in his arms as he hurried away.
"...?"
Aileen looked at the priest with a bewildered expression, then turned to Cesare. Cesare, who had been staring at the priest's back with an expressionless face, belatedly met Aileen's gaze.
When Aileen blinked, he silently touched her cheek with the back of his hand. She tilted her head, unable to understand the meaning, when she heard a faint sigh.
"I can't believe it..."
The owner of the sigh was Ornella. She appeared arm in arm with Leone, looking distressed by the stench of blood that permeated the area. She looked pale and struggled as if she was about to collapse at any moment.
People belatedly recognized the Emperor's appearance and all paid their respects. As everyone in the forest paid their respects, a brief smile crossed Ornella's face, who had been struggling to breathe until just now.
But soon, with a sorrowful expression, she leaned on Leone and gasped for breath. Leone firmly supported Ornella and gently comforted her.
"It's okay, Ornella. It's all over now."
The sight of the affectionate lovers calling each other by name caused a small stir among the nobles. The two were engaged, but they had rarely appeared together in public until now.
It was publicly known that there was no affection between Leone and Ornella. So everyone couldn't help but find it surprising that they were suddenly showing such an affectionate appearance.
Amidst the commotion, only Cesare showed no particular reaction. He approached the two with Aileen.
"Greetings to the Imperator."
As it was a formal occasion, it was a more formal greeting than usual. Leone, who had been comforting Ornella, belatedly looked up at Cesare.
"Grand Duke. Are you alright?"
Leone asked with a worried voice, checking his brother's body in case he had been hurt. Cesare only moved his eyes and shifted his gaze.
"Rather..."
His red gaze turned to Ornella, who was holding her forehead with her hand.
"Isn't Lady Parbellini the one you should be worried about?"
She slowly shook her head.
"I seem to have a headache from the shock. I'll be fine with a little rest."
Cesare chuckled at her sorrowful smile.
"Would you like to take some medicine?"
Ornella's eyes widened. She was about to smile brightly and answer Cesare's kindness when her face hardened at the following words.
"The one that the Lady wanted so much."
Cesare tilted his head slightly. His long eyes curved into a mischievous line.
"It seems Aspilia is still left."
