132 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 132
132
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The citizens of the Traon Empire were filled with fear due to the ominous events that occurred at the Hunting Festival. The Hunting Festival was a ritual offered to the gods, praying for the prosperity of the Traon Empire.
However, in this sacred ritual where even hunting tools and clothing were strictly regulated, blood was shed twice, not as a sacrifice.
First, the altar for the gods was defiled with the blood of a beast, and second, the hero of the empire was shot by an assassin.
Even those who did not believe in the gods could not help but worry if misfortune was looming over the future of the Traon Empire.
There were many who raised conspiracy theories, claiming that subversive forces were moving to tarnish Cesare's achievements.
Various speculations poured out, but none of the citizens of the empire even imagined that Cesare was behind all of this.
Only a few nobles who were aware of Cesare's true nature suspected him. However, even while suspecting, they were not certain. The risk was too enormous.
No matter how skilled the marksman, considering the injuries from the gunshot and possible infection, it was absurd. The suspicion of a self-inflicted act quickly disappeared.
The nobles focused all their eyes and ears on Cesare, but he only spent his time quietly at the Grand Duke's Residence, citing his injury as the reason.
Only the Grand Duke's knights were rampaging in his stead. They inspected the nobles' tents in the forest of the Hunting Festival, then interrogated Count Bonepar, completely destroying the prestigious family of the Traon Empire.
The Bonepar family, which had fallen overnight, struggled to survive, but they could not escape the precisely aimed gun. It was only natural, as the head of the family, the Count, was being held in the dungeon and interrogated.
However, even in the midst of the rushing days, the knights stopped everything and gathered in one place for just one day.
"How is it?"
Diego showed the bouquet he was holding. Senon, who was tidying his uniform collar with a fairy tale book tucked under his arm, glanced at the bouquet of brightly colored roses and praised it casually.
"You bought well."
As Diego frowned at the insincere praise, Senon's face lit up.
"Lady Aileen!"
Aileen, who was holding a bouquet of roses as large as Diego's, was getting out of the car. Senon quickly approached Aileen and praised her bouquet.
"The flowers smell wonderful. How did you manage to pick only such fresh flowers? It's a pleasure just to look at them. Of course, Lady Aileen, you are the most beautiful."
As Senon poured out his praise without taking a breath, Diego looked back and forth between his and Aileen's bouquets. He thought there wasn't much difference, but he also casually approached Aileen and praised her bouquet.
Michele, who arrived in a military vehicle, hurriedly got out of the car.
"Wow, I thought I was going to be late, sh—, hup."
She quickly closed her mouth, having almost blurted out a curse out of habit. Then, she smiled brightly and approached Aileen.
"I'm here too!"
She proudly showed off the bottle she was holding. The bottle was filled with juice made from freshly squeezed oranges. Following her, Rohan, who had already arrived, came out to greet Aileen and the knights.
He was holding a small teddy bear in his arms. It was a cute size that didn't suit Rohan's large frame at all. Rohan, with the teddy bear tucked under his thick arm, thanked Aileen.
"Thank you for coming. You must be very busy..."
"I wanted to come."
Aileen shook her head gently, trying to ease Rohan's guilt.
Everyone was incredibly busy, but they tried to make time for this day. Of course, it was inevitable that they couldn't all gather sometimes, but they tried to gather as completely as possible.
Last year, everyone was in Kalpen, so Aileen visited this place alone, but this year, everyone was gathered, so she liked the bustling atmosphere.
Aileen and the knights quietly moved their feet. The place they arrived at was a tombstone. The small tombstone, which was unexpectedly located in a remote area far from the cemetery, was simple but neatly maintained.
Aileen and Diego each placed their bouquets, Michele placed the bottle of orange juice, Senon placed the fairy tale book, and Rohan placed the teddy bear in front of the tombstone.
The roses, wishing for the peaceful rest of the deceased, swayed freshly in the blowing wind. Aileen and the knights smelled the spreading fragrance and remained silent for a while.
Then, they quietly left Rohan behind. It was to allow him to spend some quiet time with his daughter.
Rohan's young daughter had become a star in the sky a long time ago. The child, who was only about ten years old, had perished in a fire without ever blooming. The scars on Rohan's face and body were the traces of the father who had struggled to save his child.
The tragedy that occurred when Aileen was eleven years old had destroyed Rohan's mind and body. It was a miracle that he was able to recover to this point.
Aileen recalled Rohan, who was very distressed and in pain every year when she observed the anniversary. At the time of the accident, Aileen was just a little girl. She felt even more sorry because there was almost nothing she could do for him in his distress.
Aileen took a long breath. Then, Michele, who was walking side by side right next to her, immediately reacted sensitively.
"Madam, are you tired from walking? Should I give you a piggyback ride?"
Aileen, who was about to be carried on someone's back, hurriedly waved her hands.
"No, no."
Diego and Senon, who were walking ahead, turned around. Aileen gave them a bright smile, saying that there was no problem. Then, she gently grabbed Michele's sleeve.
"Lord Michele."
Michele's lips turned upwards at the small tug. Michele regained a solemn expression and replied.
"Yes, Madam."
"Could you spare me some time? It will only take a moment."
"Not just a moment, but a long time is also possible."
Michele quickly chased Senon and Diego away, then took Aileen to find a shady spot under a tree. Summer was fast approaching, so the midday sun was scorching.
As they settled in the shade of the tree, a leaf fluttered down. The green leaf landed on Aileen's head. Michele, who could clearly see the top of Aileen's head thanks to her tall height, picked up the leaf and threw it away.
Aileen opened her lips only after the leaf had fallen to the ground.
"I have something I want to ask."
Michele, who had been confidently saying to ask anything, flinched and stiffened. It was because she had read an unusual sign in Aileen's expression.
"The person who shot His Grace at the Hunting Festival."
Aileen quietly looked up at Michele's face, which was mottled with shadows from the tree.
"It was Lord Michele, wasn't it?"
As if she had heard a very funny joke, Michele frowned, making the freckles on the bridge of her nose crinkle.
"Yes? Madam, what are you talking about?"
"His Grace told me that he orchestrated all of this himself. He didn't tell me the details, though."
Michele's smile disappeared from her face at the calm, methodical words. Aileen looked down at Michele's waist. She looked at the pistol she carried, then made eye contact with Michele again and continued.
"His Grace would never entrust the task of shooting to someone else."
Aileen affirmed as if she were stating a predetermined fact.
"He must have ordered Lord Michele to do it."
Michele's expression became subtle. It was a mixture of the pride and joy of being recognized as Cesare's first gun, and the trouble and embarrassment that came from the fact that the secret she had desperately tried to hide had been caught.
It was when Michele was ambiguously looking around, unable to clearly acknowledge or deny it.
"Lord Michele."
"Yes... Madam..."
"Do you know what Cesare is doing all of this for?"
She wanted to answer that it seemed to be for Aileen. However, Michele, including the other knights, was only speculating about Cesare's inner thoughts.
She could not tell something that was not certain. Especially since it was something related to Aileen.
When Michele couldn't speak, Aileen lowered her gaze. The leaves swayed as the wind blew. Aileen, who was listening to the sound of the leaves brushing against each other, opened her lips again.
"When I asked Cesare, he said it wasn't because of me. He has never lied to me, and of course, I should believe his words."
Aileen's eyes darkened.
"I keep getting strange thoughts..."
As a pitiful shadow fell over the golden-green eyes that sparkled like a fairy under the sunlight, Michele felt a tingling sensation in her heart. She felt a surge of desire to beg for forgiveness for everything she had done wrong.
As she stared blankly, Aileen asked with a pitiful voice.
"Can't Lord Michele help me?"
