140 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 140
Aileen's affection for Cesare was endlessly selfish. Others might not feel the same, but Aileen, at least, believed her love to be deeply self-centered.
If she truly cared for Cesare, she wouldn't delve into the parts he wished to keep hidden. She would respect his secrets and conceal them. It would be right to huddle within the space he allowed, reassuring him.
But Aileen wanted to know everything about Cesare. Even though no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't be as helpful to Cesare as a single petal, she wanted to act beyond his permission.
That was not what Cesare wanted.
He didn't particularly want Aileen to do anything. He wanted her to stay within the fence he had safely created.
If Aileen wished, he would expand the fence as much as she wanted, but he would not allow her to go outside it. Just like today...
In the past, Aileen would have quickly retreated from the fence and rushed to the safest center at the slightest furrow of his brow.
But now, she didn't want to. No, she couldn't. Even if she had to pay a price for her actions, even if she lost his affection.
From the moment she considered that the fence surrounding her might be made of his blood and flesh, Aileen wanted to reach the truth.
"Even if you don't allow it."
The headlights were on, but the car's interior remained dark. In the confined space, the scent of blood emanating from him felt even stronger.
With the black forest behind him, the man with eyes redder than blood silently gazed at Aileen. Aileen whispered with parched lips.
"I... I want to know you, Cesare."
The moment she declared that she would not follow his will, she was so nervous that her vision blurred. Her heart pounded wildly as she dared to disobey the commander, who was accustomed to absolute obedience.
Their gazes met for a long time. The fleeting moment felt like an eternity, but the end was predetermined. Cesare was the first to look away. Aileen's eyes widened.
Had he ever avoided someone's gaze? At least, not in Aileen's memory.
Having averted his gaze, Cesare looked at the black forest. Beyond the headlights, into the depths where darkness blurred the outlines. The forest of aspen trees had lost its original white color and was entirely black.
He, who had been staring straight ahead, suddenly opened the car door and got out. Startled, Aileen followed his movements with her eyes, but when she belatedly tried to get out as well, Cesare, who had come to the passenger side, pressed his hand against the door to prevent her from opening it.
He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Aileen blankly stared at him lighting the cigarette in front of her.
Cesare looked down at Aileen, smoking. The red dot burned down, and smoke covered his face before quickly dissipating. Aileen couldn't get out, so she hurriedly opened the window. As smoke flowed in through the opening, Cesare immediately ordered.
"Close the window."
But Aileen didn't listen to him. She opened the window wide and reached out with a trembling hand. Her slender fingers grabbed Cesare's sleeve.
The force with which she carefully pulled him was lighter than a feather. Yet, Cesare readily offered Aileen his hand.
Aileen removed the leather glove from his hand. She gently held his smooth, unscarred hand in both of hers, as if embracing it.
Cesare twisted his lips into a smile at the sight of her holding his hand as if in prayer. He turned his head, exhaled a long stream of smoke, and leaned towards Aileen.
"Now you don't even listen."
Aileen's heart sank. But she pressed her lips tightly together and only held his hand. Cesare called her name with a sigh.
"Aileen."
Aileen slightly raised her gaze. Cesare's eyes curved gently. He asked kindly.
"Shall we just stay home?"
He continued, gently coaxing her as he had when he gave flowers to young Aileen.
The sweet tone was so gentle that Aileen didn't immediately understand his words. But Cesare didn't wait for Aileen to ponder what he had said. As if he didn't want her to understand.
"Let's not make Morpheus or Aspilia work so hard, okay? I'll give up everything too. I'll return the title of Grand Duke and just stay by your side."
Cesare leaned in a little closer. His bright red eyes came even closer to Aileen. He brought his face close as if to kiss her, and whispered as if telling her the most secret secret.
"Shall we live together in the Brick house?"
It was a vision of dazzling beauty, and dangerously alluring. Aileen almost nodded, as if possessed.
Living with Cesare in the Brick house was a dream Aileen had imagined. Spending quiet days with him like an ordinary newlywed couple, sharing their daily lives.
She and Cesare would sit side by side on the garden bench, watching the orange tree rustle its leaves in the breeze, picking ripe oranges and sharing them.
When making sandwiches, Cesare would cut the bread instead of her. He might even prepare all the other ingredients. Because he didn't like Aileen using a knife.
Instead, Aileen could do other things for Cesare. She wouldn't create something as great as Morpheus, but she would repay him in small moments in everyday life, and someday have a child...
Just imagining it made her happy, and it was the dream Aileen had longed for. But Aileen couldn't bring herself to nod.
Because she knew that the idyllic paradise, as perfect as it seemed, was a castle built of sand.
Cesare quietly held Aileen's hand. His large hand gently stroked the hand that held him.
"There will be no danger, so there will be nothing to worry about."
In the past, she would have absolutely trusted his words. But instead of accepting his words, Aileen pointed out the flaw.
"...If that's what you truly wanted, Cesare."
Suppressing her pounding heart, she calmly spoke her mind.
"I mean, if you really wanted to live with me in the Brick house. I think you would have done so a long time ago. Instead of making me the Grand Duchess from the beginning..."
Cesare did not choose the Brick house. Instead, he made Aileen the Archduchess of Erzeht. He also supported her in becoming the most outstanding pharmacist in the Traon Empire.
He had changed Aileen. He transformed the Baron's daughter who lived in the Brick house, the one who set up a laboratory on the second floor of an old inn and couldn't even call herself a pharmacist, into someone everyone looked up to.
He took Aileen out of her small world and gave her magnificent wings so that she could spread out even further. Because the wings were given by Cesare, Aileen could fly with confidence and courage.
Now Cesare was saying that he wanted to break the wings he had given her... But Aileen believed that this was probably not his true intention.
She was afraid and scared to judge his heart and express her opinion, but now she had to convey her words clearly. Aileen looked into his crumbling red eyes and called his name.
"Cesare."
"..."
Cesare did not answer. He simply waited for Aileen to speak. He always did. He seemed to push his will arbitrarily, but he listened to Aileen's opinion.
Of course, he didn't listen to everything, but he never ignored her. Cesare was the only one who listened from beginning to end to the stories about plants that young Aileen excitedly poured out.
Aileen asked him.
"Do you really want me to do nothing and just stay in the Brick house?"
Cesare's eyes flickered briefly. He slowly brought the hand he was holding with Aileen to his face. He rubbed Aileen's hand against his cheek and faintly replied.
"No, Aileen..."
