147 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition)
147
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Ornella's lips parted. She looked at Aileen with a dumbfounded gaze before asking back,
"Is he… some kind of god?"
It was a question laced with sarcasm, as if she couldn't understand the absolute faith Aileen held.
Aileen, upon receiving the question, belatedly felt a little embarrassed. She realized she had answered too readily. Aileen added one more small remark.
"...To me, he is."
Truly, to Aileen, Cesare was no different from a god. Aileen firmly believed that Cesare would save her. He had always found her, no matter the situation. So, she wasn't afraid now either.
Of course, it would be a lie to say she wasn't scared at all, but the fear of confinement was much less. The reason she could help Ornella with some composure, without crying from fear, was all thanks to her faith in Cesare.
As she was immobilizing the broken arm, she felt a gaze sticking to her cheek. Aileen wanted to wipe her cheek with the back of her hand, but she couldn't because she was using both hands. She just blinked her innocent eyes and continued the first aid.
Until all the treatment was finished, Ornella stared intently at Aileen. Aileen, feeling her face stinging, said,
"It's better to lie down than to sit. The bleeding area needs to be higher than the heart."
She reached out her hand, meaning she would help her lie down slowly. But Ornella, instead of lying down, asked,
"Why are you helping me?"
Aileen, who had been preparing to exert strength, paused and looked at Ornella. She glared at Aileen with eyes that even revealed hostility.
"If you do me a favor, do you think something will change?"
Aileen knew that Ornella's personality wasn't gentle, but she didn't expect her to act like this even while receiving help.
She had even torn her dress to treat her diligently, yet this was the reaction. Aileen thought she wanted to flick her forehead once out of spite.
"Yes."
Perhaps because of her sulky mood, a blunt reply popped out without her realizing it. In any case, the patient was still a patient, so Aileen groaned and laid Ornella down on the floor. Then, she muttered softly.
"I helped you, so please repay the favor."
She brought a small stone and propped it under her legs, and tore the already torn skirt further to roughly roll it up and support her head.
"……."
Ornella, lying on the floor, stared blankly up at Aileen. Aileen belatedly regretted her words, wondering if she had acted too boldly. Suddenly, she opened her lips.
"Have you ever smoked?"
"No……."
She had briefly held Cesare's cigarette in her lips, but for now, she answered no. Ornella asked again indifferently.
"Want to try?"
"N-no, I don't want to."
"If you don't want to, then don't."
"Um, you shouldn't smoke right now."
Aileen picked up some of the flowers scattered on the floor and brought them to Ornella's side. She added in a small voice to her, who was looking at her with eyes asking what it was.
"It's instead of a cigarette."
It was her own consideration to have her smell the flowers instead. Ornella, letting out a hollow laugh, closed her eyes. Cold sweat was flowing down her temples.
She was pretending to be calm, but she must be in considerable pain. Her body was also trembling because her body temperature had dropped due to the bleeding.
'We need to get out of here quickly.'
She and Ornella were lucky to be alive, but what happened to the priests who were with them?
Aileen quietly curled up her body. As she sat hugging her knees, the memories of the dream covered her mind as if waiting.
"May Aileen Elrod be revived."
It was just a dream. She couldn't understand why it was so deeply ingrained in her mind, even though it was just a vain delusion. Perhaps it was because she knew that Cesare suffered from nightmares.
'Cesare…'
Suddenly, she wanted to see him unbearably. Aileen quietly picked up a lily from the floor. The damaged flower was unsightly, but the fragrance was still there. Aileen hugged the flower tightly in her arms.
Count Bonepar, who had been a key figure in the political circles of The Capital, was suddenly ousted due to a shooting incident. A fierce competition ensued over who would fill his vacant position.
Unlike members of the Lower House, whose terms were fixed, seats in the Upper House were hereditary. Therefore, it was extremely rare for a vacancy to occur in the Upper House.
However, with Marquess Menegin, who had been the Speaker of the Upper House, relinquishing all power and leaving The Capital, and Count Bonepar, a family of political distinction, disappearing, two vacancies suddenly arose.
The nobles were fiercely maneuvering to fill the vacancies with their own forces. However, the current Speaker of the Upper House, Count Domenico, was a staunch neutralist. Therefore, it was expected that the vacant seats would be divided fairly.
This was possible because the fact that Count Domenico had become the dog of the Archduchess of Erzeht was not known.
Senon sighed as he read the letter from his brother. Today was the third day of his attempt to quit smoking, and he already craved a cigarette.
"Even though His Highness is swallowing up the empire, Father is still the same."
Even though it wasn't The Capital but the provinces, the fact that the family, which had supported the first prince in the battle for the throne, could still thrive as local magnates was entirely thanks to Senon.
Yet, his father still couldn't accept the fact that the twin princes, who were not born from the Empress, had taken over the Traon Imperial Family. At least his brother was secretly sending letters like this to Senon.
Senon reached into his pocket, yearning for the cigarette pack he had thrown into the trash can whole. He suppressed his urge to smoke and took out a lemon-flavored candy, popping it into his mouth. It was then, as he was eating the candy with one cheek bulging, that
"Sir Senon!"
Senon frowned at the subordinate's outrage of bursting into the office as if to break down the door. However, he had no choice but to rush out, his face turning pale at the subordinate's subsequent words.
He hurriedly drove a military vehicle, but the streets were already chaotic with people and vehicles. Senon shouted at his subordinates.
"Block the traffic first!"
Then, he got out of the car and started running. Fortunately, the Pantheon of The Capital was not that far away. Senon, running until he was breathless, witnessed a terrible sight.
The Pantheon, which had boasted its grandeur, was completely collapsed. Senon froze, unable to move, at the ruins that had become a pile of stones.
Lady Aileen was in the Pantheon? It's completely collapsed like that…?
His legs gave way for a moment. Senon staggered and took a step back. Just as he was about to collapse to the floor, he barely managed to hold on when he heard a desperate cry.
"Your Highness! Grand Duke!"
Senon's body flinched. Senon hurriedly approached the collapsed temple. Soldiers were surrounding the temple to prevent people from approaching, but they stepped aside as soon as they saw Senon.
"Your Highness……."
Senon called him faintly. But Cesare didn't look back at Senon. No, he couldn't look back.
He was digging through the pile of stones with his bare hands. Even though several soldiers rushed to pull Cesare away, they couldn't subdue him at all.
"Aileen, Aileen……."
Cesare continued to call her name and dig through the ruins. His hands were already covered in wounds. Even though he had a recovery ability that was not human, it couldn't keep up with the speed at which new wounds were forming.
His red eyes, which were always clear, were out of focus. His unstable breathing and trembling voice were all new to Senon. Senon knelt down on one knee next to Cesare, who was completely broken.
"Your Highness. It's Senon."
"……."
"I have ordered to procure equipment to move the stones…. If we touch it wrong, it may cause additional collapse. Just wait a moment, just a moment."
Senon realized that he was speaking of vague hope. But he didn't know how to say more. Because Senon was already in despair as well. Senon swallowed the rising tears and continued.
"Lady Aileen will surely be safe……."
Cesare, who had been staring at the pile of stones without focus, turned his gaze for the first time. He faced Senon, who looked as if he was about to burst into tears. Cesare, with his eyes as black as death, suddenly said something incomprehensible.
"...If God broke the deal."
He whispered, clutching the stones with his bloody hands.
"So, if the last chance is over… what do I do, Senon?"
