149 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 149
149
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The Parvellini Duke screamed and raged in front of the collapsed Pantheon. He delayed the rescue operation so much that the soldiers had to restrain him.
When Ornella was finally rescued, the Duke, upon seeing his precious only daughter's miserable state, slapped the worker who was in the middle of the rescue operation.
He wanted to blame someone for his daughter's injuries. It was unfair to the worker who had been trying to help with the rescue, but no one dared to protest to the Parvellini Duke.
Fortunately, the Duke, who had been losing his mind in anger, quickly regained his composure. He realized that now was not the time to be angry, but to prioritize treatment.
He took Ornella and hurried back to the Parvellini Duke's Residence. He had already inquired about a doctor famous for treating trauma, in addition to his personal physician, so he planned to proceed with treatment immediately.
Just before leaving the ruins of the collapsed Pantheon, the Parvellini Duke turned to look at Aileen. Their eyes met, but the Duke said nothing.
Since they had been trapped together, it was obvious who had given Ornella first aid. But there was no word of thanks. The Duke stared at Aileen for a long time before turning away.
Aileen was disheartened. His gaze held not gratitude, but an inexplicable anger.
'Is it because I'm the only one who wasn't hurt?'
Aileen was the only one who was rescued from the collapsed Pantheon without any injuries. The other guards and priests who had been in the Pantheon were all seriously injured, and some had even died.
Only Aileen was unscathed, which was nothing short of a miracle.
When Aileen was rescued, Senon, who had been anxiously waiting outside, burst into tears. He sobbed as he checked on Aileen's condition.
She wanted to tell Senon that she was safe, but she couldn't.
"..."
Aileen needlessly wrapped the blanket around her body tighter. Immediately, a large hand reached out and carefully arranged the blanket.
Aileen glanced up with a slightly embarrassed look. Cesare was staring back at her. Aileen once again hesitated and lowered her gaze. Cesare silently held Aileen closer.
From the moment she was rescued from the collapsed Pantheon until now, Aileen had been in Cesare's arms.
When she was first pulled out of the ruins, Aileen was naturally overwhelmed with emotion and hugged Cesare tightly. But after that, she felt a little embarrassed.
All sorts of people had gathered for the rescue operation. It was embarrassing to be held in Cesare's arms in front of so many eyes.
She had asked him to put her down, saying she was okay now, but he completely ignored her. All she could do was ask him to hold her with only one arm, since he was known to have a shoulder injury.
And after arriving at the Grand Duke's Residence, Cesare got out of the carriage with Aileen in his arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Madam!"
Sonio, who had been pacing in front of the mansion gate, rushed over. He looked as if he had aged ten years in a short time, and he collapsed as soon as he confirmed that Aileen was safe.
The other employees were startled and helped Sonio up. Aileen was also flustered and reached out to Sonio, but she was still in Cesare's arms, so she only waved her hand in the air.
"I'm so glad... I'm so glad you're safe..."
Sonio said the word "glad" several times. His eyes were red as he quietly took care of Aileen.
"This old man was being foolish and making a fuss. You must be very tired, so I will have your meal brought to your bedroom. I have prepared a bath for you, and will attend to you immediately..."
"I will do it."
Aileen and Sonio's eyes widened at Cesare's words. But Cesare headed straight into the mansion without saying another word.
Aileen, who had been dazedly dragged along, finally realized the situation when her clothes were being taken off. Cesare was really going to give her a bath.
"C-Cesare! I'll do it myself!"
But Cesare didn't listen to Aileen at all. He only frowned as he took off her tattered clothes.
Come to think of it, the dress she was wearing today was a gift from Cesare. She felt bad that she had torn his gift. Aileen stammered an excuse as she was being stripped bare by his hands.
"I tore the dress to give Ornella first aid. She was bleeding badly, so I had to stop the bleeding, and I also stabilized her broken arm..."
As she made excuses, she was already naked. She was always embarrassed to reveal her naked body in front of him. Moreover, the fact that Cesare was giving her a bath made her face burn even more.
She tried to cover her chest with her arms, but Cesare grabbed her wrist. He lowered his eyes and examined Aileen. He looked at the front, and then turned her around to meticulously, even obsessively, examine her back, confirming that she had no injuries.
After being thoroughly examined, she was dragged to the bathroom. Cesare simply poured water over Aileen's body and then lifted her up and put her in the bathtub.
Aileen hid her naked body in the warm bathwater and glanced at Cesare. Cesare was silently preparing to wash Aileen. Aileen muttered as she watched him roll up his shirt sleeves to his elbows.
"I really can do it myself..."
Cesare, who was rolling up his sleeves, turned to look at Aileen. His face was expressionless, seemingly indifferent. But his gaze was obsessively fixed on Aileen.
After staring at her like that for a moment, Cesare silently approached and began to wash Aileen. Aileen cautiously tried to wash her own body as well, but she had to obediently lower her hands when Cesare narrowed his eyes.
He rubbed Aileen's face with his hand. As if she had never been injured, Cesare's palm was smooth. But Aileen remembered that the hand that had pulled her up had been covered in blood.
Even though his injuries healed easily, she hated that Cesare treated his own body so carelessly. She wanted to tell him not to, but she didn't think she could right now.
Aileen entrusted her body to him and watched him. Cesare's voice echoed in her head, tangled together.
"I was scared, Aileen."
"That Aileen Elrod can be revived."
The words that the real Cesare and the Cesare in her dream had uttered were etched in her mind and would not disappear. Aileen closed and opened her eyes, following his touch, and opened her lips.
"I think the Pocket watch is a little strange."
Cesare's hand stopped. Aileen looked at him and continued.
"I don't know if I broke it, but the hands of the clock stopped and started moving again. I was wondering if I should get it repaired. And..."
Should she say it? Aileen wasn't sure. But she couldn't bear not to say it.
"When I was trapped in the Pantheon... I fainted for a moment when it collapsed, and I had a really strange dream then. A dream about you, Cesare."
Drip, a drop of water from her wet hair hit the surface of the water, making a sound. Long fingers caressed Aileen's lips. He then rubbed her cheeks, which were red with heat, and asked.
"What kind of dream was it?"
"It was a really ridiculous, strange dream. Because you were performing a burnt offering in front of the Pantheon."
Cesare hated absurd stories. Aileen hesitated and glanced at Cesare's expression. But Cesare only tilted his chin as if to tell her to continue.
"You sacrificed... ordinary-looking men as offerings. You killed ten people, and then the next day, you killed a hundred people..."
Saying it out loud made her realize how ridiculous the dream was. Aileen gently took the hand that was rubbing her face and continued.
"Then the flames of the altar turned gold. It was as if a god had come and turned into a sacred fire. You made a wish, and it was so absurd..."
She stopped talking and looked at Cesare. His red eyes were calm. He asked in a low, calm voice.
"What wish did I make?"
That she had died, that Cesare was sacrificing innocent people to the gods in order to revive a dead person, it was all absurd. Aileen smiled slightly, as if telling a bad joke.
"To save me."
