152 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 152
152
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Only after hearing those words could Aileen think of those who would worry about her.
The knights, who would have been more anxious than anyone else upon hearing the news of the Pantheon's collapse. She couldn't just send them back, those who would have rushed over, worried about her.
There were many things she wanted to ask as well. Aileen closed the book she was reading and stood up.
"Of course, I have to meet..."
But the moment she stood up, her vision swam. Aileen staggered and grabbed the desk as a dizzying wave of vertigo washed over her.
"Aileen!"
Sonio urgently supported Aileen's body. It seemed almost the first time he had called her by her name like before her marriage, when he had always respectfully addressed her as Madam. Aileen leaned on Sonio and barely managed to right herself.
"I'm sorry..."
As she apologized in a faint voice, Sonio shook his head heavily. He advised her to prioritize rest. But even as he advised her, he seemed to already know that Aileen wouldn't.
"I don't know what His Excellency has done to upset Madam,"
Sonio said, carefully studying Aileen's face.
"But if there is anything I can do to help, please tell me at any time. I am on Madam's side."
Sonio was Cesare's man. She knew that he couldn't put her first. Even if it was just words, she felt comforted by his willingness to take care of her.
Aileen gave him a small, "Thank you," in response. And with Sonio's help, she headed to the drawing room where the knights were waiting.
"Please talk quietly."
Sonio only opened the door to the drawing room and did not come inside. The knights, who had been waiting anxiously, all jumped up as soon as they saw Aileen.
"Aileen!"
Diego, who had been pacing back and forth, unable to sit down, rushed over first. He was only able to relax after confirming with his own eyes that Aileen was unharmed.
Diego held Aileen's hand tightly and took a deep breath. His face, which had been tense, relaxed and became tearful. Diego drooped his eyes and whispered.
"I'm relieved you're safe."
Only after Rohan, who had arrived late, nudged him on the back did Diego realize that he had taken Aileen's hand without permission. Diego hurriedly let go of her hand and apologized, "I'm sorry." Then he pressed his lips tightly together.
Aileen, who had been looking up at him, realized that Diego's eyes were reddish.
Diego's skin was dark. It was usually hard to tell on the outside, but the fact that it had turned this red meant that he must have really cried a lot.
Aileen slowly shifted her gaze. Rohan, who was standing silently behind Diego, nodded slowly in greeting when his eyes met Aileen's. Although his face was as gruff as usual, even Aileen could easily read the look of worry and relief mixed in his eyes.
"Madam..."
Michele, who had been half-hidden by Rohan, subtly took a step to the side and revealed herself. She was desperately scrunching up her nose to hold back tears.
Senon, who had been standing next to Michele, also took a step to the other side and positioned himself where Aileen could see him a little better. Senon had been at the scene of the accident at the time, but it seemed that he had only now completely put his mind at ease after confirming Aileen's safety once again.
They must have been very worried, as their faces had become haggard in the meantime. Anyone who saw them would think that they had all been trapped under the collapsed Pantheon together.
They must have been incredibly busy, but as soon as they heard the news, all the knights had put everything aside and come to the Grand Duke's Residence. Aileen opened her trembling lips.
She was going to show them that she was safe and sound, smiling brightly as much as they had worried. She was going to say in a cheerful manner that she was perfectly fine, without a single injury.
"Th, thank you..."
But the voice that came out was terribly shaky. As soon as she started speaking, tears welled up in her eyes and instantly rolled down. At Aileen's tears, the knights all froze with wide eyes.
Aileen quickly wiped away her tears with her sleeve. But the sleeve, which had already been used to wipe away tears several times, was damp and not very effective. Aileen asked with her face still wet from not being able to wipe it properly.
"Did you... did you know?"
It was a question without any explanation, but at that moment, the knights' eyes shook in unison. It was a commotion that even they, who were skilled at dealing with people, couldn't hide. Aileen asked again.
"That Cesare... that Lord Cesare became like this because of me... you all knew, didn't you?"
None of Cesare's knights could easily open their mouths. Seeing them close their mouths as if they had made a promise, even more tears welled up.
The tears that kept flowing were truly annoying. As Aileen rubbed her eyes roughly with her sleeve, the frozen knights all took out handkerchiefs from their pockets and held them out.
Aileen, who suddenly had four handkerchiefs, stacked two each and held them under both eyes. Rohan, watching Aileen trying to stop crying, opened his mouth heavily.
"I'm sorry."
He carefully continued, watching Aileen.
"There was no intention to deliberately hide it. However, we also did not have a clear understanding, so we wanted to tell you when it became clear."
"Lord Cesare... must not have wanted me to know either."
Rohan couldn't bring himself to deny Aileen's words.
"...That's right."
Aileen slowly took away the handkerchief. She rolled up the wet handkerchief and turned to look at Michele.
"Lord Michele."
Michele, who had stiffened and was only looking around, answered with a faint voice, "Yes."
"Do you remember what I asked you before?"
"Of course. I have never forgotten it!"
She had asked her to tell her about Cesare that she didn't know, and at the time, Michele had said she would. But she hadn't told her anything yet.
Michele said that if Madam wished, she would help her by telling her everything she knew right away, rambling a bit. She was just saying anything because she was so nervous.
Aileen made eye contact with each of the knights. The knights who received Aileen's gaze couldn't move as if they had been pierced by a spear.
"Then tell me right now. Everything you know."
The tears had stopped before she knew it. Aileen clearly declared to them what she wanted.
"I want to restore Lord Cesare to his original state."
The Traon Empire was shaken by the series of misfortunes that had occurred in the Grand Duke's family.
The Grand Duke, who had been confined to his residence due to injuries, appeared at the collapsed Pantheon, searching for the Grand Duchess and frantically rummaging through the rubble. There were countless witnesses who saw him digging through the rubble with his hands bleeding, calling out the Grand Duchess's name, as if his shoulder injury was nothing.
Fortunately, the Grand Duchess was rescued safely. Everyone was moved by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess's affectionate love, but questions were unavoidable. How could the Grand Duke, who had been shot, dig through such heavy stones?
However, because it was such a serious matter, the relatively minor questions did not spread widely and were buried beneath the surface. They simply admired the Grand Duke's deep love for overcoming the pain of his body and moved on.
In the meantime, Archduke Erzeht requested an unofficial audience with the Emperor. The audience, which was not publicly announced, was more like a meeting between a younger brother and an older brother than between a Grand Duke and an Emperor.
"...Cesare."
Leone chuckled as he looked at his younger brother who had come to see him. His younger brother, wearing a suit instead of a formal uniform, did not seem to have any physical discomfort.
Only his complexion was slightly paler than usual. Unlike his darkened eyes, which seemed to have not slept properly, his crimson eyes seemed even clearer. Leone frowned and said.
"Is your shoulder all better already? Still, to do that at the Pantheon..."
"Why did you do it?"
Leone paused for a moment at the question that cut him off. Then he asked back.
"What?"
"Why did you send Aileen to the temple?"
Cesare took a step closer. Suddenly, Leone thought he wanted to step back. It was an instinctive thought that felt threatened. But Leone pressed his feet firmly on the floor.
Cesare looked down at Leone with a blank expression. He slowly opened his lips and asked again.
"You're not hiding anything from me, are you, brother?"
