155 - The Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 155
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Even while holding Aileen in her arms, Malena repeatedly checked her face, still finding it hard to believe. The gold-green eyes visible through the glasses sparkled beneath eyelashes wet with rain. Surely, there couldn't be two people in the world with eyes like these. It was definitely Aileen.
After the initial shock passed, her heart belatedly plummeted. How long had she been waiting for her in the rain, her body completely frozen? Aileen was trembling so much she couldn't even speak properly.
Now wasn't the time to ask questions. Malena immediately pulled Aileen inside.
"Come in."
Aileen obediently followed Malena's hand, shivering. Malena's house was a two-story building with a small garden. Considering the enormous amount of money she earned, it was quite modest.
Her house felt similar to the Brick house with the orange tree where Aileen used to live. In fact, she had deliberately sought out a similar house after becoming friends with Aileen. It was something she had done in the hope of getting a little closer.
Even though she was earning much more money now than she had back then, Malena couldn't leave this place. She couldn't easily abandon it because of the memories of Aileen visiting this house.
"Alessia! Start a fire in the fireplace."
Malena stopped trying to take off Aileen's wet clothes and turned to her bodyguard, Alessia. Even though they were both women, she was worried that Aileen might feel uncomfortable with a stranger. But Aileen quietly shook her head.
"It's okay..."
Her voice was already nasal. Horrified, Malena took off Aileen's clothes and wrapped her tightly in a blanket that had been spread out on the sofa. Then, she ran to get more clothes and blankets, ordering Alessia to warm up some milk immediately.
Thanks to Malena and Alessia's quick actions, Aileen was soon wrapped up snugly in blankets like a snow rabbit, holding a cup of warm milk in her hands. Aileen sniffled and took a sip of the milk.
Alessia silently approached and moved the armchair Aileen was sitting in closer to the fireplace.
Malena pressed her hand against her still-fluttering heart. Now that Aileen was warm, her mind finally started to work again.
'There weren't many people on the way here.'
Because of the heavy rain, there were hardly any pedestrians near Malena's house. It seemed unlikely that anyone had seen Aileen here.
Alessia was tight-lipped and wouldn't spread rumors unnecessarily. She had known and worked with her for a long time, so their trust was strong. Malena breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
'God helped me.'
Aileen had managed to leave the Grand Duke's Residence alone and come here safely without being caught by anyone. It was a stroke of great luck. It seemed that God was watching over Aileen, just like during the Pantheon incident.
"I'm sorry for coming so suddenly," Aileen said, looking up at Malena shyly. Malena, who had been lost in thought, suddenly asked,
"Are you getting a divorce?"
She thought the question was too direct, but it was a valid question to ask. Why else would Aileen come to her like this, as if running away? Unless her relationship with the Grand Duke had completely broken down.
But Aileen was startled by Malena's words and denied it.
"No! Absolutely not."
Then, her face quickly clouded over, and she mumbled listlessly,
"...Although, I might get divorced."
Aileen, with a dazed look, pushed up her slipping glasses. Malena checked her left hand. The ring was still on her fourth finger.
She had so much to say, but she swallowed it down for now. The most recent news about Aileen that Malena had seen in the newspaper flashed through her mind.
[Pantheon Collapses… Grand Duchess's Fate Unknown]
When she saw the breaking news, she had all sorts of terrible thoughts. She was relieved to see an article confirming Aileen's safety shortly after, but she couldn't shake off her anxiety.
She wanted to check if she was hurt anywhere, to make sure she was really okay, but there was no way to do so. Aileen had become someone she couldn't reach.
Malena suppressed all the worries she had been harboring and asked a small question.
"Are you… alright?"
Aileen nodded without thinking, but then realized what Malena meant by the question and became flustered. She replied that she hadn't been hurt at all in the Pantheon, and Malena shrugged and said she seemed fine.
After that, a silence fell. Only the sound of the fireplace continued between them. Alessia, who had been waiting quietly in the corner, discreetly excused herself.
"I'll go buy some dinner."
Alessia grabbed an umbrella and disappeared. The rain had weakened a little in the meantime. Looking at the raindrops pattering against the window, Malena felt upset again.
She needed to know why Aileen had been out and about on such a rainy day. Malena stared intently at Aileen, who was fiddling with the warm milk cup.
"Um, Malena."
Feeling her gaze, Aileen carefully took off her constantly fogging glasses and looked at Malena.
"Could you hide me for a while...?"
"If you tell me why."
She answered so curtly that a faint darkness clouded Aileen's gold-green eyes. Aileen lowered her gaze and mumbled,
"I'm… trying to do something that Cesare doesn't want me to do. I need a place to hide for a while until I finish it."
Hearing those words, Malena had to work hard not to spit out the flames rising inside her.
She's such a talented pharmacist. She would have lived a happier life if she hadn't become the Grand Duchess. To be in a position where she has to run away because she can't do what she wants!
Malena couldn't help but feel angry. But she forced herself to be patient and opened her mouth.
"Of course, I can hide you. But you'll be caught quickly if you stay within The Capital."
When she suggested going abroad, Aileen gave a frustrating answer that she couldn't do that.
"I can't go too far from The Capital..."
Malena narrowed her eyes sharply. Then, she just sighed. Aileen was still a fool. But she was an even bigger idiot for wanting to do whatever Aileen wanted.
"Alright. I'll do my best."
Seeing Aileen's face brighten immediately, Malena said a little spitefully,
"But you have to do whatever I say. Got it?"
Before leaving the Grand Duke's Residence, Aileen had made some arrangements.
She sent the Headache remedy she had promised Ornella, as well as an ointment for scars, and she also organized the research lab so that she could finish the Morpheus Research whenever she returned to the Grand Duke's Residence. She didn't forget to send Count Domenico a generous amount of Morpheus.
She also made sure to leave a letter so that her sudden disappearance wouldn't be mistaken for a kidnapping. Her hand holding the quill trembled as she wrote each word. She kept imagining Cesare's angry face. Aileen tried to shake off her fear and finished the letter.
Escaping through the Secret passage was easier than she thought. Aileen memorized the movements and schedules of the employees and headed for the Secret passage. She took the small amount of money hidden in the passage and changed her clothes. After disguising herself with glasses and bangs, she ambitiously stepped outside.
It was a bit far from the outskirts of The Capital to Malena's house, but she was able to arrive by walking diligently. It was successful up to that point, but then the problem started. Due to Malena's absence, she waited endlessly in the pouring rain.
'But it all worked out.'
Still feeling the aftereffects of yesterday, Aileen sniffled and looked at the morning newspapers that Malena had brought. There were several newspapers, including La Verita, but there was no news about the Grand Duchess's disappearance. It seemed they didn't want to reveal it to the outside world.
'Cesare… must be very angry…'
Aileen, who was munching on a cream-filled cornetto that Malena had left, thought about last night with a gloomy face. Sleeping alone in a bed was more than familiar. Even in the bedroom of the Grand Duke's Residence, she slept alone more often than with Cesare.
But sleeping alone, completely away from Cesare's space, felt different. Last night in bed, Aileen fully realized that she had left him. It was a feeling she hadn't felt even when she lived in the Brick house with the orange tree.
Perhaps it was because she had become too accustomed to the Grand Duke's Residence. Just like how wearing glasses had become awkward again.
Her throat felt tight with emotion. Aileen gulped down the milk next to her.
'If I could drink well, wouldn't I drink on a day like today…'
She brushed the useless thoughts out of her head and looked down at the items that Malena had prepared as well. A short-haired wig, glasses that Aileen had never worn before, and baggy men's clothes.
From today, Aileen was scheduled to work as a handyman at a Tavern on Fiore Street, doing odd jobs for the Dancers.
