156 - Evil Husband (15th Edition) Chapter 156
156
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Malena knew from the start that she couldn't perfectly hide Aileen, and she said it honestly.
"I could manage with someone else, but not with His Grace the Grand Duke."
It was only a matter of time before she was caught, but her goal was to delay the discovery as much as possible. The plan she came up with was to hide Aileen in Fiore Street.
Cesare was likely to search on the premise that Aileen was hiding tightly. So, the plan was to take advantage of that and have her work in the crowded Fiore Street, which would buy them some time.
Staying at Malena's house would lead to discovery too quickly, so they decided to move her lodging to Fiore Street as well. Instead, Malena assigned her bodyguard, Alessia, to Aileen.
Aileen was anxious about the situation, which had become much bigger than she had initially imagined. She worried that she was placing too much of a burden on Malena, but Malena gave her a strange smile.
"Don't worry. I'm Aileen's friend."
It was a statement that she could be forgiven for her sins because she was Aileen's friend. The conversation ended there. Malena had a performance scheduled outside The Capital, so she had to leave early in the morning.
Malena was the most popular Dancer in The Capital. The coincidence of meeting Aileen this time was thanks to a holiday; otherwise, Aileen would have continued to be rained on in front of the empty house.
Fortunately, luck seemed to be on her side. Hoping that her good fortune would continue a little longer, Aileen took out the Pocket watch from her pocket. She watched the watch ticking away without any strange signs for a while before placing it on the table and changing her clothes.
She bound her chest to hide her feminine figure, put on men's clothes, and wore a wig. As she put on glasses and awkwardly touched her hair, Alessia came down from the second floor.
She was wearing easy-to-move clothes in achromatic colors, and her movements were quiet. She was tall and slender, and her hair was black, giving her the impression of a jet-black cat.
She looked like a neat young man in men's clothing. Alessia's voice was also very low for a woman. Alessia greeted Aileen and strode over.
"Excuse me for a moment."
She suddenly reached out to Aileen. Then, she touched all the parts that Aileen had done clumsily. After tidying up her appearance, she drew a lot of freckles on the bridge of her nose and cheeks with makeup tools, and also painted her eyelashes and eyebrows a little darker to match the color of the wig.
With messy bangs and glasses, a man with a very different impression from her original appearance was born. It also had the effect of making her look a little younger than Aileen's actual age.
Aileen was impressed by the flawless makeup, and Alessia explained as if it were nothing.
"I sometimes help Malena with her makeup when she's in a hurry."
She explained that she had learned various skills while working as Malena's bodyguard and showed her a mirror. Aileen looked at the man in the mirror with unfamiliar eyes. It looked like a completely different person to her.
'But if I meet someone who knows me well, I'll be found out right away.'
Cesare and the knights would recognize her, of course, and some of the soldiers with good eyes might notice.
As she touched her bangs, Alessia suddenly muttered.
"It's a pity."
Aileen looked at her with wide eyes, and Alessia said with a little hesitation.
"Your eyes are so beautiful, but they have to be covered..."
Aileen just smiled at her compliment. She was still not used to compliments about her appearance, but the most awkward thing was still the compliment about her eyes.
If she didn't cover her eyes with glasses and bangs, she still couldn't even look straight into the mirror.
But since she couldn't tell this story to others, Aileen just said thank you.
Alessia took Aileen out through the back door. Then, they took a hired carriage that was waiting in advance and moved in the opposite direction from Fiore Street. After getting off at the central train station, they moved through winding alleys to Fiore Street.
The alleys were so dark that they were often accosted, but Alessia nonchalantly punched them away. Aileen walked closely behind Alessia. Alessia continued to explain as she walked.
"I will be staying with you as well. Is there anything you need while you're staying in Fiore?"
"Well, I need books."
In fact, she needed various research materials and ancient books related to mythology. Under the assumption that Cesare had made a deal with a god, the most similar case was the founding myth, so she was planning to investigate that part.
But even if she could somehow obtain the research materials, the problem was the ancient books. They were difficult to obtain and the prices were exorbitant.
'I've read almost all the books in the Grand Duke's Residence...'
Cesare wasn't interested in that kind of thing, so there were hardly any research books or ancient books related to mythology in the Grand Duke's Residence. Even if Aileen had asked him to get them, Cesare would have placed restrictions on it.
'But at least here, I can try to get the books I want.'
While she was pondering how to investigate efficiently if she couldn't get the ancient books, Alessia said.
"Ancient books are also possible, so just tell me. You don't have to worry about the financial part at all. Malena has that much wealth."
Aileen was surprised by the words that seemed to read her mind. Alessia punched the face of the man who was harassing them with a thud and continued in a calm voice.
"You must not walk alone in Fiore. If anything happens, whether it's late at night or early in the morning, call me."
Aileen jumped over the man who had fallen to the ground, following Alessia, and replied that she would.
As the two of them talked about this and that, they were already in Fiore Street. Fiore under the bright sunlight was a little unfamiliar. She was used to the appearance of the city that never sleeps because she only visited it at night.
Alessia took Aileen to the Tavern where she had gone with Cesare to find her father. That day, Aileen had also seen Malena performing there.
"This is currently the largest Tavern in Fiore Street. There are also many Dancers working here. Aileen and I will be working here on the condition of providing room and board. Most of the work will be running errands for the Dancers or serving them, so it won't be too difficult. You can do what you want during the day and only do odd jobs at night."
Alessia said that there was no need to work too hard on odd jobs, and she headed to a small side door with familiarity.
She opened the door, and Aileen hesitated for a moment in front of the side door. But soon she stepped inside. Alessia, who followed her in, was about to close the side door.
"......"
She stared outside for a moment. Her sharp gaze continued for a while.
"Alessia?"
Aileen looked up at Alessia with a puzzled look. Then Alessia turned her head and closed the door as if nothing had happened.
***
The pasture with its wide expanse of green meadows was peaceful. A single tree rising in the center of the vast field cast the only shade under the hot sun. Amidst the scent of fresh grass, cows leisurely moved their feet and ate grass and flowers.
The only noises in the peaceful space were the occasional long moo of a cow or the sound of a tail swatting away flies. As the quiet tranquility continued, a sudden engine sound intruded. It was the sound of a huge military vehicle rushing in. The vehicle, running and raising dust, was even ferocious.
Baron Elrod, who had been napping in the corner under the pretext of giving cow feed, gasped and opened his eyes wide.
"Huh...!"
The Baron hurriedly got up, afraid that the soldiers guarding him would catch him slacking off. He even brought some straw and rubbed it on his clothes to pretend that he had been working all along.
It had been several months since he had been stuck in a rural ranch. He had tried to escape several times, but each time he was blocked. The soldiers who took turns guarding Baron Elrod had no mercy and treated him like a criminal, not a nobleman.
If he ran away and was caught, they would not beat him, but they would repeatedly lock him in a confined space and starve him. After several repetitions, Baron Elrod had perfectly learned submission.
Baron Elrod, who had rushed out of the barn to greet the soldiers, soon wore a foolish expression. He stared at the man getting out of the military vehicle with his mouth open.
A man in a suit, not a military uniform, slowly got out of the car. The soldier who was serving him closed the car door instead and stepped back. Crimson eyes turned to Baron Elrod.
"G, G, Grand Duke...?"
Baron Elrod, who blinked his eyes, not knowing if this was a dream or reality, immediately brightened up.
"Have you finally come to take me out! I've been waiting for the day you would forgive me..."
But the Baron couldn't finish his words. It was because of the gun pointed at his forehead. The sleek black barrel sparkled with light. Cesare asked in a monotonous voice.
"Did Aileen come here?"
Baron Elrod felt as if his whole body had stiffened. Even his tongue had hardened like a stone, but his survival instinct forced him to move. The Baron answered, trembling.
"A, Aileen, that child has not c, come here. She has never c, come here, Your Grace."
"Yes, that's impossible."
Cesare, who muttered quietly, looked at the Baron without taking away the gun. Elrod swallowed the saliva that had gathered in his mouth. He suppressed the fear that made him want to sit down and begged.
"Perhaps, my, my daughter has done something wrong... I will definitely educate her... If you, if you just spare me..."
"Aileen has done nothing wrong. There is no reason for you to educate her."
Cesare, who replied indifferently, stared at Baron Elrod intently. It was as if he was reading someone else from the Baron's face. Cesare, who had been looking for a while, opened his mouth again.
"Baron Elrod."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
And he lowered his pistol and ordered.
"Go to Fiore Street."
