167 - The Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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It was a moment when the past and present seemed to overlap. Rohan was waiting in front of the tavern even on the day Cesare returned from the Kalpen subjugation and came to see Aileen.
Just like then, Aileen had no choice. But the difference was that she wasn't alone now.
Aileen looked at Rohan with trembling eyes. He smiled often in front of Aileen, but Rohan originally had very little change in expression. Even the eyes that always held kindness had become stiff, so she couldn't tell what he was thinking at all.
For some reason, Rohan couldn't maintain eye contact with Aileen for long. He turned his head slightly to look at Malena and Alessia and said,
"We will safely escort the ladies."
It was the same as saying that it might not be safe if Aileen didn't follow willingly. She had no intention of resisting anyway. The fact that Cesare had sent soldiers meant that he no longer wanted to be lenient.
"Thank you for your help."
Aileen said goodbye to Malena and Alessia. Malena seemed to want to say something, but she only bit her lip and couldn't open her mouth. It broke Aileen's heart to see her, who was always so confident, unable to say anything.
"...I'm sorry it turned out this way because of me."
After finishing her greetings, Aileen slowly moved her feet. She passed Alessia beside her and headed towards Rohan.
Alessia reached out to grab Aileen. However, Malena immediately shook her head at Alessia. Receiving her gaze, Alessia quietly clenched her fist.
The soldiers immediately surrounded Aileen. Now, neither Alessia nor Malena could be seen anymore.
"I will escort you."
Rohan carefully escorted Aileen. Aileen nodded silently and followed. She thought she would be dragged straight to the Grand Duke's Residence, but Rohan led her to a surprising place. He took Aileen back to the Tavern.
The tavern employees widened their eyes when they saw Aileen appearing surrounded by soldiers. Everyone looked as if Aileen had been caught doing drugs or something.
Unlike the lower floors, the high-rise Box seat used a separate path, so you could go straight up without encountering ordinary customers. As there were no customers on the floor with the Box seat today, the customers on the lower floor were enjoying the performance without knowing that soldiers were stationed above.
Aileen looked at the Box seat in front of her. Rohan guided her with a polite voice and stepped back.
"His Highness is waiting."
The guest in the Box seat was Cesare. Contrary to the denial he had shown to Alessia...
How long had Cesare known? Or rather, from the beginning, Aileen was just running away in the palm of his hand. She thought she had gone outside the fence, but it was just Aileen's delusion.
Cesare had created a new fence tailored to Aileen. When she tried to escape from the range he had set, he used coercive means to bring her back.
Aileen knocked on the door of the Box seat with a trembling hand and then went inside.
The Box seat still had the curtains drawn. As before, only unopened liquor was on the table. If Alessia hadn't come today, she would have come here again to serve food without knowing anything.
He must know that Aileen had come, but there was no word from beyond the curtains. Aileen quietly gripped her skirt.
Now she knew why she didn't feel unpleasant when the guest beyond the curtains grabbed her wrist at will. Also, the reason why she kept wondering about the guest in the Box seat and had curiosity.
It was all because of Cesare.
Thinking about it, it was strange from the beginning, but she couldn't even suspect it. She couldn't even imagine that Cesare would be watching her in this way.
Her heart throbbed and ached. In fact, the feeling towards Cesare was even greater than the betrayal she received from her father. But it was too huge and painful to dig into, so she deliberately ignored it.
"...Cesare."
Even though she had called his name countless times, today his name flowing from her mouth felt unfamiliar. As if she was calling a complete stranger for the first time.
A hand wearing a smooth leather glove opened the curtains. A languid voice was heard through the slightly opened gap.
"Come in."
Aileen stepped forward gently. And she opened the curtains, which had been closed all along and had never revealed the inside, with her own hands.
As soon as the thick curtains opened, a splendid sight filled her eyes. The dancers on the lower floor were dancing under the lights, wearing sparkling costumes. It was a stage that anyone would be captivated by.
But of course, Aileen couldn't focus on them at all. All her attention was focused on the man sitting diagonally on a chair in front of the railing. He was leaning deeply against the backrest, and she could smell cigarettes from him.
Cesare didn't look at Aileen. He was still looking at the stage. Aileen followed his gaze.
The back of the stage was much more visible than she had expected. It was as if he had been watching her scurrying around doing chores.
Red eyes finally turned to Aileen. The moment their eyes met, Aileen felt a chill. It was an eye she had never seen in him before.
The eyes, which she had seen after a very long time, had completely lost their usual composure. The bright red gaze seemed to weigh down on Aileen.
Cesare slowly got up. The man who got up from the chair stood facing Aileen with the light from the stage behind him. The shadow cast by him completely covered Aileen.
He approached Aileen. The man who stopped right in front of her reached out to Aileen. Aileen unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut and cowered. But Cesare only took off her glasses.
Thud, the glasses fell to the floor. Cesare twisted his lips briefly.
"Do you think I'm going to do something bad?"
“……”
In the past, she would have jumped up and denied it, saying no, there's no way. But Aileen couldn't answer easily now.
Her thoughts were not clearly organized due to a throbbing headache. Aileen slowly opened her lips.
"I thought I had a dream."
She recalled the touch and kiss that had touched her while she was drowsily asleep and asked.
"Was that you too, Cesare?"
"I wouldn't let anyone else touch you."
Aileen didn't know how to explain the feeling she was feeling now. But there were so many things she wanted to ask.
Why did he send Lord Elrod to Fiore Street, and did he use incense with narcotic ingredients on her...? But instinct blocked Aileen's mouth.
Aileen was afraid of him.
And Cesare would also know what Aileen was thinking and feeling.
Even knowing that Aileen would become like this, he used any means necessary. If necessary, he would have become even more cruel.
But even now, feeling fear towards him, Aileen's heart had not changed. It was an emotion with too deep roots to be changed by such a feeling.
"I... I wanted to save you, Cesare."
Her voice was all cracked. She was sure she would burst into tears while speaking, but for some reason, tears didn't come out. Cesare answered immediately.
"It's meaningless, Aileen."
The tone of his reply was not cold but rather gentle. But his twisted eyes remained the same. Aileen trembled and continued.
"Why... why is it meaningless?"
His hand cupped Aileen's cheek and gently rubbed it. It was a gesture as if telling her not to ask any more questions, not to dig any further, and just to wait quietly.
What would happen if she didn't listen to Cesare this time? But Aileen forced her lips, which kept stiffening, to open.
"Are you... are you going to die in my place, Cesare?"
