180 - The Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 180
180
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Quite some time had passed since the Archduchess of Erzeht had disappeared from view. As she had not been particularly active in external affairs, people were slow to notice her absence.
However, as time stretched on, more and more people began to feel a sense of unease. For there are no eternal secrets in this world.
“……”
Diego frowned as he gazed out at the sea. The harbor, noisy with the cries of seagulls, was lined with shops displaying picture signs. As the harbor was a gathering place for people from various countries, many of whom did not speak the Imperial language, picture signs were used in place of writing.
This place, where people of various skin colors and hair types chattered away in foreign tongues, was Neapol, a port city. It was the largest southern port in the Empire and also Diego's hometown.
It had been a long time since Diego had visited Neapol. It was his first visit in almost five years, but there were still people who remembered him. This was thanks to his past as the most famous mercenary in Neapol.
Diego aimlessly fiddled with his earlobes, which were adorned with numerous piercings. Dressed in sleeveless casual clothes that revealed his tattoos, he squatted on the ground, smoking a cigarette, looking every bit the delinquent. He could have blended in with the harbor thugs without raising an eyebrow.
Diego sighed and exhaled a long stream of smoke. On Cesare's orders, he was scouting foreign mercenaries in Neapol. He needed men with clean backgrounds and good skills, men who could be used and discarded at any time.
He had also captured a nobleman who had fled to the south and subjected him to a bit of interrogation. Perhaps because he had lived such a sheltered life, he spilled everything as soon as the interrogation began, without much prompting.
Although he had successfully completed all the tasks he had been ordered to do, Diego felt no sense of relief. On the contrary, his heart felt heavy, as if his breath was being constricted.
Aileen, who had been captured at Fiore's Tavern, was now confined to the Grand Duke's Residence. When Diego heard that Aileen had been shackled, he felt that what was coming had finally arrived.
Rohan, Michele, and Senon in The Capital were trying their best to persuade Cesare, but they would not have much success. The knights probably felt the same way as Diego.
Diego stared blankly at the surface of the water, smoking. Several cigarette butts had already accumulated at his feet, but his mind was so clouded that he couldn't let go of the cigarette in his hand.
Was this really the right path?
To imprison her like a criminal, no matter what. He could guess why Aileen had left the Grand Duke's Residence, which made him feel even more uneasy.
Moreover, more and more people were wondering about the whereabouts of the Archduchess of Erzeht. They couldn't keep her locked up forever, but no matter how much he tried to persuade him, Cesare wouldn't budge. He didn't know what to do.
“Damn it……”
He muttered to himself, stubbed out the cigarette on the ground, and was about to take out a new one when he heard a voice.
“Diego.”
A subordinate he had brought with him when he came down to the south approached him urgently. Diego responded casually, “Yeah?” But his indifferent expression soon twisted at the subordinate's report.
“You must return to The Capital immediately.”
“…What?”
Diego jumped to his feet. The subordinate looked up at him and, in a trembling voice, delivered the news from The Capital.
“The Grand Duchess has been accused.”
His whole body felt heavy, as if weighed down by iron balls. A dull ache lingered in his limbs.
Even though Cesare had brought Painkiller from the laboratory and fed it to her himself, she didn't feel refreshed. It was her mind that was exhausted, rather than her body.
Aileen, who had been lying still, staring at the ceiling, sat up. Then, she lifted the blanket slightly. The Shackle on her ankle stood out starkly against the white sheet.
Since being captured at the Tavern, she had lost all sense of time and didn't even know what day it was. Counting the days by the changing of night and day was inaccurate because she often fainted and woke up.
‘How long will I have to stay like this?’
She worried that she might be trapped until Cesare's time ran out. She had asked him several times how much time he had left, but she had received no answer.
In fact, this was what Cesare wanted. For Aileen to simply watch him as his time ended. To do nothing and just be quiet.
But Aileen didn't want to give up. No, she couldn't give up. If Cesare was determined not to let her go, she was willing to do anything.
Just as she was resolutely steeling herself, the door opened. There was only one person who could open the bedroom door without knocking.
The tall man in uniform was holding a potted plant in his arms. A small pot with red flowers blooming in it. It was the poppy plant that Aileen had been growing in the laboratory.
“You're awake.”
Cesare leisurely strode across the room and approached the bed. He placed the poppy plant by the window and took off his leather gloves. Then, he checked Aileen's ankle first.
Although he had added fur to the inside of the Shackle, he checked every time to make sure that her skin wasn't chafed or irritated. He probably loosened the Shackle for a while while she was asleep, but it was only done when she was unconscious, so she wasn't sure.
Aileen looked up at him. Cesare met her gaze without any hesitation. As if nothing had happened, as if these were endlessly peaceful days.
Aileen asked him in a low voice.
“The Shackle……”
Her voice was rough and hoarse, so Aileen coughed briefly to clear her throat.
“Please take it off.”
She spoke clearly, but Cesare chuckled as if he had heard a ridiculous joke. He kissed Aileen on the forehead and said,
“You have to be good, Aileen.”
The sound of his lips sticking to her skin and then falling away was ticklish. Cesare then pressed his lips to her eyes and whispered,
“You're not crying anymore?”
“……”
She felt like she was going to cry at his question, but Aileen held back. Instead, she asked him again.
“If you're not going to take it off, at least tell me how much time you have left.”
She swallowed the word 'please' and pleaded desperately. But Cesare only stroked Aileen's hair and changed the subject.
“The flowers wither quickly without your touch. Take care of them.”
Just as Aileen was about to open her lips to speak again, a knock was heard. Cesare's hand paused.
“Your Excellency, this is Senon. I have an urgent matter to report.”
Since Aileen had been confined to the bedroom, no one from the Grand Duke's Residence had been able to visit. It was obvious that Cesare had forbidden anyone from entering the bedroom, but for him to come anyway meant that it must be an urgent matter.
Cesare straightened Aileen's Night Robe, put a blanket over her shoulders, and went to the door. When the door opened, Senon was standing there with a stiff posture. Senon immediately gave a sharp salute.
Senon's eyes turned to Aileen behind Cesare. Aileen was staring at Senon, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, with wide eyes.
But their eyes didn't meet for long. It was because Cesare subtly tilted his head, drawing Senon's attention.
“What is it?”
Senon swallowed hard and opened his mouth.
“Duke Parbellini has accused the Erzeht Grand Duke's family. The charge is that the Grand Duchess manufactured Opium.”
The moment Aileen heard Senon's words, she felt like she couldn't breathe. She knew very well that the manufacture of Opium would eventually become a problem. That was why Senon had been preparing for it in detail.
But she never expected that the secret she was trying to reveal by making Morpheus public would be exposed by Duke Parbellini.
Unlike the frozen Aileen, Cesare showed no particular agitation. He simply gave a command as if he were dealing with a prearranged matter.
“I will attend the trial. Proceed as planned.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Senon was about to step back when Aileen hurriedly got out of bed.
“No!”
She staggered because of the iron chain, but she managed to put her feet on the floor and said,
“I have to attend the trial myself.”
Senon's and Cesare's gazes turned to Aileen at the same time. Her heart was pounding so hard that her chest ached. Aileen pressed her hand over her chest and said,
“Please allow me to attend the trial as the pharmacist who created Morpheus.”
