21
===
There was no other explanation for such a reaction. From some point on, Malena had been scouring not only the capital but also foreign lands to buy snacks, all with the intention of surprising Aileen.
But every time she brought something, she failed, and eventually, she burst into frustration.
"What dessert haven't you tried, anyway!"
Aileen, who was eating fruit pudding, widened her eyes at the outburst.
"Ah, that's... someone I know often gives me gifts like this..."
He must be quite wealthy. Well, he was rumored to be a skilled pharmacist, so it wasn't strange for him to have a wealthy client or two.
Malena scoffed and dug into the fruit pudding. Then, she suddenly realized.
"......"
A month had long passed.
She slowly put down her spoon and looked at Aileen. Aileen smiled innocently and said,
"But Lena doesn't buy them as often as that person. I'm having so much fun these days thanks to Lena."
Looking at her pure face, Malena felt her heart boil. Tormented by an indescribable emotion, Malena jumped up from her seat. Then she plopped back down.
Only after a month had passed did she truly understand her own heart. She didn't want to die. She wanted to live.
"...How foolish."
She muttered to herself, shoved the pudding into her mouth, and even snatched Aileen's pudding away. She scolded Aileen, saying it was punishment for lying, and then left. Of course, she returned a few days later with more snacks.
Aileen and Malena became friends who occasionally met to eat desserts and chat. They never talked about their personal lives, which made it easier to be comfortable with each other.
Then one day, Malena became obsessed with the idea of getting rid of Aileen's frustrating bangs and glasses.
"Hold still for a moment."
Her hair color was unique and beautiful, but the problem was that she didn't style it at all. It would be much better if she took off her glasses and cut her bangs with scissors. But as soon as Malena held up the scissors, Aileen began to tremble.
"Ah, no, Lena..."
She was trembling so pitifully that Malena had no choice but to put down the scissors and just pin up her bangs.
"Aileen. Never show your face again. Understand?"
Malena had never seen anyone so beautiful in her life. She had a face as enchanting as a forest fairy. And those eyes, with such an enchanting color... But she couldn't be happy at all. Cold sweat ran down her spine.
For a poor and powerless woman, a beautiful face was a curse.
Malena had experienced that curse more painfully than anyone else. Malena implored Aileen never, under any circumstances, to show her face.
She didn't seem to know how beautiful she was, so it would be much better for her to live her life touching her beloved plants. Fortunately, Aileen obediently followed Malena's words.
But a few days ago, she had seen Aileen at a tavern on Fiore Street. Aileen, with her face fully exposed.
As soon as she saw Archduke Erzeht sitting next to Aileen, she knew she was in big trouble. If Aileen had given Malena a reason to live again, Cesare had given Malena a chance for revenge.
Working under Cesare, Malena had come to know how terrifying he was.
For Aileen to be involved with such a Grand Duke...
What business would a common pharmacist have with a Grand Duke? Surely, her face had been discovered and she was being used. Aileen must have been deceived by Cesare's glamorous appearance and dragged here.
She couldn't concentrate on the performance, fearing that Aileen might end up working at the tavern. As soon as the performance ended, she rushed to ask to see Cesare. But there was no way a mere dancer could meet the Grand Duke at will.
Malena was prepared to die as she pleaded. She even threatened to expose the things Cesare had ordered her to do if he didn't meet her.
Fortunately, Cesare graciously granted her an audience. His aide conveyed the Grand Duke's permission and handed her a newspaper. It was a newspaper with an article about Aileen and the Grand Duke's engagement.
"...That's why I came."
Aileen nodded, feeling slightly dazed, after hearing Malena's story. She had never imagined that Malena worked for Cesare. After hearing everything, a thought suddenly struck her.
'He must know about my lie too.'
She had told Cesare that she didn't know Malena, but now she had come here like this. She was worried about what he would think of her. She couldn't take back the lie that had already been told, so Aileen just groaned inwardly.
"Aileen."
Malena said with a serious look.
"Tell me honestly. How did this happen? If there was any coercion..."
She bit her plump lip with her even teeth and declared resolutely, her blue eyes blazing.
"I'll help you somehow."
Even as she said it, they both knew it was impossible. There was no one in the Traon Empire who could stand against Cesare.
The nobles in the parliament were the only ones who opposed Cesare, but their momentum had been broken by the Arch of Triumph approval and the Blood Banquet incident.
No one could help Aileen. It was impossible.
And Aileen had already promised Cesare that she would become his Grand Duchess.
"His Excellency saved me. I committed a crime, but he covered it up, and I had a debt... and he took care of that too. And it just so happened that His Excellency needed a Grand Duchess, so he proposed to me..."
She mustered her courage and told her the truth. Aileen smiled awkwardly and said,
"I chose to become the Grand Duchess."
But Malena was not convinced at all. She became even angrier after hearing Aileen's explanation.
"Someone as innocent as Aileen doesn't know."
Malena's breathing became rough. Her tightly curled eyelashes fluttered.
"Do you think that was entirely your own choice? No, it's just a result created according to his will."
Her fear was clearly visible in her blue eyes.
"I've seen all the ways His Excellency deals with his enemies. He may be hiding his true nature in front of Aileen, but Aileen, he..."
Malena whispered slowly.
"He doesn't have a human heart."
Aileen couldn't help but laugh. She gave a weak smile and replied,
"I know."
"Then why!"
"I like him."
She felt a throbbing pain in her chest. She was revealing the foolish feelings she had kept to herself for the first time.
"I know everything... but I still like him."
Aileen lowered her gaze. She couldn't bring herself to look at Malena. She fidgeted with her fingernails and muttered,
"If I don't become the Grand Duchess, I'll have to go abroad because of my circumstances. Then I won't be able to see His Excellency, and I don't want that, so I chose to marry him."
"......"
"I'm sorry, Malena."
Malena didn't answer. She was silent for a long time. She opened and closed her lips several times, trying to say something, but then just gave a hollow laugh.
"What can I do? Hearts don't move as we want them to. Aileen must prefer faces over personalities."
Malena gently cupped Aileen's cheek with her hand. She stared at her for a moment, then whispered darkly.
"Knowing that you'll be unhappy, he's making you like this. He's so cruel."
Would she be unhappy? It seemed likely. An unwanted marriage, an unsuitable partner. A being as high as the sun in the sky and herself, no better than a weed on the wall.
If she became the Grand Duchess, she would have to attend social events and get involved in political disputes, but there was no way she, who knew nothing, could do well.
But all those misfortunes combined were smaller than the misfortune of not being able to see Cesare.
"If you change your mind, tell me anytime. I think I can do something about it at least once."
Aileen nodded obediently. Malena's face softened a little, and she hugged Aileen. They hugged each other for a while, feeling each other's warmth, when there was a knock on the front door.
"I've brought the groceries."
At Michele's voice, Malena slowly broke the hug. She held Aileen's hand tightly one last time.
"But make sure he buys you a ring. With the most expensive jewel in the Empire, no, in the continent."
Malena growled menacingly.
"Right now!"
