33
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He was wearing a navy blue frock coat instead of his uniform. Soldiers were required to wear their uniforms when entering the Imperial Palace unless there was a special reason. That was also Cesare's order as the commander.
It was an order based on the judgment that the military should appear attractive in order to attract talented individuals. In fact, after the soldiers' Triumphal March, the number of volunteers for the Imperial Army exploded.
In particular, Cesare was like a symbol of the Imperial Army, so he usually wore his uniform. But the fact that he appeared at the Imperial Palace in civilian clothes meant that this was an unofficial visit.
Probably not on the Grand Duke's schedule today...
Aileen stared at him blankly. Cesare looked at Aileen and slowly walked inside. He stopped near the sofa for a moment, stared at Aileen with his red eyes, and opened his mouth.
"Aren't you doing it today?"
Aileen blinked, not understanding what he meant. He chuckled and added.
"Saying I'm not your husband yet."
Aileen's face flushed because of the man who readily spoke the word "husband." But Aileen was the only one embarrassed.
Cesare sat right next to Aileen. He sat down as if the three of them had agreed to meet from the beginning.
He put his arm on the back of the sofa. His forearm was behind Aileen's small shoulder. Aileen shrank like a mimosa plant at the casually touching sensation.
It was the first time Aileen had met Cesare since that night. The man, bathed in the midday sunlight, was still beautiful and perfect. It was hard to believe that he was the owner of the lewd memories Aileen had just been recalling.
"Oh, you found out too quickly."
Leone burst into a hearty laugh. He shook his head as if he couldn't handle it. Then he tilted his head to the side and asked playfully.
"Is Lord Rotan still alive?"
"Well, it depends on your answer, brother."
Cesare gave an answer that didn't sound like a joke at all. Leone, who muttered that he was nervous, handed Cesare a teacup.
Only then did Aileen notice that the tea set was prepared for three people. Leone had expected Cesare's visit from the beginning.
But Cesare didn't touch his own teacup, and instead took Aileen's teacup. He threw away the cold tea, refilled the cup, and added sugar cubes and milk as Aileen always drank it.
After making it almost like milk tea and placing it in front of Aileen, he took a small muffin, poked it with a fork, and handed it to her. Aileen, who ended up accepting the fork, looked at him cautiously, but Cesare's gaze was directed at Leone. He added brandy to his teacup and asked.
"Why did you call Aileen?"
"I have something I want to ask."
"Is there something you need to ask while keeping it a secret from me?"
"I want to say the same thing."
Clang, Leone put down his teacup with a sound. The Emperor, who deliberately committed an act that violated etiquette, calmly stared at his brother.
"She doesn't seem to know anything."
Aileen blinked, clutching the fork with the muffin on it. Cesare glanced at Aileen. Seeing that Aileen hadn't touched the muffin or the tea, he nodded his chin.
Aileen reflexively opened her mouth and took a bite of the muffin. After chewing and swallowing, Cesare gestured to the teacup this time.
Aileen immediately picked up the teacup and drank the tea. Unlike before, it tasted sweet and smooth, and went down her throat easily.
The tea leaves of the Imperial Palace were of amazing quality, so the sweetness was also artistic. After being briefly intoxicated by the blissful taste, Aileen quickly regained her senses and began to look around again.
At that moment, Cesare suddenly turned his body towards Aileen.
"...!"
Aileen stopped breathing. A cool scent came from him as he suddenly approached. It was a cold but refreshing scent, like a forest soaked in the dawn dew.
A black leather glove caressed Aileen's lips. Cesare brushed away the muffin crumbs on her lips with a nonchalant touch and then straightened his body again. Aileen's neck turned red in an instant.
Leaving Aileen, who had turned so red that it seemed like red water would pop out if you poked her, Cesare drank his tea as if nothing had happened.
"You..."
Leone, who had watched the scene, burst into laughter as if he was dumbfounded. Cesare only raised one eyebrow.
"My bad, my bad."
Leone muttered in a tone of disgust and looked at Aileen. He politely apologized to Aileen, who was still red.
"I apologize if I startled you. Lady Aileen Elrod. I only want to be friendly with you."
"T-Thank you."
As she replied with thanks, Leone burst into laughter again. It was hard to know what was so funny. Leone turned his gaze to Cesare and asked.
"Shall we talk for a bit?"
At Leone's request, Cesare looked at Aileen. Then Leone immediately added.
"I'll have Aileen guided to my private garden."
Aileen quickly nodded, saying it would be quite interesting. Anything was fine as long as she could get out of here. Then she realized that it was an impolite act and quickly added that she was sorry. Then Leone laughed again.
"Look around for a bit."
Cesare added quietly as he escorted Aileen to the door of the audience chamber.
"This time, don't leave your husband behind."
He stroked her cheek and let her out of the audience chamber. Aileen, who had barely escaped from the suffocating space, took a deep breath. A servant who had been waiting in front of the audience chamber greeted Aileen politely.
"I will guide you to the garden."
Aileen followed the servant to the garden. She passed the corridor of the central garden, which she had walked with Rohan earlier, in the opposite direction. The central garden was also full of precious flowers and trees, so she glanced around with curious eyes, but somewhere she smelled a pungent odor. It was the smell of tobacco.
'Who is smoking in the Emperor's palace?'
Just as she had a question, the servant suddenly stopped and bowed his head. Aileen, who was behind the servant, moved her face to the side and looked ahead.
There stood a surprisingly beautiful woman. It was platinum blonde, which she had only heard about. Her light green eyes were as tender as newly sprouted buds. Her skin was white and transparent, and her slender shoulders and arms naturally evoked a sense of protection in those who saw her.
There was only one beauty in the capital who was famous for her dazzling platinum blonde hair. Looking at the woman like spring, Aileen recalled the description she had seen in a magazine.
[With her innocent appearance, she is the Empire's proud flower. The nickname 'Lily of Traon' is the most fitting modifier for her.]
She was Ornella von Parvellini, the only daughter of the Parvellini Duke family.
Ornella was also engaged to Emperor Leone. There was a complicated reason why she, who should have become Empress long ago, was still in an ambiguous position as an engaged woman.
When Leone was a prince, no aristocratic family wanted to send their daughter. There was no reason to take a risk on a prince with no background.
When Leone became Emperor, Ornella expressed her desire to the Duke to form a marriage alliance with the Traon Imperial Family. As the imperial power was still unstable, the Parvellini Duke strongly dissuaded his daughter's choice.
The Duke did not want his only daughter to go down a dangerous path. But when Ornella pleaded earnestly, he had no choice but to discuss marriage with the Imperial Family.
At the time, the Imperial Family, which needed to increase its power even a little, had no reason to refuse the marriage proposal.
Originally, the person Ornella wanted was Cesare. However, Cesare refused because of his expedition, so she became engaged to Leone.
However, Leone postponed the marriage. He meant that he could not hold a national wedding alone, leaving his brother who had gone to the battlefield.
The Parvellini Duke also readily accepted Leone's proposal, as it would be advantageous to break off the engagement immediately if Cesare was defeated.
And now that Cesare has won the war.
Ornella was in the midst of preparing for her wedding. As the Emperor's national wedding, there should be no negligence in the preparations, so she heard that the wedding was scheduled for next spring.
She was the one who would become the most noble woman in the Empire. She was the main character of the capital's high society, a woman who was admired and envied by all nobles. Her status was so far away that it was embarrassing to even compare her to Aileen.
'Ah, greetings.'
Aileen followed the servant and gave a clumsy greeting. She bowed her head slightly and then raised it again. Until then, Ornella had no reaction.
She looked at Aileen with a blank face. Her transparent light green eyes sent a shockingly blatant gaze. Ornella moved only her eyes, looked at the servant, and asked.
"Who?"
"This is Aileen Elrod from the Elrod barony."
Hearing the servant's words, she made a short sound, "Hmm," and slowly approached Aileen. Aileen wanted to hide behind the servant, but the servant quickly stepped aside.
Ornella stared at Aileen and sucked on her cigarette. Then she blew smoke on Aileen's face. She giggled as she watched Aileen cough uncontrollably.
"Congratulations on your marriage?"
