46
===
The Grand Duke's knights had long despised the Lord and Lady Elrod.
Not only Lord Elrod, who was steeped in alcohol, gambling, and women, but also Lady Elrod, Cesare's nanny, was not well-liked.
She was so proud of being Cesare's nanny. The knights had seen her kind often enough. Those who could not fill themselves and tried to gain self-esteem from Cesare instead. Those who regarded the glory Cesare had built as their own achievements.
Since there had been so many of them before, they initially paid little attention. However, after meeting her daughter and developing affection for Aileen, they gradually became concerned about Lady Elrod.
Lady Elrod could not bear the fact that her daughter was more loved by Cesare than she was. Eventually, she reached the point of envying her young, own daughter.
Cesare also recognized Lady Elrod's abnormal behavior. Around that time, Lord Elrod also began to argue with his wife more frequently, so Cesare concluded that the Elrod couple could not be good parents.
To protect Aileen from the Elrod couple, Cesare and the knights pondered in various directions. One of them was to adopt Aileen into another noble family. But Aileen was not someone who could abandon her family.
If she were forcibly separated, Aileen would also be broken.
So Cesare chose the most moderate method: enrolling Aileen in a university in a distant land.
Aileen had been interested in plants since she was young. Although young, she possessed enough knowledge to study at a university.
Cesare mentioned the university to Aileen, naturally inducing her to take an interest.
Aileen became completely absorbed in the idea of a university where she could freely study all kinds of plants and learn about their medicinal uses. However, she hesitated, concerned about the tuition and her age.
To Aileen, who was about to give up, Cesare advised her to apply, saying there was a scholarship system. He instilled sweet hope, saying that although it was common to enroll around adulthood, early admission was possible if one had sufficient knowledge.
Aileen was the type to believe that even a stone was gold if the Prince said so. Aileen diligently wrote her personal statement and academic plan as he instructed. Cesare helped by simply writing a letter of recommendation… or so Aileen knew.
Unbeknownst to her, Cesare had already put pressure on the university with a large donation, creating a place for Aileen and a special scholarship.
Aileen, who entered the university, was happy. At first, she struggled with unfamiliar classes, but she quickly absorbed knowledge with her diligent attitude and clever mind.
The grades that rose vertically never fell down after reaching their peak. He knew she would do well, but he was so surprised that she would do so well that he was startled every time he received her report card by mail.
The professors who were forced to accept a student because of the Prince also initially disliked Aileen, but they were soon enamored with her dazzling intelligence and cherished her. Even the botany professor and the pharmacology professor fought over wanting to take Aileen to their respective laboratories.
Perhaps Aileen would have worked in the laboratory and become a professor if her family had not fallen.
Lord Elrod finally ruined the family, and Lady Elrod sent Aileen a long letter. The letter begging her to return was filled with deep depression and anger. Aileen gave up all her studies and returned to hell on her own feet and was imprisoned.
On the day Aileen returned to the capital, the Grand Duke's knights gathered at a bar and drank all night long.
They were saddened that her wings, which could have soared higher, had been broken. But there was nothing more they could do. Since she refused financial help, Cesare and the knights could only watch.
In fact, the Elrod couple had ruined Aileen's life. Therefore, when Lady Elrod died, they were not happy, but they were not sad either.
"...It seems she also committed physical abuse."
Diego told Senon everything he had heard from Aileen. He knew that Aileen was insecure about her appearance, but he did not know that she hated it to this extent.
She was even almost stabbed in the eye with scissors.
The things Lady Elrod had done were so disgusting that he felt nauseous.
"Our Young Lady, what is there to hate about her? She was even smaller when she was a child. She was so tiny."
Diego gnashed his teeth and spat out harsh curses. Senon did not curse, but his eyes were also filled with anger. It was when the two were exchanging Lady Elrod's story in a heated tone.
The owner of the Grand Duke's Residence returned.
"Have you arrived?"
Senon and Diego lowered the cigarettes they were smoking and greeted him. Only after Cesare nodded lightly and allowed them to continue smoking did they put the cigarettes back in their mouths.
"Oh, should I smoke one for the first time in a while?"
Cesare muttered as he leisurely approached the window. Diego briefly placed the cigarette he was smoking on the ashtray and quickly took out a cigarette case and matches from his pocket. He offered the cigarette first and then lit the match.
Scratching the red phosphorus on the match head, the flame ignited in one go. Cesare slightly tilted his head and brought the end of the cigarette to the match Diego held out.
Cesare, who had lit his cigarette, turned his head and looked out the window. He smoked for a while, looking at the orange tree in the courtyard.
Cesare did not particularly enjoy smoking. The fact that he was smoking meant that something had upset him.
There was no need to even guess what it was. It must be Lady Elrod.
Senon looked at his profile as he stared at the orange tree.
He had served Cesare as his master for quite a long time. Originally, he was difficult to know because he did not reveal his inner thoughts well, but Cesare had been particularly difficult lately.
What is His Excellency thinking?
Opinions were divided among the knights, but there was a common feeling. It was that His Excellency seemed to be acting more impulsively than before, but he also seemed to be suppressing something.
Cesare's actions toward Aileen were also ambiguous in many ways.
Cesare had changed. He had come to see Aileen not as a child but as a marriage partner. However, unlike before, when he tried to take care of her as much as possible, there were cases where he deliberately let her experience bad things.
He was deliberately exposing Aileen to the outside world to classify those who were hostile to her.
The incident with the Parbellini Duchess Young Lady was also like that. He could have prevented Aileen from encountering her, or at least given her an expensive dress as a gift so that Aileen would not have an embarrassing experience. But Cesare just let it go.
He neglected the rumors circulating in society and the insulting gossip about Aileen in newspapers and magazines.
He was simply watching who the adversaries were who were enticing her with sweet sugar and what they were trying to do.
"Senon."
Cesare, who was lazily lowering his eyes and exhaling smoke, said in a calm tone.
"I told you that you can say anything you want to say."
"...Your Excellency."
Senon rolled his eyes and looked at Diego. But Diego only raised his thumb. Senon mustered up courage for Aileen.
"I don't understand why you keep exposing Aileen."
"Because what I knew has changed a lot."
Cesare readily gave an answer, but it was a strange remark that was incomprehensible.
"The kidnapping was also something Aileen shouldn't have experienced. Many things have changed, so we need to reorganize the board accordingly… This method will be the best to quickly and accurately classify those who will harm Aileen."
"Do you mean it's to protect Aileen?"
"Yes."
Senon could not suppress the emotions that welled up.
"I thought Your Excellency wanted Aileen to be happy. Even if it takes time, in a safer and gentler way..."
"Another method, huh."
Cesare, who cut off Senon's words, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray as if crushing it. His crimson eyes flickered like the surface of water just before overflowing.
"Well, what could it be? Putting shackles on Aileen's ankles, locking her up in the Grand Duke's Residence, and preventing her from meeting anyone?"
