59
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Count Domenico only gave her the bread bag and left. After sending him off, Aileen was finally able to go to the lab. She was a little hesitant to reveal to the innkeeper that the Grand Duchess was a pharmacist, so Michele was going to deliver the message instead.
When Michele and Cesare, dressed in Imperial Army uniforms, entered, the inn instantly fell silent. Everyone who had been chattering just moments before froze in place.
The people eating, the people talking, and even the innkeeper who was handing change to a guest all froze, staring at the soldiers who had entered the inn. Just as their gazes were about to turn to Aileen, who was standing behind Cesare, Michele stepped forward.
She snapped her fingers, making a sharp sound. All eyes focused on Michele.
"Attention here! You all must have a lot of sins to hide, but don't worry. We're not here to arrest anyone today."
Only then did people slowly start to move again, but the lively atmosphere didn't return. The soldiers were guarding the entrance, so they couldn't leave and just glanced around nervously.
Recently, soldiers were the most envied and respected profession in the Empire. But the reason why the inn's guests were so afraid of soldiers was entirely because of Aileen. On the day the news of the Arch of Triumph's approval was announced, Cesare had soldiers surround the inn.
After that, the lab was closed and Aileen disappeared without a trace. Rumors spread among the inn's guests that the pharmacist on the second floor had been taken away by soldiers and her fate was unknown. So they naturally became cautious, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.
However, the innkeeper, Pietro, bravely stepped forward despite his visibly frightened face.
"Excuse me, but may I ask a question?"
"Yes?"
Michele sauntered over to the counter. Pietro wiped his sweaty hands on the apron covering his plump belly and asked politely.
"What happened to the pharmacist on the second floor?"
"Ah, that's what we came about. Don't worry, she's doing well."
Michele leaned one hand on the counter, stood with her legs crossed, and continued talking to the innkeeper. Pietro stood at attention, listening intently to Michele's words. Aileen was a little uneasy, but she figured Michele would explain everything well.
Taking advantage of the attention focused on Michele, she quickly went up to the second floor with Cesare. Those who belatedly discovered Aileen hiding behind Cesare widened their eyes.
They looked back and forth between the <La Verita> in their hands and Aileen. But Aileen, only looking at Cesare's back, didn't notice the gazes pouring down on her.
The second floor was quiet. It seemed that there were no overnight guests yet because it was still daytime. Cesare took out a key from his pocket and removed the large padlock that secured the lab door. Aileen happily entered the lab, which she hadn't seen in a long time.
The lab was cleaner than expected. She had expected it to be covered in dust, but it was surprisingly tidy.
The ornamental poppy, which didn't contain any narcotics, was still alive and well. The fresh petals showed signs of care. It seemed that Cesare had kindly had someone take care of the lab.
However, one flower had a few petals fallen off and looked a little unsightly. It was because Cesare had carelessly touched it before and made the petals fall off.
'But Cesare must have been the one who ordered them to water it.'
Even though his touch had damaged the flower, it had survived thanks to his instructions, so she hoped the poppy wouldn't resent Cesare.
Aileen patted the poppy pot a few times and looked around the lab. She had decided in her mind what to take with her since hearing the good news from Michele.
All the research data was gone. It seemed they had taken it all when they investigated Morpheus earlier. Seeing the empty bookshelf made her feel empty, but she didn't show it and examined the lab equipment.
'Should I take the expensive, easily breakable lab equipment first?'
Aileen, looking at the round-bottom flask, suddenly turned to Cesare. He was standing against the wall with his arms crossed, watching Aileen scurrying around. When their eyes met, he spoke first.
"Keep making Morpheus. I'll support you, so don't worry about anything else."
Then he added that the research data had already been taken to the Grand Duke's Residence. It was good news, but Aileen asked cautiously.
"What about the execution...?"
Then Cesare spoke a truth that was extremely arrogant but obvious.
"Who would dare put the Archduchess of Erzeht on the Guillotine?"
Aileen almost ran to Cesare and kissed him. She barely managed to hold back and maintain the Grand Duchess's dignity, but she couldn't hide her flushed face.
"Thank you. Thank you so much! I will definitely complete Morpheus."
She clasped her hands together and vowed to work really hard and make an amazing medicine, as much as he believed in her. Cesare, smiling at Aileen's solemn vow, replied that he would look forward to it.
Aileen, in a very excited mood, hummed as she looked around the lab. Then she felt like she wanted to do something for Cesare right away.
'I want to repay him somehow right now.'
Even if she couldn't do something as great as Cesare, she wanted to express her gratitude in a small way. After racking her brain, Aileen thought of the scar ointment.
Cesare had been cut on the hand by a knife while trying to save her when she was kidnapped. The wound must have almost healed, so it would be good to apply ointment to prevent scarring. She scolded herself for not thinking of it sooner and quickly searched for the scar ointment.
Originally, the lab was a space with order in disorder. Aileen had placed things according to her own rules, but it was harder to find things now that it was neatly organized. After struggling for a while, she finally found the scar ointment on the display shelf.
"Cesare!"
Aileen hurried over to Cesare.
"Please show me your palm for a moment."
Then Cesare chuckled and showed her his hand, which was covered in a leather glove.
"Your... real palm."
"You want me to take it off?"
Aileen paused at the subtle nuance. But since it wasn't wrong, she nodded in agreement.
"Yes, please take it off."
Instead of taking off his glove, Cesare teased Aileen.
"You keep telling me to take things off so carelessly."
"The glove. Not clothes, the glove..."
When Aileen hastily added the subject, Cesare lowered his eyes and smiled.
"Okay."
He lowered his voice as if revealing a secret.
"I only take it off in front of you, Aileen."
The whispering voice tickled her, and her mood suddenly became strange. Aileen unconsciously held her breath and watched him take off his glove. Her heart pounded, drumming in her chest.
The glossy black leather glove was slowly removed, revealing the back of his hand. It was a masculine hand with clear tendons and bones. His unusually long fingers completely slipped out of the glove.
Cesare handed her his hand. Aileen carefully held his hand in both of hers. And slowly turned it over to check his palm. A short sound escaped from Aileen's lips.
"...Ah."
His palm was smooth. Without even a trace that there had been a wound.
Of course, Cesare had a very good recovery rate compared to others. But even so, it was strange that there were no traces left like this. It hadn't been long enough for the scar to disappear completely.
'Is it the other hand? No, it was definitely this hand.'
Cesare didn't react at all as he watched the flustered Aileen. He just obediently offered his hand to Aileen.
"S-show me the other hand too."
She stammered, wondering if it was the other hand, and he obediently took off the glove on the other hand and showed it to her. Similarly, his palm was only smooth. Aileen, holding one of his hands in each of her hands, fell into confusion.
'What is it?'
She felt something was wrong. But she didn't know exactly what was wrong. A vague question clouded her mind. The sense of incongruity she had felt from Cesare until now surged more intensely than ever.
At that moment, she had a certain instinctive feeling. The feeling that she had to ask a question right now. Aileen unconsciously opened her lips.
"Cesare."
Looking at his flawless, smooth red eyes, she threw out the first question that came to her mind.
"How did you know about the wedding ring drawn in my diary?"
