62
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As soon as Aileen saw the envelopes with the professors' names on them, her life at the university flashed through her mind.
It was a place Aileen could never have dreamed of attending, given her circumstances. She had never even dared to think about it, but Cesare was the first to tell Aileen about the possibility of university.
Aileen shamelessly clung to him, and eventually succeeded in enrolling through a somewhat cowardly method: "A letter of recommendation from the Imperial Prince of Traon Empire."
Her time at university was one of the happiest periods of Aileen's life. During that time, Aileen was able to resolve countless questions that could not be satisfied through self-study.
Just having academic conversations with people who loved plants was so wonderful, and it was even better that she could specialize in developing medicines using medicinal plants.
In particular, Aileen received a lot of help from the university because there were many aspects of chemical experiments that Aileen could not do on her own.
The students and professors were all much older than Aileen, so it felt difficult at first, but everyone was kind and friendly, and she quickly became close to them.
Although she had to drop out of school due to her family's financial difficulties, the time she spent at university became a precious memory and asset. The knowledge she gained at that time had been a solid support for Aileen ever since.
'I wonder how everyone is doing...'
Aileen opened the envelope, filled with emotion. She thought the envelope was very thick, and sure enough, it contained a long letter.
[...We were late in hearing about your marriage, so we are sending this congratulatory letter in haste. We have enclosed a small gift, though it is insufficient, and hope you will accept it.]
To Aileen, who had become the Archduchess of Erzeht, the professors wrote the letter using extremely polite language. However, in the long story about their recent activities, along with their greetings, it felt as if she could hear the voices of the professors she knew so well.
Aileen smiled softly and checked what gift they had enclosed before finishing the letter. It was part of a paper published in an academic journal.
The paper was based on a topic that Aileen had researched with the professors when she was at university, and Aileen's name was on the list of authors.
She had dropped out in the middle of the research and a long time had passed, so she naturally thought her name would have been removed, but they had included it and submitted it to the journal.
Suddenly, Aileen's heart swelled, and she pressed her lips tightly together, wrinkling her chin as she continued to read the letter.
[...We are planning to visit the Imperial capital soon. If you have time, would it be possible to see you for a while? Everyone has missed you for a long time, so we are cautiously asking, knowing it is impolite.]
The letter ended with a polite request and greetings. Aileen quickly read the letter again with a feeling of regret.
"The professors are coming to the Imperial capital, is it okay to meet them?"
When she asked Sonio, he was startled and replied that of course she could meet them.
"If there is anything you want to do, please tell me comfortably."
For Aileen, who had imagined the life of the Grand Duchess to be very harsh, it was a reassuring answer.
Aileen took a deep breath for a moment, and then, with a big heart, she opened Ornella's letter this time. The stationery, sprayed with high-end perfume, had a subtle lily scent.
The content of the letter was very polite and ordinary. It was an invitation, sincerely congratulating her on her marriage and hoping that her first social gathering as the Archduchess of Erzeht would be her tea party.
It was obvious why Ornella, who was full of hostility towards her, would bother to call her out to a social gathering.
'I'm going to get beaten up a lot if I go...'
Aileen imagined Ornella and her friends standing her in the middle and blowing cigarette smoke at her all at once. She shuddered slightly and shook off the delusion.
'That's too much of an imagination.'
Aileen put Ornella out of her mind and pushed the letter to the corner. It was true that Aileen had to fulfill her duties as the Archduchess of Erzeht, but that did not mean she had to flatter Ornella.
Of course, the Parvellini Duke family was a very powerful family. But it was no match for the Archduke of Erzeht. Even the leading prestigious families had been unable to stand up to Cesare lately.
There was no need to choose Ornella for her first social gathering. It would only further solidify her position in society.
"...That's what I think, but what do you think, Sonio?"
It was a difficult problem to judge alone. So, she told Sonio what she was thinking, and he was very moved.
"That's absolutely right. There's no reason to be swayed at all."
"Then, where should I attend my first social gathering?"
Originally, it was best to ask if you didn't know. She asked, feeling perplexed as she looked at the letter bomb that had been poured out on the Archduchess of Erzeht, as if she had been waiting only for the marriage. Looking at him with 'Please help me' eyes, Sonio smiled. He glanced at the letters on the desk for a moment and began to speak.
"This is just the opinion of the old butler, but the Grand Duchess is the most noble woman in the Empire..."
From the Imperial Palace to the Grand Duke's Residence. The old butler, who had served Cesare for a long time, concluded with a subtle smile.
"Wouldn't it be right to call the subordinates?"
Aileen was able to think in a new direction thanks to Sonio. It was concluded that Aileen would host the first social gathering as the Archduchess of Erzeht herself.
Sonio said that he would personally select the list of attendees to send invitations to. Thanks to his enthusiastic efforts, things progressed smoothly.
Time flew by like a bullet as she talked about this and that with Sonio. Senon, who said he would be back soon, did not appear until the sun went down. Cesare had also been working in his office for a while, but she heard that he had gone out again.
Aileen ate dinner alone.
"He rarely stays at the Grand Duke's Residence."
Sonio, who must have been very busy, attended to her and spoke to her, perhaps feeling sorry for Aileen eating alone at the wide table.
But Aileen was not lonely or lonely at all. From the beginning, it was natural to be alone. The time she had spent with Cesare yesterday and today was a miracle.
Waiting for Cesare was so familiar to Aileen. She just hoped that she could see him again tomorrow.
Aileen finished her dinner cleanly. Then, she read the etiquette books that Sonio had chosen and went to bed early.
She lay in bed but couldn't fall asleep. She thought she would fall asleep quickly because her body was tired, but her mind was still clear.
Aileen tossed and turned in bed with her eyes open. After the hectic moments passed and a leisurely time came, the thoughts she had forgotten grew like bamboo in the rain.
Among the various thoughts, the biggest one was Cesare.
He has no intention of telling her his secrets. But he didn't hide them completely either. Even though she became the Grand Duchess, the one-sided relationship was the same.
If he had really read her diary, he would know exactly how Aileen felt, but he didn't tell her anything.
But he was too kind a man to call it deception. That's why it was even more painful. She couldn't guess Cesare's intentions at all.
'He's not the type to reveal his inner thoughts anyway...'
What made him like this? How could she be of help to him, even a little?
'I want to do well.'
She became greedy after becoming the Grand Duchess. She wanted to stay by his side. But if she kept showing her lacking side, she might be kicked out.
In this regard, Cesare was like a knife. If she ever went against his heart, she might lose all his affection overnight.
'I have to become someone that His Grace the Grand Duke needs.'
Aileen, who was only repeating futile worries, fell asleep without realizing it. Her hazy mind woke up feeling a presence. Her body, which was always used to sleeping alone, reacted sensitively to the presence of others.
Aileen drowsily looked ahead. Vivid crimson eyes were the first to come into view. The man, who went well with the darkness, smiled, curving his sharp eyes. A faint smell of blood brushed the tip of her nose, and then a languid voice mixed with his breath and tickled her skin.
"Sorry, did I wake you?"
Aileen slowly closed and opened her eyes. Cesare was in front of her, so it must be a dream.
She even forgot for a moment that this was the Grand Duke's Residence and smiled as if she had met him in the small bed on the second floor of the brick house.
"Cesare..."
She called his name, smiling more happily than ever. She mixed a little childishness into her beaming face.
"I missed you."
Then Cesare narrowed his eyes slightly. He brought his face closer and asked.
"Since when?"
"Always, always."
It was a whisper that didn't contain all of her affectionate feelings. She was upset that she couldn't convey all the overwhelming feelings she felt. As she looked at him hazily, the red eyes that contained her also became blurred as if drunk on a dream.
"Yes, Aileen."
His lips met hers gently, as if flower petals were falling. He kissed her carefully, as if she would break if he touched her carelessly, and replied in a low voice.
"I've been wanting to see you too."
