83 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 83
83
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He had only taken her hand for a brief escort as she got out of the car. It was a customary gesture, devoid of any real meaning.
However, the moment Lucio gripped her hand tightly, the atmosphere turned strange. Aileen looked at Lucio in surprise.
The senior, who usually had a gentle impression, wore an unfamiliar expression. It felt as if he was acting with some kind of emotion. Perhaps it was because Lucio had confessed his past feelings for her that she felt this way even more.
For some reason, she felt a slight fear. Before her head could properly understand the emotion her instincts recognized, Aileen unconsciously turned to Cesare.
Cesare, who had been staring at their clasped hands, slowly raised his gaze and met her eyes. The moment she saw his crimson eyes, the anxiety she had felt until just now subsided.
His face was as expressionless as usual. His vivid red eyes were as calm as ever. Cesare stared at her for a moment, then twisted his lips into a faint smile.
As the brief smile faded, Lucio flinched and released her hand. Aileen clenched and unclenched her slightly numb hand.
The professors who had gotten out of the car were also looking at them with surprised eyes. Aileen glanced at Cesare.
‘Does he think it was rude?’
He was unlikely to be jealous of Lucio, but he might think Lucio had acted rudely towards the Grand Duchess. If he had a mind to, Cesare could be more cruel than necessary.
In the past, he had shot a thief who stole oranges, to prevent anyone from coveting the orange tree in the Brick house. This time, he might make an example of Lucio by kneeling him in the square and shooting him.
Aileen worried inwardly, but Cesare didn't even glance at Lucio. He only looked at Aileen and called her name.
"Aileen."
Aileen hurried towards Cesare without looking back. He waited patiently until she was in front of him. And only when Aileen had completely reached him did he open his arms. Aileen hesitated for a moment, but then snuggled into Cesare's arms.
He held Aileen loosely. This was to prevent Aileen from being hurt by the decorations on his uniform.
The sense of security that the broad embrace gave her made Aileen forget the surrounding situation and the thoughts that had been complicating her mind until recently. She simply savored the happiness that welled up from deep within.
"I didn't expect you to be home already."
If she had known, she would have returned home sooner. As she spoke with regret, Cesare lightly kissed her forehead instead of answering.
Only after gently stroking Aileen's cheek with his hand did he turn his gaze to the guests. Aileen, who had been captivated by Cesare's early return, belatedly introduced the guests.
"Ah, this is from Palerchia University..."
"I know."
Cesare, still holding Aileen's waist, looked at Glenda and Elio. They had a dazed look on their faces as they saw Archduke Erzeht in front of them.
The poor professors froze as they met his red eyes, which held a faint smile. Cesare spoke their names in a leisurely voice.
"Glenda from the Department of Pharmacy, and Elio from the Department of Botany."
They were well past middle age. Calling them by their names without the title of professor was considered somewhat impolite.
However, Cesare was the Grand Duke. The professors should have been honored that Cesare knew their names. They couldn't dare to question his manners.
Of course, they didn't have the luxury to think about such things. The professors had lived peaceful and comfortable lives as scholars.
They rarely had the opportunity to meet soldiers, but when they encountered Cesare, they trembled like mice in front of a lion. The fear that Glenda and Elio felt was clearly etched on their faces.
Aileen knew that she was used to soldiers, but others were not.
‘Besides, Cesare is especially…’
There wouldn't be many people in the Traon Empire who wouldn't be nervous when he stared with his red eyes.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
Glenda and Elio trembled slightly as they bowed. They paid their respects politely and belatedly offered their congratulations on the victory.
"Congratulations on your victory. Thanks to Your Highness's defense of the Empire, all citizens of the Traon Empire can enjoy peace."
"As citizens of the Traon Empire, we sincerely thank you."
Their eyes were filled with fear as well as respect. Cesare, who had led an impossible war to victory as the sword of the Empire, was a hero in the history of the Empire's citizens.
Aileen felt strange as she watched the professors, who had been happily chatting with her at the tea house, express their admiration and praise for Cesare.
Even though she knew it, she was reminded of what kind of existence Cesare was. Originally, Aileen should have been behind Glenda and Elio, not in Cesare's arms.
‘No, we wouldn’t have met in the first place…’
Aileen suppressed the bitterness that was slowly rising again. Meanwhile, Cesare said to the professors with a faint smile.
"I hope you will be comfortable during your stay at the Grand Duke's Residence. I will tell them to take care of you without any shortcomings."
Then, Cesare naturally pulled Aileen closer and entered the mansion first. As soon as the gate closed, he naturally lifted Aileen into his arms and climbed the stairs.
"Cesare..."
Aileen's face flushed with embarrassment, fearing that the professors or Lucio might see her being carried like a child. Aileen subtly expressed her desire to be put down, constantly glancing at the door, but Cesare had no intention of doing so. He asked Aileen as he climbed the stairs.
"How was your outing today?"
As soon as he asked, Aileen forgot her embarrassment for a moment and poured out her words. She had so many stories she wanted to tell Cesare.
"It was fun. I was lucky enough to find a out-of-print book at the bookstore. Oh, it's not a book about plants. As you know, Cesare, I don't just read books about plants. And I looked at the experimental tools, but I didn't buy them. I already have them all in the lab. In fact, the ones in the lab are better! But I felt bad for not buying anything, so I bought a simple glass beaker."
As she spoke excitedly, she had already reached the top of the stairs. But Cesare didn't put Aileen down, and Aileen forgot to ask him to put her down.
"...And it turns out the professors were looking for me. They showed me the medicine I sold, the Headache remedy, and I was so surprised. Then they said they wanted to meet the pharmacist who made it, but I was so embarrassed that I didn't know what to do, so I just told them the truth."
At this point, she paused and looked at Cesare's expression. She had said it before because he said it was okay, but if he was unhappy with her revealing that she was a pharmacist, she would quit immediately.
Fortunately, Cesare didn't seem unhappy at all, but rather a little pleased. Aileen was relieved and continued to speak diligently.
"So they found out that I'm a pharmacist. They said they wanted to commercialize the Headache remedy I made. They praised it a lot, saying it was a medicine that would benefit the people of the Empire, but I don't really know... If you allow it, Cesare, I think it would be okay to try..."
The professors had showered her with so much praise that she felt a little confident. But as she spoke about her achievements in front of Cesare, it felt like nothing. He was being praised as a hero who saved the Empire.
Aileen's voice, which had confidently brought up the Headache remedy, gradually decreased. The end of her words was completely blurred, and in the end, it disappeared.
Aileen, who had closed her mouth, belatedly realized that she had entered the bedroom. Cesare casually continued, unbuttoning Aileen's dress.
"I have to let my wife do whatever she wants."
Before she knew it, her slender collarbone was revealed. Aileen shivered at the air touching her skin. Cesare asked in a calm tone.
"So, what did you talk about with your senior?"
