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"But for the first time, Eileen gave him a watch.
"Did he really receive anything like this from others?"
Even this thought seemed absurd.
She bought it at a watch shop on Venue Street, where only the best ateliers gathered, and Luca, the owner , personally selected this model.
But no matter how hard she tried, the watch was still unworthy of Cesare.
Cesare was born a Prince, and now, as Grand Duke , he was one of the most noble beings in the Empire.
He used only things created and exclusively for him.
Clothes, shoes, furniture, even pens—all of these were priceless objects that could not be bought with mere money.
Cesare's watch was no exception.
Eileen had seen it several times: each piece was adorned with precious stones, and a fine engraving with the imperial family's coat of arms indicated its ownership by the Grand Duke of Erzet.
The simple, unadorned platinum watch Eileen had bought would hardly have earned his attention.
Perhaps no one else would have dared to give him something so ordinary.
While Eileen was deep in thought, Cesare took the watch out of the box.
The white dial contrasted sharply with the black leather glove.
The quiet jingle of a chain slipping from a glove broke the silence.
He glanced at the watch lying in his palm.
For a moment, a dangerous spark flickered in his eyes.
But the hesitation vanished before Eileen could even notice it.
Cesare slowly clenched his fist, clutching the watch so tightly, as if he would never let go.
Then he smiled.
- I like.
Seeing his satisfied expression, Eileen felt the tension melt away.
Relaxed, she couldn't hold back her tears.
- Hic...
Tears gushed forth as if a faucet had been turned on.
She took off her glasses and tried to wipe them with the back of her hand, but it wasn't enough.
Eileen sobbed, begging for forgiveness and:
- S-sorry, your highness, forgive me...
- For what?
- B-because I'm crying...
— Just for this?
- No... for everything.
Cesare took a deep breath.
He removed one glove and put it and his watch in his pocket.
Then he covered Eileen's face, brushing her bangs aside, and wiped away her tears with his thumb .
— I can’t get angry looking at your crying face.
He frowned slightly as he wiped away her tears.
Narrowing his eyes , he quietly muttered:
— I actually intended to behave much worse.
Eileen's heart sank.
So he really was angry.
And he was even planning to act even harsher.
These words plunged her into confusion.
Just one hint that he would reject her was enough for the world to collapse...
Eileen looked at Cesare pleadingly:
— Can I... ask why you got angry?
There was no answer.
Cesare spoke only when she had already cried a whole bucket of tears:
- He was going to sell you.
These words made Eileen's eyes widen in amazement .
"To sell a girl who hadn't even made her debut in High Society.
And to some aging, pig -like nobleman from another country, no less.
He threatened me , demanding money..."
Cesare narrowed his eyes:
— Do you think I have reasons to be angry?
She was so shocked she even forgot to cry.
Now she understood what her father had planned.
Apparently, he planned to extort money from Cesare, using the wedding preparations as a cover, and then pay off the foreign aristocrat in order to disrupt the marriage.
The father was always indignant that, despite the Grand Duke's special affection for his daughter, he had never been able to profit from it.
After the death of the mother, he completely stopped hiding his displeasure .
His complaints only ceased after Cesare set out to conquer Calpene.
At first, he insisted he wouldn't return alive, but as soon as news of victory arrived, he immediately began this scam.
Looking at Eileen's dull eyes, Cesare asked:
- So will you marry this old pig?
Eileen shook her head furiously.
Cesare wiped her wet eyelashes and asked the question again:
- Then what are we going to do, huh?
- I don't know...
How wonderful it would be if she could simply refuse .
But there were few moments in Eileen's life when she could make her own decisions.
And now she was being dragged along again against her will.
Finding no answer, she lowered her gaze.
Then Cesare's sweet voice gently shook her:
- Why don’t you know, Eileen?
He was the only ray of light in the pitch darkness.
Cesare's face came closer, their noses barely touching.
- You must marry me.
Eileen's breathing quickened, her chest heaving.
He looked at her, fluttering like a captured bird, and asked:
— Still don’t want to?
She didn't answer right away, but Cesare didn't rush her.
He already knew the answer.
Eileen's lips parted.
She could no longer say "no." Refusal would condemn her to the fate of a sold object and a hopeless existence.
Feeling as if invisible ropes were entangling her body, she capitulated:
— I'll marry you...
Cesare's long eyes curved into a smile.
Leaning down , he pressed his lips to hers.
Aileen shuddered , trembling, and then a large arm encircled her waist.
Squeezing her slender waist so that she couldn't move , he began a slow kiss.
He lightly bit her lip, then penetrated her parted mouth.
Her tongue twitched helplessly, unsure of what to do, but he gently captured it.
As he ran his tongue across the roof of her mouth, a shudder ran through her.
- Mmh...
A soft moan escaped her throat.
In response, the hand on her waist tightened.
Then it slid down to her lower back.
The large palm slowly slid along her spine.
There was a strange tingling sensation in the lower abdomen.
Painful , but not painful.
It had been the same way the last time they kissed.
A strange sensation arose between her legs, and she tensed her thighs.
Raising her hands hesitantly, she carefully placed them on Cesare's chest.
She had no intention of pushing him away, but he broke the kiss.
Slowly pulling away, he looked at her intently.
Looking into his red eyes, Eileen suddenly remembered the poppy.
Behind his handsome appearance lurked a dangerous color .
But, like those addicted to opium, knowing its dangers, the people around Cesare couldn't leave, even understanding its nature.
Eileen was no exception.
At eleven years old, in the Prince's garden, she first realized its danger.
Since then, she has faced fear many times, but pretended not to notice.
Looking into his petal-red eyes, she suddenly realized they were standing close to the windowsill, pressed against each other.
Only now did she feel the pain in her thighs from the pressure on the frame.
It seemed Cesare noticed this too, because he let her go.
- Eileen.
- Y-yes...
— Why didn’t you eat the cake?
— There was no appetite.
She would hardly be able to taste anything now .
Eileen lowered her head.
Clutching his clothes , she barely managed to squeeze out:
- I want to see my father.
- You better not do that.
He spoke the pure truth.
If Cesare said so, then the meeting would end badly.
The very fact that he knew where her father was but didn't tell her anything was proof of that.
But you can't hide forever.
She's already hit rock bottom.
Could it be worse than humiliating yourself in front of your loved one and then getting into debt?
"It can't get any worse."
Eileen asked Cesare carefully:
- It's okay.
Let me meet him.
After a pause, she added to convince him:
— We need to... tell him about the wedding.
Despite the expression of displeasure that remained on his face , Cesare agreed:
- Then let's go together.
- You're busy...
You can just tell me where he is, and I'll...
She tried to convince him that she could handle it alone, but Cesare stepped over the windowsill.
Looking at the shocked Eileen, he whispered softly:
- Now you have to go everywhere with your husband, Eileen."