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Eileen, whom her father had suddenly decided to sell abroad, naturally turned to Cesare for help.
But he had refused to receive her.
According to the original plan, Cesare intended to intervene personally only when the "old pig" appeared at the brick house to take Eileen away.
"Seeing her face, I felt my heart soften."
Cesare clutched the pocket watch in one hand, while with the other he playfully twirled a strand of Eileen’s hair.
Rotan suppressed a sigh, watching as Cesare tortured her, haphazardly running his fingers through her locks of that mysterious, iridescent shade.
"Since your heart has softened, wouldn't it have been better to make it so Baron Elodd didn't see her?"
"Hmm, that was Eileen's own wish."
Though Cesare answered nonchalantly, Rotan knew perfectly well what kind of man he was.
Even if a softer method existed, Cesare would have intentionally shown her the disgusting sight to distance Eileen from her father.
Although family bonds are strong, Eileen held particularly firm to the concept of family.
The late Baroness Elodd had also not been known for normal behavior.
Being psychologically unstable, she had bullied Eileen for a long time.
Yet Eileen sincerely loved her mother.
Rotan valued Eileen’s purity, but every time he saw her suffer because of it, he felt conflicted.
The desire to protect her innocence and the thought that perhaps it wouldn't hurt for her to become a little more spiteful were constantly at war within him.
This latter feeling arose particularly sharply whenever he saw her, unsuspecting, falling into Cesare’s nets.
But in the end, Rotan also wished for Eileen to become a Grand Duchess, so he didn't pursue the topic further and turned the conversation elsewhere.
"What do you intend to do with Malena?
I don't think she will back down so easily."
After her laboratory was closed, Eileen had asked the innkeeper to look after her clients.
She’d told him to pass on that although she was temporarily closing her doors, medicines would still be sold through the inn, so there was nothing to worry about.
However, Eileen had overlooked one detail: her clients had become very attached to her.
When she suddenly closed and vanished, everyone became worried that something had happened and began investigating.
The clients didn't know that Eileen was a young lady from the baronial house of Elodd and the favorite of Grand Duke Erzet.
They knew her only as a clever but poor, eccentric herbalist who loved plants.
Malena, as soon as Eileen vanished, was the first to order an investigation.
She knew how dear Eileen was to her, but she didn't suspect she would dare to challenge Cesare himself.
Once, Malena, having become pregnant with a nobleman's child, had been forced to have an abortion and was banished from Fiore Street.
It was Cesare who had extended a helping hand, offering her a chance to take revenge on those who had condemned her to a miserable existence.
Thanks to his support, Malena made a spectacular return to the stage, and in return became the Grand Duke's eyes and ears.
"Just let her meet with Eileen.
Malena can be quite useful."
The unexpectedly easy agreement was surprising.
Catching the bewilderment, Cesare explained briefly:
"Eileen will soon have to make her debut in high society, after all."
Having achieved fame as Fiore's most famous dancer, Malena had already outgrown the status of an underground diva and had acquired enough influence to be the life of the party for the capital's night-time elite.
Malena was often invited to aristocratic balls, where she was received as a guest of honor.
As her influence grew, she undoubtedly could help Eileen with her debut in high society.
"I will inform Malena that you have allowed her to meet with Eileen."
That should be enough to satisfy Malena.
Pleased with the successful resolution of the matter, Rotan answered quickly.
Cesare tenderly ran a finger over Eileen's slightly parted lips.
She, peacefully immersed in sleep, probably wouldn't wake until morning.
The smoke she had inhaled today was to blame.
For Fiore, it was a trifle, but for Eileen, who had no immunity, it turned out to be a potent potion.
It increasingly seemed to Rotan that Cesare had intentionally made her inhale it.
But the thought that this made him just too repulsive caused him to discard the suspicion.
"Ah, and one more thing..." Cesare said unhurriedly.
"Tomorrow morning, publish the news of the wedding in the newspapers."
He intended to announce it to the entire Empire so that Eileen wouldn't be able to change her mind.
Whether she wanted it or not, from tomorrow Eileen would become a hurricane sweeping across the Traon Empire.
"Yes, Your Grace."
But what could he do if such was the will of his master?
Rotan submitted silently, only hoping in his soul that Eileen wouldn't suffer too much.
***
Perhaps due to tension and fatigue...
Limp in Cesare's arms, Eileen unnoticedly sank into sleep.
Looking back, this day had been incredibly eventful.
She had already exhausted herself, sobbing in the Grand Ducal residence, and then received the shock of her father's actions, nearly losing consciousness.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the second-floor bedroom of the brick house.
The comfort of the familiar place made her sigh in relief.
It seemed that while she slept, Cesare had moved her home.
Still covered with a blanket, Eileen only opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.
Her memory was foggy, but she recalled Cesare tucking her in when she was nodding off from fatigue.
It seemed she had fallen asleep with her head on his knees.
*‘The last time I acted like that was in childhood...’*
Not a child anymore, yet lying on his knees.
A wave of embarrassment washed over her, making her bury her face in the blanket.
*‘This is why I’m still considered a child.’*
However, the deep sleep had cleared her thoughts.
Eileen slowly reviewed yesterday's events.
She had seen her father with a woman, but she felt better than expected.
It seemed she had experienced all the necessary shock yesterday and had let it go.
Calmly restoring the details in her memory, Eileen reflected.
From the strong shock, her memories were fragmentary, as if torn.
However, one thing was etched clearly in her mind.
*"I didn't think that after selling your own daughter, you'd be here f-ing, Baron."*
Profanities—it was hard to believe those words had come from Cesare's mouth.
This was the first time Eileen had seen him curse.
But Cesare was a military man.
On a battlefield bordering death, you are bound to hear dirty words.
All of Cesare's knights, except for Senon, used foul language.
To say nothing of Diego or Michele—even Rotan sometimes let a strong word slip.
Of course, they all tried not to do so in Eileen's presence.
She quietly tried to repeat Cesare's curse: "F-ing..."
But she immediately covered her mouth with her hand and looked around hastily.
Coming from Cesare, even curses sounded like poetry, but from her, it sounded like something indecent.
Eileen, as if punishing her lips for the profanity, pressed them with her fingers and got out of bed.
Going downstairs, she saw the door to her father's bedroom tightly closed.
It weightily seemed he had returned home after all.
*‘Maybe he’s still sleeping?’*
Both she and her father needed time to process yesterday.
Directing a gaze at the closed door, Eileen sighed quietly and headed to the kitchen.
"?"
But she suddenly turned to the window.
It seemed to her that something was happening outside.
However, the lowered curtains didn't allow her to see exactly what.
First she quenched her thirst with a gulp of water, then took bread from the cupboard.
Cutting a large loaf with a knife, she suddenly realized that besides it, there was nothing else to eat in the house—she hadn't been in the mood for shopping in recent days.
Not wanting to die of hunger, she broke off a corner of the bread and began to chew.
Covering her face with her bangs and glasses, she prepared for a trip to the shop.
The moment she opened the door with a large basket in her hands, Eileen froze in place.
"Finally out!
Elodd!
Lady Elodd!"
"Miss Eileen!
Look this way!"
"Tell us a few words about your upcoming wedding to Grand Duke Erzet!"
"Is it true you threatened to commit suicide if His Grace didn't marry you?"
"Don't push!"
"Out of the way, I was here first!"
As if they had just been waiting for her appearance, the crowd erupted in insane cries.
They swarmed her with questions like a hive.
However, despite the fierce pressure, no one dared to touch Eileen.
All because the house was surrounded by the Grand Duke's soldiers.
Armed with rifles, they ruthlessly pushed back journalists and onlookers, not allowing them to cross a certain line.
*‘What is even happening?’*
She didn't believe her eyes.
When Eileen stepped back in hesitation, the journalists became even more excited.
They were ready to break through the soldiers when—
*BANG!*
A shot rang out.
The noisy crowd, as if possessed by demons, fell silent in an instant, as if by a spell.
In the ensuing silence, a calm voice rang out:
"Gentlemen.
Be kind enough to shut up."
Michele, who had fired into the air, raised an eyebrow and continued:
"You are frightening our lady."