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Otherwise, such a reaction would have been impossible.
From a certain point, Malena, obsessed with the desire to surprise Eileen, had scoured the entire country and even abroad, buying up sweets.
But all her attempts had been failures, and in the end, she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Just what kind of dessert is it that you haven't tasted yet?!" she’d flared up.
Eileen, who was eating fruit pudding, rounded her eyes at such a shout.
"Oh, that...
An acquaintance of mine often gives me such gifts..."
This person must have had money.
Then again, it was no surprise that a talented apothecary like Eileen had a wealthy admirer.
Malena snorted and began to greedily devour the fruit pudding.
And suddenly she realized:
"..."
A whole month had already passed.
She slowly lowered her spoon and looked at Eileen.
Eileen said with a simple-hearted smile:
"But he doesn't bring gifts as often as Lena.
Thanks to you, I've been so happy lately."
At the sight of that pure face, something seemed to break inside Malena.
She jumped up abruptly, but then heavily sank back onto her chair.
Only after a month did she finally understand her true feelings.
She didn't want to die.
She wanted to live.
"What a little fool," she murmured under her breath, shoving a spoonful of pudding into her mouth, and then snatched Eileen's pudding too, devouring it as well.
Announcing that this was punishment for lying, Malena left, leaving Eileen with a disappointed face.
Though several days later she came again with new sweets.
Eileen and Malena began meeting occasionally, chatting over desserts.
They never discussed personal matters, which made their interaction even lighter.
But one day, Malena suddenly wanted to rid Eileen of her clumsy bangs and glasses.
"Sit still," she said.
Eileen's hair color was unique, but the problem was a complete lack of care.
If she took off the glasses and trimmed the bangs, everything would be much better.
However, when Malena picked up the scissors, Eileen began to shake.
"Oh, no, Lena..."
Unable to watch this pathetic trembling, Malena lowered the scissors and simply pinned the bangs back with a clip...
"Eileen.
Never uncover your face again.
Do you understand?"
In her entire life, Malena had never seen anyone more beautiful.
Eileen's face was captivating, like a forest fairy's.
And those eyes, of such a mesmerizing color...
But there was nothing to rejoice about here.
A cold sweat ran down Malena's back.
For a poor and defenseless girl, beautiful looks were a curse.
And Malena knew this better than most.
She strictly forbade Eileen from ever uncovering her face.
Since Eileen didn't realize her own beauty, it was much better for her to live her whole life among her beloved plants.
Fortunately, Eileen listened to Malena.
But a few days ago, Malena had seen Eileen in the tavern on Fiore Street.
With her face uncovered.
Seeing Grand Duke Cesare beside her, Malena knew: trouble.
If Eileen had returned Malena's taste for life, then Cesare had given her a chance for revenge.
Working under Cesare, Malena had learned well how terrifying he was.
And now Eileen was involved with this Duke...
What business could a simple apothecary have with a Grand Duke?
It was clear he had noticed her face and was now using her for his own purposes.
Eileen, deceived by his brilliant appearance, had allowed herself to be brought here.
Fearing that Eileen would now work in the tavern, Malena couldn't focus on her performance.
As soon as it ended, she raced to ask for an audience with Cesare.
But a simple dancer couldn't just meet the Duke.
Malena was ready to die but didn't back down.
She even threatened to expose all of Cesare's assignments if he didn't agree to receive her.
Fortunately, he magnanimously permitted the meeting.
His servant delivered the permission and a newspaper with an article about Eileen and the Duke's engagement.
"That's why I came."
After listening to Malena's story, Eileen nodded in slight shock.
She could never have imagined that Malena worked for Cesare.
Now it dawned on her:
*‘He’ll find out I lied.’*
Eileen had told Cesare she didn't know Malena, and here she was appearing herself.
What did he think of her now?
Spilled lies couldn't be fixed, and Eileen just groaned inside.
"Eileen," Malena said seriously.
"Tell me the truth.
How did all this happen?
If you were forced..."
Clutching her plump lips with her even teeth, she raised her blue eyes and stated firmly:
"I will help you somehow."
Though both understood perfectly: it was impossible.
In the Traon Empire, no one could oppose Cesare.
Perhaps the nobility in parliament tried to counter him, but after the approval of the Triumphal Arch and the "bloody banquet," their spirit was broken.
No one could help Eileen.
It was unrealistic.
Besides, she had already promised Cesare to become the Grand Duchess.
"His Excellency saved my life.
I committed a crime, and he covered for me, and I also had a debt... which he also settled.
And then he happened to need a Duchess, and he made me an offer..."
Eileen, blushing, explained everything honestly and added with an awkward smile:
"The choice to become the Duchess was mine to make."
But Malena wasn't convinced.
On the contrary, she became even angrier.
"You're just too naive," Malena whispered, her breathing quickening, her painted lashes trembling.
"Do you think this was your own choice?
No, it's the result of his will."
In Malena's blue eyes, terror was clearly visible.
"I've seen how His Excellency deals with opponents.
Before you, he hides his essence, but, Eileen, he..." Malena slowly whispered, "He has no human heart."
Eileen could only smile.
With a weak smile, she replied:
"I know."
"Then why?!"
"I love him."
A sharp pain throbbed in her chest.
For the first time, she admitted her foolish feelings.
"I understand everything...
But I still love him."
Eileen lowered her gaze.
She couldn't look at Malena when she said this.
Picking at her fingernails, she murmured:
"If I don't become the Duchess, I'll have to go abroad because of circumstances.
And then I won't be able to see him...
That's why I chose marriage."
"..."
"I'm sorry, Malena."
Malena didn't answer.
She was silent for a long time, opening and closing her mouth several times, trying to say something, but in the end only smirked bitterly.
"What can be done.
You can't order the heart.
It seems you look more at the face than the character."
She softly touched Eileen's cheek with her hand.
Looking at her for a while, she whispered gloomily:
"Knowing that you will be unhappy, he still makes you this way.
How cruel."
Unhappy?
Probably so.
An unwanted marriage, an unsuitable match.
She was a pathetic weed by the wall, and he was the sun in the heavens.
By becoming the Duchess, she would have to move in high society and participate in political intrigues, and she understood nothing of that.
But all these misfortunes combined were less than the misfortune of not seeing Cesare.
"If you change your mind—tell me.
I'll try to change something, just once in my life."
Eileen nodded submissively.
Malena softened and hugged her.
They stood like that for a while, feeling each other's warmth, but then there was a knock on the door.
"I brought groceries," Michele's voice came.
Malena slowly pulled back from the hug.
One last time, she squeezed Eileen's hand tightly.
"But make him buy you a ring.
With the most expensive stone in the Empire—no, on the whole continent." Malena growled, as if threatening.
"And immediately!"