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The knights of the Grand Duke had long despised Baron Elrod and his spouse.
Baron Elrod, mired in drunkenness, gambling, and debauchery, the knights despised, but Cesare's wet nurse, Baroness Elrod, they also disliked.
She was too proud of being Cesare's wet nurse.
The knights had already more than once encountered such people.
Those who, not managed to fill themselves, tried to find self-respect through Cesare.
Those who considered the glory won by Cesare their own merit.
Since such types were already in abundance, at first they didn't pay much attention to her.
But after meeting her daughter and becoming attached to Eileen, they gradually began to notice oddities in Baroness Elrod's behavior.
The Baroness couldn't come to terms with the fact that her own daughter enjoyed greater love from Cesare.
In the end, she went so far as to start envying her own daughter.
Cesare also noticed the Baroness's strange behavior.
Considering that by that moment Baron Elrod already often quarreled with his wife, Cesare came to the conclusion that the Elrods could not be good parents.
To protect Eileen from the Elrods, Cesare together with the knights racked his brains, considering various options.
Among them was a plan to place Eileen with another noble family.
But Eileen was not a person capable of throwing away her family.
If torn away forcibly, she would break.
Therefore Cesare chose the softest way: to send Eileen to a distant university.
Since childhood Eileen had been interested in plants.
Despite her young age, she possessed sufficient knowledge for study.
Cesare unobtrusively fed the idea of university, awakening interest in Eileen.
Eileen was fascinated by the thought of a place where one could research all sorts of plants and study their medicinal properties.
However, her young age and the high cost of education worried her.
When Eileen was about to retreat, Cesare suggested applying for a scholarship.
Although usually people entered there upon coming of age, early enrollment was possible with sufficient knowledge—so he instilled in her a sweet hope.
Eileen believed every word of the Prince, even if he called a stone gold.
Diligently having written a motivational letter and study plan, she applied.
Cesare only added a short recommendation letter... at least, so Eileen thought.
She didn't know that Cesare had already secured her a place and a special scholarship, having donated a large sum to the university and pressured the management.
Having entered the university, Eileen was happy.
At first unfamiliar classes were hard, but thanks to persistence and a sharp mind she quickly mastered knowledge.
Her grades went sharply up and, having reached the top, never again decreased.
Cesare knew she would manage, but hadn't expected such outstanding results—each time, receiving her report card by mail, he was amazed.
The professors, who’d been forced to take a young student, at first were skeptical of Eileen, but her brilliant mind quickly won their love.
It went so far that professors of botany and pharmacology almost fought for the right to get her into their laboratory.
Perhaps Eileen could have stayed in the laboratory and with time herself become a professor.
If her family hadn't gone bankrupt.
Baron Elrod in the end sent the family down the slope, and the Baroness sent Eileen a long letter.
Full of deep longing and rage, the message implored her to return.
Eileen dropped all scholarly business and herself returned to hell, imprisoning herself in it.
On the day of Eileen's return to the capital, the knights of the Grand Duke gathered in a bar and drank all night long.
It was painful for them to see how they’d broken the wings of a girl who could have flown even higher.
But they could do nothing.
Eileen refused even financial aid, and Cesare with the knights could only watch.
In fact, the Baron and his spouse had destroyed Eileen's life.
Therefore, when the Baroness died, they didn't rejoice, but didn't grieve either.
"It seems she was subjected to physical violence too." Diego laid out to Senon everything he’d heard from Eileen.
He knew she was not confident in her appearance, but didn't suspect that she literally hated it.
"She almost lost an eye because of scissors." From memories of the Baroness's behavior, nausea gripped him.
"What in her could one not like?
In our Eileen!
Why, in childhood she was quite a tot." Diego ground his teeth, dropping crude curses.
Senon didn't swear, but in his eyes too anger boiled.
They were already discussing the Baroness at high volume when the owner returned to the palace.
"You've returned." Senon and Diego lowered their cigarettes and bowed.
Cesare nodded slightly, allowing them to finish smoking, and only then did they again bring cigarettes to their mouths.
"Ah, perhaps I'll smoke one—for the first time in a long time." Cesare unhurriedly approached the window and murmured this under his nose.
Diego placed his cigarette on the ashtray, took a cigarette case and matches from his pocket.
First he offered a cigar, then struck a match.
With a crack the flame flared.
Cesare only slightly tilted his head, bringing the tip of the cigar to the fire.
Having taken a drag, he turned to the window.
For some time he smoked, looking at the orange tree in the courtyard.
Cesare was not a heavy smoker.
If he took up a cigar, it meant something had seriously touched him.
Guessing the reason wasn't even necessary.
Of course, it was Baroness Elrod.
Senon watched his profile directed toward the tree.
He had long served Cesare.
He’d rarely revealed his thoughts before, but lately he’d become even harder to understand.
*‘What is Your Grace thinking about?’* Among the knights opinions diverged, but one thing they felt the same: Cesare had begun to act more impulsively, but at the same time it seemed he was constantly restraining something.
His behavior toward Eileen too was mysterious and ambiguous.
Cesare had changed.
Now he saw in Eileen not a child, but a future wife.
And if before he’d guarded her from all ills, now he as if intentionally allowed her to encounter difficulties.
He specifically put Eileen on display to sift out those who were hostile to her.
The same happened with the young lady Parbelini.
He could have guarded Eileen from meeting her or at least given an expensive dress so she wouldn't feel awkward.
But Cesare just let the situation go.
Gossip in high society, offensive articles in newspapers and magazines—he allowed all this to exist.
He lured Eileen's enemies with sweet bait, only watching who would yield and what they would undertake.
"Senon." Cesare, lazily releasing smoke, calmly spoke: "I think I’ve said that one may express one's opinion."
"Your Grace." Senon cast a look at Diego, but the latter only raised a thumb in a sign of support.
Senon gathered his courage for Eileen's sake.
"I don't understand why you continue to put Eileen on display."
"Everything has changed too much compared with what I knew." Cesare answered at once, but his words were strange and incomprehensible.
"The kidnapping too shouldn't have happened with Eileen.
Much has changed, and one needs to rebuild plans...
To quickly and accurately identify those who are dangerous for Eileen, this method is most effective."
"You mean to say that this is for her protection?"
"Yes." Senon couldn't restrain the flooding emotions.
"I thought Your Grace wished Eileen happiness.
Even if it requires time, better to choose a safer and softer way..."
"Another way?" Cesare interrupted him, stubbing out the cigar in the ashtray.
His scarlet eyes, like water just before a flood, wavered.
"Well... what, for example?
Wrap Eileen hand and foot and lock her in the palace, letting no one near her?"