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Diego's tattoo, hidden under the uniform, looked especially defiantly in daylight.
Diego was a large man, and in combination with the tattoo his look became truly menacing.
If they had accidentally collided on the street, Eileen, probably, would have preferred to bypass him on the side.
Actually, not only Diego—all Cesare's knights possessed a frightening aura.
They’d spent all their life in military service, and for an ordinary person it was not easy to be nearby them.
If Eileen hadn't known them from childhood, she would also have feared them.
But she saw their kind side and because of that didn't experience fear.
Eileen smiled at Diego, and that one in response winked, having narrowed one eye.
She laughed in response to his joke.
Diego for a moment blurred in a satisfied smile, but immediately again took a serious look.
Cesare, having watched their play, also smirked and continued the conversation with Diego.
For a moment having forgotten about father, having been carried away by communication with Diego, Eileen again looked at him.
His face had become even gloomier than earlier.
He silently wiped sweat with a handkerchief, and she cautiously spoke with him:
"You are working on a farm?"
Unlike the irascible behavior last time, father didn't pronounce a word.
Seeing he’d squeezed lips, she asked again: "How so it came out...
Did someone suggest this work to you?"
Answer again didn't follow.
Father was silent, but instead of concern about him, Eileen suddenly thought: *‘Means, the brick house now is empty?’* Without proper care the house quickly falls into decay.
Most of all she was worried by the orange trees in the garden.
These were rare trees, a gift from Cesare...
Today, having returned to the palace, one would need to ask Sogno to find a manager for the brick house.
Concerns about the house distracted her, and only then she again remembered about the father.
Since he didn't answer, Eileen switched to a neutral topic: "Glad to see that you look well."
"Hm." Father snorted in response.
Father's snorting was incomprehensible, for he looked indeed better.
Apparently, he had ceased to sleep until sunset and drink all night, because his always reddish face had become clean, and skin had acquired a healthy shade.
Dark circles under eyes had nearly vanished, and the gaze had become much clearer.
*‘Probably, it's even useful for him so far to live on the farm.’*
She understood the father would have come in rage, having heard this thought.
Eileen again wanted to say something, but father unexpectedly spoke: "Yes, you, of course, understand nothing." He looked not at Eileen, but at Cesare, murmuring to himself under nose: "Always it was so.
You, Eileen, were sat in a flower garden so you would know nothing."
Under bright sun his black hair seemed even darker.
He intently looked at Cesare, then slowly moved gaze to Eileen.
The expression of his face and voice expressed full lack of understanding.
"Your mother too... went out of mind on this... no, on this man..." He looked at Eileen as if she were most unfortunate creature in world.
Then he tutted and added irrelevantly: "On the farm at least you won't crock."
And again fell silent.
Eileen wanted to ask father not to trade the Grand Duchess's name, but understood that any word would evoke only a new mocking laugh.
Eileen lowered eyes, and father only from time to time ironically smirked.
In silence the conversation of Cesare and Diego was approaching an end.
Diego slightly frowned.
Apparently, they were talking about something unpleasant.
He roughly lead with hand over hair and murmured something in a dissatisfied tone.
But, having noticed Eileen's gaze, he immediately blurred in a smile.
Looking at the smiling Diego, Eileen again remembered the father's words which stuck into her heart like a splinter.
*“Always it was so.
You, Eileen, were sat in a flower garden so you would know nothing.”*
Cesare, Diego, other knights, Sogno—all they were hiding something from Eileen.
But they had reasons for that.
For all this was done for her.
Eileen looked at the wedding ring on the finger.
Childish dream became reality.
But each time, looking at it, she experienced a strange feeling.
Unexpectedly an idea came to her head: Cesare wants her to know nothing, but at the same time... it seemed he waits for the day when she learns all.
Eileen's gaze fell on the petals at her feet.
She lightly touched them with a shoe.
So it was always.
If in the palace one had to wait, Cesare always left her in the garden.
Thanks to this she spent time with pleasure, scanning plants, even not noticing that she was made to wait.
But it was not immediately he began to leave her in the garden.
He noticed Eileen was out of mind over plants, that she was ready for all, only to stroll through the palace garden.
Cesare never forgot what he learned about her.
He remembered even what Eileen herself forgot, and took care of it, whether she wanted that or not.
Since childhood she’d got used to his kindness.
Now she even didn't notice that in this there was something strange.
Simply understood that from the side their relations might seem unusual.
Even now she didn't to the end understand the situation, but accepted it, believing all this was being done for her.
An ordinary person, probably, would have suspected something wrong, having seen the wedding ring—no, having felt the slightest strangeness.
But Eileen couldn't doubt Cesare or beware of him.
She grew up, learning to trust him.
Having grown up behind his fence, she didn't know how to get out outside.
While Eileen was indulging in meditations, the conversation of Cesare and Diego finished.
The steps of the approaching men forced her to be distracted.
Diego saluted and said: "I will conduct the baron, your grace."
"Knight Diego." Eileen involuntarily called him.
Diego questioningly looked at her, waiting for continuation.
But she her herself didn't know what she wanted to say.
"Return cautiously.
Thank you for today." She limited herself to an ordinary parting.
Diego with a light smirk, as if asking if that were all, again bowed and left.
Father followed him with the look of a person who is lead to slaughter.
When they remained in two, Eileen cautiously asked Cesare: "Was it you who sent father to the farm?" She doubted the father had gone there by own will.
Of this only one person was capable.
Cesare without a shadow of embarrassment admitted his fault: "Want me to pick him up from there?"
Of course, she should have asked to let father go, but words didn't come from lips.
Why did Cesare at all worry about some insignificant baron?
Only because it was her father.
The reason for which he sent him to the farm was also obvious: so that that one couldn't sell the name of the Grand Duchess.
*‘Maybe it's even useful for him so far to live on the farm?
At the same time he’ll quit drinking...’*
She didn't decide to say this in voice, but Cesare himself read her thoughts: "It seems, to the baron the pastoral life has taken his fancy.
And cows have made friends with him." He tried to talk with the look of a person setting out logical arguments, but it was complete nonsense.