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As for Lucio Gaetani, Cesare too knew him well.
This was that same bug that had stuck to Eileen in the times of her university life.
When Eileen, who with difficulty adapted to study, had a friend appear, he didn't set about to interfere.
But this friend turned into an importunate stalker.
Naive Eileen saw in him only a kind elder comrade.
She and to imagine could not that this scoundrel committed indecent actions with things stolen from her.
Having heard then the report, Cesare simply ordered to deal with him quietly.
There was no need to soil Eileen with dirty details, therefore he ordered only to properly frighten him and discourage.
In gratitude for help to the lonely Eileen his life was preserved...
But by some reason this fool, thus even not having realized the danger, again appeared on the horizon. and not anywhere, but straight in the residence of Grand Duke Erzet.
He must have understood that he was going to a sure death, but all thus same crawled in.
His miserable attempts to depict devoted love even laughter didn't evoke.
"Request pardon."
Rotan at first apologized, and then reported:
"Lucio Gaetani at the present time claims the title of the youngest professor.
His cognitions in pharmacology are extensive, to that same he was acquainted with Eileen, therefore the professors, apparently, by their discretion decided to bring him."
From their point of view, having not known all the subtext, there were no reasons not to invite Lucio.
Surely they did this thinking that they were helping Eileen.
Cesare himself ordered the professors to do for Eileen all that was in their forces.
"I will exclude him even now," hollowly said Rotan.
Cesare slightly lifted a brow.
"If he has some value, it's worth using him to the maximum before throwing away."
Knowing how Eileen would value this.
Rotan, having guessed Cesare's intentions, probably, and didn't set about to obstruct the arrival of Lucio, having received the corresponding report.
Following the sound decision of his piercing subordinate, Cesare instead of an order to throw out Lucio pronounced:
"It looks like it follows for me earlier to return home."
"I will settle it," answered Rotan.
Cesare slightly nodded, giving agreement.
Rotan grabbed the man by the head with his enormous palms.
That one widely opened eyes when his skull turned out in pincers.
In the eyes filled with blood quickly appeared tears.
"P-please, spare..." his slurred plea for mercy didn't manage to end.
Rotan simply twisted the man's head.
A crunch was distributed—the sound of breaking bones.
The man instantly breathed his last.
Cesare rose from the chair, put the book under arm and approached that which still recently had been a person, and now had turned into a piece of meat.
He indifferently looked from above down at the dead man with bulging eyes.
This fellow became the last in the first list.
Now he’d settled with all whom it was possible easily to kill.
Remained only high-ranking nobles, those with whom it was more complex because of tangled connections.
Remembering the people from the second list, Cesare reached out the pocket watch.
He opened the simple silver watch without any patterns and checked the time.
Rotan knew that Cesare did this not because it was interesting to him what hour it was.
He simply from time to time opened the watch as-if checking its existence.
Having held it in hands, he clicked the lid and closed it.
Rotan, standing with hands behind back, glanced at the expression of Cesare's face.
Seeing calm red eyes, he for a moment relaxed, but here same made face impassive as usual.
Having put away the watch, Cesare smirked.
As-if he knew of what Rotan was worried.
"For now all is in order," he answered to the mute question and quietly added: "For now..."
***
Glenda and Elio, professors of pharmacology and botany, lead a peaceful life.
When they read in the newspaper that their suddenly disappeared pupil had become Grand Duchess Erzet, then they nearly died from shock.
And there was from what: the Grand Duchess Erzet in the photo drastically differed from the pupil whom they knew.
Eileen was cheerful and light, but invariably wore bangs and glasses, which looked somewhat depressing.
Having seen a photo of their pupil in a wedding dress, with an open face and a shy smile, the professors scarcely didn't fall into a faint.
At first they thought that in the newspaper they’d printed not that photo.
But Grand Duke Erzet was unlikely to have permitted such a mistake.
Glenda and Elio, struck by the transformation of the pupil, with joy sent to her a congratulatory letter.
They with impatience waited for a visit to the capital to finally communicate...
"Her Lightness the Grand Duchess requests your help in her current research."
Soldiers unexpectedly broke into the laboratory of the professors gathering to the capital.
They conveyed the "request" of the Grand Duke, but even to such impractical professors as they it was clear that this was an order.
Before the departure Glenda and Elio were full of anxiety.
They’d agreed to go to the capital together with Lucio, with whom Eileen once was friends, but, foreseeing possible dangers, gathered to leave him.
They trembled from fear that with Lucio, who had a brilliant career ahead, something bad might happen, although they themselves were already old people.
But Lucio's stubbornness forced them to take him with them.
They knew Eileen's character, but people easily change, having tasted money and power.
The professors strongly worried that their favorite pupil had changed under the influence of the Grand Duke Erzet.
However, having met Eileen, they immediately understood that their fears were in vain.
Eileen had changed to unrecognizability.
Her incredibly beautiful appearance, magic-colored eyes, expensive clothes emphasizing her status.
She’d become the Grand Duchess which she and should be, but her character remained as before.
Eileen all thus same purely smiled as in student years.
She joyfully greeted the professors and even was upset that they were shy of her.
Glenda and Elio sincerely wanted to help in the research of the favorite pupil, and not simply fulfill the order of the duke.
They were glad to learn that Eileen continued research even after leaving the university.
But when they suggested to help with the current work, Eileen's face suddenly darkened.
She couldn't easily agree and looked bewildered.
While Glenda and Elio were surprised, Eileen plunged into heavy reflections.
*‘Cesare...’*
Of course, the help of the professors strongly would have moved the research.
Possibly, they would have pointed to something which Eileen missed.
But she couldn't lightheartedly accept their suggestion.
Because the research concerned opium.
To accept their help meant to put them on one chopping block with herself.
Cesare, of course, would have tried not to permit their execution.
Therefore he and pushed them to Eileen as assistants.
But if something goes not thus, Cesare will save only Eileen, having thrown them to the mercy of fate.
She couldn't draw in this her university mentors, knowing that she was risking their lives.
*‘How could you do this, knowing all?
Yes still and drag Lucio here...’*
Although Cesare tried for her, on this time she must have refused.
Having gathered with thoughts, Eileen cautiously set set about to speak:
"Thank you for the suggestion, but in this time I want to try to handle it herself."
Glenda and Elio, having read something on her face, didn't set about to ask for reasons and were silent.
Not desiring to aggravate the tense atmosphere, Eileen on purpose widely smiled:
"Have you already inspected the capital?
Once you’ve arrived, it's worth buying something necessary."
In the capital there were a multitude of interesting shops: stalls with good laboratory equipment, bookstores with rare editions.
Eileen suggested to them to walk and inspect the city.
She’d already thought through the route, having learned of their arrival.
"Will Eileen too go with us?" unexpectedly asked Lucio.
"Of course," answered Eileen.
To her too there was of what to talk about with Lucio.
When they went out, by the mansion two cars awaited them.
The professors sat in the rear one, and Lucio naturally settled nearby with Eileen, from which Sogno slightly turned gloomy.
But Eileen noticed nothing and accepted his send-off.
When the car moved, Lucio stealthily looked at the driver.
Apparently, him worried the person in military uniform.
But nothing to be done—such were the security measures for Eileen.
The driver was silent all the way, and in some moment Lucio quietly set set about to speak:
"Eileen."
Eileen, gathering to question him about life, heard unexpected words:
"Earlier...
I loved you."