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Cesare opened the glass case.
The relic for the first time in hundreds of years turned out in the open air.
This was a strictly prohibited action for the preservation of the artifact.
Despite the potential possibility of critical damage for the relic, he acted without the slightest hesitation, firmly knowing that at this stage it couldn't be destroyed.
He lifted the feather in the moonlight.
The gold feather as before dazzled.
As-if powdered with gold dust, it flickered as a star, reflecting the moonlight.
It looked exactly as it had on that day when it had been brought in sacrifice as a burnt offering for the sake of the turn of time back.
Cesare, remembering the feather stained with blood, slowly lifted eyes and glanced at the pale moon.
*Does God exist.* Probably, only Cesare could give a clear answer to this question.
He came into contact with a being worthy to be named God.
Even if this was not a deity, but something else, vicious—this didn't have significance.
For Cesare only the result was important.
He no more could turn time back.
But in him was one reason by which he gathered the traces of the past.
To prevent the slightest probability that someone else could interfere in time.
Of course, judging by the trials through which he’d passed, to another person to achieve such a same success was impossible.
This was not a question of arrogance, but an objective fact.
But Cesare didn't desire to leave even a spectral possibility.
Him always haunted the thought of the world in which he will not be.
For this was a regression which will be completed only with his death.
By habit Cesare reached out the pocket watch.
The hands, issuing a regular sound, continued to move.
He long looked at the smooth platinum watch, all still not damaged, then put away them back in the pocket.
Prepared to do much more.
***
Eileen, having woken early in the morning, felt a chill.
It looks like, Cesare generally didn't enter into the bedroom last night.
On the bed linen there were not the slightest traces of that he although for a short time lay down.
*‘How much I want to see him,’* thought she, aimlessly having embraced a thick pillow.
Then energetically she rose and accepted morning affairs.
Today again followed a very tense day.
It followed to dine with the professors and Lucio, and also to complete and send first invitations to a tea party which should have set up Duchess Erzet.
Temporarily having put away the research of Morpheus, she decided to check the prescription of the analgesic to be convinced in the possibility of its mass production.
It was necessary also to think up a name for this medicine which for now was called simply "analgesic."
At breakfast in the dining room she took one of the journals lying on the table.
Nearby with the journal lay a newspaper, and one phrase from the article immediately threw itself she in the eyes.
[...assassination attempt on Duchess Erzet did not succeed].
Struck by the mention of the duchess, Eileen put away the journal and took the newspaper.
It was "La Verita." Reading the printed lines, she couldn't believe her eyes.
Eileen reread the article again.
But the printed symbols didn't change.
In it was said that last night a guest in the residence of the duchess tried to commit a theft and was caught.
The newspaper in a calm tone reported that the crime was committed because of the desire to obtain research materials of the duchess, and also described the person of the criminal and his relations with the duchess.
[Meanwhile, this incident allowed to learn that Duchess Erzet possesses outstanding knowledge, which evoked social amazement.
In the past she studied pharmacology and botany in the University of Palercia.
Because of heavy circumstances she, unfortunately, was forced to drop university, however all the time of study occupied first places, being a young genius student.
In reality her name also figured in research works published in scientific journals...]
Alongside with the story of the theft in the article was mentioned that Duchess Erzet was acquainted with pharmacology and botany.
She automatically examined the article, where even detailedly were described her favorite dishes in university times, until suddenly didn't wake up.
Eileen with a pale face muttered:
"Lucio-senpai..."
In this impossible was to believe.
Her senpai was caught for theft in her laboratory.
Not having managed to stop, she imagined how Lucio is shot.
The thought of that that a person with whom she only yesterday conversed and dined, soon can not be, chilled the heart.
All this happened while she slept, nothing suspecting.
And this already fell into the morning newspapers.
This was impossible unless "La Verita" hadn't prepared the article beforehand.
Appetite vanished, and she only looked at the newspaper, not touching to the food.
She checked all newspapers and journals, but only in "La Verita" was an article about the incident in the residence of the duchess.
*‘Surely Cesare-nim beforehand gave them to know.’*
"La Verita" was a newspaper acting by the pointer of Cesare.
He tamed it, providing various privileges—for example, permitting to publish exclusive wedding photographs of the ducal pair.
It looks like, Cesare wanted not only to remove Lucio, but also to report to society about the cognitions of Eileen in pharmacology and botany.
Likely, this was a preparatory step before the commercialization of the analgesic, and in the further—publication of information about Morpheus.
For better gradually to acquaint the public with information than to crash on it all at once.
Having punished the guilty one for the committed, he simultaneously used the situation in his interests.
And although Eileen perfectly this understood, she was gripped by unexpressible yearning.
*‘I nothing knew.’*
The thought unexpectedly arose in head and didn't go.
To her it became slightly suffocating, and she sharply inhaled.
But, as however deep she didn't breathe, the sensation of constraint didn't vanish.
She’d become a duchess, but in essence nothing changed.
Eileen was not a comrade of Cesare.
She was only a figure on his chessboard.
Even if she were a queen, he would throw her away if she became useless.
*‘Although... correctly whether to consider self a queen, once I am a duchess?’*
Maybe, she is simply a pawn.
The most insignificant...
Eileen firmly closed eyes, trying to drive away the gloomy thoughts.
In that moment when she with all forces tried to throw the negative from head, a servant reported about a guest.
"Has come the knight Senon.
He says that he passes that which sent His Sincerity."
This was a too early time for a visit to the duchess, but, it looks like, such was the order of Cesare.
Better to be in company than to plunge into gloomy thoughts.
Almost with a supplicating voice Eileen ordered to let in Senon.
"Eileen-nim!
Good morning.
You as before are dazzlingly beautiful."
Senon with a smile entered into the dining room.
He put on the table before Eileen an enormous bouquet of flowers and a glass case.
"A gift from His Sincerity."
The fresh aroma of flowers a little returned her into consciousness.
Eileen at first touched the petals, then glanced at the case.
In an ancient glass case similar to a prehistoric relic lay an enormous gold feather.
What this was—was unknown, but from the first glance clear that the thing was valuable.
"To that same, His Sincerity expressed a desire to commercialize the medicine developed by you, Eileen-nim, therefore I prepared the corresponding legislative acts..."
"Was he executed?"
Examining the gold feather, Eileen unexpectedly for herself asked a question.
A question having burst out without prefaces.
However Senon here same answered:
"Not yet."
He attentively looked at Eileen.
She tried to preserve a calm expression of face.
Senon asked a question in a serious tone:
"You want so that he remained living?"
As-if from the answer of Eileen depended all, Senon asked exactly thus.
"No, not that so that.
Simply..."
She couldn't hide the helplessness in voice.
Eileen stared at Senon.
That one quickly blinked, having met with her with eyes.
In the end she honestly confessed in that which she felt.
"I nothing know...
Therefore and asked.
Want to learn."