Wicked Husband-Chapter 114 - 113

After all, the people gathered here weren’t here to meet "Eileen" but rather "the wife of the Grand Duke of Erzet." No matter the topic, mentioning Cesare’s name was the most effective way to shift the atmosphere in her favor.

Of course, her ultimate goal was to have the noblewomen come to know her as Eileen. But having just stepped into the social world, she had no choice but to rely on Cesare’s reputation for now. As this realization dawned on her, she understood.

’That’s why Ornella mentioned Cesare.’

It became clear why Ornella had gone so far as to lie to emphasize her closeness to him. Perhaps in other settings, it wouldn’t matter, but in this gathering, Cesare was the hottest topic.

While it wasn’t morally right to lie and undermine others for power, it was likely an inevitable strategy in high society.

As Eileen absorbed this lesson from Ornella’s actions, a noblewoman seated next to her leaned in with a question.

"So, is the Grand Duke as kind at night?"

"Th—that’s..."

The mischievous noblewoman’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Sonio had warned her in advance that questions about intimate matters could arise, and Eileen had prepared herself by rehearsing possible answers.

But hearing the question in real life made it impossible to avoid feeling flustered. A blush spread across her pale cheeks. With her face burning, Eileen answered softly, "He can be a little mischievous..."

The Grand Duchess’s innocent reaction elicited joyful laughter from the noblewomen. Ornella, however, remained silent. Her once-smiling lips had flattened into a rigid line, and she glared at Eileen with an intensity that made Eileen’s heart race.

Fear gripped Eileen as she wondered what cutting remark Ornella would throw at her next. Desperately wracking her brain for a way to steer the conversation before Ornella could speak again, she was suddenly interrupted by a deep, leisurely voice cutting through the laughter.

"Was I that mischievous?"

The laughter stopped abruptly, as if it had been snuffed out. Everyone at the tea party froze, mouths slightly agape in surprise.

A man with jet-black hair, darker than any shadow, strode into the sunlit garden. Dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Army, he carried a large bouquet filled with lilies and assorted flowers.

Cesare slowly crossed the garden and handed the bouquet to Eileen. Stunned, she stared up at him before jolting out of her seat. Awkwardly accepting the flowers, she was further taken aback when Cesare lightly kissed her cheek. With his eyes crinkling in a soft smile, he murmured, "I’ll have to be more careful from now on."

***

Eileen froze in place, still clutching the bouquet in her arms. She was so shocked that her mind went completely blank.

She had never imagined he would attend the tea party. After all, she knew better than anyone how busy Cesare was. Countless people across the empire longed for an audience with him; even the Emperor had to wait for his turn.

It was hard to believe he would show up at such a small gathering of noble ladies. The women were just as taken aback, left speechless as they stared at Cesare.

Everyone in the Traon Empire knew of Cesare, but very few had encountered him up close. Starting as a child soldier at the age of ten, he had spent most of his life on battlefields, rarely staying in the capital for long. He seldom attended social gatherings, making him an enigma even to the highest-ranking nobles.

He was a figure of admiration and reverence, akin to the sun—brilliant yet unreachable. And yet, here he was, at a ladies’ tea party, holding a bouquet of flowers.

While the noblewomen were paralyzed by his unexpected appearance, Eileen was equally still, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then, Cesare lightly tapped the tip of her nose with his gloved hand.

Only then did Eileen manage to breathe, inhaling sharply. Her face, which had been flushed pink from the earlier questions, turned completely red.

"I—I didn’t mean to say you were being mischievous."

She tried to explain but found herself at a loss for words. Eileen hugged the bouquet even tighter, the wrapping paper crinkling softly.

"I just... I didn’t mean anything by it. You don’t have to worry about it..."

Cesare chuckled softly and wrapped his arm around Eileen’s waist. With her held securely against him, he turned to face the noblewomen, who were watching the ducal couple with bated breath, their nervousness evident.

His crimson eyes were strikingly beautiful yet intimidating, making it difficult for even seasoned soldiers and politicians to maintain eye contact for long. It was no wonder the noble ladies found it challenging. Sensing their tension, Cesare offered a gentle smile, as if to reassure them that he meant no harm.

"It seems I’ve intruded on a ladies’ gathering without realizing," he remarked, his tone light.

One of the noblewomen quickly spoke up. "Not at all, Your Grace." It was the same lady who had earlier inquired about the ducal couple’s private life. Having mustered the courage to speak, she now looked at Eileen with pleading eyes. Eileen could almost hear her unspoken plea: "Please, let him join us."

Naturally, Eileen wanted nothing more than to invite him to join them for tea; after all, there could be no more reassuring presence at the party than Cesare. But she hesitated, worried that her request might inconvenience him given his busy schedule.

Deep in thought, Eileen couldn’t bring herself to extend the invitation right away. Watching her intently, Cesare spoke again. "Still, I didn’t come empty-handed."

At his words, Sonio appeared in the garden, carrying a large cake box, which he carefully set down on the table. When Sonio opened the box, the noblewomen gasped like excited children.

Inside was a cake from a renowned bakery in the capital, one of their newest creations. Only one cake was sold per day, making it nearly impossible to acquire. Eileen had heard about it but had long given up on the idea of ever tasting one.

’Cesare wouldn’t have waited in line for it himself’