Wicked Husband-Chapter 119 - 118

Eileen’s eyes welled up even more at Cesare’s familiar tone. How could she not adore the prince who was willing to stand in the rain with her simply because she had gotten wet?

She longed to cry openly but held herself back. She was already soaked, and crying now would only make her appear even more disheveled.

When she softly called out, "Your Grace," Cesare glanced down at her. While the tree provided ample shelter for Eileen, it felt slightly cramped for Cesare, whose tall frame almost brushed against the branches.

Eileen stared at him for a moment before quickly lowering her gaze. Despite both of them being drenched, Cesare seemed untouched by the rain’s gloom, radiating warmth and light, while she felt utterly shabby in comparison.

Though she had saved enough to buy new clothes for this visit, her shoes were old and worn, now looking even worse with the rain, stains spreading across them like marks of neglect.

’I wish I could’ve looked a bit nicer,’ she thought, quietly tucking her feet under her skirt to hide them.

"You’ve met with the knights, I’ve heard," Cesare said casually, as if inquiring about her well-being.

Eileen flinched at his remark. Although she had avoided Cesare, she hadn’t completely distanced herself from his loyal knights. They had known her since childhood and still treated her affectionately. When she left university and returned to the capital, they had shared in her disappointment, their hearts aching for her.

As an only child, Eileen had always thought of them as older brothers and sisters. She had never dared to voice such feelings aloud, fearing it would be presumptuous, but privately, she cherished that bond.

That’s why she couldn’t refuse when Diego invited her over for dinner.

Diego’s home was a place Eileen cherished. It was filled with charming trinkets and dolls that created a cozy, comforting atmosphere. Whenever she visited, she felt a sense of warmth and belonging. That evening, the five of them had laughed and shared a meal together, allowing Eileen to forget her worries and immerse herself in the joy of companionship, if only for a little while.

But now, with Cesare bringing it up, she felt awkward and hesitant to respond honestly. She glanced at him, trying to gauge his mood.

"Yes, they kindly invited me to dinner," she said, her tone uncertain, as if worried he might feel excluded. She knew Cesare wasn’t the type to care about such things, yet unease settled in her stomach.

Cesare noticed her hesitation and chuckled lightly.

"If I invited you, it wouldn’t be an invitation; it would be a command."

He pulled a still-dry handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Eileen.

"So, what brings you to the palace today?" he asked, his tone curious but light.

"My mother sent a letter for you. She asked me to deliver it to you, saying she hopes you will read it..." Eileen trailed off, offering him the slightly damp letter.

"A letter, is it?" Cesare echoed, glancing up at the pouring rain. What had seemed like a brief shower was now stretching into a downpour. Perhaps it wasn’t just a passing storm after all. His low voice cut through Eileen’s thoughts.

"Is Baroness Elrod still the same?"

There was a strange coldness in his voice, an unexpected chill when he asked about his former wet nurse. Eileen, unaware of the tension hidden in his words, assumed he was simply inquiring about her mother’s health. She answered earnestly.

"She’s doing much better these days. She can even take walks on her own. I just wish she’d be more diligent about taking her medicine," Eileen added, expressing her lingering concerns about her mother’s reluctance to adhere to her treatment.

As Eileen spoke, Cesare took the handkerchief back from her without a word. He then reached toward her again, causing Eileen to blink in surprise. Her lips parted slightly as Cesare gently removed her glasses, wiping the raindrops from the lenses with the handkerchief.

Eileen had been holding the handkerchief without using it, and now Cesare was quietly cleaning her glasses for her. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks, turning them a deep shade of red.

Once he finished wiping the lenses, Cesare looked at her again. Eileen, unsure of what to do with her damp bangs, nervously fidgeted with them, her hands fluttering around her face. As their eyes met, she froze.

For the first time in ages, her vision was clear. Normally, her view was distorted by her glasses, but now, with the water wiped away, she could see Cesare’s features in sharp detail. She didn’t want him to notice the tears lingering in her eyes, but the sight of his striking face made it impossible to look away.

Mesmerized, Eileen found herself staring at him, her heart racing. A strange warmth began to stir within her, spreading from her heart throughout her body, filling her with an inexplicable feeling. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She blinked slowly, her eyelashes brushing against her wet skin. In that brief moment of darkness, the intensity of Cesare’s crimson gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering.

A single droplet of rain, clinging to the end of her bangs, finally fell. It rolled down her cheek, tracing a path down her neck and pooling at her collarbone. It was then that, for the first time, Cesare looked away.

"..."

It was the first time Cesare had ever averted his gaze. Eileen had always been the one to look away first from his intense crimson stare, so she was startled by the unfamiliarity of the moment.

Before she could dwell too long on her thoughts, Cesare opened the umbrella and returned her glasses to her.

"We should head inside," he said.

Staying out in the rain much longer would surely lead to catching a cold. Eileen, already feeling a slight chill, silently stepped under the umbrella with him.

As they walked side by side, Eileen struggled to calm her racing heart. She focused on not tripping over her own feet, hoping she wouldn’t make a fool of herself.

She also worried that her growing feelings for Cesare—now a fully matured prince—might be too obvious. She feared he might sense that she no longer saw him as the childhood figure she once adored, but now as a man.

Does the prince think I’ve changed too?