Wicked Husband-Chapter 124 - 123

Leon chuckled softly, followed by a light sigh.

"If you have something you want to say, it would be better to speak clearly. After all, we are engaged," he replied, pausing as Eileen came to mind.

He had known her since she was a child and had always been aware that Cesare doted on her, but he never imagined she would one day become the Grand Duchess. Even in their youth, Cesare had done inexplicable things because of her. Could it be that, even now...

Leon suppressed a frown that threatened to surface. His usual smile remained in place, but something felt off. For a fleeting moment, he caught his reflection in Ornella’s eyes and felt strangely unfamiliar with himself. Pushing the discomfort aside, he continued smoothly.

"...Regarding the Grand Duchess of Erzet, I’m not sure what you’re asking. Even if I were to find her somewhat lacking, what does that matter? It’s a meaningless question, Ornella."

Leon knew he couldn’t interfere with Cesare’s choice. His answer may have been cold, but for some reason, Ornella seemed pleased. Her smile deepened, almost sickly sweet, like fruit on the verge of rotting. She spoke in a soft, sugary tone.

"That’s more than enough of an answer."

Ornella entwined her fingers with his again, gripping his hand tightly as she continued.

"At the hunting festival, I hope you’ll treat me as your fiancée."

Leon was about to respond that he already did, but her next words left him speechless.

"As if it were love, and not just a contract."

***

Eileen named the headache medicine she created "Aspiria," a name derived from the scientific name of the willow tree, which belongs to the Spiraea family.

When news of Aspiria’s release spread, the Traon Empire buzzed with excitement and debate. It was widely known through newspapers and magazines that the Grand Duchess possessed impressive knowledge of pharmacology and botany.

While many praised Eileen’s expertise, opinions were divided about the medicine she had developed. A large portion of the public suspected that the Grand Duchess might simply be leveraging the Grand Duke’s reputation to promote her product.

After all, no matter how much she had studied at university, Eileen had never officially graduated. Scholars who dedicated decades to their fields were common, so what could a dropout possibly accomplish?

Many secretly hoped for her failure. Though they outwardly supported her, their true feelings were laced with jealousy, relishing the prospect of watching someone of high status fall from grace.

Despite the outside chatter, the Grand Duchy of Erzet quietly prepared for the release of the new medicine. Finally, the day arrived when Aspiria was introduced to the public.

"As expected! Everyone in the capital is flocking to the pharmacies to buy Aspiria. Even though we stocked up generously, it looks like we’ll be sold out by the end of the day!" Senon exclaimed, his voice full of excitement. His eyes sparkled, and he seemed on the verge of breaking into a celebratory dance.

The label on the Aspiria bottles displayed the Erzet Grand Ducal crest. Given the immense popularity of the Erzet family within the empire, many people were eager to own something bearing their crest, standing in line all day to purchase the medicine.

While Senon was practically bouncing with joy, Cesare remained calm, offering only a small smile in response to Senon’s enthusiastic report.

"This is only the beginning," Cesare remarked.

"Of course! It’s just the start. Once people experience the effects of the medicine, no one will be able to doubt the Grand Duchess’s abilities," Senon replied, still brimming with excitement.

It had been Senon’s idea to include the Grand Ducal crest on the bottles to encourage sales, and his strategy had worked perfectly. Now, he was eager to see Eileen’s reputation soar even higher.

But Cesare, sensing the need to temper Senon’s excitement, gave him a subtle glance. Realizing he was getting carried away, Senon quickly cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and mumbled, "My apologies."

Cesare chuckled quietly and tilted his head toward the building outside the window.

"There will be plenty of people dissatisfied. We need to be cautious."

They were parked in front of the Imperial Parliament building. Senon adjusted his disheveled clothing and adopted a more serious expression. Once Cesare saw that Senon was ready, he stepped out of the car.

As soon as the military vehicle came to a stop outside the parliament building, reporters who had been waiting nearby swarmed around the car. The moment Cesare stepped out, their voices rose in unison.

"Grand Duke!"

"Your Grace! Could you say a few words about the new medicine the Grand Duchess has released?"

"Your Grace, what are your thoughts on the bill being introduced today that proposes a significant reduction in the military budget?"

Though eager, the reporters kept a respectful distance, calling out their questions while maintaining a few steps of separation. Senon followed behind Cesare, his face expressionless. As usual, Cesare ignored the reporters and headed straight toward the parliament building.

But then, unexpectedly, he stopped.

The reporters were the most surprised. They had asked their questions without expecting any response, so when Cesare halted, they all fell silent at once.

In the sudden quiet, Cesare smiled faintly—a rare expression for him in public, which only heightened the reporters’ shock.

"Eileen’s new medicine," he began, his calm voice cutting through the stillness. The reporters, captivated by the sight of the Grand Duke smiling, waited with bated breath for him to continue.

"I believe it will be remembered in Traon’s history."

Cesare’s statement had been nothing short of arrogant. After all, this was a medicine created by a Grand Duchess with no formal experience as a pharmacist, and there were still doubts about its efficacy. To claim that it would be remembered in the empire’s history was bold, even presumptuous.

Yet, in that moment, everyone present truly believed that *Aspiria* would indeed go down in history. Cesare’s confidence was so overwhelming, it felt as if he were narrating an inevitable future rather than making a prediction.

As the reporters stood frozen, trying to process his words, Cesare calmly strolled past them. None of the journalists managed to stop him or ask another question. It wasn’t until after he had entered the parliamentary building that they snapped out of their daze, realizing what had just happened.

***