Wicked Husband-Chapter 144 - 143

"There’s a rumor going around that I’ll be handing out Aspiria for free at the hunting festival. Baroness Contarini informed me that it’s already widespread, and it seems all the noble attendees are now expecting to receive Aspiria as a gift."

"Ah."

Cesare’s reaction was swift, but it told her everything she needed to know—he was already aware of the rumor. He seemed entirely unbothered, as if it were a trivial matter.

"I don’t know who would spread such nonsense, but even if we clarify it as a rumor, I’m worried it could damage House Erzet’s reputation..."

Still fretting, Eileen hesitated for a moment before adding, "Was this what you meant when you mentioned I might get upset?"

"Hopefully, you won’t get too angry."

The words Cesare had said in the carriage lingered in her mind. At her question, he chuckled, as if the entire situation were laughable.

"For something like that?"

"..."

She thought it was serious enough to be concerning, but Cesare found it trivial. Then what could he have meant? Just when she thought she was beginning to understand, Eileen’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

Before she could think any further, a sharp scream rang out from outside.

Eileen instinctively turned toward the barrack’s door, but the thick fabric covering it blocked her view of the outside.

She tried to stand, but a firm grip held her in place, preventing any movement. Startled, she turned to Cesare. She had expected him to be the first to investigate the commotion, but his expression remained calm, unshaken as ever.

"Cesare..."

"So, is that all you wanted to say?" he asked, ignoring the screams from outside as if they were inconsequential. His gaze was fixed only on her.

Taken aback, Eileen blurted out without thinking, "You weren’t planning on explaining properly, were you?"

The words came out far more insolently than she intended, but the flow of speech wouldn’t stop.

"Oh, you said you’d tell me, but in the end, you never answer what I truly want to know..."

Her heart pounded as the words escaped her. She tried to rise, but Cesare’s arm around her waist kept her in place. Her struggle ended in frustration, a mere flail against his grip.

Breathing heavily, she gripped his forearm tightly. Only once her breath had steadied did Cesare whisper, "I told you, you’ll know soon enough."

But Eileen couldn’t fully trust his words. She knew the truths Cesare allowed her to glimpse were only the fragments he chose to reveal.

He offered her bits of the truth to spark her curiosity, promising answers only when she asked—always within the limits he set. It frustrated her.

In the past, Eileen would never have dared to harbor such thoughts or emotions. But it was Cesare who had led her to crave more.

’What exactly does he want from me?’

She couldn’t understand him. Just as she opened her mouth to speak again, a loud bang—followed by the sharp crack of a gunshot—shattered the stillness of the forest. The sound ripped through the quiet air, making Eileen flinch. She instinctively shrank back, and only then did Cesare release his grip on her and rise to his feet, pulling her up with him.

"Rumors... seems we won’t have to worry about them anymore," he said, his tone casual as he walked toward the gun rack in the tent.

"Everyone will soon have more pressing matters to attend to."

The rack was lined with various firearms. Cesare selected a hunting rifle and slung it over his shoulder, the long barrel extending down his back. He also picked up a handgun and tucked it into his waistband before extending a hand to Eileen.

Eileen hesitated for only a moment. The answer was obvious. Without a word, she placed her hand in his.

Cesare led her outside, pushing aside the tent flap.

The screams had come from the altar. When Eileen saw the scene, she gasped in shock.

A massive bear lay collapsed at the altar. The sacred space, once reserved for ritual offerings, was now desecrated by the creature’s blood and gore. Cedar incense sticks and vibrant flowers that had adorned the altar were now stained crimson, scattered haphazardly across the ground.

The stench of blood filled the air. Eileen covered her mouth, eyes scanning the lifeless bear. The first thing she noticed was the gaping hole in its head.

The one who had felled the bear with a single shot was none other than Diego. He stood over the beast, his firearm steady in his hands as he made sure the animal was truly dead.

’Not Sir Michele?’

While other knights were skilled marksmen, none could rival Michele’s precision. She was a sharpshooter, blessed by the gods themselves.

Typically, Michele would have handled a situation like this, but instead, it was Diego who had fired. Eileen found this unexpected. Looking around, she noticed that Michele was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she was preoccupied with something else.

Amid the carnage, a faint-hearted noble had collapsed, requiring the support of their servants. Even those accustomed to hunting recoiled at the sight of the slain bear.

The desecrated altar cast a shadow over the upcoming hunting festival. While the sentiment was shared by all, no one dared voice it.

’But why did the bear come here?’

Bears typically avoided humans. Though rare instances of man-eating bears existed, they would never venture into a place crowded with people. Something felt off.

As Eileen pondered, she felt a sharp, hostile gaze on her. Turning slightly, she saw a young priest glaring openly at Cesare. The priest, who had been arranging flowers at the altar, now stood holding a bundle of freshly bloomed blooms in his arms.

The flowers were vibrant, bursting with life. They had been carefully selected, with even the smallest imperfection discarded.

While spare cedar and flowers could be used to rebuild the altar, it was clear that the sacred space had already been defiled. The effort to prepare the finest offerings had been in vain.

Though the priests’ frustration was understandable, their resentment toward Cesare seemed misplaced. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Eileen knew that the temple disapproved of him. After returning victorious from Calfen, Cesare had been hailed as the "God of War" by the empire’s citizens, earning both reverence and awe.