Wicked Husband-Chapter 192 - 191

Even if one asked the knights or soldiers, the answer would have been much the same. It was rare to have the opportunity to question someone not loyal to Cesare.

But when Eileen asked, Alessia looked as though she desperately wanted to ask something. After a moment’s hesitation, she cautiously spoke up.

"Do you, by any chance, address His Grace the Grand Duke like that?"

Eileen realized she had been referring to Cesare by name in front of Alessia. Thinking it a mistake, she nodded. Alessia’s eyes widened in shock. Eileen, surprised by her sudden reaction, was taken aback herself.

The reason for Alessia’s shock was easy to guess. Besides the Emperor, Eileen was the only one who called the Grand Duke by name so casually.

Eileen knew that too. At first, she couldn’t easily bring herself to say Cesare’s name. Even now, she tried to be careful in public. But the title "Lord Cesare" had become second nature and sometimes slipped out unconsciously.

Until now, she had only been around people who didn’t find it odd when she called him that. Seeing Alessia so startled made her realize, this was the normal reaction.

Alessia quickly erased the surprise from her face and returned to her usual blank expression. She offered a brief apology.

"I do not know much."

Alessia had started working as a bodyguard when Marlena left the tavern in Fiore Street and began appearing at noble gatherings. But she said her relationship with Marlena went back much further. The two had been close childhood friends.

Through Marlena, Alessia had watched Cesare from a distance. She had seen him once in person. The feeling she experienced upon meeting his emotionless red gaze was something she would never forget.

"He has no concept of good or evil."

"I know that," Eileen replied.

"To be frank, I believe he is closer to evil."

Eileen bit her lip, looking incredibly fragile. She had enjoyed all the luxuries of being the Grand Duchess, and yet had still run away, knowing she would incur the Grand Duke’s wrath. It was hard to believe.

Now, Alessia understood why her friend and mistress Marlena had been so concerned for Eileen. The naive and gentle woman genuinely loved the Grand Duke. Marlena had likely feared the day her pure feelings would be crushed by someone so devoid of emotion. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"You have never experienced his cruelty directly, have you?"

"..."

"The tavern owner who was forced to shut down by His Grace was found dead on Fiore Street. The body showed clear signs of torture and beatings."

Alessia considered describing how horrific the scene had been, but Eileen’s face had already gone pale.

"And when I once went to retrieve Lady Marlena from reporting to His Grace..."

Alessia hesitated for a second, but then spoke without holding back.

"I saw him sever the tendons of people’s arms and legs, toss them into the woods, and release hunting dogs after them."

As Alessia spoke, a scene rose vividly in Eileen’s mind. A deep, dark forest. A small house lined with different kinds of hunting rifles.

"Whether they were innocent or guilty, it’s excessive cruelty. It’s not like there are so many criminals deserving such deep vengeance from His Grace."

Alessia sighed as she looked at Eileen, frozen stiff. She had never meant to frighten her. She had only wanted to tell the truth.

"If his heart ever changes, Lady Marlena and I are ready to become prey for the hounds ourselves. So if you wish to leave, now is your last chance."

But even with her face white from fear, Eileen didn’t say she would run.

"...I can’t."

She trembled but remained firm.

"There’s something I have to do, even if it costs me my life."

Alessia narrowed her eyes slightly. She didn’t understand. Why be this devoted to the Grand Duke?

It was enough to make her wonder if Eileen had been brainwashed. As she quietly observed the woman’s face, Eileen murmured something incomprehensible.

"Because of me, Lord Cesare..."

The end of her sentence trailed off, so Alessia couldn’t hear the rest. But even the part she did hear was hard to believe. Because of me? Cesare was not someone who changed because of others.

Still, Alessia did not voice her thoughts. Today’s conversation had been more than enough.

Eileen would come to know what kind of man the Grand Duke of Erzet truly was, the longer she stayed here.

Alessia glanced once at the path she had blocked to keep Eileen from leaving, then turned her gaze away again.

***

It was rare for all the knights to gather in the capital unless it was a battlefield. Each had their own duties, so it was difficult. Especially Senon, the deputy, who handled most of the administration, he was always too busy upon returning to the capital.

It was a serious matter for the knights to gather twice in such a short time. That in itself showed the gravity of the situation. When Eileen was caught in the collapse of the Temple of All Gods, they had gathered in haste. Now, they were gathering again because of her.

"..."

Normally talkative among themselves, the knights were now silent. They stood at attention, lips pressed together, eyes downcast.

In front of them stood their lord, Cesare. He was wearing a suit instead of his uniform, staring out the window. His eyes landed on an orange tree in the central courtyard, its green leaves vivid and fresh.

Cesare gazed blankly at the tree before finally speaking.

"I heard that was the last time you saw her."

"Yes," Lotan answered on behalf of the others.

Cesare slowly turned his head. His eyes moved from the orange tree to the knights.

Senon flinched. Michele stood still, but only because fear had paralyzed her. Her uniform was soaked with cold sweat. Diego kept swallowing dryly.

Even Lotan, usually hard to read, couldn’t hide his tension. Cesare didn’t raise his voice. He simply asked quietly.

"Why did Eileen leave?"

He truly didn’t understand the situation. Lotan didn’t know how to explain, but he also knew he couldn’t remain silent.

"Lady Eileen... wanted to return you to your true self. She asked for our help, but we suggested it might be better to follow your will, Lord Cesare..."

Lotan stopped mid-sentence, caught by Cesare’s piercing red stare, sharp as a blade. Cesare struck a match. Lighting a cigarette, he exhaled a puff of smoke and gestured lightly with his chin–continue.

"Perhaps she thought she wouldn’t achieve her goal if she stayed at the estate. So she left."

Cesare smoked in silence for a while. The knights stood rigid, waiting for him to speak. It was rare for him to finish an entire cigarette, as he usually put it out halfway.

But this time, he kept smoking. Only the sound of burning tobacco filled the air. Then Cesare finally spoke.

"Wasn’t what she wanted to be by my side?"

Lotan gasped.

"Absolutely not. Lady Eileen–"

"Yes, I know. She did it for me."

"..."

"No need to explain further, Lotan."

Cesare ground out his cigarette slowly.

"I’ll hear it from her myself."

***