Wicked Husband-Chapter 21 - 20

Eileen was most surprised by the sound of Michele’s gunshot. She instinctively pressed her hands against her chest as the sudden noise sent her heart racing wildly.

Michele blew out the muzzle of the smoking gun and glanced triumphantly at Eileen, her eyes seeking praise. Unfortunately for her, Eileen, completely shaken, could only grasp the door handle, her wits scattered.

"Eileen!"

In the midst of the crowd, a woman hurried forward, her shawl slipping off to reveal a cascade of gorgeous blonde hair, shimmering like gold dust in the sunlight.

"Le-Lena?"

Eileen stammered in surprise and called out her pseudonym. She also watched in awe as Marlena effortlessly dealt with the soldiers blocking her path with her delicate hands.

"I have the approval of His Excellency the Grand Duke to pass! I’m also an acquaintance of Eileen’s!"

Eileen hurried over to Michele, who was standing in the garden.

"Madam Michele! She’s someone I know. Please let her in."

"Of course, I’ll allow her entry. Is there anything else you require?"

Michele’s smile remained unchanged, as if unaffected by the chaos. This calm demeanour left Eileen even more bewildered, wondering how Michele could act as though nothing had happened.

"The groceries... I was going to go get–"

"Alright! Let’s do some grocery shopping. Allow me to take that then."

Michele exchanged the shopping bag for a handful of chocolates, placing them in Eileen’s hands.

"I’ll take care of buying something delicious. You go in and hang out with your friend."

Eileen found herself gently ushered back into her house alongside Marlena.

"..."

With a click, the door closed behind them, enveloping the hallway in silence. After a moment, Eileen broke the silence with an awkward greeting.

"Good morning, Lena."

Marlena responded tersely, "Just call me Marlena. Now you know everything."

"Oh, Marlena,"

Eileen repeated it softly, offering a sympathetic smile. Marlena’s proud facade faltered, her expression on the verge of tears. It was a moving moment to witness her vulnerability juxtaposed with her typically confident demeanour. Placing her hand on Marlena’s forearm, Eileen inquired gently,

"How did you get here? Something’s wrong, isn’t it?"

"Of course it is. I brought it for you to see for yourself!"

Marlena replied, holding out a newspaper to Eileen. The headline, printed in letters as large as a house, immediately caught Eileen’s attention.

[The Grand Duke’s Marriage... The bride is Eileen Elrod?!]

"Uh...?"

Eileen made a bewildered sound. She had caught snippets of conversation outside earlier, something about marriage, but the voices had blended together, making it impossible for her to discern the details.

"So it’s true?"

Marlena asked anxiously.

"You’re really marrying Duke Erzette, Eileen?"

Eileen stared blankly at Marlena for a moment before responding a beat late.

"Yes..."

It was true.

Yesterday, she had met with Cesare at the Grand Duke’s residence and, according to his words, agreed to the marriage. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

However, she hadn’t expected the news of their marriage to be featured in the newspaper the very next day, let alone in such a grandiose manner.

After the recent reform movement, articles about Grand Duke Erzet flooded the newspapers daily. While La Beretta remained relatively tame, the yellow press was in a frenzy, reporting on every aspect of the Duke’s life. From his attire to his favourite perfume, even his culinary preferences were scrutinised.

They even dedicated a special feature to Cesare’s hobby of playing the piano.

Despite the intense scrutiny of the Grand Duke’s private life, there was a conspicuous absence of any mention of Eileen in the articles, despite the widespread knowledge of the Grand Duke’s affection for his nanny’s daughter.

It seemed as though an invisible hand controlled the newspapers, ensuring Eileen remained unmentioned. No journalists harassed her for interviews.

Even during recent high-profile incidents such as the ’Lily Incident’ and the ’Bloody Banquet’ at the Victory Ceremony, where the Grand Duke’s involvement was reported, Eileen’s connection as Cesare’s beloved remained undisclosed.

The journalists, typically tenacious in their pursuit of stories, had refrained from approaching Eileen out of fear of the Grand Duke. But today, Cesare boldly announced her marriage to the Empire, revealing Eileen’s existence to the world.

As Eileen read the word ’marriage’ over and over in the newspaper, the gravity of her situation sank in. She realised she had nowhere to run. She was, in fact, bound to marry Cesare.

She found herself in a situation where she had nowhere to run.

She was actually going to marry Cesare.

"Give me your hand."

Eileen, shaken from her daze, snapped to attention at the sound of an angry voice. She instinctively extended her right hand, but Marlena, visibly frustrated, demanded her left hand instead, pounding her chest for emphasis. Eileen quickly switched hands and reached out.

Marlena tilted her head back, inspecting the fourth finger of her free left hand. She squeezed her eyes shut, suppressing her anger. However, when she opened them again and glanced at Eileen, her gaze was as fierce as that of a lioness.

"Didn’t you get a ring?"

"Oh, that..."

Eileen responded meekly, feeling diminished.

"I didn’t get one..."

"If he is the Grand Duke, he can buy as many rings as he wants!"

She was furious, asking why Eileen couldn’t even get a proposal ring from the Grand Duke, who could easily have given her a diamond ring big enough to spin on her ten fingers.

Eileen calmed Marlena by glancing sideways into the bedroom, where her father would be.

"Marlena, could you please lower your voice?"

"Ah, my apologies. I forgot about the reporters outside."

Though the voices of the reporters didn’t reach them in the garden, Eileen chose not to correct the misunderstanding out of concern for her father’s reputation.

"Eileen. No, Lady Elrod," Marlena addressed her formally, prompting Eileen to wave her hand dismissively.

"It’s fine, just call me by my name," Eileen insisted.

"...I didn’t realise you were of noble birth. And I certainly didn’t expect you to be someone the Duke held in such high regard."

"I didn’t know Marlena was a dancer either."

Marlena chuckled softly, a sound akin to a sigh, and Eileen couldn’t help but join in.

Among Eileen’s clientele, Marlena held a special place.

During her first visit to Eileen’s laboratory, Marlena was suffering from complications from an abortion. Despite her condition, she lightly joked about her continuous bleeding, displaying a unique blend of humour and resilience.

"I’ve heard of your talent. Do you have a potion that can make dying a pretty sight without pain? I’ll pay whatever you ask."

Marlena had said, tossing a hefty purse of gold coins onto the table, the coins seemingly endless as they spilled out.

Eileen glanced at the gold coins briefly, taking only one before silently rearranging the purse and returning it to Marlena. With a casual demeanour, she asked,

"Do you like hot chocolate? Because that’s all I have to drink."

Quickly preparing a cup of hot chocolate, Eileen handed it to Marlena, who looked at her with bewildered eyes. Yet, she found solace in the warmth emanating from Eileen’s hand and the sweet scent wafting from the cup, prompting her to take a sip.

"I’ll create the medicine you desire. But it will take time."

"How long?"

"Hmm... About a month. But you have to come here every three or four days to get tested."

Eileen elaborated on the time and effort required to craft a potion tailored precisely to Marlena’s needs. Then, as she collected the empty hot chocolate cup, she offered a reminder.

"And remember to seek proper medical care from a doctor,"

Eileen emphasised. She explained the necessity of maintaining good health to ensure a graceful end, a notion Marlena found herself surprisingly inclined to believe. Reflecting on it later, the idea seemed absurd, but in that vulnerable moment, her mind was swayed by Eileen’s conviction.

Marlena diligently followed Eileen’s advice, ensuring her health with regular visits to a doctor and weekly trips to Eileen’s laboratory. On each visit, Eileen would briefly assess her condition before offering delicious snacks.

Impressed by the treats, Marlena decided to reciprocate, bringing an array of delectable sweets to share on her next visit. From cakes and cookies from renowned island bakeries to exotic fruit-flavoured candies imported from abroad, she spared no expense in selecting the finest desserts.

Eileen’s delight at each new treat was evident, her reactions were reminiscent of a child’s joy. Marlena couldn’t help but find it endearing. However, she couldn’t shake the suspicion that, despite Eileen’s modest profession, she seemed oddly unfazed by the lavish snacks.

The thought crossed Marlena’s mind: was Eileen accustomed to such indulgences? It left her pondering the true extent of Eileen’s lifestyle outside of the laboratory.

’Are you using all the money you make to buy snacks?’