Wicked Husband-Chapter 93 - 92

Lucio’s grip, initially intended as a polite gesture during their brief exit from the carriage, suddenly tightened, creating an unexpected tension. Eileen looked at him in surprise.

His usually gentle demeanor had shifted to an intense, unfamiliar expression. This abrupt change made Eileen uneasy, prompting her to glance back at Cesare.

Cesare, observing the scene, met her gaze with his usual neutral expression. His calm red eyes did little to alleviate Eileen’s anxiety. However, the unsettling feeling she had moments ago quickly dissipated when she saw Cesare’s composed demeanor.

As Cesare’s gaze locked with hers, he offered a faint smile. Startled by the interaction, Lucio immediately released Eileen’s hand. She rubbed her slightly numb fingers and turned to see the professors, who watched with astonished expressions.

’Will he think it’s rude?’

Although Cesare was unlikely to be jealous, Eileen worried that he might find Lucio’s behavior inappropriate towards a grand duchess. Cesare had a history of taking extreme measures to maintain order and discipline, and she feared he might react drastically.

To her relief, Cesare did not acknowledge Lucio further. Instead, he focused solely on Eileen and called her name.

"Eileen."

She moved quickly towards Cesare, who waited patiently for her to approach. When she reached him, he opened his arms. After a brief hesitation, Eileen embraced him.

Cesare held Eileen gently, mindful of the decorations on his uniform so as not to hurt her. The warmth of his embrace provided her with a momentary escape from her worries, allowing her to fully savor the joy of his unexpected early return.

"I didn’t expect you to be home already," Eileen said, feeling a pang of regret for not returning sooner. Instead of answering verbally, Cesare placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

After brushing his hand lightly over her cheek, Cesare turned his attention to the guests. Eileen, still basking in the comfort of Cesare’s embrace, belatedly introduced them.

"Oh, this is Professor Glenda and Professor Elio from Palerchia University."

"I know," Cesare replied, maintaining his hold on Eileen’s waist. He regarded Glenda and Elio, who were visibly taken aback to find themselves in the presence of the Grand Duke of Erzet.

The professors, accustomed to the serene environment of academia, found themselves overwhelmed by Cesare’s imposing presence. His casual acknowledgment of their names, combined with his authoritative demeanor, left them feeling as though they were in the presence of a formidable force.

Eileen, who was used to Cesare’s commanding presence, understood that others might find it intimidating.

’Especially Cesare...’

Few in the Traon Empire could remain unmoved under Cesare’s intense gaze.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace," Glenda and Elio said, their voices tinged with nervousness as they bowed. They offered their congratulations for Cesare’s recent triumph.

"Congratulations on your victory. Thanks to you, the citizens of the Traon Empire can now enjoy peace."

"Thank you sincerely, as a citizen of the Traon Empire."

Their eyes revealed a mix of apprehension and admiration. Cesare, having led the Empire to victory in what seemed like an impossible war, was a revered figure in the eyes of the people.

Seeing the professors, who had been so lively and cheerful at the teahouse, now visibly awed by Cesare’s presence, made Eileen feel a twinge of discomfort.

Despite her awareness of Cesare’s esteemed position, the reality of his status seemed to hit Eileen anew. Usually, she would have been standing behind Glenda and Elio, not cradled in Cesare’s embrace.

’Or, we might never have met at all...’

Eileen pushed aside the bittersweet feeling rising within her. Meanwhile, Cesare, with a faint smile, addressed the professors.

"Please make yourselves comfortable during your stay at the estate. I will ensure that you are well taken care of."

Cesare then naturally drew Eileen close and, with a gentle but firm hold, carried her up the stairs as soon as the front door closed.

"Cesare..."

Eileen felt a flush of embarrassment at the thought of Lucio and the professors seeing her being carried like a child. She subtly signaled that she wished to be put down, but Cesare seemed oblivious to her attempts. As he carried her up the stairs, he inquired:

"How was your outing today?"

Eileen momentarily forgot her embarrassment and began to babble excitedly. There was so much she wanted to share with him.

"It was fun! I was fortunate to find some out-of-print books at the bookstore. They weren’t about plants, which might surprise you. I read more than just plant books, you know. I also looked at some lab equipment, but I didn’t buy any because we have everything we need in the lab already. I did pick up a simple glass beaker, though, just so I wouldn’t leave empty-handed."

Eileen, lost in her excitement, didn’t realize they had reached the top of the stairs. Cesare still held her effortlessly, and she forgot to ask to be put down.

"...And the professors were actually looking for me. They had some of the medicine I sold—the headache remedy. When they showed it to me, I was really surprised. They wanted to meet the pharmacist who made it, and I was so troubled trying to figure out what to do that I just decided to tell them honestly."

She glanced up at Cesare, worried about how he would react to the revelation. Although she had mentioned her role before, she was concerned that revealing her identity as a pharmacist might upset him now.

Cesare, however, seemed to take the news with a hint of pleasure rather than displeasure. Eileen felt a wave of relief and continued eagerly.

"So, they learned that I’m the pharmacist and want to commercialize the headache remedy. They praised it highly, saying it could benefit the Empire’s people. Although I’m not entirely sure myself... I thought if you allowed it, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to give it a try."

Despite the professors’ praise boosting her confidence, Eileen struggled to feel proud of her achievements in front of Cesare, who was revered as the hero who saved the Empire.

As Eileen’s voice trailed off, she realized they had entered the bedroom. Cesare, with a nonchalant air, began undoing the buttons of her dress. His calm demeanor only heightened Eileen’s awareness of her exposed collarbone, causing her to shiver at the touch of the cool air against her skin. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"So, what did you talk about with Lucio?" Cesare asked, his tone casual but attentive.

***