The melancholy expression, with downcast eyes, was so touching that Eileen couldn't help but smile. The knights exchanged approving glances as Lotan spoke softly.
— You look beautiful. Much better without them.
The sincere compliment, delivered in a deep voice, considerably eased her heart. Perhaps they only wanted to reassure her, but it was still pleasant to hear. With a shy gesture, Eileen touched her bangs and murmured:
Thank you, all of you.
After keeping her in an atmosphere filled with praise for quite some time, they finally got to the main topic.
"Tomorrow, we knights and soldiers will be responsible for the wedding's security. We'll be armed, so you can rest assured. If any troublemaker shows up bothering you, I'll simply… " Michelle mimed a gun with her hand and made a motion to shoot. Lotan quickly grabbed her hand and lowered it, finishing:
We will ensure that none of this happens.
He then calmly explained how the wedding security would be arranged.
— All of us, including the soldiers, will be in uniform. They will be familiar faces, so don't follow anyone you don't recognize.
There was a slight hint of dissatisfaction in her tone, as if she were lecturing a child about kidnapping. However, Eileen, with a history of abductions herself, listened in silence, without protesting.
"However, due to the limited number of soldiers available at the wedding site, our field of vision will be restricted, " Lotan added.
He led Eileen to a chair and unfolded the plan of the Archduke 's estate on the table . Pointing to the marked red dots, he continued:
"These are the positions of the soldiers who will be on guard. Most will be concentrated here, where the ceremony will take place… " Lotan circled the area with his pen. "Try to stay in the wedding hall as much as possible. But if you need to enter the mansion, use this corridor. It's the safest route."
The indicated corridor connected the garden to the main entrance of the mansion.
"Once inside, you'll probably be with His Grace, but let me explain, " Lotan continued, his pen gliding quickly across the diagram.
"Consider using only the central entrance stairs. It's unlikely, but in case of emergency, you should come here. " He drew a star in the upper corner of the mansion. With steady hands, he traced the symbol precisely and emphasized:
— It's essential. We'll train later, but you need to be able to go alone. There's a secret passage behind the largest painting in the room.
There, emergency funds, food, extra clothes would be prepared, and the tunnel would lead to the surrounding area of the property.
After hearing Lotan's explanation, Eileen couldn't help but feel tense. Terrible scenarios flooded her mind, imagining possible disasters during the ceremony. Swallowing hard, she finally voiced her concern.
— By any chance… did you receive any warnings?
It was hard to believe that such extensive preparation wasn't the result of some kind of threat.
But Lotan responded directly:
No. If there had been any confirmed threat, His Grace would have canceled or postponed the wedding until those responsible were apprehended.
He made it clear that, in that case, the guilty parties would face the gallows, or worse. The wedding would only be rescheduled after the situation was definitively resolved.
"You won't need to use that ticket, Eileen. We'll make sure of that. But it's necessary to explain all the possibilities; it's necessary to be prepared for any eventuality, " he concluded, trying to reassure her.
With a past stained with blood since the age of ten, the man survived countless battles, but with each medal won, new enemies emerged along the way. Cesare had adversaries beyond the borders of the Traon Empire.
— You've probably already realized this, but... the Archduke 's enemies aren't limited to the Empire.
The unpredictability was real, as the attempted assassination in the greenhouse had already demonstrated.
Although Cesare was gradually gaining control over the nobility, there were still risks, as demonstrated by Matteo, the son-in-law of the former president of the Senate, whose personal hatred led him to extremes.
With Eileen's declaration as Archduchess Erzet, she also became a target.
It was a monumental change for someone who, until recently, spent their days carving leaves and selling potions in an inn room.
Lotan, aware of the gravity of his words, tried to soften his tone:
"I apologize for being so serious… but we're prepared to risk our lives to protect you, Eileen. So I hope you won't worry too much, " Lotan said, visibly embarrassed at having to warn her like that. He laughed nervously.
She, however, replied in a low voice, staring at the burn marks on his face:
— … Please don't do that.
She looked at each of the four gifts and continued:
I don't want you to risk your lives for me. I will also be careful. I will only stay where it is safe.
A heavy silence hung in the air. Lotan clenched his teeth, his voice trembling slightly as he replied:
Yes, Miss Eileen.
After the explanation, she went with Lotan to check the indicated path. She absorbed every detail, and he seemed pleased with her attention.
And then, finally, the wedding day arrived.
Eileen had planned to go to bed early the night before, knowing she would have to wake before sunrise, but sleep wouldn't come. The tension made her toss and turn in bed, and when she finally fell asleep, it was only a few hours of restless sleep. From then on, it was as if she were being led by the servants in a dreamlike state.
With each blink, the scenes changed rapidly. Even after a relaxing bath, scented with flower petals, the restlessness persisted.
While the servants dressed her and adjusted every detail of her appearance, Eileen remained stunned. The young woman in charge of makeup showered her with compliments, insisting that she look at herself in the mirror. Eileen only smiled slightly, averting her gaze from her own reflection.
As dawn broke, the seamstresses arrived, exhausted from the sleepless night. Their elegant clothes had been replaced by work attire. The one who seemed to be the leader spoke in a tired voice:
— How have you been? We'd like to know in detail, but time is short. Let's begin immediately.
In an instant, they surrounded Eileen with determined stares. Intimidated, she froze as one of them firmly adjusted the corset. There was no artificial padding in the dress; they carefully shaped the skirt so that it flowed naturally.
Using white gloves to avoid staining the fabric, they dressed her in the wedding gown. Their gestures were delicate and meticulous.
We've created a true masterpiece…!
They wept almost uncontrollably, wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs. Then, they covered Eileen's face with the veil, careful to maintain the purity of the moment.
— Please allow us to also make the clothes you will wear in the future.
We'll do everything together!
Eileen thought silently that if someone less attractive wore her creations, it wouldn't be the best publicity for the seamstresses. But she kept the comment to herself, respecting her enthusiasm.
Finally ready, it was time to leave for the ceremony. The veil somewhat restricted her vision, but, accustomed to covering part of her face with her bangs, Eileen felt a strange calm.
Accompanied by her servants, she walked slowly to the ceremony site. It was then that she crossed the threshold of the mansion.
A cheerful melody, lively conversations, laughter, and birdsong formed a symphony around them. All eyes turned to the bride.
The murmuring ceased instantly when Eileen appeared. A reverent silence filled the scene, as if the world held its breath at her entrance.
To be continued….