Count Domenico handed over the bag of bread and left. As soon as he was gone, Eileen finally headed for the laboratory. It seemed a little awkward to reveal to the innkeeper that the Archduchess was a pharmacist, so Michelle would take charge of delivering the message in her place.
When Michelle and Cesare, dressed in their imperial uniforms, entered the inn, a sudden silence fell over the room. The lively murmur that had filled the hall moments before ceased abruptly, and everyone froze in their positions.
Those who had been eating, chatting, or giving change to customers now stared at the soldiers who had just entered. The moment their gazes began to turn to Eileen, who remained behind Cesare, Michelle stepped forward.
She snapped her fingers, producing a sharp sound that drew everyone's attention to her.
— Attention! It seems many here have a guilty conscience, but rest assured, we're not here to arrest anyone today.
Only then did people begin to move again, albeit hesitantly. The lively atmosphere, however, did not return, as the soldiers remained on guard by the door, preventing anyone from leaving and forcing them to stay there, nervous.
Being a soldier had recently become one of the most coveted professions in the Empire. The reason the inn's patrons were particularly apprehensive had everything to do with Eileen. On the day the approval for the triumphal arch was announced, Cesare had ordered soldiers to surround the site.
Then the laboratory was closed and Eileen disappeared without a trace. The inn's guests believed that the pharmacist from the second floor had been taken away by the soldiers, leaving her fate unknown. Naturally, they became cautious, avoiding any kind of trouble.
Despite the fear etched on his face, the innkeeper, Pietro, bravely stepped forward.
Excuse me, can I ask you something?
"Yes? " Michelle replied.
Michelle walked casually to the counter. Pietro wiped his sweaty hands on the apron that covered his round belly and asked politely:
What happened to the pharmacist on the second floor?
— Oh, actually, that's precisely why we're here. Don't worry, she's fine.
Leaning casually on the counter, Michelle continued the conversation while Pietro listened attentively. Eileen, though a little uneasy, trusted that Michelle would explain everything as best she could.
Taking advantage of everyone's focus on Michelle, Eileen and Cesare quickly went upstairs. Those who saw Eileen peeking behind his back widened their eyes in surprise. They looked from the La Verita newspaper to Eileen, confirming her identity, but she, absorbed in following Cesare's steps, didn't notice their stares.
On the second floor, silence reigned. It was too early, so there were no guests. Cesare took a key from his pocket and opened the heavy padlock that kept the laboratory door locked. Upon entering, Eileen felt emotional at finally returning to her own space.
Contrary to her expectations, the laboratory was clean. She had imagined finding everything covered in a thick layer of dust, but the environment remained surprisingly organized. Even the ornamental poppies, which did not possess narcotic properties, were vibrant, their fresh petals showing signs of care. Evidently, Cesare had arranged for someone to look after the space.
Only one of them, however, appeared damaged, with some petals fallen off. This had happened because Cesare himself had handled it roughly earlier, causing the petals to fall.
'Even so, he was the one who ordered the plants to be watered.'
Although her touch had damaged the flower, her commands ensured its survival. She hoped the poppy would not hold a grudge against her.
She gently stroked the plant and examined the laboratory. Ever since Michelle had brought the good news, she had already mentally decided what she would take with her.
All the research materials had disappeared, probably confiscated during the investigation into Morpheus. Seeing the empty shelves left her with a feeling of emptiness, but she hid her disappointment and focused on inspecting the equipment.
'Should I start with the fragile and expensive devices?'
Her gaze lingered on a round-bottomed balloon until it returned to Cesare. The man was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching her walk around the room with an amused smile. When their eyes met, he was the one who broke the silence.
Count Domenico has already handed over the research data.
Cesare put his hand to his chin and continued:
— Keep working on Morpheus. We'll give you the support you need, so don't worry about anything else.
"And the execution...? " Eileen asked cautiously, looking around before expressing her concern.
"Who would dare to put Archduke Erzet on the scaffold? " Cesare replied with conviction.
Eileen almost ran to him, overcome with gratitude. She restrained herself, mindful of the Archduke's dignity, and simply showed the joy etched on her face.
Thank you. Thank you so much! I promise I'll complete Morpheus, no matter what.
She clasped her hands together, determined to dedicate herself and create an extraordinary medicine as a sign of gratitude. Cesare smiled warmly, acknowledging her dedication.
Eileen hummed as she continued searching the laboratory. Then, an idea occurred to her, a way to immediately repay Cesare's kindness.
'I wish I could do something for him right now.'
She wanted to show her gratitude in a simple way; it wouldn't be anything grand, just a gesture of care. Thinking back, she remembered the scar ointment.
Previously, the man had cut his hand when he rescued her from that kidnapping. The cut had almost healed, but applying the ointment would prevent a permanent scar. He scolded himself for not thinking of that sooner and began searching frantically.
The laboratory, normally a chaotic mess but tidy according to Eileen's standards, was now impeccably organized, making it challenging to find anything. After some frustrating searching, she finally located the ointment.
"Cesare! " she called, hurrying toward him. "Could you show me your palm for a moment?"
He laughed beautifully and extended his gloved hand.
— I… need your hand without the glove.
Do you want me to take it off?
Eileen hesitated at the suggestive tone, but nodded.
Yes, please.
Cesare, instead of obeying immediately, preferred to provoke her.
— Casually asking me to take off my glove…
— I meant the glove, not your clothes…
Eileen clarified hastily, and Cesare let out a hearty laugh.
"Alright," he said, his voice low and sweet, as if they were sharing a secret. "I'll only shoot you in front of me, Eileen."
His whispered words sent a shiver down her spine, leaving her strangely disturbed. Holding her breath, she watched Cesare slowly remove his glove. Her heart raced.
As the black, shiny leather peeled away, it revealed a strong hand, with well-defined bones and veins. The long fingers were completely freed from the glove.
Cesare extended his hand, Eileen carefully took it in both of hers and gently turned it over to examine his palm.
— …
It was smooth, with no sign of the previous injury.
Cesare had always demonstrated a remarkable, above-average ability to heal, but the complete disappearance of the scar was unusual. Not enough time had passed for such regeneration.
'Was it the other hand? No, it was exactly this one here…'
Despite his confusion, Cesare remained quiet, simply offering her his hand calmly.
Show me the other one too, please.
Stuttering, Eileen asked to see her other hand, questioning if she had made a mistake. Cesare complied, removing it, which was equally intact. Holding both, Eileen felt a wave of unease wash over her.
'What is happening?'
Something seemed out of the ordinary, but Eileen couldn't quite put her finger on what. An unsettling feeling lingered in her mind, casting a shadow over her thoughts. That strange feeling that had recently surfaced regarding Cesare was now intensifying more than ever.
At that moment, almost without thinking, she opened her mouth.
— Cesare.
Looking him straight in the eye, she asked the first question that came to mind.
How did you find out about the wedding ring in my diary?
To be continued…