Cesare playfully pinched her cheek as he spoke. Eileen quickly explained that she was a little nervous because it had been a long time since their last meeting. After a detailed explanation, the misunderstanding was finally resolved, and they were able to have tea together.
They settled at Eileen's favorite outdoor table in the Imperial Palace Gardens, drinking tea and conversing. In Cesare's company, Eileen could momentarily forget her debts and her parents. As their pleasant time together drew to a close, Cesare casually suggested:
"Making and selling medicine wouldn't be a bad idea."
For Eileen, who had been struggling to find a way to earn money, this advice was invaluable. When she expressed doubt about her ability to pursue this path without completing her university studies, Cesare reassured her, praising her intelligence and expressing that he had never met anyone as intelligent as her.
Before parting ways, Cesare presented Eileen with a bouquet of lilies. When she arrived home with her arm full of snow-white flowers, she arranged them beautifully in a vase. The house, once gloomy, brightened with the vibrant bouquet.
Although it was just a simple arrangement, the dark atmosphere that enveloped her brick house seemed to dissipate. Even the heavy clouds that weighed on her heart began to disappear.
After contemplating the bouquet for a long time, Eileen gathered her resolve. She decided to follow Cesare's advice and try making medicine.
'It's all thanks to him.'
While reflecting on the past, Eileen returned to the present, focusing on Cesare, the man who had significantly influenced her life.
Her heart tightened, and she took a deep breath. A storm of unspoken emotions simmered within her. Repeatedly, she reminded herself not to confess her feelings foolishly or cross any boundaries.
'I want to be someone useful to him,' she decided silently before speaking.
— Watching you today, I thought I should try harder too, like Mr. Luc— aah.
Just as she was finishing her sentence, Cesare kissed her again. The sudden kiss took her by surprise, and she gasped. It was only when her lips were swollen from his kisses that Eileen realized:
'Could it be that he doesn't like hearing about Mr. Lucio?'
Unsure of the reason behind Cesare's reaction, Eileen decided to avoid mentioning Lucio from then on. Cesare finally pulled away from the kiss.
Am I getting a little better at understanding the weather?
Satisfied that the situation had unfolded as she had hoped, Eileen couldn't hide a slight feeling of pride. Cesare, sensing her feelings, gave a subtle smile, which she didn't notice.
He gently ran his tongue over her swollen lips and suggested she have dinner with the professors that evening, explaining that he had unfinished business and couldn't join them.
As a result, Eileen found herself having dinner with the professors and Lucio. Glenda and Elio, who secretly hoped to see Cesare again, were a little disappointed, but also relieved.
'Having dinner with His Grace the Archduke is truly an experience that would leave anyone speechless.'
Eileen completely understood her feelings.
After dinner, she led them on a tour of the Archduke's estate. They passed by his laboratory, but Eileen didn't show it to them, explaining that it was still disorganized.
Later, they discussed the marketing of painkillers, and Eileen decided to go to bed early. As she settled into her room alone, without Cesare, she felt a pang of loneliness as she closed her eyes.
She thought the day had ended peacefully, until the early morning, when the sun had not yet risen.
In the profound silence of the early morning, when everyone was fast asleep, the laboratory door, which should have been securely locked, creaked open. A man, moving like a shadow, creaked in, his eyes carefully examining the surroundings.
The first thing he looked for was Eileen's research journal. Flipping through the pages quickly, he examined the meticulous handwriting and carefully organized notes. His breathing became uneven.
As his fingers touched the writing, the man gripped the diary tightly, his eyes glazed as they scanned the laboratory. He focused on the equipment, each item marked by its owner's touch. He began to handle each tool, one by one, until he found a neatly folded handkerchief on the table.
She grabbed the handkerchief and pressed it against her face, rubbing it forcefully against her skin. Her chest heaved with quick, panting breaths.
— Aah, aah… damn…
Muttering curses, he pressed the fabric harder against his face, his hands trembling as he hurriedly unbuckled his belt with the other. The metallic sound echoed as his erect penis sprang out. Letting out an animalistic growl, the man began to masturbate aggressively.
As pre-ejaculate dripped from the head of his penis, moans reverberated in the silent laboratory.
Just before reaching orgasm, he groaned a name in a hoarse voice:
Eileen…!
Sticky semen covered his hand as he gasped, trying to catch his breath. Lucio turned on a tap in a corner of the lab and washed the semen off his hand.
Part of him wanted to mark everything Eileen used—her chair, her gloves, her lab tools. But he knew he couldn't act recklessly. Unlike in the past, she had become someone far beyond his reach.
Lucio clenched his teeth, his jaw trembling briefly, as if the orgasm wouldn't be able to erase the tormenting pain in his chest.
He had changed his appearance, his personality, everything. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his entire life had been turned upside down. And all because of Eileen.
After being expelled from the university, he worked tirelessly to return to her side. He vowed to become a man she wouldn't be ashamed of and to achieve a status that even Archduke Erzet would approve of.
When Lucio heard rumors that the Archduke was leaving for war, he wished the man dead. Without anyone to protect her, it would be easier to claim Eileen for himself. But luck was not on his side.
Disappointed, yet determined, Lucio remained confident that even the Archduke would now see him as a suitable suitor for Eileen. After all, she was just the daughter of a simple baron. Surely, the man would consider him an acceptable match. So, Lucio waited for another opportunity to contact Eileen. But then, the news broke: she was going to marry Archduke Erzet.
For Lucio, it was like being struck by lightning. The man who had once pretended Eileen was his "daughter" was just another fool who coveted her. Despite all the changes he had made, Eileen had slipped even further out of his reach.
The inferiority he felt toward someone untouchable only deepened when he met her again. Even in the academic field where he once excelled, Eileen had surpassed him. To think that the pharmacist behind that highly praised headache medication was Eileen herself…
Lucio had experienced the effects of the analgesic that Glenda and Elio praised so highly. It not only relieved pain but also reduced fever and inflammation, making it a remarkably versatile medication. If commercialized, Eileen would gain significant prestige as a researcher.
The idea of her achieving such recognition was unbearable to him. If he couldn't have her, he wanted her to at least fall to a level below his own.
'And that.'
Crumpling Eileen's research journal until it was in pieces, Lucio thought of the nobleman who had given his orders. 'Studying opiates… how audacious.'
Stuffing the diary and handkerchief into his coat, Lucio quietly returned to the guest room Eileen had designated. He opened the door carefully, making sure not to make a sound, and went inside.
The moment he closed the door and sighed with relief, a loud bang echoed through the room. Despite his caution, Lucio had accidentally bumped into the door. There was no time to worry about the noise. Leaning against the door, his eyes widened at the scene before him.
The guest room, which should have been empty, already had an occupant. Seated peacefully in an armchair near the window, bathed in moonlight, was none other than Archduke Erzet himself.
The man's crimson eyes fixed on Lucio with an air of distant boredom. He had a weapon on his hip and spoke in a slow, deliberate voice:
— Lucio Zaetani.
Upon hearing his name, Lucio fell to his knees without thinking. Cold sweat streamed down his face, soaking his clothes almost instantly.
— Your Grace…
His voice came out strained, barely audible. The Archduke fiddled lightly with the weapon, the sound of cocking it filling the room. His voice, though elegant, carried a tone of disdain.
It stinks of shit in here, doesn't it?
(Elisa: Webtoon also made by me available on Nocturne)
To be continued…