A soldier once served under Caesar—a man of remarkable talent and diligence, who rose rapidly through the ranks, earning recognition for his abilities within the army. Caesar favored him, and there were even rumors that he would soon be knighted by Caesar himself.
The man's gentle and kind nature made him beloved by all, including little Eileen, who deeply admired him. However, one day, this promising figure disappeared without a trace.
When Eileen, still very young at the time, inquired about his whereabouts, everyone claimed to know nothing. As a child, she had little means of discovering the truth.
The soldier was never mentioned again, and Eileen, initially confused, eventually let him fade from her thoughts. Only much later did she learn of his death. They said he had committed a crime and received the appropriate punishment.
Eileen never discovered the nature of his crime, but, knowing that Cesare himself had punished him, she assumed it must have been something serious. His death left a chilling mark on Eileen's emotions, planting a seed of fear—that she herself might one day suffer a similar fate.
He was far more competent than she was, and yet, despite his exceptional talents, he had been erased from Cesare's world as if he had never existed. Even now, as archduchess, Eileen felt her position was unstable, not unlike his. The fear lingered.
What if, like the soldier, she remained oblivious to the impending danger until it was too late? What if she disappeared without a chance to explain herself?
It wasn't the idea of dying for Cesare that terrified her. What truly frightened her was the possibility of becoming a forgotten existence, erased from her life completely, as if she had never mattered. She feared the prospect of a dishonorable end.
The anxiety that had been gnawing at her exploded with the news of Lucio's fate. She hadn't heard a single word about it until she read the morning paper, which made the shock even more brutal.
Harsh reality shattered the dreamlike reverie she had maintained as an archduchess. Negative thoughts began to spiral, darkening with each turn.
Did your senior really try to steal your research?
Eileen clenched her fists, struggling to contain the doubt growing inside her. Her nails dug into her palms as she slowly relaxed, released them, and spoke:
— Mr. Senon…
Senon remained silent throughout his inner turmoil, and Eileen offered a bitter smile at the lack of response.
The knights and soldiers had always cared for and liked Eileen, and she valued them in the same way.
But in the end, they were knights and soldiers of Caesar. If they had to choose, they would choose Caesar. A bitter taste filled his mouth.
— I just… for the first time, I wish I had been informed, even if just a little. After all, he was a guest I had brought…
Even as she spoke, her heart ached. Her nose tingled, and her eyes burned with tears she struggled to hold back.
I always feel so powerless, always in the dark… But I can never bring myself to say these things to His Grace…
She paused to regulate her breathing, forcing a smile as she tried to downplay the moment, as if it didn't matter.
— I ended up making things uncomfortable for you, Mr. Senon. It wasn't my intention. I was just being a little childish because I felt upset.
Despite her efforts, a tear rolled down Eileen's cheek. She hurriedly wiped it away with the back of her hand, pressing as if she could stop the flow. Still, the tears continued to fall, incessantly. It didn't seem to work.
— I'm sorry… I'm very sorry, Mr. Senon.
While Eileen sniffled and apologized, Senon—who until then had maintained a rigid and formal posture—shuddered. He frantically rummaged through his coat, his movements so desperate that he seemed about to tear the pockets. After some effort, he finally found a handkerchief and handed it to Eileen.
Eileen took a napkin from the table and Senon's handkerchief, using one for each eye. With her face half-covered by the objects, she apologized again, her voice nasal from crying. Senon spoke in a grave tone.
— Your Grace… it was my fault…
But there was no reason for Senon to apologize. When Eileen told him not to, Senon responded with even more sadness.
— I should have foreseen that this would upset her. I was so excited about the commercialization of the drug you created that I became completely engrossed…
Senon couldn't hide his distress at seeing Eileen trying to compose herself. Having served Cesare as a soldier for so long, the knights had developed a mindset quite different from that of ordinary people. In short, they were much more indifferent.
Their lord, Cesare, was not merely indifferent, he was detached. Naturally, his knights had assimilated some of these characteristics.
From their perspective, their actions were logical. They simply dealt with a criminal and, in the process, used the situation to their advantage.
To ensure the mission's success, secrecy had to be maintained, which is why Eileen hadn't been informed. It might seem extreme, but they believed that explaining everything later would make her understand.
However, upon further reflection, Eileen didn't even know what crime Lucio had committed. She had always seen him as a kind and gentle veteran.
Senon realized too late that this was the first time they were dealing with someone close to Eileen, and that's where they went wrong.
If Diego had been here, he would have stopped me.
Diego was the most empathetic of the knights, the one who best understood the feelings of others. Had he been present, he would have suggested a more careful approach.
Unfortunately, Diego was away on a business trip out of town. Missing him more than ever, Senon stirred and opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Despite his reputation for intelligence, Senon's sharp mind was useless in that situation. He could think of many things to say, but everything sounded like an excuse. Desperately trying to comfort Eileen, he ended up speaking without thinking:
I will speak to His Grace about this later today.
He had no idea what he would say, but seeing Eileen in tears hurt so much that the words escaped him.
Eileen simply shook her head. She gently lowered the handkerchief and napkin that covered her tear-stretched eyes. Her eyes, now red and swollen, stared directly at Senon as she spoke.
Eileen simply shook her head. She gently lowered the handkerchief and napkin that covered her teary, now red and swollen eyes, and looked at Senon as she spoke:
- No.
It would be childish to let someone else convey her message. Eileen glanced at the newspaper on the table, lingering for a moment on the words La Verita. After a few seconds of reflection, she made her decision.
Is it possible to find His Grace now?
Senon personally escorted Eileen to the residence where Cesare was staying. Although she repeatedly stated that she understood how busy he was and that Senon's presence wasn't necessary, he insisted on accompanying her, so she reluctantly agreed.
Throughout the journey, Senon sweated nervously, trying to comfort Eileen and ease her suffering. His overwhelming guilt ultimately led to Eileen being the one who needed to console him.
We've arrived…
Senon murmured weakly as he stopped the car. Eileen, getting out of the vehicle with Senon's assistance, froze for a moment. The place was painfully familiar.
She had been there only once before, but the memory was indelibly etched in her mind.
It was the house he had visited shortly before Cesare left for the Kingdom of Kalpen. It was the last time he tried to see him. Despite his desperate knocking, no sound or answer had come from inside…
When those vivid memories resurfaced, the courage she had mustered seemed to wither immediately. As if the door would remain closed once more, and even if she begged to speak with the man, she feared he wouldn't bother to refuse.
Eileen's face paled slightly. The old wooden door creaked open, its rusty hinges protesting. Eileen stared at the door, which she had thought would remain closed forever.
Cesare appeared, his expression impenetrable as he crossed the threshold. His eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of Eileen. It was clear he hadn't expected her visit. Still, a slight smile soon appeared on his lips as he called her name.
Eileen.
As he approached, his smile vanished when he noticed the tear-streaked face. Worry etched onto the man's expression.
Were you crying?
At that moment, the tears that Eileen had barely managed to contain returned with force, overflowing once more.
To be continued…