The revelation drained Eileen's entire life. Stunned and disoriented, she let out a desperate denial.
— No, never! Absolutely not! The idea wouldn't even dare cross my mind. As a citizen loyal to the Empire, I only desire the glory of Traon…
Of course not, right?
Leone watched Eileen's distressed babbling, a wrinkle forming on his forehead. A thoughtful murmur escaped his lips as he rubbed his chin, keeping his gaze fixed on her face. After a long, tense silence, a discreet smile appeared on his lips.
Well, the Miss Elrod I know wouldn't do that.
'Then why did you ask...?'
Eileen swallowed the response she longed to shout at the Emperor. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Leone. His words echoed in her mind, a jumble of accusations: resentment against the Empire, a massacre, and a desperate plea for help to Cesare.
Putting these important pieces together, it seemed that Cesare had told Leone some strange story. While Eileen was still trying to process everything, the emperor offered her tea.
Her hands trembled as she picked up the cup. Her nerves were so on edge that she could barely distinguish the tea from the air, swallowing the bitter liquid without milk or sugar.
After delivering the first blow, Leone calmly added sugar to his own cup. His voice, when he spoke, was deceptively casual.
— You've changed quite a bit, Miss Elrod. It's been... four years since we last saw each other, hasn't it?
Yes, Your Majesty. Four years.
When Eileen responded quickly, Leone smiled again, amused by something. In a soft voice, he offered a sharp comment.
— You must have resented me quite a bit during that time.
- … No.
Eileen's denial came out hesitant, belated, and weak. The truth, a weight on her chest, contradicted her hesitant response. Shame burned on her cheeks under Leone's steady gaze.
His resentment toward him stemmed from Caesar. Even though he had ascended to the throne of the nation, he had sent his brother, who had contributed most to his rise, to the battlefield.
Three years ago, when Cesare's mission was decided, Eileen learned the news from the newspaper.
Upon reading the article announcing the Archduke's departure, Eileen desperately wanted to see him. However, there was no way. She anxiously waited for Cesare to call or visit her.
As time went on, her anxiety increased. She checked the calendar dozens of times a day and, at night, stayed awake for hours, waiting to see it the next day.
And, on the eve of the match…
When she saw the military vehicle stop in front of the garden, Eileen dropped everything and ran outside. But it wasn't Cesare who got out of the car, it was Lotan.
"Where is His Grace, the Archduke? "
"I'm sorry. He's too busy with mission preparations and doesn't have time."
Knowing that Lotan had come in her place broke her heart. Crying, Eileen clung to him, begging to see Cesare, just once, just for a moment.
Lotan, embarrassed but compassionate, finally gave in and took her to Cesare.
It wasn't the imperial palace, nor the Archduke's residence. It was an unfamiliar house. Eileen had no idea where she was. She just sobbed and banged on the door.
"Your Grace! It's me, Eileen. Please open the door."
But Cesare did not open. No matter how much she cried and pleaded, no answer came from within.
She couldn't let him leave like that.
All the newspapers were talking about the war. They detailed how dangerous and disadvantageous the situation was, and how powerful the army of the Kingdom of Kalpen was.
They said that the Imperial Army, weakened by the civil war, could no longer achieve its past glory, and that hoping for a miracle was the only option.
The tabloids mocked the Archduke, calling him arrogant, predicting a crushing defeat, and some even suggested that preparations for a royal funeral should begin early.
Everyone was talking about his imminent death.
"Don't go... Please..."
Eileen, crying, banged on the door until she hurt her hands and fainted. Lotan carried her back home. And then came the day of departure.
Despite all of Cesare's affection, he left without ever showing his face. Eileen was left behind, living in daily torment, thinking of him on the battlefield.
Each morning began with a frantic search for the newspaper. Her eyes scanned the pages, looking for any mention of Cesare or the war. Good news brought fleeting euphoria, soon replaced by an anxiety that gnawed at her day. Any hint of trouble plunged her into paralyzing despair.
She often had nightmares in which she read that Cesare had died in battle with his knights. On those nights, she would cry and write letters to him. She would discard several ink-stained pages before finally finishing one.
She desperately hoped for an answer, even if only one. But, just as he had left her mercilessly, Cesare did not reply.
At the time, Eileen considered giving up on her unrequited love. It was too painful; she wanted to rip out her own heart and throw it away.
But her feelings had already taken deep root. Cesare was her essence, her foundation. To tear away that love would mean cutting short her own life. Such was the depth of her affection, cultivated since she was ten years old.
Faced with the overwhelming tide of despair, Eileen retreated. The letters stopped, her unanswered pleas aching in silence. The newspapers became a weekly ritual, a single dose of information, both feared and desired. She restricted her thoughts of Cesare to the moment before bed. By setting limits, she managed to continue living, waiting for the day the man would return to the capital.
To distract herself, Eileen began researching painkillers. She wanted to be useful to Cesare, someone who deserved an answer. Her desire for recognition led her to study opium.
When news of the victory arrived, she wept with joy. She thought she would finally see him, then learned that Cesare had camped on a nearby plain, without returning to the capital.
She had hoped he would contact her, or at least send a letter. But Cesare made no contact.
Then, suddenly, he showed up at his lab, and they were reunited.
— I tried to dissuade the Archduke.
Lost in her memories, Eileen was brought back to the present by the voice. She scolded herself for daydreaming in the Emperor's presence.
Leone pushed a plate of muffins toward him and continued:
— As his older brother, it was natural to try to stop him from going to a place where he could die. Isn't that right? But despite my efforts, he insisted on going.
As emperor, it was a gamble with his life. The civil war had recently ended, and now Caesar, one of the pillars of imperial power, led the army into battle.
This war needed to be more than an ordinary victory; it had to be an overwhelming triumph. If they failed to completely subdue Kalpen, the resources and lives spent could turn against the empire. The nobles were merely waiting for an opportunity to seize power from the royal family.
And the man returned to the Empire with an unprecedented victory.
— Cesare probably wanted to protect Traon. The nation where you live, Miss Elrod.
Eileen wanted to challenge the emperor. How could he risk his life for someone like her?
Congratulations on your engagement, Miss Elrod.
But what could she say to someone who congratulated her so calmly? She simply thanked him with a brief word and took another sip of her bitter tea.
Perhaps you've noticed it yourself.
Leone's blue eyes watched Eileen. Although they were a different color from Cesare's, the penetrating gaze was unmistakably similar between the siblings.
My brother seems a little… different lately. I thought you might know why, which is why I called you here.
Eileen noticed the change in Cesare, but she had nothing to tell Leone.
At most, you could say he was a little more impulsive. But that wasn't what Leone was looking for.
Or maybe he used to see me as a child, but now…
As Eileen tried to suppress her blush as she recalled the night, she was interrupted by a sudden click.
The chamber door opened without a knock. After pushing it, the man tapped it lightly.
Eileen.
Cesare spoke with a crooked smile.
What are you doing here? How could you leave your husband alone?
To be continued…