During the three-year war, the Traon Empire achieved a decisive victory, and Cesare returned after forcing the Kingdom of Kalpen to sign a humiliating treaty. Throughout his journey back, he constantly thought of Eileen's smiling face.
He had returned home determined to bring her at least a small gift, as she was surely eagerly awaiting his return.
Instead, Cesare received the devastating news of Eileen's death. With a sorrowful expression, Leone delivered the painful news, causing Cesare to close his eyes and then slowly open them. After a moment, he asked again:
- What?
The man's sorrowful voice, filled with anguish and disbelief, broke the silence. If his brother, the Emperor, had intervened personally, perhaps Eileen would still be alive. At the very least, he could have bought some time before his return by revealing that she was a person dear to Archduke Erzet. Rationally, all of this was incomprehensible to him.
The emperor hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Cesare waited patiently for his brother's response. After a long silence, Leone finally spoke, though it was not what Cesare had hoped for.
"I'm so sorry, Cesare, " Leone's voice trembled as tears filled her blue eyes.
Seeing his brother cry, Cesare moved forward with his second question:
Why, brother?
— Eileen Elrod… chose to take her own life, — Leone managed to say, her voice almost inaudible.
— By the honor of Archduke Erzet. — barely able to speak, she finally uttered the most difficult words with sadness.
Cesare remained silent, observing his brother, his emotions, a tumultuous whirlwind. Then, he twisted his lips into a painful smile.
'What kind of honor of mine justifies Eileen's death?'
These were words that could never be reconciled.
The nobles are using this incident as a pretext to attack the Imperial family.
Cesare listened to Leone's desperate excuse from beginning to end.
Following the untimely death of the previous emperor, Leone, the new ruler, implemented strict laws cracking down on a dangerous and illegal substance.
The measure aimed to capture anti-imperial nobles who were illegally financing themselves by distributing drugs during the empire's civil war.
Pardoning Eileen, who had broken this crucial law, could jeopardize the hard-won imperial supremacy and strengthen the very nobles Leone sought to restrain.
Rescuing Eileen, a woman from a minor barony, would be an exceptionally inefficient and costly endeavor. Leone's decision to prioritize the greater good was, therefore, logical and rational.
Furthermore, Eileen herself requested that he abide by the law, refusing to plead for clemency.
Following the untimely death of his father, Leone, the current emperor, faced impossible decisions. Despite his efforts to save Eileen, upon visiting her in prison, she knelt before him, desperately pleading with him to uphold imperial law and expedite her execution before the Archduke could forcibly intervene on her behalf. Her sole aim was to protect the honor of Archduke Erzet.
The Emperor of Traon, acting reasonably, made a difficult judgment. His decision to withhold this information from Supreme Commander Cesare during the final stages of the war was also wise.
It's worth remembering that Cesare had once abandoned his post to rescue Eileen. Although he believed that Leone, in the capital, would take care of her, this proved to be a grave miscalculation. In that situation, Leone prioritized his duty as emperor above his familial ties with the man.
Oblivious to the tragedy that unfolded in his absence, Cesare returned a conquering hero; the laurel wreath seemed a cruel mockery in the face of the emptiness that awaited him.
- Brother.
With a blank expression, Cesare, his eyes calm, looked at Leone, questioning his brother who was confessing his mistakes.
Why do you think I made you Emperor?
Eileen was dead.
The dead cannot return; it was an immutable law. Believing in the return of the deceased was something only the mother of a dead child would do.
— I'm sorry… I'm truly sorry, Cesare… I just wanted to protect everything…
Leone removed the golden crown from his head and handed it to Cesare, weeping and pleading for forgiveness.
— I waited to return it to you. I am no longer worthy…
Looking at the golden crown, Cesare laughed bitterly. He stared at it for a moment, his cold red eyes overflowing with pain, then snatched it from his brother's hands and placed it back on Leone's head.
No, she's yours. You also need to pay the price.
Cesare…
Just like me.
Cesare, the architect of the previous emperor's downfall, understood the butterfly effect very well. Each choice, a ripple that culminated in this devastating loss—the death of Eileen.
Reflecting on the past was pointless. The broken man coldly acknowledged the reality and concluded that he would do what he could. Those responsible for his death would pay with their lives.
It wasn't a grand gesture for Eileen. The dead are indifferent to vengeance. But it was a solitary act, a desperate attempt to extract solace from the wreckage of her choices.
This was the turning point. The blade that once protected Traon now craved the blood of the people. A twisted logic fueled it, the illusion that bathing the empire in fire would somehow extinguish the hell within his soul.
Eileen.
Cesare adjusted the woman in his arms and called her name.
Eileen, Eileen…
He couldn't rouse her from her deep sleep. Instead, he whispered her name while gently licking and nibbling the soft skin of her neck with his tongue and teeth.
His persistent touch caused the unconscious Eileen to stir slightly and frown, grumbling.
— Stop… Your Grace, please stop…
Hearing her protest, even in his sleep, Cesare gave a sad little smile. He carefully placed Eileen on the bed, nestling her head in his arm instead of using a pillow, and hugged her tightly, protecting her. Since he had a high body temperature, she wouldn't feel cold while sleeping, especially with the recently warm weather.
The man enveloped her small body completely in his arms, leaving no gaps, and gently caressed her all over. Confirming her existence, he touched her repeatedly, even holding and caressing her ring-adorned finger for a long time. Finally, after parting his firmly closed lips and kissing her intensely, he closed his eyes.
That night, Cesare felt he could sleep soundly. At least for tonight.
Eileen woke up feeling pain all over her body, but kept her eyes closed for a while.
Unfortunately, the events of the previous night were too vivid in her mind. She remembered every detail of the embarrassing behavior she had displayed. Eileen desperately wanted to escape to the second-floor bedroom of the brick house immediately.
But she couldn't. She was firmly entwined in a strong body that completely enveloped her. The newlywed couple in bed had their bodies close together, their limbs intertwined.
Eileen opened her eyes slowly. Cesare was sleeping right in front of her, his face gently bathed in a ray of sunlight that escaped through the curtains. She cautiously observed his features, bathed in the soft light.
Like a mortal daring to secretly gaze upon the face of a sleeping god, she slowly absorbed Cesare's features. It was difficult to believe that the person lying beside her was her husband.
As she continued to stare without blinking, a delicate sensation spread through her chest, as if someone were gently touching her heart with a feather. It wasn't a dream, but reality. Cesare was, in fact, Eileen's husband.
At that moment, her eyelids parted, revealing clear, alert red irises. Those beautiful crimson eyes focused on Eileen.
She froze, meeting Cesare's gaze. Seeing her stunned expression, he gave her a beautiful smile.
- Did you sleep well?
Eileen's eyes scanned the room for a moment before she responded with a morning greeting.
Good morning… Did you sleep well?
— Not exactly. On our wedding night, my wife fell asleep before her husband.
Actually, it wasn't sleepiness, but fainting… However, embarrassed by her behavior the previous night, she couldn't retort and only mumbled. Seeing this, Cesare said something that made her even more ashamed.
— Were you upset because I didn't give you enough pleasure?
Eileen gasped, staring at him as if he were shameless. But Cesare, unfazed by her gaze, merely played with her hair, twirling strands around his finger. His eyes narrowed playfully.
Will you stay with your husband until the end next time?
Eileen, surprised, asked in return.
— Wasn't that the end?
It only happened once.
— Do people… do it more than once?
Twice is far too little.
So, three...?
Cesare didn't answer, only gave a small smile. Then, without further comment, he kissed her lips and stood up. Pulling a rope beside the bed to summon a servant, he spoke.
— Stay in bed a little longer. I'll bring breakfast.
Shortly after, Cesare returned with a tray and placed it on Eileen's lap as she sat on the bed. A servant followed, arranging a tea set on the table and carefully arranging several newspapers.
Every morning, Cesare would leaf through all the newspapers published in the empire. He would quickly read the headlines, and today, the day after his wedding night, was no different.
Eileen instinctively searched for La Verita. Then she quickly looked away, fearing what might be printed on it.
But curiosity also got the better of her. After a great internal struggle, Eileen couldn't resist and discreetly peeked.
On the front page of the newspaper was a large photograph. Eileen's eyes widened as she recognized it.
Next to Cesare, dressed in his wedding attire, stood an unknown woman in a wedding dress. Surprised, she finally read the headline. The two succinctly written lines stated:
[The Marriage of Archduke and Archduchess Erzet. The Founding Myth of the Traon Empire Recreated.]
To be continued…