Eileen, who was about to ask how Lucio had been, was speechless. Seeing the surprise in her wide eyes, Lucio gave a slight smile, full of understanding.
That's all in the past now. It was just a youthful infatuation.
He downplayed it as a fleeting, old affection. Eileen, initially paralyzed by the unexpected confession, visibly relaxed, relieved.
I just wanted to tell you now. It was something I felt back then.
The emotion in Lucio's voice was clear and persistent, though still deep. Eileen, without fully grasping the subtleties, simply felt grateful that the situation hadn't become too embarrassing.
— Oh… thank you for sharing…
Having never received a confession before, Eileen didn't quite know how to react. She offered a simple thank you and then looked at Lucio, expecting some further reaction. He smiled, without saying much more. Eileen tried to steer the conversation back to more neutral ground.
Although it's a bit late to ask, how have you been?
She occasionally thought of Lucio. She wanted to send him a letter to see how he was doing, but she didn't even know his address. Still, she was happy to see him again and wanted to take good care of him, returning the kindness he had shown her at the university.
I haven't been feeling well.
Lucio's reply was short, and he didn't seem inclined to discuss his recent past. He stared intently at Eileen.
Leaving you wasn't my choice, and it caused me a lot of pain. I wanted to stay by your side.
The meaning behind Lucio's words was clear, implying that Cesare had dismissed him. Despite the presence of Cesare's uniformed subordinate in the driver's seat, Lucio's audacity was remarkable.
'Cesare probably won't care about those words…'
Lucio was a capable and promising academic, but he stood no chance against Archduke Erzet. To Cesare, Lucio's comments might seem like mere complaints from a naive young man.
Even so, it was a subject best left unmentioned. Eileen felt she needed to steer the conversation in another direction.
I'm glad we can meet again.
— …
Seeing Eileen's attempt to change the subject, Lucio's expression darkened. It was as if he sensed her reluctance to address his comments directly.
Although Lucio didn't understand, Eileen found his choice natural.
'Certainly, that's something Cesare did for a reason.'
There must have been a substantial reason behind Cesare's actions. Eileen firmly believed that Lucius must have done something to justify such treatment.
Of course, it was also possible that Cesare or his knights were overly sensitive to minor transgressions. However, their sensitivity was understandable, given Eileen's history.
Cesare and his knights were known for being particularly harsh on young men, and Eileen had her own difficult memories, including the kidnapping she suffered at the age of twelve, which had been perpetrated by a young man of similar age.
Eileen recalled vivid memories from her past and bit her lip slightly. While a good memory had its advantages, it was sometimes painful when even moments that should have been forgotten remained so vividly in her mind. As she pushed these resurfacing thoughts away, Eileen returned to the conversation.
Please tell me how you've been.
Although Eileen's view of Lucio had changed, from a beloved senior to someone she should be wary of, she decided not to let it show. After all, he would only be in the archduchy for a short time before leaving. There was no need to create an awkward atmosphere with the professors around.
Noticing Eileen's neutral reaction, Lucio refrained from mentioning Cesare again. Instead, he shared updates about his life, which Eileen was genuinely interested in.
Lucio explained that, after abruptly leaving the university, he wandered for a while. By chance, he reconnected with Professor Glenda from the School of Pharmacy, which inspired him to return to academic life.
He mentioned that he made physical changes, such as styling his hair and removing his glasses, and that he worked diligently to overcome his stuttering habit.
Lucio hadn't neglected his research; he had published several articles in academic journals and was slowly building a name for himself in the field of pharmacology. When Eileen learned that he was about to be appointed the youngest professor, she felt a pang of envy. He seemed to be following exactly the path Eileen had once dreamed of.
However, she felt no regret for the path she had not followed, recognizing that she had been shaped by Cesare's influence.
— I'm happy to have news to share with you, Eileen.
Eileen praised Lucio, who humbly downplayed his achievements. As they talked, they arrived at a busy part of town.
Eileen guided the teachers through shops and bookstores, enthusiastically buying many gifts. Sonio had set a budget, and Eileen was determined to stick to it, so she continued shopping zealously.
The mountains of purchased items were sent ahead to the mansion, and Eileen, with the teachers, enjoyed a relaxing afternoon tea in a charming tea house. Glenda and Elio, who had previously struggled even to drink in the Archduke's austere reception room, now seemed much more at ease.
Lucio, who had remained silent throughout the shopping trip and refused all of Eileen's gifts, stayed quiet even in the tea house. With Glenda and Elio engaging Eileen in conversation, Lucio seemed to give them the floor.
Glenda, with her hair impeccably styled and graceful smile, looked at Eileen with a thoughtful gaze.
I still can't believe you married the Archduke…
Elio, whose skin, once tanned from working in the greenhouse, now sported a well-groomed mustache, added:
The most unbelievable thing is that you're still continuing your research.
He and Glenda had always greatly valued Eileen's talent, so she smiled shyly, touched by his sincere feelings.
Although my research is still in its early stages, I've been working alone. I hope one day to have my name as the first author on a journal article.
Eileen shared her ambition, which she had never expressed to anyone before. Glenda, sitting opposite her, suddenly grabbed Eileen's hand. Surprised by Glenda's sudden action, so different from her usual refined demeanor.
Please don't stop your research, Eileen.
Glenda's eyes, filled with deep seriousness, shone with concern.
"Marriage is a noble thing. You will certainly make a name for yourself in society as an Archduchess, and one day you may even have heirs. But I hope you will also achieve glory as an academic, and not just as a wife or mother."
Glenda, having spoken quickly, realized that her words might have been too strong and hastily added:
"I know it's a bold remark… But I always believed you would leave a mark on history as an academic, not just as an Archduchess. When I learned that you still have academic ambitions, I couldn't help but express my feelings…"
While Glenda hesitated, letting go of her hand, Eileen gently took it again and replied:
Don't worry. I'm not sure how well I'll do, but I'm doing my best.
Eileen…
Glenda, inadvertently using Eileen's first name as she often did, quickly apologized. Her eyes filled with tears, and Elio handed her a handkerchief.
The professor, known for her stern and reserved demeanor, showing tears and concern for Eileen's academic endeavors was unusual. This sparked an even greater desire in her to strive harder.
While Eileen nurtured her petty ambition, Glenda resumed her usual grace. After a sip of tea, she changed the subject.
Tomorrow, we plan to visit a renowned pharmaceutical company in the archduchy.
Eileen, still emotional from the previous conversation, almost choked on her tea. Glenda, with genuine curiosity, asked:
— I heard she's quite famous… Do you happen to know her, Eileen?
(Elisa: Webtoon also made by me available on Nocturne)
To be continued…