It was an irresistible force. The calm, composed conversation that Eileen had initially planned was now as distant as the farthest reaches of the continent.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. A wave of complex emotions overwhelmed her. She had barely mustered the courage to ask Cesare a question, but when she stood before him, fear completely consumed her.
That was the door she had once knocked on until her hands ached, only to find it closed. She feared the man would ignore her, considering her questions impertinent.
But the door opened. Cesare's first concern was for her well-being. The tenderness in his voice when he asked if she had cried was almost more than she could bear.
As she sniffled, overcome with emotion, Cesare gently pulled her into his arms. He held her close, lifted her chin so she couldn't hide her face, and gazed at her with silent concern.
Her eyes were already red and swollen from crying so much in front of Senon. If she continued, her face would only get worse. But the words gently spoken by Cesare only made the tears flow even more intensely.
Who dared to leave my wife like this?
As her tears poured out like a tap running at full blast, Cesare took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from her flushed cheeks. He spoke again, his voice filled with tenderness.
Why don't you tell your husband?
Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Eileen whimpered softly.
— It was you, Cesare…
Although he quickly recovered his composure before finishing the sentence, that fragment was enough for Cesare to understand the situation. A cold glint flashed in his eyes for a moment. After a brief silence, he spoke:
Is it because of Lucio Zaetani?
Eileen shook her head. Lucio was not the source of her distress.
It's better if we talk inside.
Cesare effortlessly lifted Eileen into his arms. Light as a feather, he carried her inside and then gave a brief nod to Senon.
Senon, who looked deeply dejected, saluted firmly before addressing the soldiers positioned around the house. As Senon began to speak with them, Cesare led Eileen inside.
It was a place Eileen hadn't expected to find. While wiping away her tears with Cesare's handkerchief, she observed her surroundings.
The small house, situated on the edge of a forest, was quite modest to belong to Archduke Erzet.
The interior was almost empty. There were no large pieces of furniture, such as a bed—just a wide table, some chairs, a large chest of drawers, and several boxes, giving the impression of a place used only when needed.
It resembled a hunting lodge, with various firearms attached to the walls.
'Does Caesar enjoy hunting?'
Cesare rarely spoke about his personal interests. Still, after knowing him for so long, Eileen had some idea of what he liked or disliked.
Occasionally, Cesare would mention aspects of his routine, and when hunting came up, it was usually in reference to invitations from his brother Leon or other nobles. In over ten years of living with him, Eileen had never heard him express any personal desire to hunt.
Not even the gossip magazines, which scrutinized every detail of Cesare's life, ever mentioned that he hunted for pleasure.
With her curiosity piqued, Eileen peered at the open back door. Unusually, it led directly into the forest. Most houses would have at least a small garden or open space in the back, but here, the forest began immediately.
It seemed as if Cesare had been in the forest shortly before her arrival. Eileen stared into the darkness that stretched beyond the open door.
The vast expanse of trees was dense, with thick foliage blocking the sunlight and creating a gloomy twilight, even though it was still midday.
The shadowy expanse sent a slight chill down her spine. Although she knew Cesare would protect her from any potential danger, an inexplicable fear gripped her.
A breeze from the forest carried a faint, unsettling scent of blood, though perhaps it was her imagination. At that moment, her primal fear even momentarily distracted her from her tears.
"It's a place I sometimes use for hunting, " Cesare said with a slight smile. "It must be the first time you've seen the interior."
He remembered the events before leaving for the front lines and understood Eileen's confusion. She wanted to ask why he hadn't opened the door back then, but she knew now wasn't the right time.
As she looked inside, she realized that her tears had stopped without her noticing. With her cheeks still flushed from crying so much, she spoke.
Please, can you put me down now…
Although they were already inside the house, Cesare still hadn't let her go and didn't seem to intend to. Eileen was determined to have a serious conversation and knew she wouldn't be able to do it properly that way. Firmly, she repeated:
— Please put me down. I'm begging you, Cesare.
His resolute tone made Cesare raise an eyebrow. Without saying a word, he gently placed her on the ground and moved to close the door.
With the forest wind no longer blowing in, Eileen felt the tension gradually ease. Cesare pulled out a chair for her to sit in, and then brought another for himself, positioning it right in front of her.
Although both chairs were of the same type, the one Cesare occupied seemed a little uncomfortable for him, given his tall stature, while it seemed spacious to Eileen. He sat with his legs slightly apart and his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her. While Eileen struggled to find the right words, Cesare spoke first.
— Your veteran is still alive, Eileen.
— …
If you want, I can keep him alive a little longer.
His tone was almost condescending, like someone offering candy to a sulky child. It became clear to Eileen that Cesare still didn't understand what she truly wanted.
Accepting his offer would likely ease the tension quickly. She wouldn't have to worry about Cesare's anger or putting pressure on him any further.
But if she accepted, nothing would change between them. Eileen would continue living under his protection, perpetually fearing the day she might be discarded.
“Cesare, ” she said, finally gathering the courage to speak. Resisting the urge to look away from the piercing red of his eyes, she asked cautiously, “Do you still… see me only as a child?”
It was a question Cesare hadn't expected. He tilted his head slightly, analyzing her face as if trying to decipher her thoughts. After a moment, he replied in a calm and measured tone:
— If I had seen, I wouldn't have taken off your clothes.
Eileen's face flushed deeply, and she pressed her hands tightly into her lap. Struggling to overcome her embarrassment, she tried to continue.
— I didn't come here to ask you to spare my veteran.
Cesare listened patiently, without pressing her or demanding an explanation. In the silence that followed, Eileen gathered the scattered fragments of her courage.
— This… this all happened suddenly. One day I woke up, and everything was different. Then came the article in the newspaper…
Nervousness caused her words to come out in a rush, but she hoped Cesare would understand her intention. He always had before. So, she expressed her deepest desire.
— You made me an Archduchess, and I want to do my best. Not just someone who is always protected without understanding anything…
"I know, " Cesare interrupted her, his voice firm, but carrying an underlying current of coldness.
Eileen was startled by the sudden response.
— You always gave your best, even willing to risk your life for my honor.
Although his tone remained calm, his gaze was shrouded in a darkness as deep and impenetrable as the forest beyond the door. His red eyes, normally clear, were now clouded by something indecipherable.
"That's exactly why, Eileen ," he said softly, "I don't want to tell you anything."
Then, in a tone that left no room for discussion, he issued an order.
Promise me you won't die because of me. Then I'll tell you everything you want to know.
His voice, cold and deep like the dark forest, enveloped her completely.
Anything you could wish for.
To be continued…