Ah!
After finishing her meal, Eileen swallowed a glass of water and sighed. Her chest felt tight.
Eileen was filled with fear and apprehension regarding Cesare.
Since that first assassination attempt, she had encountered Cesare's inherent cruelty on several other occasions. Despite her attempts to hide it, there were times when his true nature inevitably surfaced.
Each time, Eileen found herself trembling and afraid, much like she had been when she was eleven. However, despite the terror, she couldn't bring herself to leave Cesare. Eventually, she even developed feelings for him.
What more can I do with someone so complex?
Her heart was filled with Cesare's affection, and her love for him only continued to grow. There was no point in denying it.
I'm an idiot.
She muttered to herself as she tidied the dining area. When her eyes landed on the door to the bedroom on the first floor, she felt conflicted. The room her father used was still empty.
She continued to wait patiently, knowing that Cesare would discover her father's whereabouts. This did not mean that the passing days did not fill her with anxiety.
After washing the dishes, Eileen went upstairs to change her clothes before going out. She was planning to visit the district today and buy a gift for Cesare.
On the day the Arc de Triomphe was approved, Eileen planned to pick up the personalized order for Cesare as a congratulatory gift for his achievements.
The person in question themselves thwarted their own plan.
She had to postpone it because of all the craziness, and only today was she able to pick up the gift.
'Your Grace will love it!'
As Eileen walked through the shopping district, she spotted a newsboy. She tried to ignore him. The main news was undoubtedly the triumphal procession and the commotion in the banquet hall.
The Traon Empire consisted of streets branching out in seven directions from a single central plaza. Each of these streets served a different purpose. Eileen opted for the high-end shopping district.
Amidst the bustling street filled with carriages, Eileen continued her journey on foot until she finally reached her destination. The bell rang as she opened the shop door.
- Hello!
Eileen's destiny was a watchmaker's shop.
— You're here! I've been waiting anxiously. Come on, come on!
The shopkeeper greeted Eileen cheerfully and hurried her to the counter. Luke, a luxury watch dealer on Venue Street, sported a handsome mustache and wore a monocle, presenting himself as a refined-looking gentleman.
Having suffered from chronic migraines, Luke became a regular customer of Eileen's after purchasing her miracle cure made from willow leaves. He was grateful to her and therefore naturally went out of his way to make this gift perfect.
How are you? I brought you more medicine.
— You couldn't have come at a better time. I'm so glad! Just a moment. I'll bring you the watch.
There was a glint in his eyes before he disappeared into the back of his shop. It wasn't long before he brought out a red velvet box. Eileen stared at the box, her heart racing.
- Wow…!
Nestled inside the box was a brilliantly polished platinum pocket watch. Luck smiled proudly at Eileen's simple and honest sense of admiration.
— As you instructed, Eileen, I paid special attention to him.
Eileen cautiously reached out. She refrained from touching the watch so as not to leave any fingerprints. She decided to gently stroke the case instead.
Platinum pocket watches were extremely expensive, but Eileen felt compelled to present the archduke with nothing but the best. With Luke's thoughtful assistance, she managed to gather the necessary funds.
Do you want me to write a name on it?
No, I think I'll leave it as it is. Thank you.
Not that she wasn't considering it, but it would cause a scene. Luke didn't know who the gift was for. He didn't even know Eileen was a noblewoman.
I've made a new formula for the ointment. I'll bring some for you next time.
— You can't keep giving things away for free. I'll pay a fair price next time. Now tell me, how's your pharmacy doing?
— Ah… I'm planning to close it for a while.
Customers would normally visit Eileen at the inn to buy her medicines. Now that the archduke had closed his laboratory, she considered approaching the innkeeper to discuss selling her products on consignment.
He first discussed the gift, then reassured Eileen, saying she didn't need to worry about her medication. They talked for a while before he said goodbye as she headed home.
She was in a good mood and eagerly planned how to deliver her gift. She reasoned that, since Diego would be arriving soon, she could ask him to deliver the gift to Cesare on her behalf.
'He probably already has many watches. But who knows? Maybe he needs one for everyday use. Something simple, that he wouldn't mind losing.'
Eileen wasn't mistaken. The Archduke was a very wealthy man who could have anything he wanted. Even so, she hoped he would appreciate the gesture. She had worked hard to buy the gift, considering how expensive it was. Still, she felt a sense of satisfaction in having chosen a suitable present. When she got home, she found herself humming happily.
— …?
There was a car in front of her house that she had never seen before. It didn't belong to the archduke's subordinates, who normally drove military vehicles bearing the Imperial Army emblem. Eileen grew suspicious and examined it closely. There was no identification, so she dismissed the idea that it belonged to a soldier.
She walked past him and into the front garden, surprised, stopping suddenly. A stranger was there, looking at her orange trees.
He was an older man, tall and fat.
'Could he perhaps be a guest of my father's?'
No one comes here to see Eileen, except for the archduke's soldiers. The most plausible hypothesis was that he was looking for his father.
Eileen approached the man cautiously, making sure to discreetly hide His Grace's gift behind her back.
Hello, can I help you?
The moment she greeted him, the man wasted no time and turned around. The cloudy pupils of his downward-looking eyes inspected Eileen from head to toe. It was a blank, unpleasant gaze.
Eileen shook her head internally and scolded herself. Some people can't help but look at him. Jumping to conclusions and judging him immediately on the first date wasn't how she'd been raised.
Eileen Elrod?
— Oh, yes! That's me. Are you a friend of my father?
She responded with a radiant smile. After all, regardless of his eyes, the man had a cheerful expression. Not that this didn't make her uncomfortable. It made her want to run away.
— Let's just say that Baron Elrod and I have a long history.
Eileen could detect an exotic accent in his speech. He was probably a foreign nobleman.
Perhaps her father had, once again, taken on debts he couldn't repay? That was problematic. She had already spent all her savings on the pocket watch! Could she cover his mistakes with the emergency fund she still had left?
She didn't let her conflicting feelings show on her face. He could still be a friend of her father, so she continued kindly.
I regret to inform you that my father is not here at the moment…
- And even?
Although she had announced her father's absence, he didn't seem willing to leave. Seeing him hesitate awkwardly, Eileen reluctantly asked a question she didn't want to ask.
Would you like some tea?
— If you insist.
The man readily agreed and followed Eileen into the house. She settled him in the living room before apologizing and rushing upstairs.
Given her father's trickery, it seemed her friend had truly come to collect his debt. She would hand over whatever the man asked, but she wouldn't give up that watch.
That was a gift for her beloved, to celebrate his historic victory. She wouldn't miss this opportunity. She hid the box at the back of the wardrobe before retrieving a small safe from under the bed.
He checked his emergency fund and bit his lip as he counted the silver coins. He had no idea how much his father owed, but he hoped he had enough to pay the interest.
After counting, he returned to the first floor and found the visitor once again admiring his plants. This time, he was observing the lilies in the vase, which also seemed to gaze at the orange tree.
She went to the kitchen, making noise as she prepared the tea. Occasionally, she felt his gaze on her.
'Why are you staring at me?'
She hurried to finish her tea, still terrified that he might ask about the money. As she turned around, tray in hand…
— AAAAH!
Terrified, Eileen gripped the tray tightly. The man was right in front of her. She felt her heart leap in her chest.
He wasn't very tall, so their eyes met. Suddenly, he reached out and tugged at Eileen's bangs, exposing her face for inspection.
Eileen felt like a vehicle paralyzed by headlights at that incredibly rude and dangerous gesture. The older man couldn't help but laugh.
— Exactly as I imagined, you really do have mysterious eyes.
Eileen didn't hesitate to step back, even though she was trembling, and just dropped the tray.
Why are you doing this? If it's for the money—
Do you think this is about money?
The man's face contorted in response.
— Yes, it's about money. My money, to be exact, Lady Elrod. And I have a lot to say about that .
With each word, her voice grew louder until it echoed in the final sentence. Eileen bristled like a bird in a defiant stance.
Baron Elrod promised to sell me an item. He signed the contract and even received an advance payment. All that was left was to deliver the goods to settle his debt. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the Baron had disappeared.
His words sounded threatening, and she couldn't shake the negative thoughts swirling in her head. She asked before even thinking, as if in a trance:
— And what did he decide to sell?
The man smiled at the simple question, and she felt as if she had been thrown into ice water. Desperately, she prayed she was wrong, but his shark-like grin crushed her soul.
To be continued….