— Well, he decided to sell me his daughter. I made all the wedding arrangements, but the bride never showed up. Naturally, I came to get her.
Eileen thought there was nothing left in her father's name. But apparently, there was one last thing for sale:
Eileen Elrod herself.
According to imperial law, a single woman could not refuse a marriage arranged by the bride's parents. She didn't understand why she was still surprised—her own father would sell his daughter to support his gambling addiction.
Her world began to spin, and a loud buzzing filled her ears. What should she blame? The fact that this unbearable truth was her reality, or that it was so unbelievable she could barely comprehend it? It was too absurd. She couldn't even cry. A maniacal laugh threatened to escape her lips.
Her supposed “fiancé” continued to speak before the motionless Eileen. He even showed her a valid contract to prove his claims. The Elrod family crest was there, clear as day.
I'll be back in three days. Make sure you settle your affairs, pack your bags, and get ready to move. And prepare your dowry without resentment.
With that, the man left. The sound of the door closing echoed through the house, like a sign of the end of the world.
Finally alone, Eileen collapsed to the floor. The wooden floor pressed painfully against her knees. She couldn't even think about moving to the soft sofa.
After an eternity, Cesare's words in the imperial greenhouse echoed in his mind:
"Since we'll eventually have to get married someday, wouldn't it be better for me to be your partner than some old pig?"
The man who visited her today was fat and older. Cesare's enigmatic suggestion became as clear as day.
— You already knew this would happen, didn't you, Your Grace?
Perhaps he had discovered the contract while investigating his father's whereabouts. Involving him in her problem overwhelmed her; she felt so ashamed. The most painful truth was that she couldn't solve this alone.
The only one who could help Eileen was Cesare himself.
Looking at the red velvet box, Eileen held it as if it were her salvation. She never wanted to send that gift this way.
If you were going to approach him about your "little problem ," it was better to bring a humble gift than to go empty-handed.
Eileen cried for a while before wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Then, she looked at his mansion in the distance.
That place was where Archduke Erzet stayed when he was in the capital. Protected to the last inch by his soldiers.
Cesare had acquired the property shortly after becoming archduke, but it had remained empty for a time since his departure for the battlefield. It was also the first time Eileen had visited the place.
He couldn't get closer directly, so he observed from a distance.
Well… he could have, but he didn't have the courage. He would have needed to reveal his identity. He spent some time preparing himself mentally.
He paced back and forth, thinking about how much longer he could postpone the inevitable and probably embarrassing encounter. When he could no longer bear the psychological anguish, he approached the mansion gate with hesitant steps. As he had anticipated, the soldiers blocked his path without question.
— I have an urgent matter with Her Grace. If you could inform her that Eileen Elrod is here—
Eileen Elrod?!
She didn't even have time to finish the sentence before the soldiers cheered at the sound of her name. They reacted with such admiration that Eileen was stunned, only able to blink at the enthusiasm.
— Madam, please! Wait here a moment.
The guards alerted the mansion staff and escorted them inside. The enormous iron gates protecting the Archduke's sanctuary opened, revealing a lush garden.
A mansion like that, situated on a prime piece of land in the archipelago, had already impressed her with its opulence.
As Eileen approached, she found a line of employees waiting for her. They greeted her politely, and the elderly butler at the front gave her a warm welcome.
— Did you wait long? My sincerest apologies for any inconvenience, Miss Eileen.
— Sonio!
Sonio smiled slightly when Eileen greeted him enthusiastically. With his gray hair and mustache, he projected an austere and severe appearance. But, in Eileen's presence, he seemed like a gentle spring breeze.
He had previously worked as a chamberlain at the Imperial Palace, and when Cesare became Archduke, the two left the palace together. Therefore, it was natural that Eileen and Sonio knew each other so well.
— Please come with me.
Sonio spoke politely, leading Eileen inside the mansion.
Would you like to have tea in the drawing room while you wait?
— Yes, perhaps… Your Grace—
Sonio's expression darkened slightly when she mentioned Cesare. He replied politely but firmly:
I apologize. It will be difficult to see you today.
- I understand…
From his expression, Eileen realized there was no chance. Cesare should have already told Sonio that he couldn't see her.
Eileen had tried to arrange this meeting in various ways before coming to the mansion. The possibility of not seeing him hadn't even crossed her mind.
'I underestimate him too much.'
Cesare's affection and interest were never constant. They burned like the flame of a candle, but could be extinguished with a simple breath.
Cesare was not a fickle man, but a subtle change in her feelings was enough to cool everything down.
'Could it be that he's no longer interested in me?'
The moment she thought about it, everything seemed to fade. Their relationship had always been one-sided, with Eileen in the more vulnerable position. If Cesare had truly lost interest in marrying her, she could never look at him again.
'Come to think of it, wasn't it like that during the war?'
Cesare had refused to contact her, and all she could do was wait.
Her face fell, and Sonio quickly intervened to comfort her.
"My lady, I brought a cake from the bakery that recently opened. How about trying it with tea?"
He took Eileen's coat and gracefully settled her on the living room sofa. As soon as she sat down, he placed the watch case he cherished so much on the table.
When she bought it in the store, she thought it was luxurious and beautiful. But now, seeing it on the Archduke's sofa, it seemed out of place. Both she and the clock were in a place where they didn't belong.
While Eileen sighed, Sonio quickly brought tea and sweets. She liked the combination:
Tea with milk, sweetened with sugar and cream. Cakes with whipped cream and assorted cookies.
These were all Eileen's favorite desserts. On a normal day, she would have happily picked up her fork. Today, however, she had to force herself to do so.
She took a small bite of the cake, but her mind was elsewhere, absorbed by Sonio's kindness. Unfortunately, she didn't taste anything, as if her sense of taste had vanished. After that single piece, she put down her fork.
— …
He couldn't control his expression. He tried to smile, but his lips were stiff.
In fact, she was glad she didn't cry right there. Eileen bit her lip to stifle her sobs.
Sonio watched. He placed a handkerchief on the table and left the room silently. His thoughtfulness only made his eyes well up with more tears. With her nose burning, Eileen picked up the handkerchief and tilted her head back.
The memory of that old pig who used to call her his bride invaded her mind. She felt nauseous just thinking that she would have to kiss him like she had kissed Cesare.
That one day she would have to give him a child… She interrupted her thought, embarrassed.
What troubled her most was the idea of never seeing Cesare again. Her heart felt like it was about to break in two.
He was a foreigner and would eventually leave the country. Naturally, he would take her with him. If he went abroad, she wouldn't even hear from him in the future.
In his homeland, at least he could learn about Cesare from the newspapers or meet him by chance.
'What if I became the Archduchess…'
That would be much better, regardless of whether she remained a child to him or not. Then, a thought struck her: had he lost interest after she complained so many times about the engagement?
She regretted having spoken too much, but there was no use crying over spilled milk. She held back her tears and took a deep breath. Familiar resignation covered her face.
She smoothed out the crumpled handkerchief, folded it carefully, and returned it to the table.
'I'll leave his gift and go.'
Having arrived there, she was determined to give him the gift. She had bought it for him to use. It didn't matter if it seemed insignificant.
Perhaps seeing him could change her mind, even if only a little. Knowing Cesare, a man meticulous in his decisions, it was unlikely. Still, Eileen held onto a glimmer of hope.
He got up from the sofa and looked out the window, thinking:
'If necessary, I'll ask Sonio to hand it over.'
The room had large windows overlooking the courtyard. Outside, she spotted an orange tree. Eileen approached the window, fascinated.
He didn't know there was an orange tree there. Immediately, he remembered the one he had in the garden of his brick house.
Cesare gifted Eileen the orange tree because she had been kidnapped in the past.
'There's no reason to question it anymore, right?'
Eileen had been kidnapped because of her excessive curiosity for orange sweets. In memory of this, Cesare planted the tree in his garden. He, Eileen, and her mother had shared the first orange that fell from it.
As she admired the tree, memories of Cesare flooded her mind. Suddenly, she spotted a man walking calmly down the opposite corridor.
He appeared and disappeared between the columns, but Eileen recognized him instantly. With a surge of excitement, she ran to open the window and call him.
— …
But all she did was hold the doorknob. She couldn't open the window and therefore couldn't call out to him.
Cesare had already made it clear that he didn't want to see her. It would be childish to irritate him in that situation. Eileen feared that he would come to despise her even more.
While he hesitated, he turned his gaze to her. Through the glass, his red irises met hers.
He was wearing a suit and overcoat, as if he were on his way somewhere. Eileen couldn't look away. She bowed cautiously.
Cesare watched Eileen in silence, and then his lips curved into a smile. He crossed the courtyard toward her. Eileen remained motionless, nervously wringing her hands.
Knock-knock .
Cesare reached the window and tapped lightly on the glass. The sound was muffled by his leather gloves.
Eileen hesitated, but eventually released the latch and opened the window. As soon as there was enough space, he pushed it all the way to the side.
The outside wind surged into the room, and the rustling of leaves sounded like waves. Cesare's fresh, distinctive scent enveloped Eileen. She looked at him with wide eyes, carefully parting her lips.
— Your Grace.
— What brings you here, Eileen?
He looked down at her, questioning her.
Eileen felt tears welling up as soon as she heard his voice. Being in his presence made it difficult to contain her emotions. She pressed her lips together before speaking:
— I wanted to give you a gift… I know it's not much, but… I wanted to congratulate you on your victory.
Eileen sighed as she held out the watch case, struggling to articulate the words properly. She gripped it so tightly that she left a mark on the velvet. She quickly rubbed it away before handing it to Cesare.
He opened the box immediately to inspect the contents. His hand paused for a brief moment upon seeing the watch. Whatever it was he saw, it left him in silence for a moment.
What could be causing that reaction?
A low murmur escaped the man's lips before Eileen nervously bit her lip.
So that's what he was like.
His tone was subtle, as if he already knew the platinum watch.
To be continued…