An Eileen who was about to be sold by her father and taken to a foreign country would naturally seek out Cesare for help.
Cesare's original plan was not to meet her on her property, but to intervene three days later, when the old pig came to take Eileen away.
— Seeing your little face always makes me weak.
Cesare fiddled with his pocket watch in one hand and twirled Eileen's hair with the other. Lotan sighed as he watched those blonde strands being tossed from side to side.
Wouldn't it have been better if you hadn't even let her see Baron Elrod, since you were feeling 'so weak'?
— Oh, that wouldn't work. I can't deny my fiancée's wishes, can I?
Although he responded calmly, Lotan knew very well what kind of man his master was. He could have been more discreet, but he deliberately showed Eileen that repugnant scene to distance her from her father once and for all.
Regardless of who they were, Eileen simply couldn't abandon her family. The late Baroness wasn't mentally stable either; she was a fragile woman with psychological problems who had abused her only daughter for a long time. For better or worse, Eileen loved her mother with all her heart.
Lotan admired Eileen's purity, but it always left him conflicted when he saw her suffering. His desire to protect her clashed with the thought that she should be a little more ruthless.
These feelings intensified whenever he saw her getting involved in things that were beyond his comprehension.
However, despite all his reluctance, deep down he also wanted the girl to become the next Archduchess. So he stopped complaining and changed the subject.
What are you going to do with Malena? I don't think she'll back down so easily.
When the lab closed, Eileen asked the innkeeper to look after her customers. She assured them that the inn would still sell the medicines, so there was no reason to worry, even if the doors were temporarily closed.
One thing Eileen didn't realize was that her clients loved her. So when she suddenly closed the clinic and disappeared, everyone rushed to find out what had happened, fearing the worst.
Her clients had no idea that Eileen was the daughter of the infamous Baron Elrod and a favorite of Archduke Erzet. They only knew her as a clever but poor pharmacist with an eccentric love for plants.
When Eileen disappeared, Malena was the first to start an investigation. She knew the girl was a promising talent, but she couldn't have imagined she would be facing Cesare.
Marlena had already carried a nobleman's child, was forced to have an abortion, and was then banished from Fiore Street. It was Cesare who reached out, offering her a chance at revenge and helping her to get back on her feet.
With Cesare's help, Marlena made a glorious return. In exchange, she became the eyes and ears of the Archduke.
Let her find Eileen. Malena is useful in many ways.
Lotan was surprised by Cesare's kind permission. Perhaps sensing his confusion, Cesare continued with a brief explanation:
So, isn't Eileen making her social debut soon?
As the most famous dancer in Fiore, her influence was so great that it transcended the shadows and reached the social circles of the capital.
Marlena was frequently invited to balls of the nobility, where she was treated as an honored guest. When Eileen appears, she will serve as her little bride's trump card.
I'll let Malena know that she has your permission to meet the young lady.
Marlena would be pleased with that. Lotan felt relieved, considering it fortunate that things were finally moving in a positive direction.
The fumes Eileen inhaled today were not unfamiliar to Fiore's regulars. But for her, who had no tolerance, it was a potent drug.
Lotan suspected that Cesare had made her inhale the smoke on purpose. So he stopped, thinking he was underestimating his master too much.
Oh, I almost forgot…
Cesare calmly ordered:
— Have my wedding announced in tomorrow's newspapers.
This meant declaring it to the entire empire, so that Eileen could not change her mind.
Like it or not, starting tomorrow, Eileen would become a storm that would sweep across the entire Traon Empire.
Yes, Your Grace.
What could Lotan do if it was his master's will? He could only obey. He just hoped that Eileen wouldn't suffer too much.
Was it due to nervousness or sheer exhaustion? Either way, Eileen ended up falling asleep in Cesare's arms unintentionally.
Thinking about it, so much had happened in a single day. She was nearly collapsing from exhaustion due to the preparations at the Archduke's residence.
When she opened her eyes, she was in a room on the second floor of a brick house. Eileen sighed with relief at the comfort of her familiar surroundings. Cesare seemed to have brought her home while she slept.
Eileen opened her eyes, still wrapped in the blanket, and looked at the ceiling.
Despite her blurred vision, she remembered Cesare gently laying her down while she dozed off. She must have fallen asleep with her head in his lap.
'It was something I used to do when I was a child…'
But to think she used it as a pillow… What shameful behavior! Pulling the covers over her face, she cowered.
'That's why they still treat me like a child.'
Still, upon waking from her deep sleep, her mind cleared. Eileen reflected deeply on the events of the previous day.
Even after seeing her father with another woman… The outcome was better than she expected. It seemed the shock was so profound that she was able to leave everything behind.
Eileen calmly recalled the events. Everything was fragmented, distant, and confusing. But one memory remained clear:
"Who would have thought you'd have the guts to sell your daughter while you were out there fucking around, Baron Elrod?"
That vulgar comment left a strong impression on her. Who would have thought that His Grace would use such language?
But, come to think of it, Caesar was a soldier. He must have uttered many obscenities in the heat of battle.
Except for Senon, all of Cesare's knights had foul mouths. Diego and Michelle were no exception, and even Lotan sometimes swore. Of course, they tried not to show it in front of a noble lady like Eileen.
In the absolute privacy of her room, Eileen mimicked Cesare in a whisper:
— Damn…
He quickly covered his mouth and looked around. It didn't sound the same. When it came from Cesare's mouth, even that word sounded refined.
Eileen got out of bed and put her hand to her lips as if scolding herself for saying something rude. She went downstairs and saw that her father's bedroom door was closed. It seemed he had finally returned home.
'Is he still sleeping?'
Both Eileen and her father needed time to process yesterday's events. With one last glance at his door, Eileen let out a small sigh and went into the kitchen.
— …?
She turned to the window, thinking she heard a commotion outside. With the curtains closed, she couldn't check, and she didn't have the energy for another surprise. So she ignored it.
First she drank some water to soothe her dry throat. Then she took a loaf of bread from the cupboard and cut a generous slice. Then she realized she had nothing left for breakfast, as she had been too busy the last few days to go shopping.
Not wanting to go hungry, she took a bite of the bread and chewed slowly. Then, she covered her face with her glasses and bangs, ready to go to the market.
When she opened the door with a large basket in her hand…
Eileen froze, gripping the doorknob.
— She's finally out! Miss Elrod! Miss Elrod!
— Miss Eileen! Look here!
Please tell us anything about your marriage to His Excellency, Archduke Erzet!
Is it true that you threatened to kill yourself if the Archduke didn't marry you?
Hey, don't push me!
— Get out of the way! I got here first!
As if waiting for the door to open, the crowd began to scream wildly. They swarmed like bees, asking questions. But they couldn't touch Eileen.
The entire brick house was surrounded by the Archduke's soldiers. Men armed with rifles mercilessly pushed back reporters and onlookers who approached beyond a certain limit.
'What is happening?'
Even seeing it with her own eyes, Eileen couldn't believe it. Hesitantly, she took a step back, and the reporters became even more agitated, trying to get past the soldiers.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out in the air like thunder. The frenzied crowd, like unleashed demons, fell silent as if exorcised. Amidst the silence, a deep voice cut through the tension.
Can you all shut the fuck up already?
Michelle, who fired the shot, raised an eyebrow and continued:
— Our young lady seems very surprised.
To be continued…