Finally, the words escaped her lips in a whirlwind. Although she was prepared for rejection, the mere thought of being rejected in front of him triggered a wave of anxiety.
'He'll probably say no, as expected.'
But why did the question come up, anyway? Cesare, with a slight glint of amusement in his red eyes, let out a low laugh.
Are you asking me to hold your hand because you're scared?
The question caught her off guard. She hadn't even thought about holding his hand. She simply longed for his presence, the comfort of having him close.
But… wouldn't it be even better to have him holding your hand?
A shy, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips as Eileen whispered:
- Thanks…
The words had barely left her mouth when Cesare took her hand. His firm touch swept down her arm like lightning, sending shivers down her spine. Eileen startled instinctively, like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.
The man's lips curved into a playful smile. He tilted his head, his red eyes sparkling with amusement.
So why don't you hold on now?
Eileen stammered, her face burning:
— Ah! Please, do as you wish!
It was only after the clumsy response that she realized he was playing a joke on her.
Cesare led her as if they were a newlywed couple. Walking hand in hand with him through the corridors of the ducal palace seemed surreal. It was as if… they really were newlyweds.
Guided by the man's strong hand, they arrived at the familiar reception room, the same place where she had waited for him with the watch clutched in her hands. Eileen sat on the same sofa where she had placed the watch case. She could call the hairdresser, but… as if hearing her unspoken thought, Sonio appeared.
— Mr. Sonio?
Don't worry, I'm quite skilled.
He patiently explained to the still confused Eileen that he used to cut the hair of other members of the palace. Eileen knew that Sonio was skilled with his hands. He used to carve small flowers and animals out of wood to give her as gifts. True treasures. But… cutting hair?
Sonio calmly and confidently placed a cape around his neck. As he spoke, he discreetly covered the glint of the scissors with his hand.
Let me take care of that, and you'll feel a little more comfortable.
Eileen sighed in relief. An unfamiliar hairdresser would have been much more frightening. She nodded slightly, and Cesare, with an amused smile still on his lips, began to remove his gloves.
Their bare hands met, the man firmly intertwining his fingers with hers. The warmth of their touch coursed through her body like electricity, making her blush intensely. She couldn't resist the urge to peek at their intertwined hands, a storm of emotions swirling within her. What had begun as a simple haircut was now taking an unexpected turn.
Despite being surrounded by familiar faces, she felt tense with the scissors in action. Eileen felt her breathing become shallower. A slight squeeze of their intertwined hands surprised her. She turned, meeting Cesare's calm, red eyes.
Keep your eyes closed.
Eileen obeyed, closing her eyes tightly and nodding. The cold metal of the scissors against her forehead sent another shock through her. Panic threatened to surface, but she suppressed it, focusing only on the warmth radiating from Cesare's hand, solid and comforting.
- Are you well?
— Y-yes… I am…
Sonio continued cutting. The rhythmic sound of the scissors contrasted with the frenzy of her heart. Eileen tried to remain still, fearing that any movement might cause the blades to go out of control. Suddenly, a gentle touch ran across her palm, Cesare's thumb tracing a slow circle.
— …!
The unexpected touch made her tremble. Her fingers, now sweaty, shook. Even trying to pull away, he kept his hand firmly intertwined with hers. A simple gesture, but the slow caress sent a tingling sensation down her spine, making her skin crawl.
A tremor ran through her body, an instinctive and inexplicable reaction. Indecent memories surfaced. Confused, she stretched out her fingers, trying to free herself. Cesare, as if in response, lightly scratched her skin with his nails, provoking another shiver. A moan threatened to escape, but she suppressed it, consumed by lustful thoughts.
In the midst of this silent struggle, the rhythmic cutting of the scissors stopped abruptly.
- I finished.
Eileen practically jumped out of her chair, her hand slipping away. She took a deep breath, trying to catch her breath as the strange heat slowly receded.
She could hardly believe it was already over. She was so focused on her clasped hands that she didn't even notice the scissors.
It was so scary and difficult, but it went by so fast… It would have been impossible without Cesare.
Now she could see everything more clearly. Her vision seemed sharper than usual, and she instinctively reached for her glasses, which were no longer there. She remembered taking them off before the cut and hesitated.
Sonio gently wiped his face with a soft cloth and handed him a hand mirror.
— How are you feeling? This old man here was pleased, but I don't know about you, Miss Eileen.
Even looking in the mirror, all she saw was the black monster. Eileen looked at Sonio and Cesare instead of her reflection. She deduced their faces from their expressions and gazes.
— I liked it too. Thank you, Mr. Sonio.
Seeing everyone happy, Eileen smiled and thanked Sonio. After he brushed off his freshly cut hair and left, only the two of them remained in the reception room, still holding hands.
When they realized they were alone, a strange tension filled the air. Eileen's throat went dry, she swallowed hard, and turned cautiously.
Thank you for taking the time, even though you're so busy.
It was almost absurd to have taken up the Archduke 's time just for a haircut. She felt grateful that he allowed her this little extravagance. She chose her words carefully, wanting to express her gratitude a little more.
Eileen.
He handed her the mirror again.
What do you see?
Looking in the mirror he offered, Eileen froze. She didn't want to reveal her imperfections. Even though she was already marked in many ways, she wanted to hide at least one. But lying to Cesare wasn't easy.
"Honestly… " Eileen blurted out, as if forced by the truth. "I can't see my face properly. It's painted black, like a monster…"
As she spoke, she observed his reaction. She tried to sound indifferent, as if it didn't matter, so as not to seem too weak.
That's all. Otherwise... I'm fine.
As she spoke, she felt her heart race again. It felt like she was about to be devoured by the monster in the mirror. Not just her face, her entire body seemed to be covered in that darkness.
There was a reason she had avoided mirrors until now. Eileen stifled a sob. Unintentionally, she glanced at her clasped hands. A man's hand, with distinct veins and well-defined knuckles.
Perhaps he sensed something in her gaze. Cesare picked Eileen up and sat her on his lap like a child, holding her hand again. Large and small hands, intertwined.
It wasn't appropriate for someone already an adult to act like a child. But his hug was so warm… so comforting. Eileen pretended not to notice that she was already an adult and rested her head on his chest.
After enjoying the comfort for a while, she raised her head again and met his gaze. Cesare, who had seemed lost in thought for a moment, turned his eyes back to Eileen.
— Did you like… the bangs? Doesn't it disgust you? My eyes must look so grotesque…
After speaking, he felt he had been too hasty. Quickly, he added:
— Sorry for asking so many questions. I was just… curious.
He gently rested his forehead against hers. His red irises filled his entire field of vision.
— Did I ever… tell you that I found you disgusting and repulsive, Eileen? From the first time I saw you, when you were ten years old?
Cesare spoke slowly, with purpose. Words that cut through the darkness like a sharp blade.
To be continued…