The Archduke 's knights had long harbored a deep contempt for the Elrod couple.
Baron Elrod, notorious for his addiction to alcohol, gambling, and debauchery, was never an ally. His wife, Lady Elrod, once Cesare's nursemaid, shared the same indifference. She displayed an excessive pride in her former position, a common attitude among those who, unable to find fulfillment of their own, seek value only through association with the powerful. She viewed Cesare's achievements as her own, an illusion that only further fueled the knights' contempt.
At first, they saw Mrs. Elrod as just another flatterer eager for prestige. However, upon meeting little Eileen, the Elrods' daughter, and forming a bond with the child, they began to pay more attention to the mother as well.
This newfound interest, however, had disastrous consequences. Overwhelmed by suffocating jealousy, Lady Elrod could not bear that Cesare's affection was directed toward her daughter, and not toward her. Her envy grew, transforming into resentment against the innocent child herself.
Cesare also noticed Mrs. Elrod's increasingly unstable behavior. The arguments, once sporadic, between the couple became frequent and violent. Concerned, Cesare began to wonder: Could the Elrods offer a healthy environment for Eileen?
To protect her from her parents' influence, Cesare and the knights explored various alternatives. They even considered adoption by another noble family. But forcibly separating Eileen would only cause suffering and trauma.
Thus, Cesare opted for the most pragmatic solution: enrolling Eileen in a distant university. From a young age, she had shown a fascination with botany and, despite her young age, already possessed sufficient knowledge to enter higher education. Cesare discreetly planted the idea in her mind, hoping to awaken her interest naturally.
Eileen was thrilled at the prospect of studying medicinal plants and herbs, but hesitated, intimidated by the costs and by being so young. Cesare then encouraged her not to give up, mentioning scholarships and assuring her that her knowledge made her insufficiently qualified for such early admission. His words rekindled her confidence and determination.
Eileen, trusting Cesare completely, followed his instructions with discipline: she prepared her personal presentation and an academic plan. She thought Cesare would only give her a letter of recommendation, but what she didn't know was that, behind the scenes, he had made a generous donation to the university, securing her place and even creating a scholarship in her name.
Accepted into the university, Eileen faced initial difficulties, but quickly distinguished herself thanks to her intelligence and dedication. Her performance grew to extraordinary levels, surprising even herself. Professors who initially received her with suspicion because she was a protégé of the prince, soon became charmed by her perspicacity, vying for the opportunity to mentor her in their laboratories, especially those focused on botany and pharmacology.
Everything pointed to a bright future if it weren't for the family tragedy.
Baron Elrod, in his irresponsibility, ruined the family. Lady Elrod, in despair, wrote to Eileen, begging her to return. Torn between duty and her dreams, Eileen abandoned her studies and returned, only to be swallowed up by the chaos that awaited her.
On the day of her return, the Archduke 's knights gathered in a tavern, drowning their frustration in drink. They regretfully acknowledged that Eileen's immense potential had been crushed. Although they wished to help her financially, their offers were rejected, leaving Cesare and the knights powerless in the face of the situation.
The truth was clear: the Elrod couple had irreversibly ruined Eileen's life. When her mother died, there was neither mourning nor jubilation, only the grim realization of the suffering she had sown.
It seems there were also physical assaults.
Diego confided in Senon, revealing disturbing details he had heard from Eileen.
He knew about his insecurities regarding his appearance, but he didn't realize how much he hated himself. The revelation that he had almost lost an eye at his mother's hands made Diego shudder with horror. The atrocities committed by that woman were so repugnant that the mere thought of them made him nauseous.
"Our little girl... what reason was there to hate her? She was still so small, just a child... " he muttered, grinding his teeth in anger.
Senon, though restrained, also burned with indignation. Both shared stories about Lady Elrod with suppressed anger.
When the Archduke returned, they were smoking. The two greeted him respectfully, extinguishing their cigarettes. The Archduke , however, allowed them to continue and lit his own, accepting the match offered by Diego. He went to the window, fixing his gaze on the orange tree in the courtyard, and inhaled slowly and silently. Cesare had no taste for tobacco; for him, smoking was a sign that something was troubling him.
Among the knights, there were murmurs: Cesare seemed more impulsive, but also more restrained. His attitudes towards Eileen were incomprehensible, enigmatic. He no longer saw her as a child, but as a life partner. However, instead of protecting her as before, he often exposed her to the world and its harshness.
An example of this was the recent episode with the Duke of Farbellini's daughter. Cesare could have avoided any embarrassment, but he preferred to let things take their course. He also did not intervene in the face of rumors and slander in the press and conspiracies against her, nor in the face of the traps that sought to manipulate Eileen.
"You can say what you're thinking, Senon ," he said, leaning back and slowly exhaling smoke.
— Your Grace… I don't understand why you continue to expose Miss Eileen to so many situations.
When Senon questioned his approach, the answer came immediately, but intriguingly:
Because she's evolving beyond what I anticipated.
Senon became even more confused, not knowing how to proceed.
"The kidnapping should never have happened. Given the changes, we need to adjust our strategies. This is the most effective way to accurately identify who poses a danger to Eileen."
So it's to protect her?
- Yes.
Senon, visibly moved, insisted:
"I believe Your Grace desires Miss Eileen's happiness. Even if it requires patience, there are certainly safer and more humane ways—"
“Of course there is, ” Cesare interrupted, crushing his cigar firmly. His crimson eyes gleamed intensely. “We can chain her up in the ducal mansion, forbidding her any contact with the outside world. Do you prefer that?”
Senon fell silent. Cesare's response didn't seem like a solution, but rather a warning. Something deeper was going on in the Archduke 's mind , and not even his most loyal knights could decipher it.
To be continued…