From the island's tallest bell tower, the bell rang, and its sound echoed through the city to mark the start of the triumphal procession.
Wait a second! P-Please, let me pass!
Eileen struggled to push her way through the crowd, which was being pushed from all sides. She only managed to get a little closer to the front, but the men around her were too tall. All she could do was peek through the gap between their shoulders.
Just as her feet were about to give way from standing on the edge of the dice, the man in front of her moved to make way for Eileen. The girl smiled broadly.
- Thank you very much!
Now she had a clear view of the march behind the women and children. It was a good place to watch the parade, even if it wasn't a front-row seat.
It was incredible to see so many people gathering. She had always known that Cesare was immensely popular in the Empire, but this was beyond her wildest imagination. They were all there to see Cesare.
The crowd erupted in applause from a distance, rapidly growing louder. The resounding notes of the military band's trumpets cut through the chaos. The staccato rhythm of the gunfire echoed the beating of the drums.
The people waved the imperial flag and shouted Cesare's name. The poor scattered colorful confetti from their baskets, as did the rich, along with flowers and petals.
The entire square was painted in vibrant colors, creating a mosaic-like path for impeccably uniformed troops. Their disciplined march epitomized the grandeur of the Empire, a spectacle to behold.
Just as the crowd's excitement was reaching a frenzy at the thrilling sight, the leader of the triumphal procession finally appeared.
Six obsidian stallions pulled a chariot in which Cesare rode. Their insignia were adorned with various orders, fastened in rows that gleamed in the sunlight.
Behind him, his long red cloak fluttered, embroidered with gold thread in the shape of a large winged lion, the coat of arms of the Traon Imperial Family. The lion seemed to emerge and undulate with each flap of the cloak, as if in a furious flight.
Cesare was the epitome of all that splendor. It was no exaggeration to declare that the man, with his cold yet menacing crimson eyes, was the God of War Incarnate.
His usual good looks were often enough to distract Eileen's thoughts, but today, because he was dressed with deliberate intent, he radiated an aura of intimidation and fear. He exceeded the expectations of the assembled crowd, causing some to faint with excitement as they shouted his name.
Everyone was desperate to get a glimpse of him. Amidst the sea of people, Eileen felt as insignificant as an ant, for she too found herself staring at Cesare, completely paralyzed.
It looked like a distant star in the middle of the night sky.
And yet it was she who had been in the company of that supernatural being the night before. They talked and laughed, caught in a moment of intimacy.
She still wondered if it was all a dream. The most accurate thing to say would be that it was all a product of her imagination, that she was simply deluding herself.
Thinking about it shook her confidence about attending the banquet at the Imperial Palace.
'How dare I become a blemish on such a brilliant being?'
Although Eileen instinctively took a step back, she couldn't retreat. Her path was blocked when she collided with the chest of the man who had given her her seat.
— Be careful there.
The man nodded to Eileen. She quickly apologized and adjusted her glasses, which had slipped to the tip of her nose.
- I'm very sorry!
Don't worry. The crowd can be overwhelming.
He smiled before saying gently.
Do you need any help?
Eileen was about to insist she was fine when the people around her began screaming frantically. Their screams threatened to burst her eardrums, forcing her to search for the source of the commotion. The sight left her speechless.
The procession had stopped.
Cesare gracefully descended from the carriage, his movements commanding attention. The Archduke's unexpected action briefly stunned the soldiers, but they quickly regained their composure. The man walked purposefully toward them with a determined expression, holding a flower that had been thrown to him.
That was exactly where Eileen was.
Eileen stood motionless as the stunning man approached her, before offering her the only flower.
It was a pure white lily.
The fragrance overwhelmed her, and she picked it up with trembling fingers. Cesare laughed, playfully tapping Eileen's nose.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Those puppy-dog eyes always smiled at her.
— All of this is for you, Eileen.
Eileen looked at Cesare as she twirled the flower. How could he be so composed when he was the cause of all her anxiety and trembling?
The lily petals swayed gently with each movement. Cesare maintained a neutral expression before returning to the procession as if nothing had happened.
Eileen watched as he walked away, holding the lily, before noticing the crowd's stares.
— …
The shocked expressions on the spectators' faces were oppressive. She felt as if she were suffocating.
Their covetous glances at the flower in her hand were intense. It was a gift from the Archduke himself, after all, and she couldn't help but appreciate it even more.
That's when she realized this was going to be a big problem. The man standing behind Eileen stretched out his arm, preventing others from crowding against her. He whispered,
Let me take her home.
At the same time, a group of men surrounded Eileen. Only then did she realize that all the tall men around her, including the kind man who had given up his seat for her, were Cesare's men.
If it weren't for the Archduke's impulsive action, Eileen would have seen the gesture as an act of kindness from a stranger.
Cesare's influence had always been there, even in the most unexpected moments. As soon as she realized this, intuition struck her.
'This isn't the first time something like this has actually happened.'
She couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. It seemed like there was an invisible barrier surrounding her wherever she went.
***
Having returned home with the friendly escort, Eileen felt relieved. She glanced at the small two-story house, just to make sure, in case her father hadn't returned yet.
After glancing around, Eileen sat down on the living room sofa. She now had to prepare for the Imperial Palace banquet, but, at the moment, she didn't feel like lifting a finger.
— …
Why did you do that?
Cesare must have anticipated the commotion his actions would cause. He had deliberately stopped marching to present her with a flower.
He seemed to want to show all the citizens of the Traon Empire that they should recognize Eileen's presence. And, in fact, his wish will soon be fulfilled. Throughout the land, people will speak of the woman who received Cesare's favor.
Eileen realized she had become entangled in a spider's web. Everything pointed to her being the only one to become Archduchess Erzet.
Eileen focused on the lily in her hand. She remembered the day she met Cesare in the lily field. No one else called Eileen "Lily ." And yet, Cesare thought she was a lily.
"The prince will undoubtedly become the light of the empire."
"Mom is very proud to be His Highness's nanny."
"You must help the Prince too. We belong to him, Lily."
Eileen closed her eyes, remembering her mother's voice. Intertwined in her mind were the Cesare who had kissed her last night and the Cesare who would march in the triumphal procession today. She clearly remembered what he had said when he gave her the lily.
"All of this is for you."
'What did Your Grace mean by that?'
Eileen couldn't read Cesare's intentions, but she knew herself well enough. She wanted to marry for love, not out of necessity.
To begin with, they were very different. Cesare was capable of kissing any potential spouse, while Eileen could only kiss the person she loved.
Instead of becoming an Archduchess in this political marriage equal to Cesare in every respect, she would remain a "child" in his eyes. Was this immaturity on her part? The anxiety she felt about the whole situation did not diminish.
Should I ask him to call off this engagement when I see him today? To save me in some other way?
Perhaps she should be bold and openly ask him to help her with her research.
Even if she had been caught, she had already completed half her work. Morpheus would undoubtedly have been enough to secure a pardon for creating such a drug.
Eileen may not have experienced the world, but she was confident in her abilities. It was a fact that she had an academic inclination, and she had spent half her life cultivating that trait.
'I was always the one who needed help. So I wanted to be of some use in return.'
Part of her wanted to admit that she had researched powerful painkillers just for Cesare. Sadness overwhelmed her as she caressed the white petals. No matter what she said at the banquet, she would undoubtedly be seen as a brat.
'I'm not going to run away. I made a promise to him.'
Eileen rose from the sofa, muttering to herself about the preparations she needed to make. She carefully arranged the lily in a vase before focusing on the preparations for the banquet.
To be continued….