Wicked Husband-Chapter 49 - 48

"Y-Your Highness."

Or maybe," he began, voice a smooth, practiced calm, "if there’s even the slightest whiff of suspicion... we could send them all to the gallows. A touch dramatic, wouldn’t you say? Actually, on second thought, perhaps a public execution is in order. Stone them to death in the square, a gruesome display for all to see. Eileen, of course, would need a front-row seat. A valuable lesson in the consequences of disrespect, wouldn’t you agree?"

"They even put severed heads on display in taverns, I heard. And later, they even went as far as to stand in a row and do disgusting things, I mean, huh? But I’m supposed to let those kinds of b*stards live."

Senon and Diego exchanged a worried glance. The specifics of Cesare’s accusations remained unclear, but the raw fury behind his words left no room for misunderstanding. The impending slaughter of the Traon citizens loomed large in the stifling silence.

After exhaling softly, Cesare paused, reaching into his coat pocket. Retrieving a silver pocket watch, he clicked it open, its ticking resonating amidst the chilly silence. Observing the movement of the hands for a moment in the cool quietness, Cesare closed the lid once more.

"But if I were to act as I desire, Eileen would be ruined. She’s a child too precious to be treated merely as a human, even addressing the unworthy b*stard as ’father’ and caring for him."

He muttered to Diego, extending his hand. "I wish I were a saint..."

Diego, with a partially burnt cigarette in hand, snuffed it out in the ashtray. His hands trembling, he offered Cesare a fresh cigarette and struck a match. After several attempts, he finally managed to light it.

After lighting Cesare’s cigarette, Diego absentmindedly took one from Senon’s hand and, like his own, snuffed it out in the ashtray.

As Cesare smoked, he slowly calmed his emotions. His momentarily flashing red eyes regained composure, returning him to the leisurely and composed demeanor of the Grand Duke of Eezet, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

"So, Senon. Even if it’s a bit unfortunate, isn’t this the better way for Eileen?"

***

The Grand Duke’s wedding was merely a week away, set to unfold in the picturesque garden of his estate, with only a select few in attendance. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

However, owing to the insatiable curiosity of the entire Traon Empire regarding the impending union of the Grand Duke and Duchess, it was decided to capture wedding photographs and feature them in newspapers.

La Beretta secured the esteemed privilege of publishing these images, and even before the ceremony had commenced, the mere announcement of their forthcoming publication caused the circulation of La Beretta to skyrocket fivefold.

Speculation ran rife that the newspaper unveiling the wedding photos would shatter historical sales records. In anticipation of this momentous event, La Beretta matched the Grand Duke’s household in meticulous preparation. They procured ink, paper, and printing presses, diligently crafting numerous articles in advance to swiftly accompany the awaited images upon receipt.

Eileen, the wedding’s central figure, had spent the preceding week at the Grand Duke’s estate, readying herself for the impending ceremony.

Despite residing within the confines of the same mansion, Eileen and Cesare did not cross paths. An age-old Imperial custom mandated that the betrothed couple remain physically and emotionally separated for a week preceding the ceremony, bolstered by a superstition forbidding the groom from laying eyes on the bride in her wedding gown.

Throughout her tenure at the Grand Duke’s estate, Eileen underwent a series of preparations and instructions for the impending nuptials. Chief among these tasks was undoubtedly the meticulous memorization of the guest list.

It was the wedding of Grand Duke Erzet, an exclusive affair reserved for the Empire’s elite. The guest list boasted names so illustrious that they seemed to shimmer with prestige.

Only those of the highest echelons of society received invitations; anyone of lesser status need not anticipate attendance. However, some of the Grand Duke’s knights and soldiers were honored with invitations to serve as escorts.

Eileen diligently pored over the meticulously organized list of guests provided by Sonio, committing their faces, names, ranks, and pertinent details to memory with ease. Yet, one name sparked a flicker of apprehension within her: Lady Ornella, the daughter of Duke Farbellini.

As Eileen absorbed Ornella’s profile, her significance in society stirred a knot of nerves within her. The weight of Ornella’s presence loomed large in Eileen’s thoughts, her words echoing ominously in Eileen’s mind.

"I was merely curious, you know. It’s just difficult to comprehend why His Highness chose you, Eileen. I understand he treats you well because you’re the daughter of his late nanny, but surely he didn’t decide to marry out of pity, did he?"

Ornella’s words reverberated in Eileen’s mind, shattering what little confidence she had left. She stared at the name "Ornella von Farbellini" with apprehension.

"She’ll be exquisitely attired, won’t she?"

It was the wedding of her beloved. Eileen imagined that Ornella would dress up so beautifully that she would overshadow the bride. The situation where the bride would be completely overshadowed by her beauty seemed so clear in her mind.

From the outset, theirs was an unlikely match. Eileen fretted over the possibility of Cesare, who had accepted a less conventionally attractive bride, facing humiliation.

Attempting to push up her glasses with a somber expression, Eileen blinked awkwardly.

"Ah..."

She awkwardly withdrew her hand, realizing she had almost poked herself in the eye. Since cutting her bangs, she hadn’t been wearing glasses, and even after several days, it still felt strange. It was challenging to adapt, considering she had relied on glasses for so long, almost as if they were a part of her body.

Upon her arrival at the Grand Duke’s estate with her altered appearance, only Sonio greeted Eileen with a warm smile as she stepped out of the car. The other servants, however, wore expressions of astonishment, their smiles conspicuously absent. Their stares, etched in her memory, stoked a simmering anger within Eileen whenever she recalled them.

"It was all just empty words, after all."

When Diego and the dressmakers praised her appearance in the wedding dress, Eileen had gained some semblance of confidence, if she were to be honest with herself. Cesare’s assertion that showing her face was preferable also offered a glimmer of reassurance. Yet, Eileen couldn’t shake the feeling that Diego and Cesare were the type to find beauty in even the most unassuming of things. The dressmakers, too, likely offered flattering words for the sake of their craft.

However, the genuine surprise etched on the faces of the servants upon her arrival at the estate was unmistakable. Their wide-eyed astonishment and gaping mouths betrayed their honest reactions to her changed appearance. There was no denying that they were genuinely taken aback, leaving Eileen to ponder the sincerity behind their expressions.

Despite Sonio’s attempts to comfort her, Eileen remained deaf to his words of solace. If Diego and Cesare could find beauty in even the most unremarkable of things, then Sonio was perhaps even less adept at offering reassurance.

Eileen awaited the wedding with a sense of impending doom, akin to that of a condemned prisoner awaiting execution.

On the eve of the wedding, Cesare’s knights came to see Eileen.

"Oops..."

As soon as Michele laid eyes on Eileen, she stiffened visibly. Even Lotan and Senon, who hadn’t seen her transformed appearance before, were taken aback. They all hesitated to speak, their lips trembling, while Eileen gradually felt a rising embarrassment at their reactions.

"Am I truly that unappealing...?" Eileen finally voiced the question that had been weighing on her heart, observing their hesitant denials. But despite their reassurances, Eileen had already discerned the truth from their reactions.

"You don’t have to lie. I changed my hair and didn’t wear glasses, fearing they wouldn’t complement the wedding attire. But once the ceremony is over, I intend to revert to my previous appearance. I’ll grow my hair back and resume wearing glasses."

As she sighed deeply and contemplated her solitary decision, Senon suddenly erupted.

"Eileen!"

His words poured forth like a torrent, his fists clenched in frustration.

"I think you look much better without glasses and with your bangs cut! I’ve been so disappointed ever since you started covering your face when you were twelve years old. Of course, your beauty is undeniable, but especially! Your eyes, Eileen! They are treasures of the Empire, and you’ve been hiding them! Of course, hiding them doesn’t change the essence of the jewels, but the beautiful sparkle under the sunlight..."

enon’s enthusiastic rambling was abruptly interrupted by Michele’s elbow jab. Only then did Senon snap out of his reverie, his face flushed with embarrassment as he stammered out an apology.

"I’m sorry. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you properly, I just... I really like it."

This time, Diego, standing beside him, nudged Senon discreetly. Sensing the potential for misunderstanding, Senon hastily clarified, his cheeks burning.

"I meant Eileen’s eyes."

Michele, however, didn’t let Senon’s slip of the tongue slide unnoticed.

"Oh, you only like her eyes?"

"N-No, I like Eileen too, of course... Ah, do you know what I mean?"

Senon turned to Eileen with a pitiful expression, seeking understanding amidst the awkward exchange.

***