Wicked Husband-Chapter 62 - 61

Michele frowned deeply upon seeing a man standing in front of the inn. Quickly positioning herself in front of Eileen protectively, she called out to the man.

"...Count Domenico?"

Startled by Michele’s voice, the man swiftly turned around. He appeared surprised to see Michele and was utterly shocked when his gaze fell upon Eileen.

In a faltering voice, Count Domenico asked, "Why is the Grand Duchess here...?"

Count Domenico wasn’t the only one stunned. Eileen, equally shocked, nearly fainted. Her mouth hung slack in astonishment as she stared at the Count, who in turn looked perplexed by Michele and Eileen’s presence.

Michele, her freckled face contorted in displeasure, muttered under her breath, "A moment’s peace seems like a relic of the past."

Interrupted in their private time, her frown was undisguised. Observing protocol nonetheless, she looked down at Count Domenico with a subdued expression. "Business, I presume? May I inquire about the nature of your visit, Count?"

"I... heard a skilled pharmacist resided here," the Count stammered, his eyes widening in sudden realization. "Does Her Grace require medicine as well?"

Up to that point, Eileen had been speechless. More accurately, she was utterly dumbfounded. The pharmacist Count Domenico sought was none other than herself.

The Count had been a patron of the lab for some time. Usually, noble clients were dealt with by the innkeeper, as Eileen preferred to avoid them. Obscure and young, she ran a ramshackle pharmacy tucked away in a rented room of the old inn.

These were ideal conditions for obscurity, and indeed, various incidents had plagued her. Without the innkeeper’s assistance, maintaining the lab would have been a constant struggle.

Most haughty nobles preferred to send servants for their medicines, making accurate diagnoses and effective sales nearly impossible. Therefore, most nobles were simply refused service.

However, Count Domenico was a curious anomaly. Though he initially kept his noble identity under wraps, his elegant attire and courtly demeanor soon gave him away. Despite a touch of social awkwardness, he remained unfailingly polite during his visits to the lab, treating Eileen with a respect unusual for a highborn lord towards a commoner.

"Do you know where the pharmacist who resided here has gone?" Count Domenico inquired, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.

Michele’s response was curt and dismissive. "Haven’t the faintest."

The Count’s face crumpled like a discarded parchment. Despair flickered across his features, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor. Before either of them could react further, Eileen found herself compelled to act. Half-hidden behind Michele’s imposing form, she peeked out and spoke in a hesitant voice.

"It’s me, Count."

"...What?"

Unable to recognize her at first, Eileen self-consciously raised a hand to partially obscure her face. The Count’s eyes widened further, and he stumbled back a step in surprise. Flustered, he stammered, "Uh, uh...?"

Even the ever-composed Michele seemed taken aback. With a swift movement, she swatted the Count’s arm down as it rose in what appeared to be a forgotten attempt at a noble gesture. The resounding thud echoed in the tense silence.

Peeking through her fingers, Eileen saw a flicker of relief wash over the Count’s face – relief, not anger or disdain. Emboldened, she lowered her hand and instinctively moved to bow in greeting. However, Michele’s sharp voice cut through the air.

The innkeeper’s grin held a hint of mischief. "Hold on there, Madam. Curtsy for the Duke’s guests, perhaps, but for a mere Count...?"

"Oh! Right, sorry..." Eileen stammered, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

The stark reminder of her new station as Grand Duchess sent a jolt through Eileen.

Shamefaced, she mumbled an apology. Michele, ever the pragmatist, knelt to meet Eileen’s eyes.

"Why would you say such a thing? You’re under the weather, after all. Should we turn this gentleman away?"

"Wait!"

Before Eileen could respond, Count Domenico hurriedly approached. He quickly removed his top hat and bowed to Eileen.

"Please forgive my breach of etiquette."

As he pondered what might constitute such a breach, Count Domenico gazed at Eileen with a complex mix of emotions. Sensing his turmoil, Eileen spoke softly.

"There’s no medicine. The date we agreed-upon hasn’t arrived yet, so I haven’t made any... Could it be that you’ve run out of medicine?"

"No, I haven’t. I came here to express my gratitude and to give a gift."

In Count Domenico’s hand was a paper bag from a well-known bakery. He muttered awkwardly,

"The Grand Duchess... saved me..."

Count Domenico tightened his grip on the bag of bread, veins briefly pulsing with tension.

"Even now, you’re stepping forward because of me. You could easily conceal your status."

He suddenly dropped his head heavily, his expression fraught with complicated thoughts. Eileen found it difficult to discern his intentions, unsure of what to do, alternating glances between Michele and the Count.

Michele briskly snatched the bag of bread from Count Domenico with a loud sound.

"Madam, should we take this home to eat?" she asked, opening the bag of bread and engaging in idle chatter. The Count, who had lost the bag of bread without resistance, kept his head bowed for a while. Finally, he lifted his head.

His eyes shone with a resolute determination. Count Domenico chuckled softly, almost like a sigh.

"I suppose I should become a dog."

Eileen couldn’t help but question what she heard.

"A dog...?"

"Yes. I think becoming the Grand Duchess’s dog wouldn’t be so bad. It might even be enjoyable."

Eileen, who had never once considered such a proposal from Count Domenico, was deeply bewildered by his statement. Wondering if Michele knew something she didn’t, Eileen glanced at her, but Michele merely shrugged in response.

She pondered whether there was some new trend in etiquette she wasn’t aware of. In the distance, a black military vehicle approached. A man in uniform got out smoothly in front of the inn.

Cesare, stretching his long legs onto the ground, spotted Count Domenico and raised an eyebrow. Understanding the situation immediately, he smiled at Eileen. Naturally pulling her close, he asked,

"Have you been waiting for your husband?"

***