Wicked Husband-Chapter 72 - 71

"I thought if I continued, I really wouldn’t be able to hold back."

Eileen was utterly disoriented, murmuring incoherently.

"I want to do it now..."

Her body, overheated and wracked with pain, felt unbearable. She clung to his clothing, gasping for breath, while Cesare gently reassured her.

"We need to go to the palace, alright?"

His erection was clearly outlined over his pants. Eileen saw the long, impressive shape extending down to his thighs, and only then did she realize what she was doing. She quickly averted her gaze, her heart pounding erratically.

"I’ll head to the palace first. Take your time and follow me, Eileen."

He carefully removed Eileen’s hand from his grasp and kissed each of her fingertips, tenderly sucking and nibbling on the fourth finger, where her wedding ring was.

"I’ll be waiting at the palace."

With those simple words, Cesare left the dining room. Alone, Eileen remained with her face flushed bright red, slowly sinking into her chair.

Her breath came in labored gasps, and her thighs were damp with perspiration. The heat under her skin caused sharp, persistent pangs in her lower abdomen. Unconsciously pressing her thighs together to ease the pressure on her genitalia, Eileen gradually regained her composure.

’I’m losing my mind.’

She slowly relaxed her legs and tried to steady her breathing, waiting for her face to cool. As she did, Eileen’s thoughts turned to the night ahead.

’I can’t wait for the night to come...’

She longed to be with Cesare in the bedroom as soon as possible.

week had passed since the Grand Duke and Duchess of Erzet’s wedding, yet stories about them continued to dominate the newspapers and magazines.

Today’s issue featured an in-depth article analyzing the Grand Duchess of Erzet. The piece praised her beauty and described the couple as a perfect match made by the gods. After pages of lavish adulation, the article concluded with a provocative statement:

[...It was truly the day a true lily of Traon was born. We eagerly anticipate the Grand Duchess of Erzet’s reign over the social circles of the capital.]

Ornella’s hands trembled as she gripped the magazine. After reading the last lines repeatedly, she forced a smile but couldn’t contain her frustration any longer. With a sudden movement, she tossed the magazine aside.

The memory of the wedding haunted her. Eileen Elrod, who had pretended to be so unsophisticated, had dressed up to upstage her that day. The most painful moment of all was when everyone’s attention shifted to that woman instead of her. It was a memory she couldn’t escape.

"Calm down."

Duke Farbellini, seated opposite Ornella, spoke gently, trying to soothe his daughter. His voice was deliberately kind as he addressed her gasping breaths.

"Is there really a reason to be upset over something so trivial? This is just the latest sensation. Once the excitement fades, people will return to praising and adoring you."

He signaled a servant to retrieve the discarded magazine and, lighting a cigar, added with a hint of indifference,

"What does it matter to be the Lily of Traon? Your happiness is what matters most to me."

Ornella glared at the Duke with bloodshot eyes. Noticing her intense gaze, Duke Farbellini clicked his tongue in frustration. His only daughter, normally gentle in nature, would lose all sense of reason whenever she was enraged, much like her mother.

This was one of those moments. Without even blinking, Ornella finally spoke.

"...You wanted this."

She began to tremble violently, overcome with rage. Her body shook uncontrollably as she screamed,

"You wanted me to be a daughter you could be prouder of than a son, the most noble woman in the Empire!" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The Duke frowned as her voice rang out sharply, almost piercingly. He held the cigar between his lips and furrowed his brow deeply before placing it in the ashtray.

"Was it just my wish alone? You wanted it too, Ornella."

Despite the coldness of his words, Duke Farbellini looked at his unruly daughter with a hint of affection.

"Calm down. Such a temper..."

His reprimand, though softened by a father’s gentle affection, was rooted in his own expectations. Duke Farbellini’s notion of her happiness was always confined within the limits he set.

If Ornella had ever declared a desire to marry a street poet, Duke Farbellini would have been the first to intervene, ensuring that man met an untimely end.

The hypocrisy of her father’s talk about her happiness made Ornella feel ill. As she steadied her breathing, the anger that had surged moments before began to subside.

Ornella ran her fingers through her disheveled hair, her frustration palpable. She looked at the Duke and spoke, her voice trembling slightly.

"...I told you many times that I should marry the Grand Duke of Erzet, not the Emperor."

Duke Farbellini sighed and replied,

"Even as Duke Farbellini, I couldn’t compel the Grand Duke to marry you if he was unwilling. And at that time, he was on the brink of death—how could I have placed you in such a position?"

In a sudden, defiant move, Ornella snatched the cigar from the ashtray and inhaled deeply. The Duke, observing his daughter’s angry puffing, showed a trace of amusement. Ornella, her face flushed with frustration, exhaled the smoke and retorted,

"But look at the situation now. I was right, wasn’t I?"

She was certain that man would rise to the highest position—a conviction she had honed over years of reigning as the queen of the social scene.

Yet, Ornella had been forced into making a poor decision, and now she was paying the price. Instead of being celebrated as Empress of the nation, the Grand Duchess of Erzet was capturing all the attention.

Even if she were to become Empress, it would be only in title. The love and admiration of the Empire’s people would clearly belong to the Grand Duchess of Erzet. It was reminiscent of Leon, whose glory was overshadowed by his twin brother.

Thinking of the pitiable Emperor, Ornella clenched her teeth once more. Duke Farbellini lit a new cigar and spoke.

"That’s still uncertain. After all, he’s just a Grand Duke, not an Emperor."

Repeating his words with a hint of bitter amusement, Ornella let out a soft laugh.

"A Grand Duke who could become Emperor at any time?"

"Would your father allow that to happen?"

The Duke, holding a cutter to the tip of his cigar, spoke with an air of casual indifference.

"His Majesty isn’t without ambition either, Ornella. I hear the Grand Duchess of Erzet is hosting a tea party? Just do what you always do."

With a quick, practiced motion, he sliced through the cigar. The neatly cut tip fell onto the table. Holding the blade like a guillotine, Duke Farbellini smiled at his beloved daughter and added,

"I’ll handle the cleanup."

It was Eileen’s first official public appearance as the Grand Duchess of Erzet, and the staff at the Grand Duke’s estate spared no effort in preparing her.

They presented an array of jewelry and dresses, asking for her preferences. For Eileen, who had only dressed up once before—on her wedding day—these choices were overwhelming.

Unfamiliar with fashion, she decided to trust the staff’s expertise, allowing them to make the decisions and dress her as they deemed best. The result was nothing short of magnificent.

The dress, created by the same atelier that designed her wedding gown, was the result of collaboration among three different ateliers.

Eileen had thought that the praise she received on her wedding day was merely polite flattery, but the atelier owners were genuinely eager for her to showcase their creations.

The dress, adorned with delicate lace and ribbons, was so luxurious that it nearly intimidated her. The high-quality silk shimmered so brightly that Eileen moved with extreme caution, fearful of damaging the exquisite gown.

As she carefully descended the stairs, clutching the hem of her dress like a fragile creature, Diego, who was waiting in the hall and chatting with Sonio, widened his eyes in astonishment and applauded.

"Wow, Lady Eileen! You look like a fairy today!"

Unaccustomed to receiving such compliments, Eileen awkwardly thanked him.

"Thank you, Sir Diego."

Diego, who had casually delivered the flattering remark, was the assigned escort for the day. Although he was a valuable asset and could have been put to better use, Eileen appreciated the arrangement. Given that this was her first public engagement as the Grand Duchess of Erzet, having Diego by her side was a great comfort in the nerve-wracking situation.

"You look so beautiful, everyone will be stunned."

Diego lavished Eileen with compliments, boosting her confidence, while Sonio attempted to lighten the mood with a gentle joke, despite his evident concern.

"When you return, you must tell this old man all about your grand adventure."

Thanks to their encouragement, Eileen managed a smile. With Sonio seeing her off, she boarded the carriage with Diego, and they set off for the Imperial Palace.

Unlike her previous visit, where she had used the private passage reserved for royalty, today she had to enter through the official public entrance, as it was a formal occasion.

As Eileen stepped out of the carriage, guided by Diego, a sea of curious gazes fell upon her. Diego clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath,

"Goodness, they’ve swarmed like bees."