Chapter 16

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Marry Me
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But this was the first time Aileen had ever given him a watch.

‘Could he have received something similar from someone else?’

That didn’t make sense either.

She had bought it from a watchmaker on Venue Street, where only high-end shops were located, and the owner, Luca, had even gone to great lengths to procure it for her. Still, it was a far cry from what Cesare was used to.

Cesare was born a prince, and now, as the Grand Duke, he was one of the most noble figures in the empire. He used only items made exclusively for him. His clothes, shoes, furniture, even his pens—all were priceless items that money couldn't buy.

The same was true for his pocket watches. Aileen had seen his watches a few times. Each was encrusted with expensive jewels and delicately marked with the imperial crest, signifying it as the property of the Grand Duke of Erzet.

The plain, unadorned platinum pocket watch she had bought was something Cesare would likely never even lay eyes on. After all, no one but Aileen would dare give him such a humble watch.

While Aileen was lost in her complicated thoughts, Cesare took the pocket watch out of the box. The white timepiece stood in stark contrast against his black leather glove.

*Clink.* The chain slid down below his glove, making a faint sound. He gazed at the watch in his palm. For a fleeting moment, a precarious light flickered in his eyes.

But the brief flicker vanished before Aileen could notice. Cesare slowly closed his hand, clutching the watch. He held it tight, as if he would never let go, and smiled.

“I like it.”

The moment she saw his pleasant smile, Aileen felt a wave of relief wash over her. The tension that had been building up inside her finally broke, and tears began to stream down her face.

“*Hic…*”

Tears poured out as if a faucet had been turned on. She quickly took off her glasses and tried to wipe them away with the back of her hand, but it was no use. Aileen sobbed as she begged for Cesare's forgiveness.

“S-sob, I'm sorry, Your Excellency. I'm so sorry.”

“For what?”

“F-for… *hic*… c-crying.”

“Is that all you're sorry for?”

“No, I'm sorry for everything.”

Cesare let out a low breath. He removed one of his gloves and slipped it into his pocket along with the watch. Then, he cupped Aileen's face, brushed her bangs aside, and wiped the corner of her eye with his thumb.

“Seeing you cry like this, I can't even bring myself to be angry.”

As he wiped her tears, his brow furrowed slightly. He narrowed his eyes and murmured softly.

“I was planning to be much crueler, you know.”

Her heart sank. So he *had* been angry. And he had planned to be even crueler than this. It was a shocking revelation.

Just hearing him say he wouldn't see her had felt like her world was collapsing… Aileen looked up at Cesare pleadingly and asked.

“May I… *hic*… ask why you were angry?”

Cesare didn't answer right away. He waited until she had shed what felt like a bucket of tears before he spoke.

“He said he was going to sell you.”

Aileen's eyes widened at the sudden words.

“Threatening to sell off a girl who hasn't even made her social debut. To some old foreign pig, no less. He used that to try and extort money from me…”

He narrowed his eyes and asked.

“I had a right to be angry, don't you think?”

She was so stunned she forgot to cry. She could roughly guess what her father had been thinking.

It seemed her father had planned to use the marriage as leverage to extort money from Cesare, then give a portion of it to the foreign noble to call off the engagement.

Her father had always been resentful that, despite the Grand Duke's great affection for his daughter, he gained no material wealth from it. After her mother passed away, his complaints became blatant.

His grumbling only stopped when Cesare left to conquer the Kalpen Kingdom. He had occasionally cursed Cesare for marching to his death, but as soon as news of victory arrived, he had concocted this scheme.

Gazing into Aileen's darkening eyes, he asked.

“Are you going to marry that old pig?”

Aileen shook her head vehemently. Cesare brushed her tear-soaked lashes and asked again.

“Then what should we do, hmm?”

“I don't know…”

If only she could avoid it simply by not wanting to do it. There had been few moments in Aileen's life where she had the power to choose for herself. This time, too, she was being dragged along by the will of another.

When she couldn't answer, her gaze falling, a sweet voice gently coaxed her.

“Why don't you know, Aileen?”

It was the only ray of light in the pitch-black darkness. Cesare's face drew closer, the tips of their noses brushing lightly.

“You have to marry me.”

Aileen's breath hitched, and her chest heaved rapidly. His eyes took in the sight of her fluttering like a small bird as he asked.

“Do you still not want to?”

She couldn't answer immediately, but Cesare didn't press her. He already knew the answer.

Aileen parted her lips slightly. She could no longer say no. If she refused now, all that awaited her was to be miserably sold off.

Feeling as if her entire body were bound by invisible ropes, she surrendered to him.

“I'll marry you…”

Cesare's long eyes curved into a crescent. A faint smile on his lips, he lowered his head. Their lips met. Aileen flinched, sucking in a sharp breath and trembling, and a large hand immediately gripped her waist.

He held her slender waist tightly, preventing her from moving, and began a slow kiss. He nibbled her lip gently, parting them to slip inside.

Her tongue, unsure of what to do, only twitched until he gently entangled it with his. A shiver ran down her spine when he gently brushed the roof of her mouth.

“*Ngh, mm…*”

A small sound escaped her throat. In response, the grip on her waist tightened. Soon, his hand moved naturally to the small of her back. His large hand traced a slow path down her spine.

A strange, inexplicable sensation kept pricking at her lower abdomen. It felt like an ache, yet it was different from pain. It had been like this the last time they kissed.

A strange feeling stirred in the secret place between her legs, and she squeezed her thighs together. She lifted her awkwardly dangling hands and carefully placed them on Cesare's chest.

It wasn't meant as a push, but he stopped the kiss. He slowly pulled his lips away and gazed at her quietly.

Meeting his red eyes, Aileen was suddenly reminded of a poppy. A dangerous flower, despite its splendid appearance. But just as people become addicted to opium knowing its harm, those who stayed by Cesare's side could not leave, even though they knew his true nature.

Aileen was no different. At eleven, in the gardens of the prince's palace, she had first sensed his danger. Since then, she had faced several frightening moments but had chosen to ignore them.

As she stared into his crimson, petal-like eyes, she suddenly realized they were pressed close together against the windowsill. Only then did she notice the pain of her thigh being pressed against the frame.

Cesare seemed to notice as well, for he released his grip and let her go.

“Aileen.”

“Yes…”

“Why didn't you eat the cake?”

“I didn't have an appetite.”

She wouldn't be able to taste anything right now anyway. Aileen lowered her head. She clutched the hem of his clothes and managed to squeeze out her voice.

“I want to see my father.”

“It would be better if you didn't.”

His words were a simple statement of fact. Since Cesare had said that, something bad was sure to happen if she went to see her father. The fact that he knew exactly where her father was but hadn't told her proved as much.

But she couldn't avoid it forever. She had already fallen lower than rock bottom. She had shown an unsightly side of herself to the person she liked and had even fallen deep into debt.

‘How much worse could it get?’

Aileen carefully made her request to Cesare.

“It's alright. Please let me see him.”

After a moment's hesitation, she added another word to persuade him.

“I have to tell him about… the marriage.”

At that, Cesare, though still looking displeased, gave his permission.

“Then we'll go together.”

“You must be busy. If you just tell me where he is, I can go alone…”

She was saying she would go alone so as not to trouble him when Cesare vaulted over the windowsill. He looked down at the stunned Aileen, who had fallen silent, and whispered coaxingly.

“From now on, you should go everywhere with your husband, Aileen.”