Chapter 26

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: A Promise Kept
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Cesare kicked down the door, which had been riddled with gunfire. Inside, only two people were on their feet: Aileen and the marquess's son-in-law, Matio.

“Hah, fuck, fuck…!”

Matio was holding a dagger to Aileen's throat. Agitated as he was, he was highly likely to do something dangerous to his hostage.

Diego and Michele exchanged glances. Michele waited with the snipers, looking for an opening.

Rotan was waiting in front of the villa in case of any unforeseen developments. While Michele and the snipers exchanged fire, Diego quietly circled around to the back. He scaled the building to the second floor, broke a window, and entered. He had just reached the first floor via the stairs.

“Grand Duke.”

Matio laughed, his eyes bloodshot.

“I see you've been enjoying this pretty thing all alone.”

Rotan moved up behind Cesare and checked on Aileen. Held captive by Matio, she was trembling pitifully, but she was still acting composed. In a hostage situation, the hostage's behavior was crucial.

“I'm a dead man anyway! I'm going to lose my head at the guillotine, but before that, I'm going to die watching your face twist in agony.”

Diego, hidden in the shadows, aimed his gun at Matio. It was hard to get a clear shot since he was so close to Aileen. Mouthing a silent curse, Diego narrowed his eyes and waited, his weapon trained.

As the cordon tightened around them, Cesare alone remained calm from start to finish. He didn't react to Matio's taunts at all. He simply stared at Aileen.

The longer their gazes met, the more Aileen began to calm down. Her trembling and unsteady breathing subsided noticeably. Only after Aileen had regained some composure did Cesare speak.

“Good girl. Not even crying.”

His words made her feel like she would burst into tears right then and there.

“…Because you promised.”

She stammered, her lips bleeding from how hard she'd been biting them.

“That if I… sob… waited… you would come and save me…”

Tears finally welled up in her large eyes. Aileen pleaded with him, her eyes shimmering.

“I… I want to go home.”

“Not today. You'll sleep at my residence.”

He would give her amaretti from the imperial palace instead, Cesare coaxed gently. Aileen finally answered, tears streaming down her face.

“That's good too…”

“Alright, Aileen. Shall we close our eyes?”

“Ugh, sob, yes… H-how long? Should I sing, too?”

When she asked if she should sing like she did in the greenhouse, Cesare chuckled and replied.

“The national anthem is too long. Try a lullaby.”

Aileen squeezed her eyes shut with all her might. Tears carved endless paths down her flushed cheeks. But she wasn't afraid anymore. She closed her eyes and focused only on singing.

“Fuck, what the hell are you…!”

The moment Matio roared, Cesare moved. He took a large step forward and shot Matio in the foot. *Bang!* At the thunderous gunshot, Matio reflexively swung the knife.

But before his blade could touch Aileen, a black leather glove snatched it. At the same time, Cesare pulled Aileen into his arms and immediately drew back.

A series of gunshots rang out. Matio, with bullets lodged in his limbs, seized up in shock and screamed.

Cesare threw the dagger to the floor and commanded,

“Keep him alive.”

The dagger pierced the back of Matio's hand where he lay on the floor. Cesare took off his uniform jacket and draped it over Aileen's shoulders. Then he swept her up into his arms and whispered softly,

“Let's go home, Aileen.”

Aileen, who hadn't even managed to sing a single line of the lullaby, nodded and curled into herself. She tried to clutch the fabric of his uniform, but her trembling fingers kept slipping.

Cesare adjusted Aileen in one arm, intending to take her convulsing hand. But after checking his own palm, he decided against it.

“Grand Duke! Grand Duke Erzet…!”

Marquess Menegin scrambled after Cesare as he headed for the car. Cesare paused and looked down at him. The marquess was sweating like it was raining as he pleaded.

“S-spare me. My daughter is innocent. I'll get on my knees and beg you.”

Marquess Menegin threw down his cane and dropped to his knees. While the hostage situation was being resolved, Senon had explained the current circumstances to him in great detail.

Since the death of the previous emperor, drug trafficking in the Traon Empire was punishable by the annihilation of one's entire family. Because of one bad son-in-law, a historic marquessate was on the verge of being wiped out.

Watching the old marquess's desperate plea, Cesare twisted his lips into a smile.

“Of course, I must spare you, mustn't I?”

“…!”

As he spoke with his usual formal address, readily agreeing to spare him, a clear sense of relief spread across the marquess's face. To the hopeful man, Cesare said with a smile,

“If you gouge out your remaining eyeball.”

With the promise that he would then spare the marquess and his daughter, he started walking again. The marquess couldn't bring himself to stop him and simply stared blankly at his retreating back.

“He'll be quite a sight once he's blind.”

Senon offered the brief commentary as he opened the car door for Cesare.

“To the grand ducal residence.”

The door closed on Cesare's command. The military vehicle sped silently into the darkness.

***

Aileen remained in Cesare's arms the entire way to the grand ducal residence. Cesare, too, held her quietly.

He even carried her out of the car. It was possible because the military vehicle was so high off the ground.

Sonio was pacing anxiously in front of the residence's main entrance. The moment he saw Cesare appear with Aileen in his arms, he let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank God.”

The old butler looked as if he had aged another ten years. He moved to drape the blanket he was holding over Aileen's shoulders, but upon seeing the uniform jacket, he simply placed it in her arms instead. Aileen hugged the bundle of blankets and looked at Sonio.

“Lady Aileen. I've prepared a bath for you. And some warm milk with honey. Would you like a glass of milk first?”

When Aileen gave a small nod, Cesare added,

“Amaretti with the milk.”

“I'll prepare them together.”

Cesare set Aileen down. Supported by Sonio, Aileen went inside the mansion.

Truthfully, she wanted to stay by Cesare's side. But she couldn't hold him back when he had to be busy with the aftermath.

Aileen drank a glass of milk and ate two amaretti. After regaining some energy from the sweets, she bathed with the help of the servants and changed into a soft nightgown.

Then, she entered the guest bedroom and was startled. Cesare was sitting in the chair beside the bed. Cesare patted the bed.

“Come here and lie down.”

Her joy at seeing Cesare was short-lived; she caught sight of his bandaged hand.

“Your Excellency, your hand…”

She hurried over to him. Cesare, sitting loosely in the chair, just lifted his head slightly.

“The knife… you were cut by the knife, weren't you? Oh no…”

To think Cesare had been injured just to save her. She felt tears welling up again and bit her lip, only to flinch at the stinging pain. She had bitten it so hard earlier that it was all split.

Cesare pressed his other hand against Aileen's lips to stop her from biting them. Aileen slowly parted her lips.

“You must have waited then, too.”

She couldn't answer, not understanding what he meant. But Cesare didn't seem to be expecting a reply.

“You waited because I promised to protect you.”

Was he talking about when she was kidnapped at twelve? Aileen listened to him quietly.

“You must have been scared. You frighten easily, so you must have cried a lot.”

Cesare let out a small laugh. He pulled Aileen gently between his legs and wrapped his arms around her waist. Aileen flinched in surprise, but Cesare paid her no mind. He positioned her so she couldn't see his face and murmured,

“I'm sorry, Aileen.”

Aileen was stunned by his apology. Placing a trembling hand on Cesare's shoulder, she spoke cautiously.

“But Your Excellency has always saved me.”

Why was he apologizing? He had always been her savior. Aileen conveyed her thoughts to Cesare.

“You came for me today, too. You've always kept your promises.”

After a short silence, Cesare whispered as if confessing an old sin.

“…I couldn't keep it once.”