Chapter 63

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The First Question
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Count Domenico left after handing over the bag of bread. After he departed, Aileen was finally able to go to her laboratory. It would have been a bit awkward to reveal to the innkeeper that the Grand Duchess was a pharmacist, so Michele was to deliver the message on her behalf.

When Michele and Cesare, dressed in imperial army uniforms, stepped inside, the inn fell instantly silent. The patrons, who had been chattering boisterously just moments before, all froze in place.

Those eating, those conversing, and even the innkeeper handing change to a customer, all froze, staring at the soldiers who had entered the inn. Just as their gazes were about to fall on Aileen, who stood behind Cesare, Michele stepped forward.

She snapped her fingers with a sharp crack. All eyes focused on Michele.

“Attention, everyone! You all look like you have plenty of sins to answer for, but rest assured. We're not here to arrest anyone today.”

Only then did the people begin to stir, but the original boisterous atmosphere did not return. With soldiers guarding the entrance, they couldn't leave and could only dart their eyes around, assessing the situation.

In the Empire these days, being a soldier was a profession of the highest envy and respect. The reason the inn's patrons were particularly afraid of soldiers, however, was entirely because of Aileen. On the day the news of the Triumphal Arch's approval was announced, Cesare had ordered soldiers to surround the inn.

Afterward, the laboratory was shut down, and Aileen vanished without a trace. A rumor had spread among the inn's patrons that the second-floor pharmacist had been taken away by soldiers, her fate unknown. Naturally, they had become cautious, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

But the innkeeper, despite the clear fear on his face, bravely stepped forward.

“Excuse me, may I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

Michele strode over to the counter. The innkeeper wiped his sweaty palms on the apron covering his portly belly and asked politely.

“By any chance, what happened to the pharmacist on the second floor?”

“Ah. That's actually why we're here. First off, she's doing just fine, so you don't need to worry.”

Michele leaned one hand on the counter, shifting her weight to one leg, and continued the conversation with the innkeeper. The innkeeper stood at attention, listening intently to Michele's words. Aileen was a little anxious, but she trusted Michele to handle the explanation well.

Taking advantage of the moment when all eyes were on Michele, she and Cesare quickly went up to the second floor. Those who belatedly spotted Aileen hiding behind Cesare's back widened their eyes.

They glanced back and forth between the copies of *La Verita* in their hands and Aileen. But Aileen, focused only on Cesare's back, didn't notice the gazes pouring down on her.

The second floor was quiet. It seemed to be because it was still daytime, and the overnight guests had not yet arrived. Cesare took a key from his pocket and removed the large padlock that had secured the laboratory door. With a joyful heart, Aileen stepped into her lab for the first time in a long while.

The laboratory was cleaner than she had expected. She had thought it would be covered in dust, but instead, it was so tidy it was almost unrecognizable.

Even the ornamental poppies, which contained no narcotic compounds, were alive and well, not withered at all. The vibrant petals showed signs of careful tending. Thankfully, it seemed Cesare had arranged for someone to maintain the laboratory.

One flower, however, was a bit unsightly, having lost a few petals. This was because Cesare had carelessly handled it before.

*‘Still, Cesare was the one who ordered them to be watered.’*

The flower had been damaged by his touch, but it had survived thanks to his command. She hoped the poppy wouldn't resent Cesare.

Aileen gave the poppy's pot a couple of gentle pats for no particular reason before looking around the lab. Ever since hearing the good news from Michele, she had already decided in her mind what she would take.

All of her research materials were gone. They had likely been taken during the earlier investigation into Morpheus. Seeing the empty bookshelves made her feel hollow inside, but she didn't let it show and examined her experimental tools.

*‘Should I start by packing the fragile, expensive equipment?’*

As she stared at a round-bottom flask, Aileen suddenly looked back at Cesare. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching her scurry about. When their eyes met, he spoke first.

“Morpheus. Continue making it. I'll support you, so don't worry about anything else.”

He added that her research materials had already been moved to the Grand Duke's residence. It was joyous news, but Aileen watched his expression carefully as she asked.

“What about… the death penalty?”

At that, Cesare stated a truth that was supremely arrogant, yet undeniable.

“Who would dare send the Grand Duchess of Erzet to the guillotine?”

Aileen nearly ran over and kissed Cesare right then and there. She barely managed to restrain herself, preserving the dignity of the Grand Duchess, but she couldn't hide her face, flushed with delight.

“Thank you. Thank you so much! I'll be sure to complete Morpheus.”

She clasped her hands together and vowed to work as hard as he believed in her to create an incredible medicine. Watching Aileen's solemn oath, Cesare smiled and replied that he would look forward to it.

In high spirits, Aileen hummed as she looked around the lab. Then, she was struck by the desire to do something for Cesare right away.

*‘I want to repay him with something right now, too.’*

Even if she couldn't do something as grand as he had, she wanted to express her gratitude in some small way. Racking her brain, Aileen thought of the scar ointment.

Cesare had cut his hand on a knife while rescuing her from her kidnapping. The wound was likely almost healed, so it would be good to apply the ointment to prevent a scar. Chiding herself for not thinking of it sooner, she quickly searched for the scar ointment.

The laboratory had originally been a place of organized chaos. Aileen had her own system for where things went, but with everything neatly arranged, it was actually harder to find things. After struggling for a while, she finally located the scar ointment on a display shelf.

“Cesare!”

Aileen hurried over to him.

“Let me see your palm for a moment.”

Cesare chuckled and held out his gloved hand.

“Um… your actual palm.”

“You want me to take it off?”

The subtle nuance of his words made Aileen pause. But since he wasn't wrong, she first nodded in agreement.

“Yes, please take it off.”

Instead of taking off his glove, Cesare teased her.

“You keep telling me to take things off so carelessly.”

“The glove. Not clothes, the glove…”

As Aileen hastily supplied the subject, Cesare lowered his gaze and smiled.

“Right.”

He lowered his voice as if sharing an intimate secret.

“I only take them off in front of you, Aileen.”

His whispered voice was ticklish, and her mood turned strange in an instant. Aileen found herself holding her breath as she watched him remove the glove. Her heart pounded against her ribs.

The glossy black leather glove was slowly peeled back, revealing the back of his hand. It was a masculine hand, with prominent tendons and bones. His unusually long fingers slipped completely out of the glove.

Cesare offered his hand to Aileen. She carefully took it with both of hers. Then, she slowly turned it over to check his palm. A short gasp escaped her lips.

“…Ah.”

His palm was smooth. Without even a trace that there had ever been a wound.

Of course, Cesare's healing ability was far superior to that of others. But even so, for it to leave no trace like this was strange. Not enough time had passed for a scar to have faded completely.

*‘Was it his other hand? No, I'm sure it was this one.’*

Despite seeing Aileen's confusion, Cesare didn't react. He simply left his hand docilely in hers.

“Sh-show me your other hand, too.”

Thinking it might have been the other hand, she stammered, and he obediently took off his other glove to show her. That palm, too, was perfectly clean. Holding one of his hands in each of hers, Aileen was thrown into confusion.

*‘What is this?’*

Something felt wrong. But she didn't know exactly what was wrong. A vague question clouded her mind. The sense of otherness she had always felt from Cesare surged more intensely than ever before.

In that moment, a gut feeling struck her. A feeling that she had to ask a question right now. Aileen unconsciously parted her lips.

“Cesare.”

Looking into his flawlessly smooth red eyes, she threw out the first question that came to mind.

“The wedding ring drawn in my diary… how did you know about it?”