Wicked Husband-Chapter 120 - 119

She also worried that her growing feelings for Cesare—now a fully matured prince—might be too obvious. She feared he might sense that she no longer saw him as the childhood figure she once adored, but now as a man.

Does the prince think I’ve changed too?

They hadn’t seen each other in nearly two years, ever since Eileen had entered university. During that time, she had grown in many ways, maturing both physically and mentally as she approached adulthood. Her body had changed; she had grown taller and left childhood behind.

Of course, Cesare had likely encountered countless elegant and sophisticated women by now. To him, Eileen probably still seemed like a little girl. Yet she couldn’t help but wish, just a little, that he might notice she was no longer a child but someone on the brink of becoming a true adult.

Once inside the palace, Eileen was assisted by the maids in changing out of her wet clothes. Cesare, too, went to change, but before he left, he mentioned that if she could wait, they could have dinner together.

Eileen intended to wait for Cesare, feeling the unfamiliar texture of the luxurious dress she had borrowed as she made her way toward the drawing room.

But before she could reach her destination, a servant—someone she had never seen before—stepped in front of her and the maids. His tone was stiff as he addressed her.

"Lady Elrod."

"Yes...?" she replied, surprised.

"The Emperor has summoned you."

Eileen froze, her heart plummeting into her stomach. The servant was from the Emperor’s personal staff. The thought of being summoned by the Emperor had never crossed her mind. Anxiety made her hands tremble.

There was no time to compose herself. The servant, flanked by imperial knights, exuded authority and urged Eileen to follow. It felt as if she were being dragged along, barely able to keep up as her thoughts spiraled into chaos.

As she walked, a terrifying realization struck her—she might be walking toward her own doom.

It was no secret that Emperor Traon favored his fifth son, Cesare, above all else. The Emperor treated Cesare like his own reflection, showering him with gifts and praise. Whenever Cesare returned victorious from battle, the Emperor held grand celebrations in his honor.

For someone like Eileen, a lowly baron’s daughter, to be so close to the prince would likely be an eyesore to the Emperor. Known for his volatile temper, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to dispose of a girl from a minor noble family as easily as crushing a bug.

Her face turned pale as she imagined her fate. Yet, despite the fear gripping her, the thought of running away never crossed her mind. All she could think about was not bringing any disgrace to Cesare, even if it meant her own death.

The servant led her through the palace in silence, finally stopping before a set of imposing doors. Eileen glanced around anxiously, her heart racing.

This didn’t appear to be the entrance to the Emperor’s audience chamber. In fact, the entire area felt eerily dark and unsettling.

It seemed almost too intimate, disturbingly reminiscent of the Emperor’s private quarters.

Eileen struggled to process the situation, and her worst fears were confirmed the moment she stepped into the dimly lit room. The first thing that caught her eye was a large, curtained four-poster bed. The curtains were drawn back, revealing a man lounging casually on the bed.

He wore a loose robe—the Emperor of the Traon Empire, Cesare’s father.

Stunned, Eileen quickly bowed her head, her mind racing. She tried to recall the face she had glimpsed just before lowering her gaze. Though the Emperor was said to have many children, everyone knew of his favoritism toward Cesare, often claiming the prince resembled him in his youth. Even Eileen, who usually steered clear of court gossip, had heard this countless times.

But the face she had seen bore no resemblance to Cesare at all. Instead, it was his twin brother, Leone, who strikingly resembled the Emperor. They shared the same hair and eye color, in stark contrast to Cesare. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Any similarities between Cesare and the Emperor might have been limited to the sharpness of their noses, but the overall aura between father and son was so different that it would be difficult for anyone to guess their connection.

’Why did he summon me?’ Eileen wondered, her heart pounding.

As she anxiously awaited the Emperor’s words, she realized with a jolt that she had forgotten to greet him properly.

"I—I greet the Emperor," she stammered, her voice trembling as she bowed even lower. Her delayed greeting elicited a loud, amused laugh from the Emperor, and Eileen felt her mouth go dry with fear.

"Raise your head," he commanded, his tone slow and deliberate.

Eileen hesitantly lifted her gaze, daring only a fleeting glance before looking down again. The Emperor, like his famed twin sons, was strikingly handsome. Despite the lines of age on his face, his looks were undeniable. It was easy to imagine that in his youth, he must have been extraordinarily attractive. His reputation for numerous affairs with women likely stemmed not just from his status but from his charm as well.

The Emperor stared at Eileen in silence for a long moment. She kept her head slightly raised but dared not meet his gaze, her eyes fixed firmly on the floor.

Then, the Emperor rose from the bed. His bare feet made no sound as he stepped onto the rug, unconcerned by the cold marble beneath him. He reached out and roughly grabbed Eileen by the chin, lifting her face to meet his.

His grip was harsh as he studied her for a moment before releasing her with a look of disdain. A frown creased his brow as he spoke.

"Hmph... I didn’t expect someone so insignificant."

Disappointment evident in his voice, the Emperor shoved Eileen in the chest. The force of his push sent her stumbling backward, and she fell to the floor. A sharp pain shot through her wrist as she landed awkwardly, but she barely registered it, scrambling to regain her footing in a panic.

The Emperor watched her flounder for a moment before his voice sliced through the air, sharp and commanding.

"Undress."

***