Wicked Husband-Chapter 141 - 140

Each of them was determined to form a connection with the Duchess of Erzet, seeing the opportunity as one to advance their own status. But as they drew near, they hesitated, their smiles faltering as they took in Eileen’s attire.

’I should have worn a dress.’

The thought kept nagging at Eileen as she stood there, feeling conspicuous in her hunting clothes. Maybe she should have insisted on wearing one, despite Cesare’s insistence on practicality. Now, amidst the delicate dresses of the noblewomen surrounding her, her outfit felt all the more out of place, and her confidence began to wither.

Trying her best to hide her dismay, she managed a polite smile and greeted the ladies as they approached, though her words felt distant, and her hands trembled slightly. But then, just as her nerves were beginning to get the better of her, she spotted a familiar face—Baroness Contarini.

"Baroness!"

Eileen’s relief was immediate, and she couldn’t help but brighten at the sight of the woman. The Baroness looked briefly startled but soon broke into a proud smile.

"At last, you’ve arrived! I’ve been waiting eagerly."

She made her way through the group of ladies with purpose, clearly relishing the chance to show off her connection to Eileen. A triumphant smile spread across her face as she spoke again.

"I’ve been looking forward to this since the tea party," the Baroness declared, her tone both excited and fond. "You look just like a fairy, here in this forest."

It seemed the Baroness was attempting to smooth over Eileen’s unorthodox attire, perhaps recalling the way Eileen had looked at their tea party. Eileen felt a slight flush at the compliment and, despite her discomfort, couldn’t help but appreciate the woman’s efforts to defend her choice of clothing. Eileen thanked her, and the Baroness gave her a knowing smile.

"If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, may I show you to our family’s tent?"

She seemed to have noticed that Eileen was feeling overwhelmed by the crowd. Relieved, Eileen gratefully accepted the offer.

"Thank you," Eileen replied gratefully, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders as they made their way away from the throng.

"It was my pleasure," the Baroness said with a warm smile. "And I must admit, the hunting outfit suits you remarkably well. What a bold choice to wear such attire!"

"Oh..."

A flicker of doubt crossed Eileen’s face, and the Baroness quickly waved her hands in reassurance.

"I didn’t mean it in a negative way at all! It’s just that you look absolutely wonderful. I assure you, soon the capital will be full of ladies wearing hunting attire."

Eileen’s nerves were eased slightly by the reassurance, though she still hesitated before replying.

"It’s a relief to hear you say that. I was actually quite worried. It feels so conspicuous to be the only one dressed this way. I’ve only packed hunting clothes for the festival, so there’s no changing now... For a moment earlier, I honestly wanted to disappear."

Eileen clasped her hands in front of her chest and looked up at the Baroness, her gaze softening with gratitude.

"But thanks to your kind words, I feel much more confident. It’s all because of you."

The Baroness seemed touched by Eileen’s sincere thanks. She bit her lip, her expression softening as if she wanted to pull Eileen into an embrace.

"You really... are simply remarkable," the Baroness murmured, her gaze lingering on Eileen in a way that reminded her of the affectionate looks the knights sometimes gave her. Of course, that couldn’t be it, but...

’Am I becoming conceited?’

Perhaps it was the affection House Erzet had shown her, making her interpret others’ actions too positively. Eileen paused for a moment, reflecting on herself.

The Baroness cleared her throat, undeterred, and continued her praise.

"The Grand Duchess is setting all the latest trends in the capital these days. Everyone is eager to emulate you. And don’t even get me started on Aspiria!"

The Baroness leaned in, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Not just my acquaintances, but everyone in the capital is in an uproar over Aspiria. Those who bought it just to follow the trend are shocked by how effective it is. Haven’t you heard the buzz?"

"I did see it mentioned in a magazine, but... I thought the press might be kind to House Erzet..."

"Nonsense! Those vultures would tear into anything, given the chance. Remember the awful rumors that swirled before you made your public debut at the wedding?"

"Oh... I didn’t know. I only started reading magazines after I became a grand duchess..."

"Is that so? Then what were you reading before?"

"Mostly journals and scholarly texts."

Eileen mumbled the answer, and the Baroness, her hand resting lightly on her forehead, couldn’t help but smile wryly before dismissing the thought.

"Of course! It’s thanks to all your study that you were able to create Aspiria."

Skillfully steering the conversation back to her original point, the Baroness continued.

"I heard Aspiria was distributed for free at the apothecary. Will you be offering it during the hunt as well?"

"What? Aspiria?"

Eileen blinked in surprise. She had no such plans, and if something like that had been arranged, Sonio or someone else would have surely informed her.

Seeing her startled reaction, the Baroness’s expression shifted to one of concern.

"It’s been the talk of the ladies since yesterday..."

The rising demand for Aspiria had led to a severe shortage. Although Eileen had developed a method for mass production and implemented it, the demand quickly outpaced the maximum daily production capacity.

Initially, only those with ties to House Erzet were purchasing Aspiria, drawn by the house’s emblem on the label. However, as the drug’s effectiveness became widely known, people with no connection to the house began buying it as well.

The initial surge of interest continued to grow. Now, not only the capital and the entire Traon Empire, but even foreign countries, were eager to get their hands on Aspiria.

As the drug became harder to obtain, House Erzet restricted its export, announcing that foreign sales would only begin once there was a stable domestic supply. They also limited purchases to nationals and expanded their production facilities to meet demand. Despite these efforts, Aspiria remained a product that required lining up at dawn to obtain.

’And to think there’s a rumor I’ll be giving it away for free...’