Wicked Husband-Chapter 162 - 161

The ominous events that unfolded during the hunting festival filled the citizens of the Traon Empire with dread. The hunting festival was a sacred ritual, offered to the gods as a prayer for the empire’s prosperity.

Even the hunting tools and attire were strictly regulated during this holy ceremony, yet what transpired was not a ritual sacrifice, but bloodshed.

The first incident was the desecration of an altar crafted from cedarwood and adorned with flowers, now stained with the blood of a beast. The second was an attack on the empire’s hero, Cesare, who was shot by an assassin.

Even those who claimed not to believe in the gods could not help but feel unease, wondering if these events heralded a shadow of misfortune over the empire’s future.

Whispers of conspiracy spread, suggesting that treacherous factions were plotting to tarnish Cesare’s achievements.

While countless speculations arose, no one in the empire could have imagined that Cesare himself was the orchestrator of these events.

Only a handful of nobles, privy to Cesare’s true nature, harbored suspicions about him. Yet even they lacked the certainty to accuse him outright.

Such a scheme seemed utterly implausible. No matter how skilled the marksman hired, the risks of injury and potential infection from a gunshot wound were far too great.

The nobles watched Cesare closely, but he spent his days quietly recuperating at the grand duchy, citing his injuries as the reason for his inactivity.

Meanwhile, Cesare’s knights took to the task of investigating with fervor. They patrolled the forests of the hunting grounds, inspecting the camps of various nobles, and later interrogated Count Bonaparte, dismantling his prestigious family entirely.

The once-powerful House of Bonaparte collapsed overnight, despite their desperate attempts to survive. But there was no escaping the precision with which the target had been aimed.

Even the head of the family, the Count himself, was confined to the dungeons and subjected to relentless interrogation, leaving no hope for the family’s redemption.

Amid these turbulent days, there was but one moment when Cesare’s knights set aside their tasks and gathered together.

***

"How does this look?" Diego asked, holding up a bouquet of flowers.

Senon, adjusting the collar of his uniform with a picture book tucked under his arm, glanced briefly at the colorful roses and gave a half-hearted compliment.

"Looks good."

Diego frowned at the lack of enthusiasm, but before he could respond, a wide grin spread across Senon’s face.

"Lady Eileen!"

Eileen had just stepped out of a car, carrying her own bouquet of roses. Like Diego, she held a bright arrangement in her arms. Senon quickly approached her, showering her with effusive praise.

"What a delightful fragrance! These flowers are so vibrant and fresh. Just looking at them is a joy—though, of course, the most beautiful sight here is you, Lady Eileen."

While Senon rattled off compliments without pause, Diego glanced back and forth between his bouquet and Eileen’s. They didn’t seem all that different. Still, not wanting to be outdone, Diego stepped up to Eileen and offered his own praise for her flowers.

Moments later, Michele arrived, pulling up in a military vehicle. She climbed out in a rush, nearly cursing under her breath before catching herself. Forcing a bright smile, she hurried toward Eileen.

"I made it!" Michele declared, holding up a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice with pride. Meanwhile, Lotan, who had arrived earlier, stepped forward to greet Eileen and the knights. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

In his large hands, he held a small teddy bear. The tiny, adorable toy looked completely mismatched with Lotan’s towering figure and muscular arms. Cradling the bear, he bowed his head in gratitude.

"Thank you for coming. I know you must be very busy..."

"I wanted to be here," Eileen replied, shaking her head softly to ease his guilt.

No matter how chaotic their schedules were, they all made it a point to free up time for this day. Though it wasn’t always possible for everyone to attend, they did their best to gather when they could.

Last year, with the knights away on a campaign in Calpen, Eileen had come alone. This year, however, the group was complete, and the lively atmosphere was a welcome change.

Together, Eileen and the knights walked toward a solitary gravestone, far removed from the main cemetery. Though modest in appearance, the headstone was meticulously maintained.

Eileen and Diego laid their rose bouquets before the grave. Michele set down the bottle of orange juice, Senon placed the picture book, and Lotan gently added the teddy bear.

The wind stirred, carrying the fragrant scent of roses. The group stood in silent contemplation, offering their respects to the departed.

After a while, they quietly stepped away, leaving Lotan alone at the grave. It was their way of giving him private time with his daughter.

The little girl had become a star in the sky many years ago. Barely ten years old, her life had been tragically cut short in a devastating fire.

The scars on Lotan’s body were a testament to the lengths he had gone to save her. The tragedy, which had occurred when Eileen was just eleven, had shattered Lotan in both body and spirit. His recovery, though extraordinary, had been hard-won.

Every year on this day, Eileen couldn’t help but think of the pain Lotan had endured. As a child at the time, there had been little she could do to help him, and the memory lingered heavily in her heart.

Taking a deep breath, Eileen exhaled slowly. Michele, walking beside her, noticed immediately.

"Lady Eileen, you must be tired from all this walking. Should I carry you?"

The sudden offer startled Eileen, who quickly waved her hands in protest. "No, no, I’m fine."

Ahead of them, Diego and Senon turned to glance back, their expressions questioning. Eileen smiled brightly at them, reassuring them that everything was fine. Then, she gently tugged on Michele’s sleeve.

"Michele?"

The small gesture brought a faint smile to Michele’s lips. She quickly composed herself, answering with mock seriousness. "Yes, my lady?"

"Could I borrow a bit of your time? Just for a moment."

"For you, I’d give all the time in the world."

Michele shooed Diego and Senon ahead, then led Eileen to the shade of a nearby tree. The early summer sun blazed overhead, and the cool shade offered a welcome relief.

As they settled under the tree, a single green leaf fluttered down, landing on Eileen’s head. Michele, who towered over her, plucked the leaf away and tossed it aside with a flick of her wrist.

Eileen watched the leaf fall to the ground, then finally broke the silence.

"I have a question."

The confidence Michele had displayed moments earlier faltered. Eileen’s expression carried a weight that was impossible to ignore.

"The person who shot Cesare during the hunting festival," Eileen began, her green-gold eyes fixed on Michele’s face. "It was you, wasn’t it?"

A faint smile spread across Michele’s face, as if she’d just heard an amusing joke. She scrunched her freckled nose in exaggerated disbelief.

"Me? My lady, how could you even think such a thing?"

"Cesare told me himself," Eileen said calmly. "He said he orchestrated everything. He didn’t share the details, but..."

The humor faded from Michele’s expression. Eileen’s gaze shifted briefly to the gun at Michele’s side before meeting her eyes again.

"I can’t imagine he would trust anyone else with such a task. He must have given you the order personally."

Michele’s expression turned complicated. She was torn between pride at being recognized as Cesare’s most trusted weapon and the discomfort of having her role exposed so plainly.

Caught in her hesitation, Michele neither confirmed nor denied Eileen’s words. Instead, she remained silent, weighing her response.

"Michele," Eileen said softly, her voice steady. "Do you know why Cesare did all of this?"

For a moment, Michele wanted to say, ’For you, of course.’ But even she and the other knights were only guessing at Cesare’s true motives. None of them could claim certainty, especially not when it involved Eileen.

When Michele didn’t answer, Eileen lowered her gaze. The rustling of leaves filled the silence as she took a moment to gather her thoughts.

"When I asked Cesare, he told me it wasn’t because of me. He’s never lied to me before, and I should trust his words."

Her voice wavered slightly as she continued. "But... I can’t stop these thoughts. They keep creeping in..."

The golden-green light in her eyes dimmed with doubt, and Michele felt a pang in her chest. Before she could respond, Eileen looked up at her with a pleading expression.

"Michele, will you help me?"