“Extra! Extra! The Arc de Triomphe has finally been approved!”

The newspaper boy shouted, waving his newspaper. People flocked to him like ants to sugar water. Eileen, who was also in the crowd, purchased the paper with a coin.

The cheaply printed material, with bold headlines and the size of the page itself, said,

[The Council approved the construction of the Arc de Triomphe—The Archduke’s True Victory.]

The Archduke Duke Cesare Karl Erzet of Traon—owner of the wealthy Erzet family, commander-in-chief of the Imperial army, and the Emperor’s only brother. 

He was the most famous person in the Traon Empire. After the long and bloody battle for the throne, Cesare personally elevated his brother to the throne and was appointed Archduke.

Following that, he immediately set out to conquer the Kingdom of Calpen. After three long years of fierce fighting, he achieved a sudden victory. When this news broke, the entire empire rushed into the streets to celebrate and rejoice.

Upon his return, Cesare turned the Council upside down. To commemorate his victory, he demanded the construction of a triumphal arch.

The Council harshly criticised Cesare. They deemed it impossible, claiming that the prince was truly arrogant in his desire to commemorate a victory that even the Emperor could not achieve.

The Council’s vehement opposition was obvious, but Cesare’s reputation had already skyrocketed following his incredible victory. Allowing the construction of the triumphal arch would be equivalent to announcing the imperial family’s glory to the entire world. The Council, which was composed of nobles, would not concede. If the arch were built, the power dynamic between the royal family and the nobility would become skewed. 

Cesare defied the Council by building barracks near the legislative hall. He made it clear that he and his supporters would not enter unless the Council surrendered.

After a months-long power struggle, the Council gave a sigh of capitulation. Apparently, it happened the day Eileen bought the paper.

“They should have ceased sooner. Still, we’re fortunate that the victory ceremony will take place during the social season.”

“Indeed. I wonder which family will have their daughter become the next Archduchess.”

Eileen adjusted her glasses as she listened to the crowd murmur. Her unkempt fringe continued to poke her eyes.

The social season was in full swing. It was the responsibility of unmarried noble women to attend various balls and tea parties in order to find husbands. This had nothing to do with Eileen, who had yet to make her social debut.

‘I’m also curious who the next Archduchess will be, but…’

There were too many things to consider before indulging in fanciful daydreams. Eileen shook her head, pushing away all the unnecessary thoughts.

She continued her brisk walk, holding the newspaper by her side, before spotting a small inn in the distance. The second-floor room of the clean but small and old inn housed Eileen’s laboratory.

Eileen felt strange as she approached the inn. The street, which should have been busy, was quiet. Normally, there would be a flock of children running around and playing, but there was none in sight.

She looked around and noticed that all the house windows were tightly shut. Although it was still early summer, the afternoon heat was scorching. Everyone typically left their doors and windows wide open to cool their places.

It all looked so ominous. Eileen hunched her shoulders and dashed to her laboratory, determined to seek refuge there regardless of the townfolk’s strange behaviour.

Eileen’s quick steps slowed as she approached the inn. Uniformed men stood silently in front of the building. They could only be the Archduke’s men, dappled like shadows in the midday sun.

A familiar face emerged at the front of the armed soldiers. The enormous man’s face was half covered in burn marks.

“Eileen.”

The man gave Eileen a polite salute.

“S-Sir Lotan?”

She was relieved to see a familiar face, especially one she had not seen in a long time. However, her shaky response made her feel slightly embarrassed. Lotan courteously pulled open the door.

“His Excellency is waiting.”

It was a gentle yet firm command. Eileen was pushed into the inn without any hesitation.

The interior was completely empty. It was supposed to be buzzing with customers and filled with the aroma of good food. It was bizarre to see empty tables and chairs lined up with no one in sight. After passing through the first floor, where the owner had vanished, Eileen slowly climbed the wooden stairs.

The second floor was also devoid of people. Even without opening any of the closed doors, she knew that the other sides were empty.

Eileen walked to the last room on the floor, took a deep breath, and looked down at the door. The door with a polished brass doorknob was partially open. 

She nervously pushed the door open, revealing a messy space. Glass tubes, books, syringes, and hoses—it was a room filled with all kinds of miscellaneous items.

The familiar space felt infinitely unfamiliar. The reason for that was the man standing in front of the window.

The man was caressing a flower pot on the windowsill. He carelessly crushed poppy petals with his leather gloves.

When the man released his grip and turned around, a few of the red petals fell to the floor.

He wore a dark blue uniform. The outfit was elegant and straight, flawless, with no revealing flesh. Only the medals caught the sunlight, reflecting a gentle glow.

Under those dark locks, further shaded by the scorching sun, gleamed vibrant crimson eyes, unwaveringly fixed on Eileen.

Those eyes were praised for being as clear and noble as rubies. And yet, they were also the target of cruel rumours, likening them to bloody depictions of heinous pasts and nefarious intentions.

“Eileen Elrod.”

A deep, pleasant voice called out her name. Eileen inhaled sharply, as if holding on to her last breath.

“Y-Your Excellency, the Archduke!”

Her heart was racing from the unexpected reunion. Her voice broke through as she swallowed hard.

“I…C-congratulations on your victory.”

Cesare chuckled at her stuttering. His smile suggested he did not expect such words as her first greeting. Eileen, too, thought it was a very inelegant greeting. She added hesitantly,

“I thought you were preparing for the victory ceremony.”

Because the Arc de Triomphe had only been approved today, the belated victory ceremony needed to be planned swiftly. He must have been very busy, but Eileen could not understand why he had come all the way to this shabby inn.

Of course, he found Eileen somewhat charming. But it was simply courtesy shown to the daughter of a deceased servant. There was no reason for him to rush to her in the midst of the commotion surrounding the triumphal arch’s approval.

Eileen held his gaze while waiting for an explanation. However, Cesare simply stared at Eileen. She struggled to comprehend the intensity of his gaze.

When Eileen could not bear the silence any longer, he approached her with a faint smile.

The sound of military boots trampling across the old wooden floor was audible. The closer Cesare got, the more Eileen could clearly feel his physique. He towered over most men, boasting broad shoulders and a rippling physique that exuded strength and allure.

Eileen found herself breathless in the presence of the other, who made no effort to conceal his untamed nature. He possessed a beauty so captivating, often likened to that of a mythical god.

And yet, Eileen was keenly aware of Cesare’s cruelty and intimidation. Even now, she could still smell the lingering scent of blood and gunpowder.

As Cesare stood directly in front of her, she felt a strange tingle run up her spine. She then lowered her gaze, unable to withstand his piercing stare.

“You made dr*gs.”

“E-Excuse me?”

The words made Eileen raise her head abruptly. With his eyes still fixed on Eileen, Cesare spoke languidly.

“Morpheus, Eileen.”

“Ah, that can be used as a painkiller!”

“And?”

Eileen’s mouth shut at the prompt. Morpheus was a potent analgesic, but in its unrefined form, it was opium. Because the raw material was a dr*g, it was extremely addictive.

Following the former emperor’s death from an overdose, the empire executed anyone who produced or distributed drugs.

Cesare, the Imperial Army’s commander-in-chief, had the authority to order a summary execution. Nobody would blink an eye if he pulled the trigger towards Eileen’s head.

Eileen’s mind raced with all kinds of excuses. She yearned to be of help to the empire. She was even eager to aid His Highness’s wounded soldiers from the war.

However, fear had gripped Eileen, and she could not articulate. She trembled at the thought that he might point a gun at her at any moment.

Seeing her pale face, Cesare let out a light sign. He reached out to cup Eileen’s cheek, caressing the soft flesh while murmuring softly. 

“Oh dear, I didn’t mean to scare you like this.”

He spoke as if he wanted to frighten Eileen. Cesare brushed away the fringe before shifting to her glasses. They were crooked, so he removed them and placed them on his face.

They looked so strange on him that they stirred strange feelings in Eileen’s stomach. 

Cesare laughed, pressing his fingers against the frame of the glasses.

“Listen closely, Eileen.”

With glasses and fringe removed, the clear vision felt strange. Eileen looked at Cesare with quivering eyes.

“It just so happens that I’m in need of an Archduchess.”

Cesare leisurely lowered her head in front of the barely breathing Eileen. She was tense, completely unresponsive, as his fine black hair brushed against his form.

“Shall we get married?”

***

A marriage proposal without a bouquet or ring was truly unrealistic. Eileen hoped she had misheard, or that it was some sort of cruel joke.

But Eileen’s hearing was perfectly normal, and Cesare was not the type to joke about things like that.

So, why go through with it?

Her mind swirled with countless questions, leaving her feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. Eileen paused, taking a deep, slow breath to steady herself. As she exhaled, she struggled to regain her composure before finally responding.

“I-I don’t want to m-marry you, Your Highness.”

He asked sweetly, his smile unwavering.

“Would you rather have your head cut off on the guillotine than marry me?”

“I-I didn’t say t-that!”

Her throat tightened with fear. Nonetheless, summoning every ounce of courage, she pushed past the paralysing sensation and spoke the words she had been struggling with.

“You don’t even like me, Your Grace. You simply regard me as a child.”

“That’s correct. You are my child.”

Her heart sank upon hearing the words that defined their relationship. He was so frank, as if he were merely stating the undeniable truth.

“That’s precisely why it troubles me. Your Excellency will need a successor, and inevitably, such responsibilities would fall upon me.”

Eileen bit her lip and spoke in a trembling voice. 

“And… You can’t do that with… me.”

Cesare grabbed Eileen by the scruff of her neck. He turned her head to the side before giving her a deep kiss. Eileen was so startled when a soft lump of flesh forced its way into her mouth. She desperately tried to push him away.

Their lips parted with a wet sound. Eileen’s heart pounded in her chest with such intensity that it felt like it might burst. She looked at Cesare, trembling with apprehension, her emotions swirling in a tumultuous storm of confusion and unease.

That smile no longer graced those lips. Only the deep crimson stare remained.

“How was it?”

He asked in a drawl.

“Was it to your satisfaction?”

***

They met for the first time when Eileen was ten and Cesare was seventeen.

Eileen would occasionally visit the Imperial Palace with her mother, who served as the Prince’s nanny.

Eileen was curious as a child, so she explored the Imperial Garden every time she got the chance. She was usually led around by her mother with a clenched hand. But one day, while her mother was preoccupied with her duties, Eileen became enchanted by a butterfly. She chased the little thing and eventually lost her way.

She wandered alone through the vast garden for a while, and just as she was about to collapse from exhaustion, she ran into Cesare.

“Ah-!”

She was so overjoyed to finally meet an adult that she burst into tears. Eileen rushed to Cesare and hugged him. Nestled in his broad chest, she sobbed softly before belatedly wiping her nose, looking up at the ‘adult’ who held her.

The early summer sunlight shone on the handsome man, and Eileen was dazzled. Those vibrant eyes reminded her of poppy flowers. It shocked Eileen that she had forgotten why she had cried.

Peeking behind the man, she half expected to see some white wings. He looked too angelic to be human. She was disappointed to find only other larger adults accompanying this younger ‘adult’.

Unlike Eileen, who had no idea who these people were, Cesare recognised the crying girl as his nanny’s young daughter. He smiled with a slight twist of his lips.

“You must be Lily.”

Only her mother called Eileen by that nickname. Cesare plucked a nearby blooming lily flower and handed it to the wide-eyed girl. He then lifted her into a princess carry and personally returned the girl to her mother.

Eileen was scolded harshly that day, but she was not upset by it. In fact, she simply smiled brightly as she gazed at the vase with beautifully sorted lilies.

Before going to bed, she meticulously documented her encounter with the angel in the Imperial Palace in her diary.

‘I hope to see you again next time I visit the palace.’

Cesare would occasionally check in with his nanny to see how Eileen was doing. At those times, Eileen could meet Cesare. It was an absolute joy for young Eileen.

The little girl would sit with the young man and share afternoon teas together. Eileen was usually the one to carry out all of their conversations.

Unlike other children her age, Eileen was only interested in plants. Cesare listened patiently as the young girl rambled about various flora. Regardless of how boring and uninteresting it was, he never interrupted.

That was how the relationship began, and it has remained unchanged to this day.

‘I believed him to be an angel rather than the devil.’’

Regardless of her youth, she possessed a sharp mind. By then, Cesare had become a seasoned soldier with extensive experience on the battlefield. He exuded an aura that made ordinary people hesitant to approach him.

To bravely rush into the arms of someone as beautiful but cold as a well-forged sword. To abandon all the other adults behind.

‘Sir Lotan should have interfered then.’’

Had that been so, today would have unfolded differently.

Eileen exited the inn in a daze. Outside, an expensive black vehicle awaited her, which appeared out of place on the well-worn road. Lotan supported Eileen, who was unsteady on her feet, and helped her enter the car.

“Miss Eileen, I will take you there.”

He sat them both down before closing the door. With that, the soldier in the driver’s seat grabbed the steering wheel.

Lotan would normally have occupied the passenger seat next to the driver. This time, he was beside Eileen, casually passing her a handkerchief and a lemon-flavoured candy.

“…”

Was he still treating her so because she cried when they first met? Cesare’s knights did emulate their master’s tendency to treat her like a crybaby and a child.

Eileen was now a fully grown adult, and she did not cry easily. Candy, however… She would admit to eating them frequently.

Nonetheless, she could not refuse Lotan’s kindness, so she reluctantly accepted and placed them on her lap. Then she relayed what had happened prior.

“Sir Lotan… His Excellency proposed to me.”

“I see.”

His reaction was far too nonchalant. Eileen clutched the handkerchief and candies tightly. Unable to bring up the kiss, she emphasised the proposal itself.

“So you knew about the proposal?”

Lotan arched a thick brow, as if he had nothing to contribute. He did not even blink an eye at His Excellency’s proposal to the woman he had regarded as a child for the previous ten years.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“Isn’t it obvious? Eileen would have been sentenced to death.”

Lotan presented his argument in a very rational tone.

“We’re in a situation in which we must save Eileen in some way. Since His Excellency requires an archduchess, he simply chose the most efficient method.”

“An efficient method…”

Despite her dumbfounded muttering, Lotan’s expression remained unchanged. Eileen appeared to be the only one who thought this situation was absurd.

Eileen reflected briefly on the ‘marriage proposal’ she had received earlier.

She was either to be executed or to get married.

It did not seem to be much of a choice. Cesare’s motivations were somewhat understandable.

Within the empire, Eileen’s family was regarded as minor nobles. They had nothing—no money, no power, and no honour—but that was their status.

The existence of the Elrod family provided no benefit to the Archduke. However, if Eileen were executed for dr*g offences, Cesare would suffer humiliation. The opposing factions would seize any opportunity to tarnish his reputation.

He appeared to be intent on diverting people’s attention with the hot topic of the victory ceremony and the Archduke’s marriage, while also completely erasing any evidence of Eileen’s actions.

It could not have been calculated purely for political reasons. Cesare considered Eileen a trustworthy ally. Although she did not come from a family that could provide him with power through marriage, she was someone who would not stab him in the back, literally or figuratively.

Cesare’s trust in Eileen stemmed entirely from her mother.

Eileen was not always the Elrod family’s eldest child. When Eileen’s mother gave birth to her first child, the baby died shortly afterwards.

After that, she moved to the Imperial Palace and became his nanny. She knew it was her fate the moment she saw Cesare. Her mother revered Cesare as if he were a child sent to her by God.

In fact, it seemed ridiculous to have a mother who lost her child be the new prince’s wet nurse.

The reason Eileen’s mother was chosen was obvious. It meant that Cesare was an abandoned prince.

The late emperor had had an excessive number of children. Just the number of officially recognised ones surpassed a dozen. Cesare, who was also born out of wedlock, was rejected by everyone.

To survive, Cesare had to betray and be betrayed many times.

Throughout that never-ending cycle, Eileen’s mother remained steadfastly loyal to Cesare until the day she died.

She was one of the few people Cesare trusted completely. 

Thanks to her, her daughter Eileen also found sanctuary within his circle of trust

Given the circumstances, marriage to the Archduke was advantageous for both parties, regardless of how drastic it was. In fact, it benefited Eileen more than it cost her.

‘Maybe it would be okay if I just accepted everything.’

After all, Cesare was no longer an abandoned prince. He was an archduke, with the Emperor as his older brother and hundreds of thousands of soldiers serving under him. He was also a hero who saved the country and now holds the Arc de Triomphe.

Becoming engaged to such a man was something to be celebrated. Eileen, on the other hand, struggled to accept it.

She knew he possessed a cruel temperament and was incapable of loving anyone.

For Cesare, kisses and engagements held no emotional significance. He proposed out of necessity and kissed her just to assure Eileen that they could consummate the marriage.

He would have done the same if his plans had necessitated another woman. That fact was too painful for Eileen to bear.

Because Eileen…

‘Because I love him.’

…She secretly harboured feelings for Cesare for a very long time.

She did not want her unrequited love to turn into a shallow one. Rather than becoming an empty shell of a couple, she would have rather observed her love from a distance, hearing of him through newspapers.

A sharp pang pierced her heart, casting a shadow over Eileen’s face. Lotan’s voice softened as he spoke.

“Even if it displeases you, there’s no other option. Then again, why take the risk? Without His Excellency, you’d have faced the guillotine.”

(Ed. note: I have a feeling that others learned about Eileen’s little lab. So then came Cesare, the blackened prince, riding his nightmare steed.)

What Lotan said was not an exaggeration. If someone other than Cesare had discovered Eileen first, she would have been executed without hesitation.

Eileen, fiddling with the candy and handkerchief on her lap, mumbled gloomily,

“All I wanted was to help His Excellency.”

Though she couldn’t speak her mind in front of Cesare, she could salvage some excuse for Lotan.

“Powerful painkillers are essential in times of war. I was confident it would be innovative…”

Eileen’s words melded together when a thought struck her.

“But, how did you find out?!”

Morpheus was still in the experimental phase. It was a substance that had been meticulously studied because of its dual nature. It had not once left her laboratory.

“It surprises me that you thought His Excellency wouldn’t find out.”

Lotan seemed perplexed by Eileen’s question.

“With how diligently you’ve been purchasing opium, did you really believe you wouldn’t be caught? At first, I suspected you were an opium addict. Perhaps you were duped into buying it for someone else.”

“I am not that foolish.”

“Don’t you recall being kidnapped once for a piece of candy?”

Red in the face from embarrassment, Eileen screeched.

“I was twelve when that happened!”

That happened over a decade ago, and it was not over a single piece of candy.

The kidnapper gave her a bag of lemon-flavoured candy and one of orange-flavoured candy, both of which she had never tried before. He had also shown her a peculiar plant, a specimen so fine that it enticed her even more to follow him.

Nonetheless, Cesare’s subordinates would forever remember Eileen as that little girl who was tempted by a piece of sweet. Lotan, in his heavy muttering, tried to recall every detail of the incident. 

“Just thinking about the chaos that ensued back then… How disorienting it was.”

“Now you’re overreacting.”

Eileen drew Lotan out of his reminiscences.

She tried so hard to cool her burning cheeks with the back of her hands. 

“Anyway, if there is another option, I would prefer to avoid this marriage. It’s all too sudden, and it might cause trouble for His Excellency.”

Eileen was not confident in her statement, having committed a crime and all. The man beside her glanced at her, his expression showing understanding of her predicament. Despite his rugged appearance, he was a sympathetic man.

“It must be burdensome. However, His Excellency is doing this out of concern for you, Miss Eileen.”

“…”

“He is also a person who will never back down from his decision.”

Eileen was keenly aware of this. If Cesare chose Eileen as the Archduchess, then she would assume the role, just like when he decided to elevate his older brother to the position of Emperor.

Despite knowing that her future was set in stone, Eileen attempted a weak but futile protest.

“Please give me some time. I need to tell my father as well.”

Lotan’s eyes flashed with disgust as soon as Eileen mentioned her father. Lotan smoothed his expression before Eileen noticed. After a brief pause, he introduced a new topic.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Has anything happened thus far?”

“There have been some minor concerns. Why didn’t you send a letter to His Excellency?”

His question surprised Eileen.

“A letter?”

After Cesare left for battle three years ago, Eileen wrote him letters every single day. Nearly a year had passed without a single response. She had no expectations, so she was not disappointed. Not to say that she was not melancholic for that reason.

“I thought he wasn’t reading them. Since I didn’t receive any replies, I assumed personal letters weren’t being delivered on the battlefield. Even if they were, I thought he wouldn’t have the time to read them with his demanding schedule.”

She did not want to be an annoying pest to Cesare. The following year, she stopped writing. She had only heard about Cesare through the newspapers over the last three years. Today, Cesare appeared out of nowhere and proposed to her.

“His Excellency was delighted every time he received a letter.”

Then why wasn’t there a single response? It seemed like Lotan was saying this to comfort her. After all, since Lotan was a knight under Cesare’s direct command, he would have seen the discarded letters.

Eileen concealed her bitterness and smiled, pretending to be cheerful in response to Lotan’s thoughtfulness.

“Now that he has officially returned, there is no need for letters. I’ll make up to him.”

“Good. All you have to do is just stay by his side.”

Lotan chuckled softly as Eileen pretended not to understand his words. The vehicle had also come to a stop just in time.

“We’re here.”

Before she knew it, she was in front of the house. Eileen inherited a small, two-story brick house with a small garden from her mother.

According to imperial law, her father should have inherited it. Instead, it had gone to Eileen, thanks to Cesare’s intervention in her mother’s will.

In the garden, orange trees swayed in the wind with their green leaves. They were ripe with fruits, giving some life to the otherwise dull brick house.

Such a picturesque scene was not fit for a fallen noble family akin to the Elrods. After all, orange saplings were a symbol of extravagance. It was also a gift from Cesare.

Lotan was the first to exit the vehicle and open the door after it came to a halt. He was pleased to see the orange tree after hearing the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.

“Has anyone tried to steal oranges?”

“Of course there was one.”

There had been one attempted theft since receiving the orange tree as a gift. The daring orange thief was shot by the Archduke’s troops. Since then, no one has dared to approach the orange tree or Eileen’s home.

Eileen gave Lotan a gentle glance as he continued to accompany her. The rugged-looking man smiled broadly as their gazes met, his scarred face creasing.

Eileen regarded the Archduke’s first knights as gods, much like the orange tree, which did not suit the Elrods. They were never the type to smile and talk openly, much less the Archduke.

Eileen smiled back at him, attempting to shake off her overwhelming feeling.

“Thank you, Sir Lotan. Do you by chance have some time for a cup of tea?”

Eileen was reluctant to let him depart so swiftly, especially after not seeing him for so long. She was also curious about what had happened over the years. 

To her delight, Lotan readily agreed.

The two drank tea in the brick house’s small living room. Lotan informed Eileen of those who wished to see her.

“Senon is eager to see you. He insisted several times that I send his greetings after learning of my visit today.”

“Sir Senon?”

“Yes. Who else but Senon? Michael was also very insistent. And Diego mentions you whenever he gets the chance. He seems to think you are still a little girl. He bought you a rabbit doll for when he returns to the capital. So, I grabbed one as well.