Count Bonaparte continued to proclaim his innocence, but each new piece of evidence only confirmed his involvement in the assassination plot.
In the whirlwind of events, the rumor that Eileen had distributed Aspiria for free at the hunting festival quietly vanished, swept away without a trace.
Everything unfolded precisely as Cesare had intended.
That Eileen remained unaware of the full truth was also part of Cesare's design.
***
Eileen silently wrung out a cloth soaked in water, twisting it with all her strength until it held just enough moisture. She then carefully pressed it against Cesare's skin.
She worked around the edges of the wound, where new flesh had already begun to form, meticulously cleaning his shoulder and upper arm. She felt his steady gaze on her cheek but stubbornly refused to meet it.
The task of nursing Cesare had fallen to Eileen. Because of the secret surrounding his body, allowing anyone else to care for him was out of the question.
