Eileen's love for Cesare was deeply selfish. Others might see it differently, but Eileen believed her feelings were inherently self-serving.
If she truly cared for Cesare, she wouldn't pry into the parts of him he wished to keep hidden. She would respect his secrets and leave them untouched.
But Eileen wanted to know everything about him. Even though her efforts wouldn't help him in any meaningful way—barely as much as a single petal could aid a flower—she still wanted to protect him.
Yet that wasn't what Cesare desired.
He didn't expect Eileen to do anything for him. He wanted her to stay within the safe confines of the boundaries he had set for her. He was willing to expand those boundaries as much as she wished, but leaving them was forbidden.
Just like tonight.
