Sometime later, Randall and Sylvia prepared to head to the capital with some of their family members to attend the King's birthday party.
“There! Move carefully!”
“What about the carriage wheels? Did you check them in advance?”
The garden of the Duke of Belfort Castle was bustling from early morning. Wilcott and Thelma were busy giving last-minute instructions to the servants who followed the master couple instead of them who had to guard the castle. Only after completing all the preparations were Randall and Sylvia able to board the carriage.
"Ma'am."
Randall reached out his hand to help Sylvia get onto the carriage. Sylvia stared at his hand for a moment, then shook her head with a cold smile.
"It's okay."
After saying those words, she got into the carriage first. Left alone, Randall put his remaining hand in the air and lightly clenched and unclenched his fist. A small sigh escaped through his teeth.
'Here you go again.'
Recently, Sylvia and Randall seemed to be getting along well and smiling, but at some point, they started to distance themselves more often. Whenever that happened, she thought she had made a mistake and looked back on her actions, but there was nothing particularly wrong. It bothered her so much that Randall couldn’t get on the carriage and took a moment to calm himself down. Sylvia, who had gotten on the carriage alone, also closed her eyes tightly and was trying to catch her breath.
'We need to keep our distance.'
Since becoming aware of her feelings for Randall, Sylvia has been having more frequent dreams of memories from her second life.
"Zenya..."
"Mom."
The sight of her husband and child hanging on the floor in disarray. It felt like a warning that if she got attached to someone rashly this time, she might lose them.
Sylvia realized that she liked Randall, but she wanted to get rid of that feeling if possible. Now that she had just realized her feelings, it seemed like the right time, so she would laugh helplessly with Randall, but then suddenly she would distance herself when she came to her senses. On the other hand, it was not easy because Randall would make an abandoned puppy-like face every time.
'I wonder if something is going to happen in the capital.'
Her feelings for Randall, her dreams, everything was so ominous.
‘...Well, I guess it’ll be okay.’
Sylvia tried to shake off her thoughts, leaned her arms on the window sill, and sighed. Meanwhile, Randall, who had calmed down his worries, got into the carriage, and soon the carriage moved to the vicinity of the capital through Auston's magic circle.
'I wonder if something is going to happen in the capital.'
Her feelings for Randall, her dreams, everything was so ominous.
‘...Well, I guess it’ll be okay.’
Sylvia tried to shake off her thoughts, leaned her arms on the window sill, and sighed. Meanwhile, Randall, who had calmed down his worries, got into the carriage, and soon the carriage moved to the vicinity of the capital through Auston's magic circle.
Contrary to her complicated feelings, the day was very clear.
***
“Oh my, you must have had a hard time coming this far...”
“Welcome. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Duke of Belfort.”
The carriage carrying Randall and Sylvia traveled for several hours again near the capital before arriving at the residence of Count Florette. The Count and his wife, who had suggested that they stay at the Florette estate near the capital during the King's birthday celebrations instead of the crowded palace, welcomed them warmly.
“It’s been a while. Mom, Dad.”
“I’m glad you both look healthy.”
Sylvia gave a light greeting, and Randall bowed deeply. After receiving Sylvia’s greeting, Count Florette looked at his daughter with tears in his eyes.
“My daughter, how could you not write a single letter to Dad since we visited last time...”
“Oh my, this guy is acting up again. Come on in. I’ve already prepared the meal.”
The Countess slapped the Count's shoulder in embarrassment to stop him and led Sylvia and Randall inside. The chef, who was excited by Sylvia's return to her parents' home after a long time, cooked excellently. Randall admired the seafood-based dishes, which were noticeably different from those in the North, throughout the meal, and Sylvia looked refreshed, perhaps because she had escaped from the feast of nutritious food.
After a satisfying meal, Sylvia was caught by the Count, who had begun to complain in earnest.
“I was so worried that my daughter would get sick and eat well. But now that you're married, you rely more on your husband than your father...”
“Father, calm down.”
Sylvia tried to comfort the Count, who was shedding tears, but it was not enough. The Countess, who was looking at her husband with a pitiful expression, slowly got up from her seat and whispered to Randall.
“Should we go out? That guy is going to have to whine to his daughter for another hour before he feels better.”
“Oh, then...”
Randall, who had a hard time adjusting to the Count's cold appearance, secretly smiled and slowly left the room. The two of them finally let out a sigh of relief after they were far away from the room.
“Was it uncomfortable? I’m sorry.”
"No."
“Thank you for saying that. Even though he doesn’t seem like it, he is very affectionate towards his family. It seems like he still can’t believe that he gave his only daughter away to get married.”
“I completely understand.”
Randall answered seriously. The Countess looked at Randall with pleasure and then moved on.
“Since you're come to this anyway, how about taking a look around the mansion? I’ll show you around. Of course, it won’t be as good as the Belfort Castle, but it’s not bad.”
“You are being too humble to say that such a beautiful place is okay. And I am even more honored that you are guiding me personally.”
Randall answered with a smile and began to tour the mansion with her. Most of the Countess’s stories were about what Sylvia was like as a child. The room where Sylvia had lived before she got married. Under the tree in the corner of the backyard where she often walked. The custom-made swing that she had been able to ride once when she was young at the request of the Count and Countess...
“I was so worried that my daughter would get sick and eat well. But now that you're married, you rely more on your husband than your father...”
“Father, calm down.”
Sylvia tried to comfort the Count, who was shedding tears, but it was not enough. The Countess, who was looking at her husband with a pitiful expression, slowly got up from her seat and whispered to Randall.
“Should we go out? That guy is going to have to whine to his daughter for another hour before he feels better.”
“Oh, then...”
Randall, who had a hard time adjusting to the Count's cold appearance, secretly smiled and slowly left the room. The two of them finally let out a sigh of relief after they were far away from the room.
“Was it uncomfortable? I’m sorry.”
"No."
“Thank you for saying that. Even though he doesn’t seem like it, he is very affectionate towards his family. It seems like he still can’t believe that he gave his only daughter away to get married.”
“I completely understand.”
Randall answered seriously. The Countess looked at Randall with pleasure and then moved on.
“Since you're come to this anyway, how about taking a look around the mansion? I’ll show you around. Of course, it won’t be as good as the Belfort Castle, but it’s not bad.”
“You are being too humble to say that such a beautiful place is okay. And I am even more honored that you are guiding me personally.”
Randall answered with a smile and began to tour the mansion with her. Most of the Countess’s stories were about what Sylvia was like as a child. The room where Sylvia had lived before she got married. Under the tree in the corner of the backyard where she often walked. The custom-made swing that she had been able to ride once when she was young at the request of the Count and Countess...
Eventually, as they walked around the mansion, they stopped in a hallway where portraits of the Florette family were lined up. Randall stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the end of the hallway. There was a portrait of a young Sylvia and the Count and Countess when they were younger, and another portrait of Sylvia and the Count and Countess right after they were married, looking very much like them.
The Countess burst into laughter at the sight of Randall unable to take his eyes off the young Sylvia.
“When she was young, her expression was the same as it is now, right?”
"Ah..."
Only after hearing the Countess's laughter did Randall regain some sense of reason and scratch the back of his neck awkwardly. But only for a moment, before his gaze returned to Sylvia in the portrait.
'...Small.'
As the Countess said, Sylvia sat down on her chair obediently, and he felt a strange sense of detachment. She had been the same since she was young, and Randall smiled again. The Countess and Randall gazed at the portrait of their daughter with affectionate eyes before parting and continued speaking.
“But when I saw her today, her expression had improved a lot compared to before. She didn’t say anything, but she’s not even an adult yet, so I was worried because she always had an expression on her face that seemed to have no regrets about life...”
Although he didn't say it out loud for fear of hurting her mother-in-law, it was something Randall could relate to. Sometimes, whenever he saw Sylvia with her eyes closed, she felt like a corpse lying in a coffin, and it was eerie.
The Countess burst into laughter at the sight of Randall unable to take his eyes off the young Sylvia.
“When she was young, her expression was the same as it is now, right?”
"Ah..."
Only after hearing the Countess's laughter did Randall regain some sense of reason and scratch the back of his neck awkwardly. But only for a moment, before his gaze returned to Sylvia in the portrait.
'...Small.'
As the Countess said, Sylvia sat down on her chair obediently, and he felt a strange sense of detachment. She had been the same since she was young, and Randall smiled again. The Countess and Randall gazed at the portrait of their daughter with affectionate eyes before parting and continued speaking.
“But when I saw her today, her expression had improved a lot compared to before. She didn’t say anything, but she’s not even an adult yet, so I was worried because she always had an expression on her face that seemed to have no regrets about life...”
Although he didn't say it out loud for fear of hurting her mother-in-law, it was something Randall could relate to. Sometimes, whenever he saw Sylvia with her eyes closed, she felt like a corpse lying in a coffin, and it was eerie.
The Countess looked back at Randall and smiled faintly.
“It was after she married the Duke that she started talking and laughing like a real ‘person.’ Thank you very much.”
“Oh, no. What did I do?”
Randall waved his hand humbly. The Countess, who had been staring blankly at him, suddenly opened her mouth.
“...Your Highness, you really resemble the previous Duchess. Maybe that’s why our family always feels indebted to you.”
“Do you know my mother?”
Randall's eyes widened at the unexpected words. The Countess laughed.
“I know. When I was young, it was her who saved me from embarrassment when I had just come to the capital.”
Her pale beige eyes blurred as if she was tracing a distant past. Millea Bogens. That was the name of the current Countess Florette when she was young. At that time, Millea’s family, the Baron Bogens, were a humble noble family in the eastern end. Millea, who had been rolling around the fields in the countryside, came up to the capital to make her debutante when she came of age, and there, for the first time in her life, she encountered the sharp hostility of the people.
"Look at those tacky clothes. Where the hell is this..."
"Don't be so mean. But for a country girl who doesn't know anything about fashion, isn't that a lot of effort?"
"That's true too."
Whispers are heard everywhere. Eyes moving busily as if searching for something to criticize. In the middle of it all, Millea could do nothing but tremble like an aspen leaf and clutch her skirt with a pale face. As it turned out, Millea at that time was the most notable of the young ladies who had debutantes that year due to her beautiful appearance despite being from a humble family. The other young ladies were jealous of this and surrounded Millea, finding ridiculous things like her outfit being unsophisticated and making fun of her.
“It was after she married the Duke that she started talking and laughing like a real ‘person.’ Thank you very much.”
“Oh, no. What did I do?”
Randall waved his hand humbly. The Countess, who had been staring blankly at him, suddenly opened her mouth.
“...Your Highness, you really resemble the previous Duchess. Maybe that’s why our family always feels indebted to you.”
“Do you know my mother?”
Randall's eyes widened at the unexpected words. The Countess laughed.
“I know. When I was young, it was her who saved me from embarrassment when I had just come to the capital.”
Her pale beige eyes blurred as if she was tracing a distant past. Millea Bogens. That was the name of the current Countess Florette when she was young. At that time, Millea’s family, the Baron Bogens, were a humble noble family in the eastern end. Millea, who had been rolling around the fields in the countryside, came up to the capital to make her debutante when she came of age, and there, for the first time in her life, she encountered the sharp hostility of the people.
"Look at those tacky clothes. Where the hell is this..."
"Don't be so mean. But for a country girl who doesn't know anything about fashion, isn't that a lot of effort?"
"That's true too."
Whispers are heard everywhere. Eyes moving busily as if searching for something to criticize. In the middle of it all, Millea could do nothing but tremble like an aspen leaf and clutch her skirt with a pale face. As it turned out, Millea at that time was the most notable of the young ladies who had debutantes that year due to her beautiful appearance despite being from a humble family. The other young ladies were jealous of this and surrounded Millea, finding ridiculous things like her outfit being unsophisticated and making fun of her.
However, Millea, who had grown up only on the estate, did not know how to deal with such hostility and could only hold back her tears.
"Raise your head."
The one who appeared then was the former Duchess of Belfort, then Lady Sercia Yeckerman. Millia smiled softly and continued speaking.
“She told me not to stand there like a criminal when I had done nothing wrong, and that if I stood there like that, I would most likely end up being accused of a crime I never committed. She helped me to get into a good position. She was a strong person, and that’s why I wanted to be like her.”
Was it because of that longing?
"Raise your head."
The one who appeared then was the former Duchess of Belfort, then Lady Sercia Yeckerman. Millia smiled softly and continued speaking.
“She told me not to stand there like a criminal when I had done nothing wrong, and that if I stood there like that, I would most likely end up being accused of a crime I never committed. She helped me to get into a good position. She was a strong person, and that’s why I wanted to be like her.”
Was it because of that longing?
The following year, after much hard work, Millea became an influential figure who was called the flower of high society. However, during that year, Sercia became the Duchess of Belfort and left the capital, so she had no chance to meet Millea. After that, she only heard rumors here and there, and the last thing she heard was the news of the Duke and Duchess’s death. It may have been one-sided, but the sense of loss at that time was indescribable. Maybe that was why she kept feeling for this young man in front of her who seemed to resemble Sercia’s affection more than the former Duke.
Millea lost her parents at a young age and suffered from various things, but Randall was always upright and polite, so she patted him on the shoulder.
“I always sincerely thank you. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
Randall felt his throat get stuck at those affectionate words. After a while of not being able to find the words to say, he just moved his lips and finally managed to come up with an answer.
“...I am the one who should be thankful.”
“You should never share a room.”
After receiving the attention he had been pushing away from Sylvia, the Count, who had returned to his usual self, opened his eyes wide and declared. No matter how much the Countess slapped him on the back, saying that he was unusual, the Count was firm.
“I always sincerely thank you. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
Randall felt his throat get stuck at those affectionate words. After a while of not being able to find the words to say, he just moved his lips and finally managed to come up with an answer.
“...I am the one who should be thankful.”
***
“You should never share a room.”
After receiving the attention he had been pushing away from Sylvia, the Count, who had returned to his usual self, opened his eyes wide and declared. No matter how much the Countess slapped him on the back, saying that he was unusual, the Count was firm.
Randall also felt the need to be careful in front of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, so he went into a different bedroom with Sylvia without saying much. And that night. Sylvia, who had been tossing and turning with a distorted face, finally woke up, unable to overcome the nightmare.
"Ha..."
She let out a sigh and buried her face in her hands. Seeing the faces of her dead husband and child in her dreams every single day was quite a struggle for her. In the end, Sylvia, with a haggard face, went outside wearing only a light gown, thinking of getting some fresh air.
'It was a little warm during the day, but it's still chilly at night.'
Sylvia walked through the backyard, rubbing her arms, wondering if she should have put on a thick shawl.
‘Come to think of it... I think I sometimes took a nap there when I was little.’
Then, Sylvia, who had found a tree in a remote part of the garden, approached it. Although she had spent most of her 22 years in bed, she was also human, so it was not always easy for her to stay indoors.
"Ha..."
She let out a sigh and buried her face in her hands. Seeing the faces of her dead husband and child in her dreams every single day was quite a struggle for her. In the end, Sylvia, with a haggard face, went outside wearing only a light gown, thinking of getting some fresh air.
'It was a little warm during the day, but it's still chilly at night.'
Sylvia walked through the backyard, rubbing her arms, wondering if she should have put on a thick shawl.
‘Come to think of it... I think I sometimes took a nap there when I was little.’
Then, Sylvia, who had found a tree in a remote part of the garden, approached it. Although she had spent most of her 22 years in bed, she was also human, so it was not always easy for her to stay indoors.
When that happened, Sylvia would go to the quieter part of the garden and sleep for a while under a tree in the most remote part. Of course, she would inevitably catch a cold on those days.
Sylvia smiled as she recalled Count Florette, who had cried more sadly than she did when she had a cold. As she approached the tree, she soon discovered something sparkling near the roots and opened her eyes wide.
A New Series, For You Even Regret Is Luxury, is out now! It's such an interesting story, so I hope you will like it as much as I do! You can check it HERE!
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