To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 12

I felt fulfilled every day in the mansion without my husband and Emily.

“Ma’am!? What are you doing… aren’t you supposed to be resting?”

“I’m feeling good right now… My husband, leaving my work while piling up his own, is terrible.”

Complaining as she spoke, Sophia began working.

“But, ma’am, the doctor said you should rest your body…”

The head maid, confused, gently urged Sophia to take a break.

“I truly feel good… For now, I just want my freedom. I don’t know what will happen when they come back…”

“…Ma’am…”

Sophia smiled, showing the same expression she had when she first arrived at the mansion.

“…Understood, ma’am. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything…”

“Thank you…”

Sophia busied herself, helping with the maids’ tasks, weeding the garden, and spending her free time resting and enjoying conversations with them.

“Ma’am, aren’t you tired?”

“You’ve even been doing our work as maids…”

“Don’t worry. When I’m alone, I start thinking about all sorts of things. It’s more fun being with everyone.”

“Ma’am…”

“Come on, I’m going to make pie tonight!”

The lively sound of laughter echoed through the mansion, and Sophia enjoyed each day.

Then one morning, a servant rushed to the butler.

“Mr. Richard! Mr. Richard!!”

“It’s been a while since someone called my name. What’s going on? Why are you in such a hurry?”

“My… my Lord is coming home…”

“Huh? I thought he wasn’t supposed to return until tomorrow evening?”

“The carriage is already on its way to the mansion!”

“!!”

The butler was surprised, and as he informed the head maid, the mansion bustled with activity.

“Ma’am, ma’am!”

The head maid rushed to Sophia, who was in her study.

“What’s going on? Why are you so flustered?”

“My… my Lord is returning…”

“W-what…?”

Sophia dropped a stack of papers on the floor, her face turning pale as she froze in place, unable to move.

“…My husband… is coming back…”

“Ma’am…”

“…Wasn’t he supposed to return tomorrow evening?”

“We thought so too, but…”

“…”

Sophia tried to calm her trembling body.

“…I see. Let’s go and welcome him home…”

“Ma’am…”

Sophia stood at the entrance with the maids to greet Alec.

“Welcome home, my husband.”

Along with the maids’ voices, Alec returned after six days.

He glanced around and spoke.

“Has Emily not returned from her parents’ house yet?”

Sophia’s hand twitched slightly as she pressed it tightly.

“…Not yet, my husband.”

“I see… I thought she’d be back by now… Let me know when Emily returns.”

“…Understood.”

Leaving instructions with the butler about Emily, Alec headed to his room.

Sophia swayed unsteadily and was supported by one of the maids.

“Ma’am!?”

“…I’m fine… Thank you… Thank you all. I had such a wonderful time these past days…”

“Ma’am…”

With the head maid’s support, Sophia made her way to her study.

“Ma’am… please rest…”

“…I’m almost finished… My husband looked at me but said nothing… If only he had asked, ‘Are you alright?’ Just one word… But instead, he was looking for Emily…”

“Ma’am… please, don’t think about it… Your body won’t be able to take it…”

“…I can no longer accept him… Just hearing his voice or seeing his face makes my body tremble…”

Sophia looked at her trembling hands, and the head maid, seeing them, lowered her gaze.

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Alec entered his room and noticed that the stack of documents on his desk was gone.

“…I’m sure I left those papers here… Did the butler handle them? I didn’t want to work after coming back.”

In a good mood, Alec went for a stroll in the garden.

“…I’m not used to walking alone… When Emily’s with me, it’s not boring… She should be back by tomorrow. I’ll manage until then.”

He suddenly turned around and glanced up at his wife Sophia’s window.

“Even though her husband returned, she didn’t come to greet me… She’s living a good life, resting from work. Why did I choose her as my wife? At first, when my father passed, and I inherited the marquess family, I was overwhelmed. So I chose a woman who could help with my work… But she’s always been watching my every move, and I started to hate that, so I’ve kept my distance. Though her help with work has been useful… Now, she’s taking a break, using her health as an excuse… If only she were a little more charming like Emily… I can’t believe I’m regretting not marrying Emily from the beginning… Sigh…”

Alec shook his head and sighed deeply as he continued walking alone along the path.

At lunchtime, Sophia did not appear at the dining table.

“…Where’s my wife?”

“…She is resting in her room.”

“Ha! The wife of a marquess lives a good life, not even seeing me off when I return! She must have been resting the entire time I was gone, instead of working!!”

Alec grumbled as he ate, clearly irritated.

The maids, observing his behavior, whispered among themselves.

“…Pardon me, my lord, but the lady was working until just a little while ago.”

“What!?”

Alec, shocked, looked at the butler, pausing his meal.

“W-wait, then did you take care of the documents on my desk?”

“It was not me, my lord… The lady did those while you were away.”

“W-what…!? But I heard that she wasn’t feeling well…”

“…Though the doctor recommended she rest, the lady was concerned about your workload. She wanted to ease your burden in any way she could.”

“…”

Alec stared blankly at the seat where Sophia usually sat.

“…It seems, my lord, you were unaware that the lady came to greet you upon your return.”

“Wh-what…?”

“The lady has been acting in her role as the Marquess’ wife during your absence. She came to greet you when you arrived, hoping you would speak to her, but you only inquired about Lady Emily. It made the lady feel unwell.”

“Isn’t it natural to be concerned about my wife’s sister?”

“…”

The butler’s steady gaze made Alec tense up.

“I have served the Palris family for many years, my lord. If you are thinking about the future of this household, I trust you understand what I’m trying to say.”

“…”

“Forgive me for speaking so at length, my lord…”

With that, the butler, accompanied by the maids, left the dining room.

“…Mr. Richard, about what you just said…”

“…I only hope that the lord will come to realize that it is Lady Sophia who is holding this household together.”

The butler wanted Alec to understand that the true support behind the Palris family was Sophia.