To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 13

Alec sat alone in the dining room, feeling conflicted by the butler’s words.

“…I’ve been terrible to my wife… She supported the household while I was away, working despite her poor health… And yet, I…”

He thought back to the days he spent with Emily before leaving for business, realizing for the first time how Sophia must have felt during that time. Alec finally understood that he hadn’t spent any real time with Sophia since she married into his family.

“…Now, after all this time… A whole year… I’ve given her nothing…”

Alec stood up from the dining table and left the room. He climbed the stairs and found himself in front of Sophia’s bedroom door.

“…”

He raised his hand toward the door but hesitated, lowering it again, unsure if he should enter.

(What am I supposed to say? Should I mention her working while being unwell? Should I apologize for not realizing she had come to greet me? Or for not spending any time with her over the past year? …Or should I confess about my relationship with Emily and apologize for a mistake that can’t be undone?)

“…”

Clenching his fists, Alec spoke in a pained voice.

“…I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I’m sorry…”

As he stood outside, repeatedly apologizing, Sophia, sitting on her bed, quietly shed tears. She understood the meaning behind Alec’s words, even without hearing everything he wanted to say.

Some time after Alec left her door, a maid brought a letter to Sophia.

“…It’s my father’s handwriting…”

The letter was from her family, a response to the tearful letter Sophia had sent some time ago.

“‘Can I come home?’”

Those words lingered in her mind, even now.

As Sophia read the letter, her eyes widened in surprise, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

“…It’s already too late for me… Father, Mother… It’s difficult, but when the time comes, carry on for me…”

Clutching her father’s letter in both hands, Sophia buried her face in them, trembling as she wept.

When Alec came to the dining room for dinner that evening, he was taken aback by what he saw.

Sophia was seated at the table.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, my lord?”

Alec stared at Sophia, his expression blank.

“My lord? Aren’t you going to take a seat?”

Snapping back to reality, Alec felt bewildered by seeing Sophia again after such a long time.

(…When was the last time I saw my wife’s face? Has she matured this much?)

“Is there something on my face?” she asked.

“Wha—? Oh, no… It’s just been a while… You don’t look like Emily at all… Ah…”

He instinctively covered his mouth with his hand.

“…I take after my father, while she resembles our mother…”

“I-I see…”

(What was I so flustered about?)

Once seated, the meal began.

“…A-Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes… I feel good now, and I wanted to have dinner together with you, my lord.”

“…Yeah, having dinner just the two of us is…”

(…When was the last time we had dinner alone together?)

Alec stumbled over his words, unable to recall.

“You don’t need to force yourself to remember… Since we got married, you’ve been too busy for us to eat together…”

“Is that so? It feels like it was ages ago…”

“…Then there was the time when Emily started staying at the mansion, so we couldn’t have dinner together…”

“…!”

Alec recalled that ever since Emily had come to stay, he hadn’t had meals with Sophia. Emily had preferences about the food at the mansion, so he often ended up dining out with her.

“…I’ll make sure to eat with you from now on…”

Sophia was taken aback by his words. But she thought that, since they were alone now, he could say it, if Emily had been there, he wouldn’t have dared to.

“…Don’t worry about me. It must be tough to appease Emily if she’s in a bad mood…”

“…”

Alec’s face turned pale, and after glancing at her, Sophia resumed eating.

“…My lord, please change the curtains and carpet in the mansion back to the previous designs.”

“…But…”

“Are you going to keep letting Emily have her way?”

“Eh!?”

“I preferred the old, calm patterns for the curtains and carpet… When our relatives visit, will you be able to respond to them with the current state of the mansion?”

“…Relatives…”

Alec paused his meal, deep in thought.

“If you’re fine with it as it is, I won’t say anything…”

“……No, I’ll think about it…”

“Eh?”

“…I thought I might have gone too far. If you point it out, it’s going to be me who hears about it from our relatives… I want to avoid that.”

“My lord…”

Seeing Alec smile wryly, Sophia’s eyes welled with tears as she looked down.

(…I was trying to let you go…)

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Alec and Sophia exited the dining room together, realizing it was the first time they had been alone together since their marriage.

(…My lord finally accepted what I had to say…)

(…It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this at ease…)

As they walked down the corridor, the distance between them felt significant, but it was a rare moment of genuine conversation as a couple.

“…My lord, I have two requests…”

“Requests?”

“I would like you to refrain from spending money on Emily.”

“…”

“I’ve mentioned this before… My sister has gotten everything she wanted—clothes, shoes, jewelry… and…”

Sophia glanced at Alec, biting her lip before continuing.

“She has been spoiled by you… and while that was fine before, she can’t live like that forever.”

“…What do you mean?”

“…I believe Emily will eventually marry and start a family. She’s never had to struggle, so I want her to understand the value of money. I’d like you to talk to her about this.”

“Why should I? You can talk to her…”

“It’s you who’s been giving her the money.”

“!!”

Alec was taken aback, unable to meet Sophia’s gaze.

(Oh!)

He suddenly remembered the mention of clothing.

“Let’s go shopping!”

“Eh!?”

“I just realized we’ve never gone shopping together for you.”

Alec smiled, attempting to lift Sophia’s spirits.

“…Please don’t treat me the same as Emily!”

“Eh… N-No, I just meant…”

“I don’t even know how many times I’ve heard you say ‘Let’s go shopping.’ I gave up on shopping with you a long time ago…”

“Ah…”

Alec halted in his tracks, but Sophia continued walking ahead.

“…I have one more request… Would you plant white flowers in the garden?”

“White flowers?”

Sophia stopped walking, turning slightly to address Alec without looking back.

“…They’re my favorite color of flowers. Instead of clothing, I’d like you to plant white flowers.”

“…Understood. I’ll plant your favorite flowers.”

“Thank you so much…”

Alec promised to plant the flowers, hoping it would brighten Sophia’s mood.

Once they reached Sophia’s room, Alec hesitated before speaking.

“…W-Would you like to come to my room tonight?”

“!?”

Sophia was taken aback by the invitation.

“…After sharing a meal and having a conversation with you… it was enjoyable. Even though you scolded me, it made me truly realize what it means to be a couple.”

“……”

“Even if it’s just to talk, I’d love to spend the night talking with you…”

“…Now of all times…?”

“Eh!?”

Tears began to flow from Sophia’s eyes, and Alec was taken aback and confused.

“Why are you crying?”

“…I thought I’d never hear you say that…”

Alec’s heart raced as he took a step closer, reaching out to her.

“Please don’t cry! I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Sophia wiped her tears, still surprised by his invitation.

“…You really mean it, don’t you?”

“Of course! I want to get to know you better, Sophia.”

“…Alright…”

She nodded, a mix of relief and uncertainty washing over her.

As they stood at the threshold of her room, the air was thick with unspoken words and newfound emotions, both feeling a flicker of hope for their relationship.

##### translator note: yahhhh!!! this man have some serious issue with his brain -_______- #####