To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 23

“Sister… sister… I’m so sorry…”

Emily wept, apologizing to her sister Sophia.

(…You’re beautiful when you cry… I feel as if that how my husband is beginning to notice you… I hope those tears are genuine apologies for me. I don’t want you to cause trouble for my husband and everyone else from now on… but even you, I would probably forgive… Unlike you, who are bright and have a lovely smile, I’ve always been wary of my husband’s mood… Still, I wished for him to smile at me while sitting beside him…)

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway as the maid returned with the doctor.

“I’ve brought the doctor!”

Upon entering the room, the doctor’s face turned pale at the sight of the red-stained scarf wrapped around Sophia’s left wrist as she lay on her back on the bed.

“W-What happened?!”

“We’ll talk later! Please help my wife!!”

(…Wife… I’m not your wife…)

The doctor, showing a pained expression, looked at Sophia and spoke.

“…I will do my best, but… please hold on, madam.”

(…Doctor, I’m sorry… I’ve been a burden to you…)

As the doctor began treatment, everyone around prayed silently.

Throb!

“Ah!?”

“Emily?”

“…M-my stomach… the baby…”

“!!”

A sharp pain shot through Emily’s abdomen, and Alec appeared bewildered.

“Quick! Get Emily to another room! Doctor, check on Emily!!”

“But, madam…”

“…”

Emily, crouched beside Alec, cried out.

“Ah… it hurts, it hurts… help me… Alec!”

With tears in her eyes, Emily leaned against Alec, who embraced her tightly and called to the doctor.

“Come with me, doctor!!”

Sophia looked up, realizing that this was the last time she would see her husband, Alec, holding Emily in his arms…

(…This is the first time I’ve seen him hold Emily… Did he ever hold me like that?)

The doctor, looking confused, had to head toward Alec.

“…Madam, madam, please hold on… I’ll be right back.”

“…”

Sophia smiled at the doctor as he left the room.

“Madam, Madam~! If I were by your side…”

Seeing the head maid crying and apologizing to Sophia, she smiled and mouthed “I’m sorry…” The head maid broke down in tears, and the other maids continued to cry.

(…I’m sorry for making everyone cry… It seems I can’t keep my husband and the doctor waiting any longer… I can’t maintain my bodily sensations or consciousness… I wanted you to stay by my side until the end… But… this is okay… my sister, who will be a wife and your child, will support you instead of me as death approaches…)

Slowly, Sophia closed her eyelids, tears flowing from beneath them…

(…Even when you coldly pushed me away, I couldn’t leave… because you are… my husband… the person I fell in love with for the first time… my first love…)

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The maid’s face turned pale as she saw Sophia lying still with her eyes closed.

“Head maid, madam… madam…”

Seeing the maid in tears, the head maid hurriedly left the room.

“Sir! Doctor—! Madam … Madam…”

Alec and the doctor rushed from from Emily’s room, entering Sophia’s room.

Upon entering, the doctor and Alec were left speechless at the sight of Sophia, eyes closed and not breathing.

The doctor approached Sophia and began the examination…

“…My… wife…”

“…”

The doctor shook his head, indicating that Sophia had passed away.

“Madam!”

“Waaahhh! Madam!”

The head maid and the other maids wept, mourning Sophia’s death…

“…N-No… Sophia… Why…”

Alec stumbled, walking unsteadily, and touched Sophia’s cheek with trembling hands, unable to believe that she was dead.

“…She’s warm… I can’t believe she’s truly gone…”

Tears streamed down Alec’s face as he wept for Sophia for the first time.

“…Sophia, I’m sorry… I left you and went to Emily… As your husband, I should have been by your side… I was… a terrible husband until the end…”

Alec touched Sophia’s cheek, and suddenly realized that the tears she had shed moments ago were now on his fingers. Clenching his hand tightly, he continued to weep, realizing that Sophia had been waiting for him.

“…Alec…”

“…If I hadn’t taken the doctor away and let Emily lie on the sofa… perhaps my wife wouldn’t have died…”

“…Perhaps she knew… that she wouldn’t be saved…”

“Still…”

Alec looked down to Sophia, who lay asleep.

“…Alec, let’s prepare Madam beautifully… She cannot depart in this state…”

“…”

Following the doctor’s advice, Alec sat on the sofa, silently watching as the doctor directed the maids.

“Everyone… I know this is difficult, but please clean Madam’s body…”

“Yes…”

“And if there are any of Madam’s favorite clothes, please dress her in them.”

The maids whispered and hesitated, consulting with the head maid.

(Why are they troubled over her clothes? Is it because there are too many to choose from?)

“Head maid, what should we do about Madam’s clothes…”

“Look in the shelves…”

“Yes…”

The maids pulled out about ten garments from the shelves.

“…Are these all Madam’s clothes?”

“Yes, I believe she doesn’t brought many clothes from her family home…”

“?”

The doctor showed a surprised expression as he looked at the laid-out clothes.

Many of the garments had seams that had been stitched together, and the doctor asked the head maid who was nearby.

“Head maid… did Madam sew those clothes together?”

“Madam did them herself…”

“Pardon? Ah… my apologies… I thought she must have been someone who valued her possessions… but wouldn’t she have other clothes for outings?”

“…No, all the clothes laid out here are the only ones she had…”

“What? Ah… I’m sorry for being rude again… I was surprised… I thought a woman would have many clothes, especially since my lady is a marchioness and often attends social gatherings, banquets, and tea parties…”

A heavy silence fell as the head maid and the maids were unable to respond to the doctor.

“Uh… did I say something strange…?”

“…My lady has never left the mansion except for work…”

“What?!”

The doctor was stunned by what the head maid had said, repeatedly at a loss for words.