To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 35

“Thank you for divorcing my daughter, Sophia.”

“!?”

Alec was shocked to hear his father-in-law thanking him for divorcing Sophia.

“…Um, Father-in-law, that’s…”

“I meant to thank you for sending my daughter back to us. The marquis must have hated having Sophia in the mansion, didn’t he?”

“Huh?”

“I heard you couldn’t stand having a wife you didn’t love by your side, but endured it for the sake of your work.”

“…That’s…”

Alec turned pale at his father-in-law’s words.

“I also heard that Sophia never spent any time with you as a couple after your marriage. Is that true?”

“Ah…”

“At the reception, it was Emily who attended in her place, right? And it was Emily who accompanied you on trips, leaving Sophia to manage the mansion for two or three weeks, and this happened several times. What was Sophia doing during that time? You left your wife with responsibilities while you enjoyed your travels… and yet, despite having such a husband, my daughter couldn’t bring herself to leave you.”

Tears welled up in his father-in-law’s eyes as he held back his anger, trying to remain composed for the sake of his daughter.

“…I…I’m terribly… sorry…”

Alec knelt in front of his father-in-law, bowing his head in deep apology. His father-in-law sighed heavily as he looked down at him.

“Ah… I’m so disappointed in you, Marquis. I thought you were an earnest and good young man when I allowed my daughter to marry you… What a mistake that was.”

“…Ugh…”

Alec deeply regretted his actions, realizing that if he had faced Sophia honestly, he could have distanced himself from Emily’s advances. Now, he was tormented by the weakness that led him to give in to temptation.

“Father, please don’t blame Alec…”

Emily, who had been watching the scene from beside her mother, wanted to go to Alec’s side, but she was too frightened of her father to move.

“This whole mess wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t gotten close to the marquis.”

“I’ve apologized so many times, so why do you keep blaming me? It’s not my fault that my sister died! It’s her own fault for never speaking up about how she felt!”

“You ungrateful…!”

“Sophia, Sophia! Wake up! I thought Father would be happy when he found out he’s going to be a grandfather! I’m carrying a child in her place, and yet, all of you still only care about Sophia! It’s not fair!”

“Em-Emily… how can you say such things…?”

“But…”

“Emily, you’re…”

“Lemore!”

The priest, who had entered the church, raised his voice to stop the escalating argument.

“…Father…”

“Please stop raising your voices in front of your daughter. Her spirit is still near you. If you cause her too much concern, she won’t be able to rest peacefully.”

The priest’s words brought silence to the room.

“…My apologies, Father… Please look after our daughter…”

Sophia’s parents bowed their heads and entrusted their daughter to the priest.

“Alec…”

While her parents conversed with the priest, Emily came over to Alec, who remained kneeling on the floor, his head bowed.

“…Did you tell Father-in-law about your wife?”

“Huh? Oh… yes. Yesterday, he asked me about what life was like at the mansion all this time… so I told him everything…”

“…I see…”

Alec let out a bitter laugh.

(…I used to admire Emily’s straightforwardness… but to think she envied her sister rather than grieving for her death…)

Suddenly, Emily linked her arm with Alec’s, startling him, and he pulled away from her grasp.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh!? I was away from you yesterday, so… I just wanted to be close to you.”

“…Haah…”

(I used to find her carefree nature charming… but now, after being betrayed by the woman I loved, it all just feels tiresome…)

“Alec, is everything alright?”

The priest approached Alec and Emily, addressing them softly.

The priest turned his attention to Alec.

“…Father…”

Alec rose to his feet, and Emily extended her arms toward him.

“Alec, help me up.”

Emily smiled as she asked, and Alec supported her, while the priest quietly observed.

“…If it’s alright, I’d like to speak with you two privately.”

The priest requested to speak with Alec and Emily alone.

“I understand. Emily, I’ll talk to the priest for a bit.”

“Alright.”

Emily stepped away, and Alec turned his face toward the priest.

“…The young lady who was with you earlier, is she Lady Sophia’s younger sister?”

“Yes…”

“…I see. Your parents also had an arranged marriage, but they were a loving couple…”

“Yes, I know. I always thought that when I got married, I’d want to have a relationship like theirs… I thought…”

As Alec spoke, he suddenly caught the priest’s gaze and realized something.

“…I always believed you loved only your late wife, Lady Sophia… I’ve heard some things from her parents.”

“…What?”

“And regarding the burial… I’ve been informed that Lady Sophia will be laid to rest with the Lemore family.”

“!?”

Alec was shocked to hear that Sophia’s burial wouldn’t be with his family, but with her parents’ instead.

“……”

“…It seems you weren’t aware. Lady Sophia will soon enter eternal rest, so please speak with her family and come to a decision.”

“…I understand… thank you.”

The conversation ended, leaving Alec standing there, his expression blank.

“…So that’s what Father-in-law meant by thanking me for the divorce…”

His father-in-law approached Alec again.

“The priest must have told you, but Sophia will be returned to us. You have no reason to oppose it.”

Alec couldn’t find the words to argue.

“……”

“Also, once the funeral is over, I’d like you to return my daughter’s belongings.”

“What!?”

“The things she brought to the mansion were from our home, right? She never had the chance to go shopping, so there shouldn’t be much. You can send them back immediately.”

“…!”

Alec felt a sharp pain in his chest, realizing that soon, nothing of his wife’s would remain with him.

“…And about Emily… after the funeral, I’d like you to arrange a meeting with her fiancé.”

“…Understood…”

“You said you didn’t know Emily had a fiancé, but if you had talked with Sophia, you would have learned about her as well.”

“……”

His father-in-law placed a hand on Alec’s shoulder, offering a faint smile.

“If the engagement with her fiancé falls through, I expect you to take responsibility for Emily and the child. Even if the child doesn’t resemble you, I trust you won’t abandon them… after all, you must have wanted to be with Emily so much that you divorced Sophia.”

“…!”

His father-in-law gave Alec a light pat on the shoulder before walking away, leaving Alec trembling from the words.

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Near the casket, a doctor sat quietly.

“…Lady Sophia, I will take a lock of your hair.”

The doctor pulled a pair of medical scissors from his bag and snipped a small lock of Sophia’s hair from her still form in the casket.

“…Your hair has grown… When we first met, it was just long enough to cover your shoulders… this dark brown suits you.”

The doctor carefully wrapped the hair and placed it in his bag.

“Doctor.”

“Ah, yes.”

“We’re going to greet the family now.”

Sophia’s father informed the doctor of their plan to greet the relatives.

“…Understood. May I stay here with Lady Sophia?”

“With you here, my daughter won’t be lonely.”

The parents thanked the doctor and left the room.

“My sister looks like she’s just sleeping.”

The doctor, surprised to find Emily still present, looked up at her smile.

“…I thought you had gone with your parents…”

“I don’t want to go. My aunts and uncles are always comparing me to my sister. I hate them.”

(…It’s common in families with siblings, but…)

“Emily, I’ve heard you’re engaged. Why would you do something so cruel, betraying your sister by being with Alec?”

“I fell in love with him at first sight. At first, I tried to give up because he was my sister’s husband, but when I went to their mansion, I saw how they never talked. Alec always spoke to me instead. So I confessed before I got married, and he was so happy. He even said, ‘I regret not marrying you instead.’ Hearing that, I was overjoyed, so I invited him, and Alec accepted.”

“Emily… didn’t you feel bad for your fiancé?”

“I did… but I couldn’t leave Alec after hearing that he loved me. Besides, I love Paul too… they both loved me, and I couldn’t decide. But now that I’m pregnant, I have to choose. I don’t like Paul’s parents, especially his mother. She’s so annoying, and we’re not even married yet. That’s why I thought Alec, without parents, would be a better choice… but Alec has been in such a bad mood since my sister died.”

“……”

The doctor clenched his teeth, barely containing his anger. He realized Emily didn’t truly feel remorse for her sister or anyone else involved.

“…Why would Alec…”

“Huh? Did you say something, Doctor? Oh! Alec, did you finish talking with the priest?”

“Yeah… I’m going to greet the relatives… Doctor, can you take care of Emily?”

“No, please take Emily with you.”

The doctor spoke without looking at Alec, suggesting he take Emily along.

“Okay… Emily, let’s go.”

“Huh?! I’m going too?”

Emily showed a sullen face to Alec.

“If you don’t want to go, that’s fine.”

“Huh?!”

Alec started to walk away, leaving Emily behind, and she hurriedly chased after him.

Watching the two, the doctor turned his face to Sophia, who was sleeping in the coffin.

“…Sophia, please do not forgive your sister, Emily… Until she sincerely wishes to apologize for everything she has done, you must not forgive her… Just like Alec, she is someone who has taken your life away…”

The doctor continued to speak to Sophia, trembling beside the coffin.