To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 50
Only Sophia’s family, Alec, and the doctor attended Sophia’s burial. The relatives, still angered by Alec and Emily, couldn’t bring themselves to attend.
“Where are the others?”
“Ah… They’ve gone home… It’s just us now…”
“…I see…”
The priest knew why the relatives had left, but he didn’t say anything.
“E-excuse me… Are you Lady Sophia’s family?”
“Yes, we are… and you are…?”
“We frequently shopped at Lady Sophia’s store… We heard the rumors… and couldn’t believe it…”
The women, mourning beside the coffin, were regular customers at Alec’s shop.
“Would you mind if we joined you?”
“Thank you… Our daughter would be pleased.”
Five young noblewomen approached Sophia’s parents and were allowed to attend the burial.
“May we join you as well?”
“I… I visited the shop just two days ago… She seemed so well…”
Most of the people who had gathered after hearing about Sophia’s death were customers from the shop. Before long, a crowd had formed around Sophia’s coffin.
“Father… so many people…”
“…Thank you… I’m sure our daughter is happy to see you all…”
Sophia’s parents wept and expressed their gratitude to the gathered crowd. The burial began. The coffin was lowered into the ground, and one by one, each person placed white flowers and a handful of soil on the coffin, bidding their final farewells.
After Sophia’s parents and Emily said their goodbyes, Alec and the doctor offered their final farewells as well. Soil was then thrown onto the coffin, and the burial concluded.
Those who had attended the burial began to leave. Alec and the doctor remained standing by Sophia’s grave.
“…Doctor, I’ll return to the estate… I need to return my wife’s belongings…”
“You’re returning them… to her family home?”
“…Her parents asked for all of Sophia’s belongings to be returned… It’s only right that they be returned to her family…”
“…”
“You’re still here?”
Sophia’s parents and Emily walked towards Alec and the doctor.
“…Thank you… for allowing me to attend the burial…”
Alec bowed his head to his former in-laws, grateful that they had allowed him to be present.
“…She was the lady of the Parlis family, even though it was only for a year … If I hadn’t heard from my wife about you being Sophia first love, I would have refused to allow you to attend the funeral, even if you were her husband…”
“…”
Sophia’s father had learned from her mother that Sophia’s first love had been Alec.
“…We must visit Emily’s fiancé, the Colbert family, tomorrow… I’d like you to come with us.”
“…Yes, he mentioned it to me… I’ll accompany you tomorrow…”
“What?! Both of you are going to Paul’s estate?”
Emily cried out in surprise.
“Paul will likely inform his parents today… about you and the marquis… and about breaking off the engagement…”
“What?! I never said I was breaking up with Paul!”
“It’s already decided, even if you haven’t said it. Don’t you understand how much you’ve hurt Paul?!”
“B-but… I…”
“You’re coming with us tomorrow.”
“What?! Me too?”
“You were Paul’s fiancée… This all happened because of you… You’ll apologize with the marquis. Understand?!”
“But… I don’t like Paul’s mother… besides, I’m pregnant…”
Emily touched her belly, using her pregnancy as an excuse to avoid visiting the Colbert family.
“Sigh… Emily, that excuse won’t work with Lady Colbert… If you don’t apologize, it could affect our Lemoir family as well.”
“What?!”
“You won’t be going alone… We’ll be with you.”
“Father…”
Emily, tears welling in her eyes, resigned herself to visiting the Colbert estate.
═════ ◈ ═════ ◈ ═════ ◈ ═════ ◈ ═════
The young noblewomen who were regular customers at Alec’s shop began to talk amongst themselves after seeing Alec’s face.
“Did you see Master Alec’s face?”
“Yes, I did… He had several bruises… It looked like he’d been hit…”
“I thought so too… I wonder what happened?”
“I love Master Alec’s face… Seeing him like that was painful…”
“But why wasn’t Lady Sophia buried at the Parlis estate?”
“That’s what I was wondering. Even after death, she was still his wife, so I assumed she’d be buried with the Parlis family. I thought the funeral was over because no one was there.”
“Did her family request she be buried at her family home?”
The young noblewomen were curious about the bruises on Alec’s face and why Sophia had been buried with her own family.
“Wasn’t there a young woman with the family…? She had long, light-colored hair and a pretty face…”
“Are you talking about Lady Sophia’s younger sister?”
“What? She was her sister?! Oh, I see…”
The woman who had been curious about the young woman seemed relieved. Another woman spoke to her.
“Did something happen?”
“I’ve seen Master Alec with Lady Sophia’s sister several times at the shop I frequent…”
“What? Several times?”
“Yes, as you know, I often browse that shop, and I would often see Master Alec and her sister there… He always seemed to be with her, so I wondered who she was.”
“…Why would he be with her sister…? What about Lady Sophia?”
“Taking his sister-in-law out with him… that’s suspicious…”
“But Master Alec is known for being a serious man… Surely not…”
“But after seeing Master Alec’s face today…”
The four women, after hearing what their friend had said, began to suspect Alec and Emily.
Meanwhile, Sophia’s parents, still at the gravesite, told Alec they were leaving.
“…We’re heading back… What about you, Marquis?”
“…I’d like to stay here a while longer…”
“…I see… I look forward to seeing you tomorrow…”
“…Yes…”
Alec bowed to his father-in-law and stood beside Sophia’s grave. His father-in-law watched him for a moment, then walked towards his wife and Emily.
“Let’s go.”
“What about Alec? I’m going back with him.”
“You’re coming with us.”
“What?! Why? Alec will be alone.”
“…It’s best he’s alone right now. Let’s go.”
Emily wanted to stay with Alec, but since her father wouldn’t let go of her arm, she gave up and returned with her parents.
The doctor, observing Emily and her father, shook his head and watched Alec’s back without saying a word.
After a while, Alec began to speak to Sophia.
“…I need to pack your belongings to return to your family… I have nothing left of you now… I have to apologize to Emily’s fiancé tomorrow… Laugh at me… for pushing you away when you tried to speak to me, for losing everything… I can no longer speak to Emily like I used to… From now on, my days will be filled with regret…”
Alec continued to speak, believing Sophia was listening.
“…You wouldn’t want to hear this… I’ll come back again…”
Alec bid farewell to Sophia and spoke to the doctor.
“…I’ll return to the carriage… You probably want to speak with her as well.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yes…”
Alec told the doctor he could speak with Sophia and left for the carriage. The doctor stood before Sophia’s grave and offered a prayer.