To Those Who Regretted After I Died - Chapter 7
“…That’s enough… Please display the portrait of you and Emily as part of the family legacy…”
“W-Wait a moment! We can call another artist to paint one with you together…”
“Alec, once it’s framed, it can’t be removed. It will take months to order another one…”
“Ugh…”
“I’ll take a break from work for a few days, so… I’ll take my leave now.”
As Sophia left the room, she held back tears and returned to her room, stifling her cries.
Before she knew it, Sophia had fallen asleep on the bed, though her mind was still troubled about the portrait.
“How long have I been asleep…? What happened to the portrait?”
Rising from the bed, Sophia heard voices from the hallway. She opened the door slightly and listened to Alec and Emily’s conversation.
“Please cheer up, Emily. I was also at fault earlier.”
“I can’t believe I’m being scolded for a painting!”
“I’ll buy you your favorite things to cheer you up.”
“Really?! I saw a lovely piece of jewelry when I went shopping last time! Can we go buy it now?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
“Yay! I’m so happy! Let’s hurry!”
As Sophia listened to Alec and Emily descending the stairs, she felt a pang in her heart.
(He doesn’t care about me at all…)
When the two reached the entrance and were about to open the door, a doctor entered the mansion from outside.
“Marquis!?”
“What? Oh, it’s the doctor. What brings you here?”
“Huh? What do you mean? I heard your wife was feeling unwell…”
“The maid must have called you. My wife is in her room.”
“Understood…”
The doctor noticed the woman standing next to Alec.
“Alec, let’s hurry inside.”
“Yeah, right. I’m heading out now.”
“Wait! Sir, what about your wife…”
“I’m leaving now. If there’s anything, just tell the butler.”
“…O-Okay…”
After finishing his conversation with the doctor, Alec left with Emily.
“Sigh… The Marquis can be so troublesome…”
“Excuse me? That woman beside Sir Alec earlier… Is she a relative?”
The doctor asked the butler, wanting to know who Emily was.
“A relative? Well… Lady Emily is the marchioness sister.”
“Oh… So she’s the marchioness sister… She was holding onto Marquis arm, so I thought she was someone else… Hmm?”
The doctor seemed puzzled and tilted his head, realizing something was off.
“Doctor, I’ll show you to madam room.”
The maid called out and led the doctor to Sophia’s room.
“…May I ask a question? I just came back to the mansion after a long time, but when did you change the interior decor…?”
The doctor was surprised and bewildered by the current state of the mansion. The many windows were adorned with pink curtains, the carpets were all pink, and pink flowers were arranged in vases.
(When did the Parlis family become so pink…?)
“…Sigh… I hear that’s the color Lady Emily likes…”
“What?”
“Madam complained, but master ignored her and let Lady Emily decide the decor…”
“W-What?!”
The doctor was confused but couldn’t ask anything more as he was led into Sophia’s room.
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Sophia was gazing out the window of her room.
Knock, knock!
“Madam, the doctor is here.”
“The doctor!?”
The doctor, who was led into the room, bowed and greeted her.
“It’s been a while, madam. I hope you are doing well.”
In his thirties, the doctor had become the private physician for the Parlis family and was recognized for his skills despite his young age.
“It’s been a while, doctor. What brings you here today?”
“I came to check on your health.”
(It must have been the butler or the head maid who called him…)
Thinking that since he had come all this way, Sophia decided to undergo a check-up.
“…Have you been eating well?”
“Eh!?”
“I see you’ve lost weight since the last time I saw you… Is something troubling you?”
“……”
Sophia wanted to talk to the doctor about her husband infidelity with her sister Emily…
“…I’ve been busy with work lately… and I haven’t had much of an appetite…”
“Are you working alongside your husband?”
“Yes… at the store as well…”
“I see. Marques is fortunate to have married someone like you. He must be very happy.”
The doctor smiled and expressed how envious he was of Alec.
“…Is that so…?”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it’s nothing… Thank you for today… It was nice talking with you, doctor.”
“I’m glad to see you too, madam.”
After leaving Sophia’s room, the doctor felt concerned about her lack of energy.
(…Last time we met, she was smiling, but today she seems downcast…)
The doctor was also curious about the changes in the mansion and was worried about Alec.
(Even if she mentions feeling unwell, she doesn’t seem to change her expression… I might need to come by to check on her again…)
With these thoughts, the doctor left the mansion, feeling uneasy.
A few days later, Alec continued to entrust Sophia with work while enjoying tea in the garden with Emily.
“…Madam, you should take a break… You haven’t looked well lately…”
“Thank you… When I work, I can forget the unpleasant things…”
“Madam…”
(I know everyone is worried about me… But even if I stay in my room, I end up remembering things I don’t want to… When I work, I can do things without thinking about anything…)
“Madam… It’s hard for me to say, but wouldn’t it be better to send Lady Emily back to home…?”
“Eh…?”
“Since Lady Emily came, Marques has changed, and there have been days when he doesn’t work… If this continues, the story of Lady Emily will spread among the relatives, and the Parlis family may face trouble…”
“…I have talked to my husband about Emily… But he didn’t listen to me… I’m sorry… I invited Emily to the mansion…”
“No… You don’t need to apologize, madam… It’s master fault… Also, another maid has decided to leave…”
“Eh!? I heard one left last week… and now another this week… What’s the reason?”
“…Well…”
“…Is it because of Emily again…!?”
“…Lady Emily told your husband that a maid had stained her clothes, and it seems that the maid was scolded for it… She had worked with us for many years and said to us, ‘This is frustrating,’ before leaving…”
“……”
I can’t even stop my husband from being led around by Emily; I couldn’t help but feel that I was nothing more than a wife in name.