Acidity of Regret Ch 111
- Mar 1
- 9 min read
After fainting and waking up, Vanessa gradually reclaimed her daily routine.
Of course, not in perfect form. Her shoulder still throbbed with a stiff ache whenever she moved, and her ankle required constant bandaging, forcing her into an involuntary limp.
Consequently, she spent several days confined to her bed.
The fact that Declan was in the same mansion remained lodged in her mind like a thorn, but as if he knew it, he didn't come near her room. Dina also mentioned she hadn't encountered a single one of his soldiers.
The first person to visit her after she had recovered somewhat was the Former Count of Evarn.
[Former Count] "I was frightened out of my wits. I sensed it before, but you have a talent for startling people, Vanessa."
[Vanessa] "I am sorry......"
[Former Count] "This time, I believe I deserve an apology. How could you think to jump into such a perilous situation yourself?"
He spoke as if scolding a child, but his underlying tone was closer to concern.
Sitting on a chair near the bed, he rubbed his forehead with the look of a man who had aged ten years in a single day.
[Former Count] "It is a relief beyond words that you are safe. If anything had happened to you, how could I ever face Count Rohawk again?"
[Vanessa] "Thank you for not informing my father, sir."
[Former Count] "I am still not certain if this is the right thing to do......"
[Vanessa] "Since it has already been resolved well, I think my father would be greatly shocked if he knew. He isn't young anymore, and I didn't want to trouble him with unnecessary worries."
During the three days Vanessa lay unconscious, the Former Count had been more frantic than anyone. Not knowing what to do, he had eventually tried to write a letter to the Rohawk estate in the capital, but she had woken up just in time to stop him.
Even after that, the Former Count had suggested several times that it might be better to inform him, urging her to reconsider. But Vanessa shook her head firmly. She had already caused her father enough worry with her affairs; she didn't want to burden him further.
[Former Count] "Anyway, I wonder how I should repay the Grand Duke for this grace...... From dealing with the bandits to saving you."
He wore a look of utter perplexity as he recalled the heavy hitter who had suddenly intervened in this incident.
Listening to his continued words, it seemed he had been told that Declan had coincidentally met the bandits while coming down to this area, and things had unfolded from there.
The Former Count didn't know that the Grand Duke was directly entangled in the reason she had come to this territory. It was because both Count Rohawk and she herself had kept completely silent regarding him.
He would likely faint from shock if he learned that Declan had been sticking to his territory for three years. And that was the reason, solely to see her.
Vanessa, who had been smiling silently, casually asked the question she had been curious about.
[Vanessa] "I heard the Grand Duke is staying at this mansion......"
[Former Count] "Yes. Ah, Vanessa, you hurt your ankle, so you wouldn't have been able to visit him. Like you, he suffered from a high fever for a while, but fortunately, he has recovered enough that it won't hinder his movements."
He let out a sigh of relief, as if it were a stroke of luck. From his position, he couldn't help but be mindful of Declan.
To think they fell off a cliff together, endured the cold, and then suffered from fever side by side. There seemed to be no funnier coincidence than this.
[Former Count] "Still, thanks to him dealing with the bandits cleanly, the biggest headache has been resolved. There are no longer any problems with your returning to the capital. Ah, of course, that is a story for after you have fully recovered."
[Vanessa] "...I should offer my thanks."
[Former Count] "Right? So, I am thinking of having a dinner banquet with him tomorrow. Vanessa, how about you attend as well?"
[Vanessa] "Yes. I will."
[Vanessa] "Not at all."
[Former Count] "Then rest well now without any worries."
Vanessa stared blankly at the bedroom door the Former Count had closed behind him.
Only after hearing his words did she realize that before the incident occurred, she had resolved to return to the capital.
Of course, as he said, she would have to stay put and recuperate here until her injuries were fully healed......
[Vanessa] "......"
She turned her gaze toward the window. The snow that had been falling about a week ago had stopped before she knew it.
A week. It was hard to believe that a whole week had already passed since the incident in the cave. In reality, she had spent half of those seven days groaning in sickness, so it was as good as having wasted them meaninglessly.
[Former Count] "There are no longer any problems with your returning to the capital."
Chewing over the words that lingered particularly in her mind, Vanessa looked out the window aimlessly.
The time for the banquet arrived faster than expected.
The pain in her shoulder had eased significantly, but her ankle still throbbed, so Vanessa headed to the dining hall with Dina's support.
Before long, she spotted Shiron standing stock-still in front of the massive doors and paused. The presence of that knight was as good as saying that Declan had already arrived.
Shiron discovered her and offered a silent bow. She watched him for a moment before carefully stepping inside the door Dina opened.
[Former Count] "Vanessa. You've come?"
The Former Count, seated at the head of the table, approached and personally attended to her. She only discovered Declan seated opposite her after she sat in the seat he guided her to.
In fact, since the dining hall doors opened, she had noticed a persistent gaze directed at her. She felt Declan busily examining her while pretending not to. She feigned ignorance of that look.
[Former Count] "Thank you for accepting the invitation to the banquet, Your Grace. It is a genuine relief that you have recovered without any issues."
[Declan] "I am truly pleased to be invited."
The banquet for the three of them was quickly prepared. She took the opportunity while Declan conversed with the Former Count to sneak a peek at him.
It was the first time facing him since she lost consciousness in the cave.
They said Declan had carried her all the way here with sheer grit, as if possessed by a sense of responsibility, and fainted on the spot. That was proof he had been enduring with clenched teeth until then.
She heard he had a fever just like hers, but he seemed to have recovered cleanly; his complexion looked quite good. The bandage wrapped around his hand remained, though......
[Former Count] "Vanessa?"
Suddenly, Declan's head turned toward her. Only then did she realize the Former Count had called her name.
[Vanessa] "Yes, sir."
[Former Count] "You are unusually quiet today. Is the setting awkward?"
[Vanessa] "No. I suppose it's because I was a bit hungry. The food today is especially delicious."
[Former Count] "I instructed them to prepare it with special care for the Grand Duke."
Declan, who was lifting his glass to wet his throat, gave a faint smile at those words.
[Declan] "Just hearing that makes me feel full."
[Former Count] "By the way, what business brought Your Grace all the way to this distant county?"
The question he asked without much thought caused a violent ripple like a stone thrown into a lake. It simultaneously tensed the man and woman facing each other.
Their eyes clashed quickly once, then crossed paths. Vanessa lowered her gaze, and Declan looked back at the Former Count. He moved his lips for a long time as if choosing his answer, then spoke.
[Declan] "I came down because I had important business."
[Former Count] "Important business meaning......"
[Declan] "I cannot say that much."
[Former Count] "Oh, I have overstepped."
Knowing now without a doubt that the 'important business' was her, she poked at the innocent meat with her knife.
[Former Count] "May I ask until when you plan to stay?"
[Declan] "Nothing has been decided yet."
[Former Count] "Then how about staying at my mansion until you return to the Duchy? I wish to repay you for resolving the troublesome bandit issue."
As soon as he heard his generous offer, Declan looked back at Vanessa.
She had been staring blankly at the pattern of the tablecloth, but as if reacting to that, she lifted her eyes. The blue pupils, whose meaning she couldn't read in the past, were now revealing his inner thoughts as if begging her to read them.
[Declan] "If you hate it, I won't."
The whisper from the cave, where the resonance was exceptionally distinct, came to mind.
She callously withdrew her gaze.
She was a little curious. What judgment would he make of her reaction, which was close to no response?
Since trust had already been completely shattered, Vanessa didn't believe him. Even if he said the sun was floating in the sky, she would doubt it if it came from his mouth.
Although she couldn't look into it cool-headedly in the cave because her emotions were intensifying, now it was different. She wanted to distinguish whether the words his tongue had spat out were sincere or empty words based on the psychology of just begging blindly for now.
Before long, he spoke to the Former Count.
[Declan] "I am grateful for the favor, but I am fine."
[Former Count] "......"
[Declan] "I have already secured a place to stay."
Her fingertips, holding the knife, curled round.
The kindness the Former Count offered without knowing anything was a clear opportunity for him. An opportunity to confidently stay under one roof with the existence he had only stolen glances at for three years.
The Declan of before would have grabbed it and then some. No, without even needing to grab it, he was the type of person who would have stepped up and led the situation to become that way.
However, he calmly refused. He had accepted her non-response in that way that she didn't want him to do so.
[Former Count] "Yes? Already? Even so, it would be better to stay at my mansion if possible......"
[Declan] "I."
[Former Count] "......"
[Declan] "I am satisfied just being able to be in this territory."
It wasn't an answer to the Former Count. It was a plea dedicated to Vanessa. Asking her to please withdraw the farewell from three years ago and allow him to be by her side, even from a distance.
[Declan] "Of course, I don't know when I will have to return, either."
When she showed no reaction this time as well, he hurriedly added.
He was walking on eggshells even while pleading. It meant he would return immediately if she didn't want it.
[Former Count] "Hmm......"
The Former Count shut his mouth, seemingly unable to understand his words well. His status was a Grand Duke, so if he wanted to stay, he stayed, and if not, he didn't; he spoke so ambiguously, as if the decision-making power was held in someone else's hand, so he couldn't help but be confused.
[Vanessa] "...Since he says so, perhaps we should leave it at that."
It was she who broke the silence hanging over the table.
[Vanessa] "If you keep insisting, sir, His Grace will also feel uncomfortable staying."
I don't know.
Reason insisted on maintaining non-response this time too, but instinct parted her lips as it pleased. Vanessa herself was surprised by the words that came out of her mouth.
However, he had only watched silently for three years. Furthermore, he had saved not only her but also Dina and Siden with this incident, so wouldn't it be okay to allow him that much?
She persuaded herself, questioning why it was such a big deal when they weren't even in the same mansion, just the same territory.
Whether the body heat he shared with her naked that day had finally penetrated her frozen insides, she made an unexpected judgment.
[Former Count] "Oh dear, I must have been stubborn out of gratitude. It is fine anytime, so if you change your mind, please stay at the mansion."
The atmosphere was refreshed by the Former Count's hearty laugh.
Vanessa stole a glance at Declan sitting opposite her. Over his wide-eyed face, an emotion that was calm yet strangely overwhelming rippled like waves at dawn. He had realized that with her words just now, she had allowed him to stay in this territory.
[Declan] "......I will."
He put down the knife and fork he was holding for a moment and washed his face with dry hands.
Afterward, his distractedly rolling gaze, his hand needlessly fiddling with his neatly tied cravat, and his somewhat unsettled behavior resembled the appearance of someone extremely overwhelmed with emotion.
Comments