Acidity of Regret Ch 3
- Dec 14, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
His deliberate steps cut through the night air, suddenly bringing him close to her.
Strangely, the balcony she had deemed incredibly spacious seemed instantly full. This was surely due to his sheer presence.
He stopped before the railing and lit his cigar.
Vanessa knew well that staring intently at someone without cause could be rude, yet she couldn't tear her eyes away from him.
Though she only saw his profile, he exuded a powerful handsomeness even in the dimly lit space. Bold, sharp lines accentuated his striking features.
His utterly dry demeanor seemed to confirm his absolute lack of interest in her. Perhaps this was why, despite being alone with him, Vanessa felt none of the awkward, choking discomfort she sometimes experienced when dealing with others.
Suddenly, he glanced her way as he smoked his cigar. Since she had been watching him, their eyes met naturally.
[Declan] "Need one?"
He must have interpreted her lingering gaze in that manner.
A cigar, offered to a lady?
Doubting her own ears, she couldn’t help but burst into an unintentional laugh, finding the suggestion both absurd and slightly amusing.
She couldn't tell if he lacked prejudice or lacked manners.
He paused, rooting around in his pocket as if ready to hand over a cigar the moment she nodded.
Seeing her laugh, he seemed to realize his misinterpretation and stopped.
[Declan] "Never mind. You kept staring."
[Vanessa] "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. I was just surprised to meet someone who is rarely seen..."
While the Grand Duke Vinkart did occasionally appear in the capital, his main residence was his Grand Duchy.
Furthermore, his visits to the capital were usually to report on military matters concerning the border, making his attendance at a banquet like this extremely rare.
Today was one of those select occasions.
Perhaps understanding the validity of her 'rarely seen' excuse, he said nothing more.
The conversation abruptly ceased after Vanessa’s reply.
He turned his back to her, leaning against the railing while smoking, and Vanessa, standing a fixed distance away, admired the view of the garden.
Because they exchanged no words, the two people, though in the same space, seemed thoroughly disconnected, like strangers.
But slowly, he began to encroach on her space. The gentle breeze started carrying the scent of tobacco. It was an aroma as unfamiliar as the man himself, and as potent as his presence.
Out of courtesy, he might have tried to mask the heavy fragrance, yet he showed no concern at all.
Vanessa had seen many men fluster themselves trying to look good in front of her, but this was the first man who didn't hide his true nature, which made her feel strangely intrigued.
It was unique and baffling, but above all, she felt a slight relief that she didn't have to maintain formality with him.
She would have been truly exhausted if she had to keep up appearances even in this secluded sanctuary; she sought a break.
The constant attention she had received since childhood had, at some point, become a poison.
With eyes following her wherever she went, she had no room to breathe.
Maintaining composure and dignity at all times was more exhausting than she could have imagined.
[Declan] "The Rohawks—is that the family said to have served the ancient Goddess?"
He suddenly spoke. The thick smoke flowing from his parted lips created an intriguing atmosphere.
The question, which caught her off guard, was directed not at her but at her family's heritage.
[Vanessa] "Yes, that's right. How did you know?"
[Declan] "Thanks to you, the origins of the Rohawk family have also become famous, haven't they?"
[Vanessa] "You know who I am?"
He let out a scoff, as if he had heard a ridiculous question.
[Declan] "Is there anyone in Ingzella who doesn't know you?"
She blinked in surprise.
It was unexpected. Since he had shown no flicker of interest or goodwill towards her, she had assumed he didn't know anything about her.
Not long after, she felt slightly embarrassed, realizing this thought bordered on arrogance. Just because he knew her didn't mean he had any reason to approach her warmly, like everyone else.
The Grand Duke, though a collateral member of the Imperial Family in Ingzella, was the undisputed master of his own Grand Duchy.
For a man of such authority, his current measured and serious demeanor was far more appropriate than flattering her with obsequious praise.
[Declan] "You recognized me instantly, too, didn't you?"
[Vanessa] "That is..."
[Declan] "Let's dispense with the false courtesy. We are both public figures."
As he said, both she and he were celebrities of the Empire, but the nature of their fame differed.
She earned attention and scrutiny due to the beautiful shell she was born with, while he earned the admiration of all for the imperial blood in his veins and his proven ability.
Hers was based on appearance; his was based on substance.
But feeling it was pointless to draw such boundaries, Vanessa merely nodded in reply.
[Declan] "This place is quite pleasant."
He had turned around again, leaning his arms on the railing just as Vanessa was, and smoothly brushed back his jet-black hair that fluttered in the wind.
Given his naturally cold aura, even his broad, exposed forehead conveyed a chilly impression.
Vanessa subtly took another sidelong look at him.
His hair was as black as night, and the impeccably tailored clothes he wore matched the color perfectly, a stark raven shade.
Since she was wearing an ivory gown, anyone seeing them from afar would likely deem them an ill-matched combination—like oil and water.
[Declan] "May I come here again?"
His question was quite unexpected.
It seemed this one-time spot he chose for a change of pace had genuinely appealed to him.
The fact that he was susceptible to such a minor pleasure softened his cold image slightly, and Vanessa gave a small smile.
[Vanessa] "You don't need to ask me that. This balcony is not my property, Your Grace, so you may come whenever you like..."
[Declan] "No."
[Vanessa] "..."
[Declan] "I meant you."
[Vanessa] "Pardon?"
[Declan] "If I come again, will you be here?"
She had been rendered speechless many times today, but she could affirm that his question was the most jarring.
For a moment, her mind went completely blank.
What did I just hear?
Vanessa attempted to decipher his intention but soon abandoned all thought.
She reasoned that the current atmosphere, alone with him on this secluded night, allowed her instinct to take over her reasoning.
[Vanessa] "Perhaps... I might be."
She simply accepted the ambiguous promise.
It felt as though her reason was swallowed whole by the serene night air.
Don't people sometimes get swept away by the moment, making decisions they cannot logically explain?
This was precisely the case for Vanessa.
It was a night at the banquet where her normally steady heart seemed to beat with an unusual speed.
*****
The next time she saw him was about three weeks later.
It was the Founding Day of the Ingzella Empire, which boasted thousands of years of glorious history.
The Grand Duke, acting as if he had never neglected social gatherings, readily attended this one as well.
The nobles of the Empire, amazed to see him again so soon, let out gasps of admiration.
Their reactions clearly conveyed the regret that such a handsome man should be confined only to his Grand Duchy.
Vanessa sensed that the forthcoming social events would be abuzz with talk of him.
When she first saw him, she had a thought.
He is a man far removed from my world.
But this time, she found herself inexplicably drawn to him. His presence kept surfacing, stirring her thoughts—an inevitable consequence of that memory on the balcony.
Their secret meeting today was little different from the previous one. He held his smoking cigar, and Vanessa stood beside him, looking down at the garden.
The few differences were that the distance between them had subtly narrowed, and the silence, unexpectedly, was not absolute; a conversation, however trivial, flowed between them.
But the talk was indeed insignificant—the taste of the wine served at the banquet, or the cheerful performance of the orchestra.
[Vanessa] "What kind of place is the Grand Duchy?"
Unlike most people, Declan showed no personal curiosity toward her. He maintained a line that others often crossed out of curiosity, adhering to it with a frigidity that felt almost clinical.
Perhaps as a reaction, she felt an answering curiosity about him.
She asked vaguely, unable to abruptly steer their simple conversation into a deep one. At the same time, she genuinely wondered about the place he called home.
Declan replied with a quiet demeanor, making it impossible to tell if he recognized her distinct interest.
[Declan] "It’s not significantly different from here. It is merely a place where people live."
[Vanessa] "I heard there are many places famous for their beautiful night scenery."
Even based on the secondhand facts she heard, The Grand Duchy of Vinkart resembled its master.
Every corner, she was told, suited the moonlit night better than the blazing midday sun.
Even the Chimre River, which bordered the Ingzella Empire, was said to have a more splendid nighttime view than a daytime one, holding the moon in its waters.
And this man, clad in black from head to toe, would surely blend perfectly into that magnificent backdrop without seeming out of place.
[Vanessa] "I often hear it praised as a place of great charm, and I'd like to visit if I ever have the chance."
[Declan] "It's hardly the kind of place to merit such high expectations from a Lady."
He held the cigar between his fingers and gave a faint smile.
[Declan] "As you know, it is merely a land carved out of a Forsaken Fortress. No matter how much charm it holds, it is embarrassing to compare it to the prosperous Ingzella Empire."
He spoke softly, tracing the history of their ancestral past.
His reaction suggested he was reluctant for her to take an interest in the Grand Duchy, which made her unable to continue the conversation.
Above all, she sensed that he wasn't entirely pleased with the land he governed. The reason wasn't completely unknown to her.
History books and common knowledge stated that the Vinkart Grand Ducal Family’s move to the North was a smooth event driven by their loyal will.
But the inside story was slightly different. They were the losers, banished from the fierce power struggle within the Imperial Family.
The preceding Grand Duke Vinkart, who shared blood with the Emperor, was betrayed by his siblings and sent North as part of their scheme.
The intent was to have his life extinguished by accident in that barren, desolate land.
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