Acidity of Regret Ch 47
- Jan 5
- 8 min read
Though she had spoken the words herself, she found it hard to believe. Like a prisoner on death row awaiting sentencing, she had been unable to escape her anxiety for the past three days, dreading the very reunion that was happening now.
She had been plagued by the fear that this dreamlike situation would vanish the moment she closed and opened her eyes.
Would she be forced to return to Declan’s side, suppressing her emotions just to survive? Or worse, would she fall into an even deeper well of agony than before? She had been treading water in a sea of such relentless unease.
Yet, seeing him now—struggling to accept the situation and lashing out—brought a sudden, sharp sense of reality.
[Vanessa] "Is that not so, Your Grace?"
At the cold, distant title she used, his face contorted completely. Rage surged like a violent tide within his blue eyes, which usually remained so poised. Vanessa suspected her own eyes mirrored that same tempestuous heat.
Finally, Declan exhaled a heavy breath and swept his disheveled black hair. When his gaze sharpened, looking as if it were laced with venom beneath his marble-like brow, Vanessa flinched instinctively.
In a single stride, he closed the distance between them.
[Declan] "'To cherish and love one another, through every temptation and hardship...'"
Before she could retreat, he seized her wrist with a grip so crushing it felt as if her bones might snap, and pulled her toward him. Their chests were so close they nearly touched. However, the sheer pressure of his hand on her arm left her no room to be conscious of their proximity.
[Declan] "'...and that even death shall not sever this bond.'"
[Vanessa] "..."
[Declan] "That is the vow we swore. It is the proof that you are my wife, Vanessa."
He emphasized every single word, as if branding them into her mind. His biting tone scraped painfully against her insides.
No.
But that was merely an unconscious reaction triggered by her memories of fearing him before the regression.
Vanessa stopped trying to wrench her wrist away and looked him dead in the eye. Those blue eyes, which she had once considered gentle, were now hardened with obsession and stubbornness.
[Vanessa] "A vow...?"
Her lips curled upward, as if she had just heard a particularly amusing joke.
[Vanessa] "I have never made such a vow."
It was an absolute lie. She remembered the chapel where they spoke those words, the wedding proceedings that followed, and the exact moment they had signed the contract in his study. She remembered every detail with agonizing clarity.
But she shook her head with a composed expression, genuinely hoping to drive him to the brink of frustration.
At her brazen denial, the aura surrounding Declan grew even more lethal.
[Declan] "Never made it?"
He let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
[Declan] "Do you think you can lie your way out of this? In our marriage contract—"
[Vanessa] "There is no marriage contract."
She cut him off bluntly.
It didn't take long for the weight of her words to sink in. Even if the memory of writing it was vivid for both of them, no such physical evidence existed in the past they had returned to.
Vanessa twisted her wrist out of his grip while he stood there, momentarily stunned. She had already managed to escape him twice today; the success of it was actually exhilarating.
[Vanessa] "Which means..."
[Declan] "..."
[Vanessa] "I am not your wife."
I am not a possession you can oppress and persecute at your whim.
Vanessa let her gaze convey the words that remained bunched up in her throat.
A cold wind whistled between them, emphasizing the distance in their standoff.
Suddenly, she felt that even arguing with him was a waste of time. Knowing he had also returned made her heart race with a new kind of urgency. It meant she had no idea how he might try to dismantle her life this time.
She couldn't be foolish enough to let herself be victimized again when she knew exactly what the outcome would be. She refused to go through it twice. She would not lose her precious family to his petty, despicable schemes again.
Therefore, she had to meet the Crown Prince, Hayden, as soon as possible.
Vanessa turned to leave the corridor. Only then did she remember Elliot’s earnest request. If he had returned to the banquet hall and realized she was gone, he might be pale with worry. She couldn't afford to waste another second bickering here.
But.
[Declan] "Where do you think you're going?"
His tenacity exceeded her expectations. His hand shot out again, pulling her back with even more force than before.
[Vanessa] "Let go of—"
Before she could snap at him, a silver blade flashed between them.
Vanessa gasped and saw Elliot, who had appeared out of nowhere. His face was drenched in sweat, likely from running everywhere to find her.
Declan, having let go of her instinctively, stared indifferently at the blade held inches from his face. Then, his eyes slowly shifted to identify the man holding the sword.
As if belatedly remembering an existence he had forgotten, he let out a sharp, jagged laugh.
[Declan] "Ah... right. I forgot about this one."
Immediately, a shadow-like presence moved stealthily beside him. The sharp clang of metal against metal rang out. Shiron had emerged from the darkness, parrying Elliot’s sword away from his master.
The two knights now held their blades against each other, protecting their respective masters. The tension in the air was pulled taut.
[Elliot] "My Lady. Do you know this man?"
Elliot stood in front of Vanessa like an iron wall, his gaze fixed on the threat.
Seeing the knight protect her so fiercely made Declan’s eyes flash. He had long since lost his composure, and the sight of an "annoying obstacle" standing between him and Vanessa seemed to fuel his growing fury.
She stared at Declan and answered.
[Vanessa] "...No."
The flat, simple denial drew everyone’s attention to her.
[Vanessa] "The Grand Duke appears to have mistaken me for someone he knows well."
She felt his gaze—the heaviest and most predatory of all—burning into her.
[Vanessa] "Because today is the very first time I have ever met His Grace."
She spoke without a hint of hesitation, looking straight at Declan.
He had no grounds to protest. It was the truth of this timeline. No one present would doubt her words.
In the life before her regression, this was undeniably the day Vanessa Rohawk met Declan Vinkart for the first time.
She had tried so hard to avoid him, but the Goddess' whims had brought them together again, even though she had gone so far as to change her dress to avoid repeating that day. It felt like an omen from the heavens—a sign that fate could not be subverted, no matter how much she struggled.
...Still, perhaps she should be grateful that their first meeting hadn't taken place on that romantic balcony.
[Vanessa] "Let us return, Elliot."
Vanessa reached out and gently pushed down Elliot’s sword arm.
Her calm demeanor suggested that her encounter with Declan was nothing more than a minor misunderstanding.
Despite her command, Elliot remained on guard, looking at the Grand Duke with suspicion. He had seen the rough manner in which the Duke had grabbed her. Furthermore, the way the Duke was looking at her now...
[Vanessa] "Elliot."
She tugged at his sleeve.
She didn't want to spend another second with Declan or Shiron. Those two were responsible for Elliot’s death in the past.
Being in this place where swords were drawn and tension was high made her feel as though tragedy was about to repeat itself. She couldn't bear it.
[Elliot] "...My apologies, Your Grace."
He sheathed his sword, offered a hollow apology, and turned away.
[Elliot] "Let us go, My Lady."
Vanessa walked beside him, making a conscious effort not to look back. She could feel his gaze—smoldering like the sun—fixed firmly on her back.
Her heart thrashed against her ribs. She felt as though he might chase after her at any moment, grab her wrist, pin her against a wall, and oppress her once more. She felt as though he might drag her back to that prison of a bedroom.
Her legs felt as stiff as rusted iron, but she forced them to move.
Holding her breath in suspense, she finally rounded the corner. Only then did she lean against the wall and exhale a long, heavy sigh.
[Elliot] "My Lady."
Elliot, startled by her sudden stumbling, hurried to support her.
Instead of answering, she waved a hand and took a deep breath. She needed to steady her heart, which was tossing and turning like a ship caught in a violent storm.
[Vanessa] "I'm fine."
[Elliot] "..."
[Vanessa] "I am quite alright."
She had said it to ease his worry, but the words soon became a way of comforting herself.
The shock of running into him like this was immense. To think Declan remembered everything, just as she did. His murderous gaze, sharp enough to make her hair stand on end, was despairing. She knew all too well how relentless and coercive he could be.
But it’s different now.
What about that stunned expression on his face earlier?
Thinking that she was the one who had caused it brought a flood of conflicting emotions. It was actually a bit thrilling.
At the thought that she would achieve revenge without regrets this time, hope began to rise even amidst the despair.
[Vanessa] "Did you find out where the Crown Prince is?"
She pulled her scattered thoughts together and asked.
[Elliot] "Yes. When I told him you wished to speak with him privately, he said he would wait for you on the second-floor balcony."
Without another word, she headed toward the destination Elliot led her to.
It would be a lie to say she did not react to the words "second-floor balcony." The path to meet the Crown Prince, Hayden, was the same path she had taken to meet Declan before the regression.
Because of that, despite being given this chance, she felt a nagging anxiety that she was being foolish again. She shook her head, trying to clear away the useless thoughts.
[Vanessa] "Wait here."
Upon reaching the balcony, she gave the order to her knight, then opened the door and stepped inside alone.
Hayden, who had been leaning against the railing looking at the view, turned around as he heard her approach. His silver hair fluttered softly in the breeze.
Standing by the door, Vanessa placed a hand over her heart and offered a polite bow.
[Vanessa] "I greet the Crown Prince."
[Hayden] "Lady Rohawk."
He welcomed her with a gentle, smiling gaze.
[Vanessa] "May I approach you, Your Highness?"
[Hayden] "Of course."
He answered readily, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
She moved closer, observing him.
Though Hayden and Declan were distantly related by blood, their differences were far more striking than their similarities. While both were handsome enough to capture the hearts of many, the auras they projected were vastly different.
If Declan was silent and solemn, projecting an air that made it difficult to approach him, Hayden was easygoing and warm, creating an atmosphere where others felt comfortable coming to him.
For that reason, Hayden was exceptionally popular among the young ladies of the nobility. With his striking looks, noble lineage, and a personality that lacked any sharp edges, it was hard to imagine anyone disliking him.
[Vanessa] "Ah, I wish you a very happy birthday, Your Highness."
Realizing it was his birthday, she hurried to offer her congratulations.
Hayden looked surprised for a moment, his eyes widening before he offered a shy smile and a nod.
He likely smiled that way for everyone who congratulated him today. Every action he took was soft and approachable.
If Declan brought to mind a winter pine tree, this man was reminiscent of a spring breeze.
Comments