CHAPTER 48…………………………………..
“Tea won’t be necessary.”
Saying this to his secretary, Regan closed the office door himself.
Yuan got up from his seat and walked toward Regan.
“What is it?”
“Just passing by, thought we could have lunch together.”
At Regan’s words, Yuan checked the time on his pocket watch. It was indeed time for lunch.
Yuan nodded as if acknowledging.
The two headed to a restaurant near the office.
It was a place known for its decent southern cuisine, one of Regan’s favorites. Sometimes Regan insisted on this restaurant so much that it seemed he would ask Yuan’s office just to come here.
Once the food arrived, they started eating while exchanging light conversation.
“But why did you rush into marriage? You said you were thinking about it for the end of the year or early next year.”
Regan put down his fork and asked.
“Serrett wanted it.”
“I see.”
Regan nodded at Yuan’s answer.
Yuan studied Regan’s expression while taking a sip of water, his gaze sharp as if checking whether Regan still held feelings for Serrett.
Seeing Regan’s usual expression, Yuan’s gaze softened. The Regan he knew wasn’t foolish enough to entertain thoughts about a married woman.
Yuan thought it was good they had rushed the marriage; it would have been troublesome if Regan’s feelings had deepened.
For a while after, Regan remained silent, eating without a word, and Yuan did the same, focusing on his meal.
Toward the end of the meal, Regan suddenly brought up a strange topic.
“Do you remember the white cat that lived in the palace when we were kids? It appeared out of nowhere one day.”
“A cat?”
Yuan frowned slightly at the sudden mention of a cat. He vaguely recalled the white cat from his memories.
When Yuan visited the palace as a child, the white cat would somehow appear and act affectionately toward him.
Although Yuan wasn’t particularly fond of animals, he wasn’t heartless enough to ignore a cat that followed him so loyally.
Yuan would hug or pet the white cat when it appeared, and eventually even prepared treats to give it.
But one day, the cat stopped appearing. At first, Yuan was a little upset, but he assumed it had gone elsewhere and stopped worrying.
Why was Regan suddenly bringing up that cat? Yuan looked at him curiously.
“The cat liked you a lot.”
“That’s true.”
“It just suddenly came to mind. That cat.”
Regan looked out the window, murmuring almost to himself.
“Nice weather for idle chatter, isn’t it?”
At Yuan’s comment, Regan laughed and turned his gaze back to him.
“I hope I can protect it properly this time.”
Regan’s eyes grew serious, and at his words, Yuan felt a physical pang in his chest. The sudden, unexplained pain made him frown.
‘Why did you do that! To that poor woman. Why!’
Somewhere, he heard Regan’s angry voice.
The image of an enraged Regan flashed through his mind. It was a memory, though he couldn’t tell from when. Yuan felt suffocated.
What memory is this? Yuan’s face hardened at the unfamiliar recollection.
“What’s wrong?”
Noticing Yuan’s odd state, Regan asked.
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
Yuan diverted the conversation.
For some reason, he felt an unusually strong desire to see Serrett.
He couldn’t get it out of his mind. In his past life, Regan had kept secretly watching the Duchess of Frektuester.
It was at a party hosted by the Marquis of Golding. Everyone was enjoying themselves in a lively atmosphere, but the Duchess seemed to know no one and had been alone all along.
Regan looked around anxiously for Yuan. Surrounded by people, Yuan was conversing happily with Lydia at his side.
‘Leaving the Duchess alone…’
Knowing Yuan’s personality well, Regan clicked his tongue lightly. There was no need to be cold toward the Duchess.
Unable to help himself, Regan approached the lone Duchess, carrying two glasses of champagne along the way.
“Duchess of Frektuester.”
Regan called Serrett gently. She looked up at him in surprise.
“Your Highness.”
Her voice trembled slightly. Seeing her intimidated expression, Regan silently scolded Yuan in his mind.
“Would you like some champagne?”
Regan handed a glass to Serrett.
“Thank you.”
She took it cautiously, unsure how to handle the attention of a Grand Duke.
She was from Morsely, right? Her innocence made Regan smile quietly.
“I just wanted to complain about your husband a bit.”
“Excuse me? The Duke?”
Serrett’s eyes widened, and she fidgeted nervously. Her face even paled, as if thinking Yuan had done something terribly wrong.
“Seeing such a beautiful wife left all alone was unbearable. If it were me, I wouldn’t leave her by herself.”
Regan took a sip of champagne and grinned.
Only then did Serrett relax, timidly smiling while fidgeting with the glass.
“The Duke is busy, after all.”
Serrett spoke as if to reassure him.
Seeing her like that, Regan thought Yuan really was a terrible man.
Regan stayed beside the generous Duchess. Eventually, Yuan approached and took Serrett away.
Watching them leave, Regan’s heart ached at the lonely sight of Serrett’s back.
“You terrible man, treat her better.”
Regan muttered, watching Yuan fade into the distance.
After that day, Regan found himself thinking about Serrett more often. Seeing her alone stirred a protective feeling in him.
He brought her popular Lua-style desserts to the ducal mansion. Serrett, instead of Yuan, greeted him.
Blushing, she thanked him for the treat. It was her first time trying it, and she seemed delighted.
On another day, wanting to see her smile, Regan brought flowers. Serrett’s joy at the gift made him very happy.
Gradually, Serrett transformed in Regan’s eyes from a pitiable woman to a cheerful one.
Yet, the more time passed, the darker her expression became. Even at delicious desserts, she only offered a faint smile.
He could feel her wasting away. Regan knew exactly what was causing it.
“Can’t you be a little kinder to the Duchess?”
One day while drinking together, Regan voiced what he had long wanted to say to Yuan.
Couldn’t he see his wife was withering beside him? Regan wanted to shout.
“It’s our marital problem.”
“Yuan.”
“You’re overstepping, Your Highness.”
Yuan glared at Regan.
“Since I’m overstepping, one more thing. Take care of the gossip about the Duchess circulating in society.”
“What’s your reason for this? Who is it for?”
Yuan’s ashen eyes gleamed coldly. Regan couldn’t tell what had been touched.
“For you and the Duchess. I can’t bear to see her suffer.”
“No need to worry. I’ll take care of my wife myself.”
Yuan stood and left Regan.
The next day, worried for Serrett, Regan went to the ducal mansion. In the parlor, Serrett looked exhausted, constantly trying to hide her neck with her hair.
Then Regan saw it—a red mark on her neck. Knowing who had caused it, he gave a bitter smile.
After that, Regan avoided visiting for a while. Meanwhile, sketches of Serrett began to pile up in his studio.
With them, his longing grew as well.
“Why did you do it! To that poor woman. Why!”
Regan grabbed Yuan by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
Serrett Frektuester had died. The sudden news drove Regan to rush to the ducal mansion by night train.
He couldn’t believe it. Her face, waiting eagerly for the birth of her child, flashed before him. He had seen her radiant smile after a long time.
‘I think I could live just for the child.’
Serrett had said with a calm smile.
Despite the difficult situation, she had found hope in the child and seemed genuinely happy. Regan wished for her true happiness as he handed her the gift of the baby.
Yet, the news a few months later was of the woman’s death.
Regan could not forgive Yuan.
“Why did you kill her! Why did you kill her!”
Staring into his empty, ashen eyes, Regan shouted.
Tears welled in Regan’s eyes. As he cried, he vowed: in the next life, he would recognize Serrett before Yuan and ensure no misfortune befalls her.
His sad vow fell to the ground as tears.
After finishing lunch with Yuan and heading home, Regan saw a long line outside a shop and stopped his carriage.
People leaving the store held long pastries topped with heaps of white cream that looked very sweet.
For some reason, he thought of Serrett. Regan told the driver to buy some from the store.
Soon after, the driver handed Regan a paper bag.
“These are Lua-style desserts called Écône. They’re very popular these days.”
“The name is cute.”
“I’ll take you to the Grand Ducal Mansion immediately.”
Regan shook his head at the driver.
“Let’s go to the Frektuester Ducal Mansion.”
For some reason, he wanted Serrett to receive this cutely named dessert. A happy smile spread across Regan’s face.
