If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

Nora, with her face covered by a headscarf, was walking in the duke estate’s garden. All day long, the sky was full of clouds, and even at night, the moon was barely visible. It was so dark that she could barely see her feet, but she couldn’t carry a lantern. She was afraid of being noticed by others.

 

Soon, Nora arrived at a small door surrounded by vines. It was a side door where the servants came and went.

 

From the other side, there was a soft knock on the door.

 

“…Is it you, Master?”

 

“Yes, it’s me.”

 

Anthony’s voice came in response to the whispered question.

 

Nora opened the door with the key she had brought. Then, a small light appeared from the other side of the door.

 

“Turn off the lantern. We might get caught by others.”

 

Nora hurriedly said.

 

“Okay. I got it.”

 

As instructed, Anthony turned off the lantern. Only after he entered did Nora realize that Anthony was not alone.

 

“Master, you didn’t came alone…!”

 

Anthony was with a man who was a head shorter and skinny. Anthony shrugged nonchalantly.

 

“Oh, this guy? Don’t worry about him. I just brought him because I have something to ask him.”

 

“What are you going to do? You clearly said you came to get your late mother’s keepsake!”

 

“Yes. That’s right. But I need this guy’s help.”

 

“Master…!”

 

“Don’t worry. I won’t let Nora get hurt. I told you.”

 

“…”

 

“Let’s go in quickly. We can’t get caught.”

 

“…Master.”

 

After patting Nora’s shoulder lightly, Anthony gestured. Then, the short man began to follow Anthony.

 

Nora, not knowing what to do, stood still in her place, then hurriedly ran towards the servant’s quarters as if fleeing.

 

****

 

Anthony entered the mansion again through the side door.

 

Despite the late hour, small lanterns were lit at regular intervals in the corridor. Anthony moved carefully so as not to make a sound.

 

According to Nora’s information, even at dawn, a duty butler assistant patrols every hour. He came during the patrol time, so he should be safe for the next 30 minutes.

 

The destination was Daryl’s office.

 

The talk about the keepsake of his mother to Nora was, of course, a lie to stimulate her sympathy.

 

‘Even if there were such keepsakes, she wouldn’t have left them to me.’

 

Anthony chuckled sarcastically.

 

“Is it here?”

 

Tommy, who he brought along, asked while looking at the office door.

 

“Yes. How long will it take to open it?”

 

“It won’t take long.”

 

Tommy, a pretty good thief, took out a few tools from his pocket and started to pick the lock. He was a true expert in this field, having been active for over ten years without ever being caught.

 

As Tommy promised, it didn’t take 30 seconds to open the office door. After they entered the office, they carefully closed the door. And then they turned on the lantern.

 

“There should be a safe behind the desk.”

 

Tommy nodded at Anthony’s words and walked to the desk. When he moved the chair, a large and sturdy metal safe was revealed inside.

 

A twisted smile appeared on Anthony’s lips.

 

‘I’ll make you pay for looking down on me.’

 

He had Nora on board with this plan from the beginning. As soon as he heard that Daryl was away on a business trip, Anthony put his plan into action that night.

 

It was clear that the safe contained not only cash but also various rights to the duke family’s property and important contracts.

 

If he could rob the safe, he could not only overcome his poor situation, but also give Daryl a taste of his own medicine.

 

Tommy laid out more and more complex tools than before and started working.

 

As expected, it wasn’t as simple as picking a lock, and it took quite a long time.

 

“…Are we there yet?”

 

About 30 minutes later, Anthony asked in an anxious voice.

 

“We’re almost there.”

 

“Hurry up. The sun will rise at this rate.”

 

“I’m doing it quickly.”

 

However, Tommy’s attitude was far from hurried, at least in Anthony’s view.

 

How much more time had passed? 10 minutes? 15 minutes? Just as Anthony was about to urge him again, there was a clanking sound and the safe door opened.

 

“It’s done.”

 

Anthony, with sparkling eyes, rushed to the safe and pushed Tommy away.

 

There wasn’t as much cash as he had expected.

 

The same was true for the land rights. Almost all that was inside were business contracts.

 

‘Damn it. Did I get it wrong?’

 

Maybe he should have gone to the Lilac Room. But it was too dangerous to go there now.

 

‘I have to come back another day… No, but would Nora help me again? Damn it.’

 

Anthony spat out a small curse and rummaged through the documents in the safe.

 

“You have to pay me as promised.”

 

“Shut up. I know.”

 

At Tommy’s words, Anthony replied in a sharp voice.

 

Anthony’s hand, which had been rummaging through the safe, suddenly stopped.

 

‘What is this?’

 

There was a fairly thick envelope in the very back of the safe. Thinking that it might be an important land right, Anthony’s hands got busy.

 

When he took out what was inside, Anthony narrowed his eyes.

 

“…What is this? A letter?”

 

Anthony read the paper one by one with a serious expression.

 

“What is it?”

 

Tommy asked as if curious, but there was no answer from Anthony.

 

“Ha…”

 

After reading the letter, Anthony let out a sigh of disappointment. Then it turned into a laugh of disbelief.

 

“Ha, haha. Haha…”

 

Tommy stared at Anthony, who was laughing, without knowing why.

 

“That’s right, that’s what happened…I was right. Would that bastard be under someone? Tsk, tsk tsk tsk…”

 

“…”

 

Now Tommy also had an expression as if he was looking at a madman. Anthony slowly got up from his seat.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Why? What’s in that letter?”

 

“You’ll find out in a few days.”

 

Anthony said coldly. His eyes were flashing with a light that was like madness.

 

***

 

“I can’t believe we’re back in the capital…”

 

Layla grumbled as if complaining inside the carriage.

 

Layla and Joshua had stayed in a coastal city famous for its resorts for a week and had just returned to the capital.

 

Layla seemed to quite like spending leisurely time on the scenic beach, and she had said several times that she was sorry that the honeymoon was over.

 

“So I said you could stay longer if you wanted.”

 

“No. Eleanor is waiting.”

 

“It’s not like she’s really waiting, right? You just want to see her…”

 

“No, she definitely promised to wait in Wembury until we come back from our honeymoon.”

 

Layla said, narrowing her eyes. Joshua coughed and looked away.

 

“Then you should be happy to meet your beloved Miss Townsend. People are inconsistent.”

 

“What, Joshua. Are you jealous?”

 

“What’s going to change now if I’m jealous, my madam?”

 

At Joshua’s words, Layla’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

 

“You mean you’re jealous, right?”

 

“Ah, we’ve arrived.”

 

Joshua said, looking out the window. Layla pouted her lips.

 

“You’re avoiding the subject.”

 

The carriage soon entered the Earl of Sheppard residence.

 

It was the residence of Joshua’s parents, the Earl and Countess Sheppard, and also the house where Layla would live with Joshua in the future.

 

As soon as they got off the carriage, they saw Sarah, Layla’s dedicated maid from her time living in the Duke’s residence, coming to meet them. She had come to the Earl of Sheppard’s residence a few days earlier to prepare for Layla’s arrival.

 

But Sarah’s expression was not normal.

 

“…Miss.”

 

“What’s wrong, Sarah?”

 

Sarah, with her faintly trembling hand, firmly held Layla’s hand.

 

“Please brace yourself and listen to me, Miss.”

 

“…”

 

Layla’s face clouded with anxiety and fear.

 

****

The Daily Post was a newspaper that competed for first and second place in the capital.

 

Today’s newspaper, published in the morning by the Daily Post, devoted pages 1 to 3 entirely to a special article.

 

[Shock! The secret surrounding former Duke Frederick Lloyd and the Townsend family is finally revealed!]