If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

“…If you really don’t intend to go back, I’ll go to my room.”

 

“It would be better not to if you care about other people’s eyes.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because being in this room at least gives you an excuse.”

 

Eleanor’s eyebrows narrowed in confusion. Daryl chuckled. She was always smart about everything else, but why was she so naive about this? Or was she pretending to be?

 

“I didn’t know that everyone saw me grabbing your hand and pulling you out. Didn’t I look like a groom who was just waiting for the wedding to end?”

 

“……”

 

At Daryl’s words, Eleanor’s face turned red. Daryl laughed again and brought the glass of alcohol to his lips.

 

“…However, the contract clearly stated.”

 

“Who would really touch you? But you should think about spending the night here today. Unless you want to be seen as a woman who got beaten by her husband on the first night.”

 

“…….”

 

Eleanor’s expression regained its composure. She came to the sofa opposite where Daryl was sitting, adjusted her skirt, and sat down. Even though there was a backrest, she sat upright. Has she ever shown a loose appearance to anyone? He thought she might even be in that position when she was resting alone. Without leaning on a chair or cushion.

 

Eleanor sat like that, slightly lowering her eyes. She didn’t even look at Daryl, who had been nagging just a moment ago.

 

“When will you stop acting?”

 

Eleanor looked up and stared at Daryl.

 

“Are you done pretending to be a natural couple in front of others? Or do you only do it when you feel like it?”

 

“…Maybe.”

 

Even though she was openly ridiculed, Eleanor responded calmly. That made him even more irritated.

 

“What’s your relationship with Benjamin Gallahad?”

 

“……”

 

At his impulsive words, Eleanor’s expressionless face crumbled. But the slightly furrowed look seemed like she was facing a very rude and impolite person, which made him feel even more disgusted.

 

“As I told you before, we only traded paintings.”

 

“Well, it didn’t seem like that to him.”

 

“What? What do you mean?”

 

“He looked at you not as a business partner, but as a woman. It’s pitiful to see him still lingering over you, even though you’re now someone else’s wife.”

 

“……”

 

“Nonsense, Viscount Brooke is not like that, and it would be disrespectful to him to say so.”

 

When Eleanor openly defended Benjamin, the anger that had once subsided flared up again. His voice involuntarily rose and became sharp.

 

“So? Should I thank him for nursing my wife?”

 

“Yes. You should have.”

 

“…What?”

 

“There were many eyes watching. A word or two of thanks would have been enough, there was no need to be unnecessarily aggressive. Because of that, unnecessary misunderstandings could have spread. Don’t you really know that?”

 

She wasn’t wrong. At the wedding banquet, of all places. With a handsome man like Benjamin Gallahad, it must have been quite a spectacle to have such a quarrel. By now, the gossip-loving folks would surely be making up sensational rumors, adding things that weren’t even there.

 

It was typical of Daryl to do such a foolish thing. Of course, it was because of the alcohol, but it wasn’t just that. If he didn’t do so, he couldn’t bear the twisted feelings. Then and now.

 

“Didn’t you think it was a problem that you were sticking with him in the first place?”

 

“I told you. The Viscount was just worried about me…”

 

“How long are you going to listen to that guy’s nonsense?”

 

“What?”

 

At the words spat out in annoyance, Eleanor made a ridiculous expression.

 

“What are you talking about? When did I listen to his nonsense?”

 

“You’re listening now. And you want me to believe that there’s nothing between you two?”

 

“……”

 

Elinor lost her words with her mouth slightly open. She looked at Daryl for a while with eyes full of emotions, then lowered her eyes.

 

“Let’s stop talking.”

 

“Why? Are you out of excuses?”

 

“I just don’t want to talk to a drunk person.”

 

“Who’s drunk?”

 

“……”

 

Eleanor closed her mouth. It was infuriating as if it wasn’t worth saying words anymore.

 

“Did you sleep with that guy?”

 

“……”

 

“You didn’t need to find a separate meeting place because you live alone. How many times did you do it? When was the last time?”

 

“…Daryl.”

 

Eleanor’s voice was trembling. He could tell that she was feeling an indescribable sense of humiliation with her bulging and reddened eyes.

 

It worked well on Eleanor. It was unbearable to see her turn people upside down and keep a calm and peaceful face, but now he felt a little relieved. He even felt a strange pleasure in her shaking and angry figure.

 

“Why are you making that face? I’m just trying to confirm an important matter in our contract.”

 

Daryl spoke in a relaxed tone.

 

“I put such a troublesome clause because I didn’t want a succession dispute after divorce, but if that guy’s baby is already in your belly, it’s meaningless.”

 

“……”

 

Eleanor had unknowingly clenched the hem of her skirt on her knees. Daryl looked at the faintly trembling sight of her thin and frail hands with a pleasant expression.

 

“Why can’t you answer? Did I hit the nail on the head?”

 

“…Like this.”

 

Eleanor finally opened her mouth. She sighed heavily and continued her words.

 

“…I didn’t know you were so unreasonable.”

 

“What’s unreasonable? I’m just asking about something that should naturally be confirmed in a very rational area. Rather, shouldn’t you be blamed for hiding the existence of your boyfriend at the time of the contract?”

 

“How many times do I have to tell you? My relationship with Viscount Brooke is not the illicit relationship you think.”

 

“That’s just your claim. There’s no evidence, is there?”

 

“You’ll know over time. Whether the vulgar suspicion you mentioned is true or not.”

 

The look in Eleanor’s eyes, staring straight at Daryl, was filled with undeniable disgust and contempt. Daryl clicked his tongue.

 

“That can’t be evidence of your relationship with him.”

 

“Even if it is, it doesn’t matter, isn’t it?”

 

“What?”

 

“As you said, it’s enough to just confirm the matters related to the contract. Then, whatever relationship I have with Viscount Brooke, it has nothing to do with you, right?”

 

“……”

 

Eleanor had regained her usual calmness unknowingly. The only difference was that her quiet anger was rippling around her like an aura.

 

The relationship he believed to have been reversed for a moment was as it was. Daryl gritted his teeth. His leisure and initiative disappeared, and intense irritation and anger were surging inside him again.

 

“…I see. Are you finally revealing your true colors?”

 

“Think what you want. You won’t believe me no matter what I say.”

 

“That’s right. You’ve been sleeping with him, haven’t you?”

 

“……”

Eleanor slightly furrowed her brows, but that was it. Such words no longer provoked her effectively.

 

Daryl clenched the glass in his hand tightly. He couldn’t understand why he was so angry. As Eleanor said, whatever relationship she had with Benjamin Gallahad had nothing to do with him.

 

Even if it did, it was only for one year, the period they would spend as a couple. Since Eleanor had even publicly declared that she would no longer meet Benjamin personally, that should have been enough. But why, what was so annoying about this?