If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

It was a pastel blue cap sleeve dress. From the chest to the hem, there were densely embroidered flowers, and small diamonds were added here and there for emphasis.

 

“Wow, you look so beautiful, Duchess. I knew my eyes weren’t wrong. There’s no one else in this capital who can pull off such a fresh and elegant dress like this. Isn’t that right, Miss Pattinson?”

 

“Yes, you’re right, Lady Jennings.”

 

At Mariannes compliment, Eleanor blushed quietly.

 

“How would you like your hair done, Madam?”

 

Mindy, the maid in charge of dressing, who had been waiting by the side, asked. Marianne interjected while stroking Eleanor’s hair.

 

“You could simply braid it up, or it would be lovely to tie only the back part down. In this case, flower decorations would suit better than a tiara… What would you like, Duchess?”

 

“I…”

 

Eleanor hesitated for a moment with a sigh.

 

“…As long as it’s pretty, I don’t mind either way. I want to… look pretty today…”

 

“Oh my, oh my.”

 

At Eleanor’s sincere words, Marianne’s eyes widened. She clapped her hands twice and looked around dramatically.

 

“Did you all hear that? The Duchess wants to look pretty today. Everyone, prepare to give it your all.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

The maids’ voices overlapped.

 

That evening, when Daryl had finished preparing to go out, Herbert came in and cautiously cleared his throat.

 

“Master. I think you should go see the Madam.”

 

“What’s the matter? Is her health deteriorating again?”

 

“That’s not it. You’ll understand when you see her.”

 

Seeing the mysterious sparkle in Herbert’s eyes over his monocle, Daryl felt an oddly ominous premonition. However, he couldn’t resist the curiosity mixed with anxiety.

 

Daryl knocked on the door to the Hibiscus Room.

 

“Come in.”

 

There was a busy sound from inside the room. Daryl waited with his eyes narrowed. Soon, Eleanor’s voice saying “Come in” was heard.

 

When he opened the door and entered, there were more people gathered than he thought. Lady Jennings and all the maids bowed their heads at the same time. However, Daryl’s gaze was fixed solely on Eleanor in the center of the room.

 

Eleanor looked more beautiful that evening than Daryl had ever remembered. Her hair, which was voluminously rolled and hung over one shoulder, the fresh flower decoration in her hair, and the water-colored dress that shone softly in the light, all suited her very well. She looked like the queen of the fairies in an opera.

 

Perhaps it was his imagination, but her face also looked prettier than usual. Her shyly lowered eyelashes trembled, casting a delicate shadow on her pink cheeks.

 

“…Beautiful.”

 

The maids swallowed at the words he muttered unknowingly. Eleanor’s face turned even redder. The blush spread to her enticing neckline.

 

“…Thank you, Daryl.”

 

Eleanor whispered in a small voice. Herbert’s words had long been erased from Daryl’s mind. While the two were looking at each other, everyone else in the room left under Marianne’s direction. Soon, only the two of them remained as the door quietly closed.

 

Daryl moved his feet to approach Eleanor. Despite being fully dressed, she had not worn a necklace or earrings. Her bare upper chest looked a bit empty.

 

‘…That necklace would have been perfect.’

 

Daryl cursed his foolishness anew. Why bother with health unnecessarily? It was a natural thing for a husband to give his wife a jewel. Even if she refused, he could have forced it on her.

 

“Haven’t you chosen the jewelry yet?”

 

When Daryl asked, Eleanor’s face tensed for some reason.

 

“…Ah, yes.”

 

“Why? Was there nothing you liked?”

 

“……”

 

Eleanor was silent, just looking at her toes with her head slightly bowed. The atmosphere was different from usual, and he felt a dry feeling in his throat. He suppressed the sudden desire to lower his head again with all his might.

 

“Then can I choose for you?”

 

Eleanor swallowed softly.

 

“…Yes. I’d appreciate it if you could.”

 

“Where’s the jewelry box?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Eleanor asked back with a surprised and blank expression.

 

“I need to look at the jewelry box to choose.”

 

“……”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“…No, it’s nothing. Just a moment.”

 

Eleanor went to one side of the room and came back with a jewelry box. It was a rather small and modest jewelry box for the name of the Duchess of Griffith. Even after she put the jewelry box on the table, she was looking at Daryl with a strange look. Daryl reached out to the jewelry box, feeling a sense of discomfort.

 

“This would be good.”

 

After looking for a while, Daryl picked up a large and flashy diamond necklace and earrings. Eleanor was just looking at the jewelry that Daryl had chosen without saying anything.

 

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

 

“…No.”

 

Eleanor took the necklace and earrings from Daryl.

 

“Then I’ll get ready quickly and go out. Please wait outside for a moment.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Eleanor’s expression was as calm and composed, to the point where it could also be called grim. There was no sign of this when he first entered this room.

 

‘…Did I do something wrong again?’

 

No matter how much he thought about it, he could only think it was because of the jewelry. He shouldn’t have said he would choose. Daryl clicked his tongue and bit his tongue.

 

If Eleanor didn’t like it, she should have honestly said so. Considering Eleanor’s personality, it was clear that she couldn’t speak out of consideration for Daryl. But it would have been better to tell him honestly rather than making such a face.

 

He was very annoyed, but he held back. After a while, Eleanor came out of the room. Her face was calm and composed as usual. It was definitely not a good sign.

 

“…Shall we go?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Eleanor hooked her arm into Daryl’s outstretched arm.

 

Eleanor was silent even in the carriage to the palace. She wasn’t blatantly ignoring Daryl or reacting coldly, but she seemed to be distracted.

 

The necklace and earrings that Daryl had chosen earlier were hanging on Eleanor’s neck and ears. Looking at it this way, it didn’t seem to match the dress very well.

 

“…If you don’t like it, you can take it off.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

At the words he couldn’t bear to say, Eleanor raised her head.

 

“I’m talking about the necklace and earrings I chose for you. Looking at it now, it doesn’t seem like a good choice. I’m not proud of it, but I don’t have a good eye for jewelry…”

 

“…No. You chose it for me for the first time. I like it.”

 

She said so, but her expression was completely different. Daryl painfully swallowed the words that were about to burst out.

 

****

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress, I am deeply moved to be invited like this today.”

 

“Good. You came well. How is your health now?”

 

“Yes. I apologize for causing concern to Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

At the question of Empress Theodora, Eleanor bowed her head deeply and spoke.

 

“Health is always the first priority. Always eat well and sleep well. That’s how you prevent chronic diseases.”

 

“I will keep that in mind.”

 

“The Empress has been worried about you. You are so slender like a deer that it seems to have caused unnecessary worry. A thin and slim body is the beauty of a woman. Isn’t that right?”

 

At the Emperor’s words, Theodora slightly frowned. It was a phrase she had heard countless times over the years, but she still couldn’t get used to it.

 

“That’s not true. I’m sorry to have caused concern to Your Majesty the Empress by fainting and collapsing unexpectedly. It’s my fault for not taking care of my health, and Your Majesty the Empress kindly looked after me.”

 

“With such a pretty face and such special words, the Duke is truly a blessed man.”

 

“…Your Majesty.”

 

At the Emperor’s laughing words, Daryl answered expressionlessly.

 

“Enjoy slowly today without rushing. We will also watch the performance together.”

 

“…I’ve called a theater troupe. There will be an opera performance at the palace tonight. Eleanor, have you ever watched an opera?”