If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

Benjamin silently stared at Daryl with a calm expression. Layla hurriedly dismounted from her horse.

 

“Brother, it’s not like that. I really invited…”

 

“Shut up. Don’t interrupt.”

 

“Brother!”

 

Layla’s face was also flushed. It was unbearable for her to be embarrassed in front of the man she liked by her older brother.

 

“…Stop it.”

 

Then, a thin voice was heard. Everyone’s gaze turned to Eleanor. She was hugging her arms and bowing her head. Daryl, who belatedly realized her condition, changed his gaze.

 

“Eleanor.”

 

“Why are you always… like this…”

 

Eleanor’s words were broken as if she was out of breath. Daryl unknowingly grabbed her shoulder.

 

“Stop it. Don’t say anything more.”

 

“Let go… of me.”

 

“Eleanor.”

 

“Let go of me!”

 

It was a scream. Daryl was startled and backed away from Eleanor.

 

It was the first time they had seen Eleanor raise her voice like this. Not just Daryl, but Layla and Benjamin were also surprised. Everyone was wide-eyed and speechless.

 

The next moment, Eleanor’s knees buckled. Daryl reflexively tried to catch her, but stopped as if a jammed cogwheel. In the end, it was Benjamin who supported Eleanor.

 

“Duchess. Are you okay? Duchess!”

 

Eleanor seemed to lose consciousness and slumped in Benjamin’s arms. Benjamin lifted Eleanor and looked at Peter.

 

“Call a doctor. Use my horse to go. Hurry!”

 

“…”

 

Peter hesitated for a moment, looking at Daryl, then seemed to make up his mind and took the reins from Benjamin. Benjamin moved Eleanor to the shade of a tree. The maids of Eleanor and Layla, who were beyond the fence of the riding ground, also ran over.

 

The only one left standing there was Daryl. He stood still as if nailed, just watching Eleanor fade away.

 

***

 

Upon opening her eyes, Eleanor saw leaves densely intertwined like a shade high above. She was lying under a tree.

 

“Eleanor, are you conscious?”

 

Layla looked down at Eleanor with a worried expression and asked. Eleanor looked around with hazy eyes. Besides Layla, Benjamin and the maids from the Duke’s house were also present.

 

“Duchess, are you okay?”

 

Benjamin had taken off his coat and was only wearing a shirt and vest. The soft touch she felt on her back seemed to be Benjamin’s jacket.

 

“…What about him?”

 

“Don’t worry, my brother has left.”

 

Layla quickly said. Eleanor was silent for a moment and then slowly sat up.

 

“Don’t get up, stay lying down. The doctor will be here soon.”

 

“I’m fine. I’m really okay now.”

 

Eleanor carefully folded Benjamin’s jacket and handed it to him.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you trouble.”

 

“Don’t say that. More importantly, you should rest…”

 

“No, I’m really fine now.”

 

“Even if you feel fine, we don’t know how you actually are. You lost consciousness and collapsed, it’s not something to take lightly. You need to see a doctor and get a proper examination.”

 

At Benjamin’s serious tone, Eleanor looked slightly embarrassed.

 

“I’m really fine, so you don’t need to worry anymore. Once the symptoms disappear, they don’t come back.”

 

Benjamin’s brow furrowed.

 

“Do you always experience these symptoms?”

 

“……”

 

Eleanor hesitated as if she had made a mistake.

 

“Eleanor, is that true? Why? Do you have some kind of disease?”

 

Layla also asked with a serious expression next to her. Eleanor hadn’t told Layla about her symptoms. It wasn’t that she deliberately hid it, but she didn’t think it was a topic worth bringing up.

 

“Come to think of it, you weren’t feeling well at the wedding either. Is it the same illness?”

 

“No, it’s not serious enough to call it a disease…Just when I’m surprised or have a hard time, my body reacts excessively. It hasn’t happened many times. At most three or four times… I’ve been examined by Dr. Hardy from the Duke’s house, and I’m taking medicine, so don’t worry too much.”

 

Even after her explanation, Benjamin and Layla looked unconvinced.

 

“Are you sure it’s not a serious illness?”

 

“Yes. Dr. Hardy also said it was okay. Even if symptoms appear, I just need to rest in a quiet place for a while and I’ll be fine. Today was a bit severe, but usually it’s not even this bad. Really.”

 

“…Was the reason you wanted to avoid crowded places because of your illness?”

 

At Layla’s question, Eleanor was silent for a moment, then softly said yes. Layla’s expression darkened slightly.

 

“Even with the same symptoms, doctors can have different opinions. Depending on the case, it could be a disease that could have been cured, but the treatment period was missed. How about getting examined by another doctor?”

 

“Thank you for your concern, but it’s not necessary. It’s just a symptom that gets better with rest.”

 

“But Duchess.”

 

“Thank you for your concern, Viscount Brooke. But I’m fine.”

 

Eleanor calmly stared at Benjamin. It was a look that said it wasn’t his place to get involved to that extent.

 

Benjamin closed his mouth with a stern expression. He couldn’t say anything more in the face of her firm attitude.

 

“I’m sorry, Layla. I ruined our fun time because of me.”

 

“…What are you talking about?”

 

Layla spoke with a frown. Her eyes were slightly red.

 

“I’m fine now, so you two should go back. We were in the middle of horse riding.”

 

“Eleanor. That’s nonsense.”

 

“But it’s a waste to come all the way here. I can rest here. Emily is here, so don’t worry and you two…”

 

“Eleanor, if you keep doing that, I’ll get angry.”

 

“……”

 

Eleanor made a troubled expression. Layla knew why Eleanor was saying this. The reason she brought her out today was an excuse because she wanted to get closer to Benjamin. Eleanor must have thought that she shouldn’t ruin Layla’s plan because of her.

 

She didn’t come out today solely with a pure heart to bring Eleanor. She also wanted to see if Benjamin really had feelings for Eleanor, and if Eleanor really didn’t see him as a man as she said.

 

Moreover, she expected that Eleanor, with her personality, would probably draw a clear line in front of Benjamin for Layla. It was a calculation that if she had already become someone else’s wife, Benjamin could give up on Eleanor a little more easily.

 

In fact, today Eleanor seemed to be making quite an effort to bring Layla and Benjamin together. Even though she herself had lost consciousness and collapsed, she was apologizing for ruining Layla’s fun time.

 

She felt like a terrible person for bringing her here with a wicked calculation.

 

“Let’s go home, Eleanor.”

 

“No, there’s no need for that. I’m really okay.”

 

Eleanor opened her eyes wide and waved her hands.

 

“I’ve already decided, so don’t say anything else. Viscount Brooke, you’re okay with this, right?”

 

“Yes. Of course.”

 

Leaving Eleanor, who was at a loss of what to do, Layla got up from her seat.

 

“Help the Duchess.”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

At Layla’s words, Emily bowed her head and helped Eleanor get up. Emily also looked very worried.

 

“…I’m sorry, Layla.”

 

Eleanor whispered quietly. Layla bit her lip slightly. She felt frustrated and upset, and even felt anger rising.

 

Of course, the object of that anger was not Eleanor.

 

****

 

“Brother. You’re in there. I’m coming in.”

 

Layla unilaterally declared that after knocking and opened the door to Daryl’s office. Daryl was sitting blankly at his desk. There were several half-smoked cigars in the ashtray, and next to it was a bottle of alcohol and a glass.

 

“…Is Eleanor okay?”

 

It was a low, hoarse voice.

 

“If you’re going to worry about it now, why did you do such a thing in the first place?”

 

Daryl didn’t answer. He slowly poured the remaining alcohol in the glass into his mouth.

 

“Tell me. What were you thinking when you did that!”

 

“Did I do something that bad?”

 

Daryl quietly asked back. Layla frowned.

 

“Of course! As a Duke of Griffith, you disregarded manners and decency, what kind of nonsense is that to a guest I invited? I was so embarrassed I thought I was going to die, how do you think Eleanor, your wife, felt!”

 

“……”

 

Daryl just tilted his glass without answering. Seeing him like that made her even angrier. She felt like snatching the glass and pouring it over his head.

 

“Brother! Are you listening to me?”

 

Then, Daryl muttered in a small voice.

 

“That guy hugged Eleanor.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Eleanor was held in his arms. That bastard Gallahad.”

 

“…..”

 

Layla was so taken aback that she lost her words with her mouth slightly open.