If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

“I’ve decided to get married.”

 

A few hours later, Daryl was saying the same thing he had said in front of his siblings, but this time to his mistress. Esmeralda, who was sitting in front of the dressing table fixing her hair, looked at Daryl through the mirror.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Did you confirm that the child is really yours?”

 

Daryl chuckled.

 

“Do you think I’m getting married because a woman got pregnant?”

 

“For someone like you, and especially to decide to get married so suddenly, what other reason could there be?”

 

Esmeralda asked in a soft voice. She was currently a top-rated opera singer. She was top-notch in both beauty and talent and had stood out since her debut. Boldly, she had approached him first, offering to sponsor him. It had been three years since they met. Esmeralda was the only woman Daryl had kept by his side for so long.

 

“There’s no denying that. But no.”

 

“Then why? Did you have a hidden fiancée?”

 

“Even if I did, would there have been any reason to hide it from you?”

 

As he asked with narrowed eyes, Esmeralda shrugged her shoulders.

 

“Well, that’s true.”

 

The reason Daryl liked Esmeralda was because she was always appropriate. She understood the basics, was never overly submissive, and while she could provoke Daryl to a precarious extent, she never crossed the line. The relationship and conversation with Esmeralda were only filled with unburdened joy. This was a stark contrast to other women who would cling and become sticky as soon as the relationship deepened.

 

“It’s Eleanor Townsend.”

 

“That woman who is said to be your father’s illegitimate child? Why suddenly her―”

 

Esmeralda stopped mid-sentence and widened her eyes. She gripped the chair and turned to look at Daryl.

 

“Are you saying you’re going to marry her now? My goodness, surely not?”

 

“Don’t make a fuss. The rumor that she’s my father’s child is just that – a rumor spread by others.”

 

“My goodness, how could this be!”

 

Esmeralda began to laugh while shaking her head. Daryl frowned.

 

“What’s so funny?”

 

“Then wouldn’t I have to laugh? I’ve known for a long time that you’re a pervert, but out of all the women, you chose one who might be your half-sister―”

 

“I’m not doing this because I want to.”

 

Daryl briefly explained what had happened. He had decided to have a contractual marriage for just one year in order to inherit the dukedom.

 

After hearing the story, Esmeralda shook her head in disbelief.

 

“My goodness, your father was really eccentric.”

 

“I agree.”

 

“You’re not one to talk if you’re just going to do as you’re told.”

 

“Is there another way?”

 

At Daryl’s cold response, Esmeralda pouted her glossy red lips.

 

“I don’t understand, and I don’t understand that woman as well. She said she doesn’t need money, so why on earth would she accept such a proposal?”

 

“She said she wanted to repay the kindness my father showed her.”

 

“Do you believe that?”

 

“Well, maybe she’s hoping to settle down in the dukedom for life, right under my nose. She doesn’t need money. She just wants to repay the kindness. That’s how she appeals to my sympathy.”

 

Esmeralda stared at Daryl silently for a moment.

 

“Do you really think that way?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Imagine. She’s a woman who’s been tormented by the scandal of being an illegitimate child all her life. But now she’s going to marry a man who might be her half-brother and enter his family. What kind of talk will she hear and what kind of treatment will she receive? Even if it’s just for a year, it’s horrifying, let alone for a lifetime, it’s like walking into hell on her own.”

 

“…”

 

Esmeralda turned her head back towards the mirror on the dressing table and picked up a comb. Then she added in a tone lower than before.

 

“If it were me, I would absolutely refuse even if offered a huge sum of money.”

 

After that, there was no more talk of marriage or Eleanor. When Daryl said he had no intention of ending their relationship even if he got married, Esmeralda calmly said, “I don’t mind as long as I can continue to receive your support.”

 

“Do you think there’s a reason for me to continue supporting you even if we end our relationship?”

 

“You’ll come back after a year anyway, won’t you?”

 

Esmeralda laughed flirtatiously over her shoulder at Daryl. Daryl chuckled and left her place.

 

****

 

After returning to the Duke’s residence, Daryl received a report from his secretary, Philip.

 

“I visited the Townsend mansion during the day.”

 

“How did it go?”

 

“It seems to be going well. They all nodded to our proposal, there was no opposition or any other request.”

 

Philip put a piece of paper on the desk.

 

“This is the wedding invitation list received from Miss Townsend.”

 

There were only two names written on the paper. Daryl’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Is this all?”

 

“Yes. Baroness Agnes Hamilton was introduced to Miss Townsend by the Duke six years ago. The other person, Nancy Radner, was a peer friend introduced by Baroness Hamilton at that time.”

 

“What about relatives?”

 

“There are no relatives on her mother’s side, and she has been disconnected from her father’s side for a long time.”

 

“Still, for now, contact them and send an invitation.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“What about the investigation I ordered?”

 

On the day he visited the Townsend mansion and brought up the marriage, Daryl immediately ordered a background check on Eleanor. It wasn’t the first time he had given such an order. For a long time, Daryl had been using people to keep an eye on Eleanor’s movements in case of any sudden actions.

 

But so far, not a single report had come in. Eleanor’s daily life was as ascetic and monotonous as a nun’s. She didn’t meet anyone, didn’t go anywhere, and just spent her time at her own mansion doing needlework.

 

The special investigation this time was about Eleanor’s relationships.

 

“There are no direct contacts, regardless of gender. She has been exchanging letters with the two people on the invitation list for several years.”

 

“So she doesn’t even have friends, let alone a boyfriend?”

 

“Yes. However.”

 

“However?”

 

“For the past three years, Miss Townsend has been consistently exchanging letters with a man.”

 

Daryl’s fingertips, which were casually stroking the surface of the paper, paused.

 

“Who is that?”

 

“It’s Benjamin Gallahad, the Viscount of Brooke.”

 

“Are you talking about Archibald Gallahad’s son?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Viscount Archibald Gallahad of Reuben was famous for being a major player in the fields of art, music, and theater. Come to think of it, he had been introduced to him at a party a few years ago. He heard that his eldest son was starting to help his business in earnest. He remembered that he had a rather clean-shaven face, unlike his father.

 

“He is twenty-six this year and still unmarried. He seems to be quite competent as evaluated by those around him. In fact, since he started helping with the family business, it has been continuously expanding. He doesn’t have a girlfriend and his personal life is clean.”

 

“You can’t know if it’s clean or dirty until you look into it properly. What’s the connection with Eleanor?”

 

“The first letter was sent by Miss Townsend. It seems she wanted to liquidate the paintings in her mansion. Since the first transaction, she has been selling one piece at a time every six months to a year. But as far as business letters go…”

 

“There are many exchanges?”

 

“Yes, it’s about once every two months.”

 

Daryl fell silent for a moment, his long fingers rhythmically tapping the desk.

 

“Did you check the contents of the letters?”

 

“No, it seems difficult unless we directly get our hands on the letters.”

 

“Is it impossible?”

 

Philip didn’t answer immediately, but paused for about 5 seconds.

 

“Not necessarily.”

 

Philip was a competent secretary, as diligent and reticent as they come. In fact, he had never failed to carry out any task Daryl had assigned him. If Daryl had ordered him to ‘get the letters’, he would have done so without a word. Knowing this, Daryl deliberately asked if it was possible. What Philip left unsaid probably went something like this: ‘It’s not impossible, but it comes with some difficulties. It would be better not to do it unless the matter is of significant importance.’

 

“So she doesn’t meet him in person?”

 

“It seems that the Viscount of Brooke has visited Townsend’s mansion a few times, but all for the purpose of trading paintings, and servants were watching over them.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yes, without a doubt.”

 

If Philip affirmed it, there was no doubt about it.

 

“Then it doesn’t matter. If it’s just letters, no matter how many you exchange, you won’t get pregnant.”

 

Daryl said expressionlessly.