If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

It was when Eleanor was resting in her room. After knocking, Herbert entered.

 

“Herbert. What’s wrong?”

 

“I’m sorry to disturb you. I came to see Emily, not the Madam.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes. Please come outside for a moment.”

 

Emily awkwardly got up from her seat. Eleanor felt strangely uneasy.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“It’s nothing. It’s a trivial matter that the Madam doesn’t need to worry about.”

 

“It involves my maid, so I can’t say it’s none of my business. Tell me what’s going on.”

 

Herbert looked quite flustered. He hadn’t expected Eleanor to react this way.

 

“Herbert?”

 

“Actually…The Master is looking for her.”

 

Herbert hesitated before speaking.

 

“Daryl? Emily? Why?”

 

“He said he has something to ask her.”

 

For a moment, a frightened look crossed Emily’s face. Eleanor hardened her expression slightly.

 

“No. Tell him I can’t let her go.”

 

“…Madam.”

 

At Eleanor’s firm attitude, not only Herbert but also Emily didn’t know what to do.

 

“Madam, I’m fine.”

 

“No, Emily. You don’t need to go. Herbert, go ask him what he wants to hear from Emily. I’ll answer for you.”

 

“No, Madam. I’m really fine. It’s the Master’s order. I’ll be back soon.”

 

“…Emily.”

 

Looking at Eleanor, who was worriedly closing her eyes, Emily forced a smile.

 

Emily knew very well that Eleanor had been avoiding Daryl recently. Eleanor never pointed it out, but she couldn’t help but know because she was always watching her by her side.

 

Decisively, after the incident where Daryl stood Eleanor up last time, Eleanor had even stopped seeing him off in the morning and welcoming him in the evening. It was clear that she was still angry with Daryl. Emily was worried that Eleanor might get into another argument with Daryl while trying to protect her unnecessarily.

 

It was clear that Daryl had called Emily today because of the incident where Eleanor had fainted. The reason why the incident had reached Daryl’s ears in the first place was because Emily had disobeyed Eleanor’s orders and called someone. Emily didn’t want to cause any more trouble for Eleanor.

 

“Don’t worry, Madam. I won’t say anything unnecessary.”

 

Emily said with emphasis. It meant that she would keep her promise not to mention anything about Anthony.

 

“…..”

 

Eleanor was still looking at Emily with a worried look in her eyes. Emily bowed her head and left the room. Herbert hurriedly followed her.

 

****

 

“Master. It’s Herbert.”

 

“Come in.”

 

When Daryl’s voice was heard from inside the room, Emily swallowed her saliva without realizing it.

 

It had been over a year since she had entered the Duke’s house, but Emily had never had a conversation with Daryl.

 

Daryl was not a kind and generous master, but he was not particularly difficult or eccentric either. Basically, he had no interest in his servants. Unless you made an unbelievable mistake in front of Daryl, there was no chance of getting into his sight in the first place.

 

The senior maids warned her to be more careful of Anthony than Daryl. They said that if she let her guard down because of his handsome smile and sweet words, she’d ruin her life in an instant.

 

That didn’t mean Daryl wasn’t difficult. He was a person of such great power and position that Emily couldn’t even dare to look at him. He could easily dismiss a maid like her depending on his mood.

 

“I brought her.”

 

“Did, did you call me, Master?”

 

Emily stood in front of Daryl’s desk and bowed her head deeply.

 

“I heard you were there when my wife fainted today.”

 

At the icy voice, she shivered.

 

“Yes, that’s correct, Master.”

 

“What caused my wife to faint?”

 

“……”

 

Emily swallowed her saliva again.

 

“I, I don’t know, the Madam was just reading and suddenly felt unwell…”

“Is that true?”

 

“…”

 

“I’m asking you again. Is that true?”

 

It felt like hundreds of sharp needles were pricking Emily’s cheeks. Before she knew it, cold sweat was forming on her forehead.

 

“…Master.”

 

Herbert tried to intervene with a restraining voice, but Daryl ignored him and continued speaking.

 

“Lift your head.”

 

“….”

 

“I said lift your head.”

 

Emily slowly lifted her head with a pale complexion. But the moment she met Daryl’s heavy and sharp gaze, she involuntarily closed her eyes.

 

There was a sound of a desk chair being pushed back. Emily was startled and shrugged her shoulders. Soon, Daryl approached Emily step by step.

 

“I’ll ask you one last time. Be prepared to pack your bags today if you dare to lie.”

 

“……”

 

“Did my wife faint today because of Anthony?”

 

For a moment, she thought her heart had dropped to her feet. If he didn’t know anything, he wouldn’t ask like this. It was clear that Daryl knew the truth.

 

‘…What should I do? I promised Madam that I wouldn’t say anything… But I can’t tell an obvious lie that will be caught…’

 

“Answer me.”

 

Daryl asked again in a gloomy voice. Emily let out a sob without realizing it. Her knees were shaking. She felt like she could collapse at any moment.

 

Then the office door swung open.

 

“Stop it.”

 

It was Eleanor. Emily looked back at her with tears welling up in her eyes.

 

“Madam…”

 

Eleanor bit her lip gently. She walked over and hid Emily behind her.

 

“How can you be so harsh on a little girl like Emily? Can’t you feel guilty about this? Don’t you have a conscience?”

 

“……”

 

At Eleanor’s angry rebuke, Daryl just closed his mouth helplessly.

 

Herbert rolled his eyes anxiously. Even though Daryl seemed to be harsh on Emily, Herbert knew that he was actually showing the utmost patience while being furious because of Anthony. In fact, he didn’t raise his voice even when he repeated the same question two or three times. Considering his usual personality, it was surprising.

 

Of course, the reason was not because Emily was a young child, or because she was scared. It was clear that Daryl was aware that Emily was Eleanor’s maid.

 

“Calm down, Madam, it’s a misunderstanding. The Master just…”

 

Eleanor turned her head sharply and glared at Herbert.

 

“I’m disappointed, Herbert. I trusted you because you were with her.”

 

“…….”

 

It was a completely different attitude from the Eleanor Herbert knew. Herbert swallowed a groan and backed off.

 

‘…Why is Eleanor so obsessed with these servants, like that maid Peggy, and this girl?’

 

Daryl couldn’t understand Eleanor at all. Of course, he knew she was a person of great affection, but this was far beyond the realm of mercy that a noble would normally bestow on a servant.

 

To Daryl, a maid was just one of the components of the mansion, just like furniture or utensils. He had never recognized them as independent personalities.

 

But Eleanor had lived a completely different life from ordinary nobles since she was born. For Eleanor, who had no other family except her mother, the servants, including Peggy, they were her family and friends. Eleanor regarded young Emily not just as someone who served her, but as her own person to protect.

 

“If you have any questions, ask me. Stop bothering Emily any further.”

 

“…Anthony.”

 

Daryl clenched his fist. Without realizing it, the veins in his temples throbbed.

 

“What did that guy do to you?”

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

 

Eleanor spoke coldly.

 

“I know Anthony came to Chatsworth House today. I also know that he has been hanging around you all this time. Don’t try to hide it. There’s no way you just fainted for no reason, right? I know your symptoms too.”

 

“But really, nothing happened.”

 

“…Eleanor.”

 

Eleanor stared at Daryl expressionlessly.

 

“At least, there was no impure incident as you imagine, so rest assured.”

 

At those words, Daryl’s face twisted horribly.

 

“…What are you talking about, Eleanor? I never meant that…”

 

“Don’t deny it. I’ve known for a long time how you see me.”

 

“…..”

He felt a chill in his heart. It was clear what Eleanor was referring to.

 

[Did you sleep with that guy? It must have been convenient since you live alone, so you didn’t need to find a separate place for a secret meeting. How many times did you do it? When was the last time?]

 

Daryl gritted his teeth. If he could, he would go back to the night of their wedding, stop his own mouth, and knock himself down on the spot. But it was too late to regret it now.