Obsessed with Regressors

At Julia’s sudden appearance, not only Erica but also Eugenie jumped up in surprise. Eugenie quickly realized that Julia had been eavesdropping on their conversation.

 

“You shouldn’t eavesdrop on other people’s conversations.”

 

Despite Eugenie’s criticism, Julia remained confident. The question was not whether her actions were right or not. She had heard rumors about Miss Logow and had seen how Lord Turner treated her.

 

“I’m breaking off the engagement immediately. That kind of thing…”

 

“Julia.”

 

Just before a curse flew out of Julia’s mouth, Eugenie interrupted her. She had to be careful what she said. When Julia looked, Eugenie said so just by the shape of her mouth. Then she sat down and apologized to Erica.

 

“I’m sorry, Miss Rogoso. This is Julia Escala, my relative and whom I consider to be her own sister. Although she doesn’t want to treat me like her own sister now.”

 

At Eugenie’s last addition, Julia pursed her lips sharply. She knew that Eugenie cared about her, even if she said so. Julia quickly extended her hand to Erica. And she took her hand and shook hers, and then she sat down next to Eugenie, and she spoke again.

 

“I’m breaking off the engagement.”

 

“Julia.”

 

Eugenie turned her attention to Julia again. Erica burst out laughing at her attitude like that of her eldest sister and youngest brother. But soon the laughter turned into sobbing. She said so did she and Imelda. Although she was a bit more cautious than Julia.

 

“S-sorry.”

 

Erica, who had been sobbing for a while, finally managed to let it out and catch her breath. She missed her sister. She felt frustrated and annoyed at times, but she missed even that.

 

“I hope your sister wakes up.”

 

Eugenie stared at Erica, who buried her face in her hands and muttered that. She will too. If Oliver gets hurt or falls, if he’s unconscious, she’ll just sit next to him and pray like that all day. Her brother was annoying and sometimes made her want to kill him, but she still wanted him to be safe.

 

“Did I ask you why you wanted to break off your engagement to Jeffrey?”

 

Erica, wiping away her tears with her handkerchief given to her by Eugenie, opened her mouth again. She continued, casting her gaze at the handkerchief in her hand.

 

“My sister said that it was a blessing to become self-employed.”

 

“I’m breaking off the engagement!”

 

Julia shouted again. Her words actually put Erica at ease. I’m relieved that I’m not the only one who felt offended. But Eugenie was different.

 

“What are you going to do if you break off the engagement?”

 

She hadn’t thought about that. Erica just couldn’t bear the situation. Jeffrey’s insulting words towards her sister. It’s okay for her to do that. But isn’t it too much for her to do that to an unconscious patient after being attacked?

 

“What are you doing? We have to break off the engagement first!”

 

“Julia.”

 

Eugenie lightly touched her excited Julia’s knee to give her attention. And she spoke softly.

 

“We haven’t allowed you to be here yet.”

 

Julia’s mouth quirked at her comment that she could be kicked out at any time, but she quieted down. After Eugenie shook her head at her servant who had popped his head in to see if Julia’s tea should be served too, she asked Erica:

 

“Have you thought about what you will do if you break off the engagement? Is there anyone who will marry you but Lord Turner?”

 

She didn’t know. Erica stayed still with her mouth closed. She did have some suitors of her own. But even after she got engaged to Jeffrey, no one interacts with her. In the course of her courtship, she becomes a friend and there are times when she maintains her friendship even after she becomes engaged to someone else. But Jeffrey wouldn’t tolerate it, and Erica wanted to please him.

 

“What will you do if there is no one to marry you?”

 

Eugenie’s question continued. That sounded harsh to Julia and Erica. Why bother asking such a question to someone who is already having a hard time? Julia turned to Eugenie and spoke in a low voice.

 

“What matters now is that Lord Turner insulted Miss Rogoso’s sister.”

 

“No, Julia.”

 

Eugenie had a cold expression. She said, turning her head towards Erica again.

 

“What’s important now is how Ms. Rogoso lives. It’s good to break off the engagement for the sake of your family’s honor. But fame doesn’t feed you.”

 

The Rogoso family does not have enough money to make a living for a woman who has never been married. If it were a man, she would order something from her family to make a living, but Erica is a woman. There is no way she would make it work.

 

“If you are unlucky, Baron Rogoso might send you off as the second wife of an older man. There is no guarantee that the man is better than Lord Turner.”

 

Julia gaped at Eugenie’s cold judgment. The same was true for Erica, but she acknowledged that Eugenie was right. It will happen. Most aristocratic women who have missed the age of marriage live like that.

 

“If your luck is worse, you might have to go to a monastery.”

 

Erica dropped her gaze at Eugenie’s next words. If your family is wealthy, you can go to a monastery and live a quiet but leisurely life. But if it’s her house, you have to go in and do the work. This was because the women who entered her monastery and lived without her labors made quite large donations to her in exchange for her care in the household. Erica’s eyes darkened at the thought that maybe she would have to sew monk’s clothes all day.

 

“Were you prepared to break off the engagement like that?”

 

Erica raised her head in response to Eugenie’s question. And she asked, on the contrary.

 

“How about you? Did you break off the engagement with Sir Rensid with that kind of determination?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Eugenie said calmly. She was determined to do that. She also thought about what kind of labor she would do at the monastery. Her handwriting is neat and pretty, so it could be copied. She couldn’t sew, but she could till the field. She couldn’t cook, but she could at least trim things. Eugenie thought about what she could do if she went to the monastery.

 

“But you are being courted by Count Burns.”

 

Erica’s rebuttal continued again. Eugenie looked at her blankly and said.

 

“I was lucky.”

 

All she could say about this was that she was really lucky. She was lucky that Elliot was courting her, and that two of her other men are also courting her. Because it’s beyond her capabilities. So, she thought, Eugenie should not leave her life to her luck. If she ever met a man like Erning again, she wanted to have the ability to break off the engagement without hesitation rather than praying that she would never meet such a man.

 

“Then Miss Rogoso, will you be lucky too?”

 

She couldn’t tell Erica to break off the engagement like Julia did, especially since she was so lucky. Because she knows she was lucky.

 

“Then just endure it? How bad has Lord Turner been?”

 

In response to Julia’s subsequent question, Eugenie stared at her again. Julia silenced her in response to her unspoken warning that if she intervened one more time, she would be kicked out.

 

“Miss Rogoso, I can support you in breaking off your engagement and be by your side to comfort you when you are down on your luck. But that won’t help in reality.”

 

The Rogoso family is not very wealthy. The main family is a bit different, but Erica is a collateral daughter, so Imelda married Baron Kernel. There were bad rumors about her before she got married, but she was wealthy anyway. It was a young man who could take care of her younger brother and father. That was enough for her, Imelda.

 

“I can’t ask you to break off the engagement without taking responsibility. Because I don’t have the ability to get you married to another better man.”

 

Eugenie’s calm words were cruel, but Erica was convinced. If she is prepared for how she will live after breaking off her engagement, Eugenie will support her as much as she can. But if she isn’t ready, she can’t say anything.

 

“Then should I just marry Lord Turner? With that horrible guy?”

 

“Julia.”

 

Julia, unable to bear it again, intervened. Eugenie sighed as she tried to tell her to leave her drawing room immediately. And she said to persuade Julia:

 

“You shouldn’t support the breakup of an engagement just to feel better.”

 

“So Eugenie wants Miss Rogoso to marry Lord Turner?”

 

Eugenie’s eyes turned to Erica again. Just because I don’t support the breakup of the engagement doesn’t mean I support her marriage to Lord Turner. She said calmly.

 

“No, that’s Miss Rogoso’s life. I will support your choice. I’m not rooting for you to make a certain choice.”

 

The first words were addressed to Julia, and the last words were addressed to Erica. Erica looked at Eugenie quietly and asked.

 

“What if I betray her sister and marry Jeffrey?”

 

“I don’t think it was a betrayal.”

 

Imelda is unconscious and Baron Kernell has numerous mistresses. She thought soberly that if Baroness Kernell had refused to treat her lady, she could have done something if Erica were Viscountess Turner. But if it’s just Ms. Rogoso, it’s going to be a little difficult.

 

“There is no way Lord Turner will pay for treatment.”

 

Julia said. Eugenie nodded her head because she agreed with what she said. But even though she has the money, since Imelda is Baroness Kernell, there is nothing Erica can do if Baron Kernell refuses treatment. She looked at Erica and said.

 

“But we can put pressure on Baron Kernell in Viscount Turner’s name.”

 

You can pressure her to treat her wife. After giving Erica time to think about it, Eugenie spoke again.

 

“On the other hand, if you break off the engagement, as Baroness Kernell’s younger sister, you can stay at the Kernel Mansion and take care of Imelda.”

 

The choice is up to Erica. Because it’s her life. Eugenie believed that neither she nor anyone else had the right to criticize Erica for whichever side she chose.

 

“I…”

 

Erica barely opened her mouth, but her throat was sore that she closed her mouth. Although she was a little more articulate than when she came here, she was still confused.

 

“If I am prepared to break off the engagement and contact you again, can you come with me to Jeffrey?”

 

“If you were prepared.”

 

“So, if I marry Jeffrey, will you come to the wedding?”

 

“If you invite me.”

 

Erica’s expression became determined. She got up from her seat and said she would think about it some more. She needs to think more carefully.

 

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