“Madam, wake up!”
At the touch shaking her body, Regina abruptly woke up. Dina, tilting a parasol toward her instead of Gray, looked down at her with an annoyed expression.
“You wouldn’t wake up no matter how many times I called you. Skipping meals and medicine isn’t good for you!”
She muttered softly, almost as if to herself, “At this rate, I’ll be the one getting scolded later.”
If confronted, she would widen her eyes and insist, “I never said that!”
“…What time is it now?”
The sunlight streaming through the window felt unusual. Sure enough, the reply she received left Regina shocked.
“It’s 8 a.m.”
Had she been unconscious for an entire day? Regina, stunned, felt as though echoes were ringing in her ears.
You will never leave me.
A voice, as horrifying as a nightmare and as seductive as a devil’s, came to mind. The cold eyes that watched her face with delight while pressing his lips to hers…
A cat playing with a mouse under its claws doesn’t expect retaliation. Gray was no different. From the moment he first saw her, he was convinced that his wife, utterly devoted to him, would never leave him, not even in death. That belief filled Regina with profound despair.
“Where is Gray?”
“He went out about half an hour ago.”
“Where to?”
“How would I know?”
Even if she knew, she wouldn’t tell—her slyly innocent expression seemed to say as much.
“Oh, and Madam? Is this the letter you told me to deliver yesterday?”
The letter in Dina’s hand was familiar. However, it was now marked with burns that looked as if they had been made by a cigarette, scattered throughout its sentences.
“Did you do this?”
“Of course not! It was like this when I found it. It was just crumpled on the bedside table, you know?”
Dina clicked her tongue as she stared down at the letter with a pitying expression.
“This is why the master says he’s too busy… Haah.”
Her cleverness in only voicing criticism to a safe extent made it even more infuriating.
“You should learn to watch your mouth.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“Do you know how far you can get with that cunning way of making people look foolish? You sly thing.”
It felt satisfying to snap back at her without mercy. Regina wondered why she had held back for so long.
“Madam, how could you say such harsh things? What did I do wrong? You must be irritable because you’re unwell.”
Oh. So this is how she’s going to play it.
“Please wait a moment; I’ll call the doctor for you.”
“Not the doctor. Bring Melanie.”
The name of Melanie, the head maid overseeing the Cavill household’s maids, escaped Regina’s lips.
“What do you need the head maid for?”
“I told you to bring her.”
Regina offered no further explanation or request for understanding. That wasn’t the proper attitude for a mistress of the house.
Arguing with an ordinary maid would have been a ridiculous waste of time. Disciplining insubordinate maids was strictly the head maid’s responsibility.
Facing Regina’s unyielding and stern expression, Dina broke into a nervous sweat.
“Madam, have I been too informal?”
Perhaps changing tactics, Dina tucked her glossy hair behind her ears and flashed a sweet smile.
“If so, I’m sorry. While you were unwell, I just missed you and worried so much… I must have momentarily forgotten my place.”
It was obvious she was scheming, trying to get out of trouble. Unable to tolerate the falsehoods any longer, Regina pressed her again.
“You worried about me?”
“Of course! While you were lying down, I was so heartbroken. I even felt guilty for not having taken better care of you before.”
“….”
“You can ask the other maids if you don’t believe me. While you were unconscious, I stayed by your side, taking care of you with all my heart. Every morning, I cleaned you and prayed for your recovery.”
Dina pursed her lips, as if embarrassed by her own words, and put on a show of modesty. Regina couldn’t hold back a laugh any longer.
“Cut the lies. Every morning? At best, it was once every three days!”
“…What?!”
“How could you bathe me in cold water in the middle of winter? Reusing the water after you were done…”
Regina, already weakened, had nearly died then. At her words, Dina paled.
“Ma-Madam…”
How did she know? Could it be that while her body couldn’t move, her consciousness was intact?
The thought was absurd, but Regina’s eyes held an undeniable certainty, almost tangible in its intensity. Panic and suspicion mingled in Dina’s face as she instinctively stepped back.
“…That’s what I heard,” Regina added.
“E-excuse me?”
“It’s exactly as I said. Another maid hinted at your work habits, Dina. It doesn’t seem like you were as devoted to taking care of me as you claim.”
Was she just saying that to provoke her, or was it true? Dina was confused. It was true that she had neglected Regina, assuming she would die anyway. She hadn’t really tried to hide it either.
But the bath issue… no one else could possibly know about that.
Regina indifferently watched Dina’s bewildered reaction. Her unsettled face resembled a swan in distress. It was hard to believe that this woman, who had grabbed Regina’s hair and carelessly washed her with cold water, could look so innocent.
How much longer do I have to care for this walking corpse? It’s disgusting and gives me the chills!
Now that the “walking corpse” had risen, it must be terrifying. Swallowing a bitter laugh, Regina subtly warned her.
“You might think everyone in this mansion is on your side, but there might be at least one person who wants to do the right thing. So, watch your behavior.”
“Y-yes… I’ll be careful… I’ll be mindful.”
“Now, go and bring Melanie here.”
Though Dina’s face twisted with fear and humiliation, she eventually lowered her head in submission.
***
Gray. The color neither pure white nor deep black—an indecisive shade. Was his dislike of ambiguity born from resentment over his name?
Gray always preferred clarity. Numbers that fit perfectly without decimals trailing, sapphires cut sharply as if by a ruler, black walnut wood that wouldn’t scratch even after repeated hammer strikes, and the quarterly business reports of the most capable financier, Finley Brixton.
But kissing Regina wasn’t like that. Her tear-streaked lips tasted salty and slightly tangy, and as his tongue delved deeper, he caught the faint, lingering sweetness of a candy long finished. On top of that, there was the scent of her skin and the dizzying softness of their mingling flesh.
Even with all the words in the world, it was impossible to describe the messy, sticky, and complex taste precisely.
“… My lord. My lord, are you listening?”
A hand waved in front of Gray’s face, shaking him from his thoughts. With furrowed brows, Finley Brixton, a man with red hair and a hamster-like expression, stared at him.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean, what is it? This is all because of you!”
With his arms crossed, Finley glared at him. He was not only Gray’s aide but also the director of the Bank of Cavill, owned by Gray. Despite being the confidant of one of the wealthiest men, Finley never looked particularly happy.
“Is it true? That Lady Regina has requested a divorce?”
Please tell me it’s not true. Finley’s eyes pleaded. Gray replied cheerfully.
“It’s true.”
***
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed what you have read, do consider tipping me a little through: click here. An advanced chapter will be posted as a thank you once I receive 6$. Don’t forget to mention the series that you’re supporting!
