It's Too Late for Regrets - Chapter 9.8

“When I see you, I start to think—maybe it would be better to lock you in my cage if I truly want to make you happy.”

 

“…Why.”

 

“Because when I look at you, you seem so fragile that I can’t stop myself from wanting to reach out.”

 

“….”

 

“And today, I finally realized that I don’t need to do that. Ines.”

 

There was a strange light in Edgar’s eyes.

 

He had always believed he was fundamentally different from his cousin. But in the end, he was still someone born and raised among the elite.

 

Maybe he, too, had assumed that she was someone weak—someone who needed to be protected and couldn’t stand on her own.

 

Even so, he still wanted to tell Ines that he hoped she would never return to her original body. Because—

 

‘Ines, I really…’

 

Edgar swallowed the words he had repeated in his mind dozens of times.

 

He didn’t want to force even a hint of his feelings onto her.

 

It was enough if she achieved everything she wanted. Even if she looked at him only at the very end.

 

As long as her destination was him, Edgar could wait forever. Just the fact that he was still alive like this—somehow, it was enough.

 

In a calm tone, he brought up what he had originally planned to say today.

 

“Ines, please don’t be too surprised and just listen.”

 

“Huh? Listen to what…?”

 

“Count Irope might strongly push for a marriage between us.”

 

Ines widened her eyes, then nodded slowly.

 

It was the same thing Clara had been loudly talking about every day lately—that she would soon become the Empress of Lezan.

 

“So we might end up holding an engagement ceremony.”

 

“Engage…”

 

“You don’t need to feel any pressure. Celia Irope was always the one chosen to be the next Empress of Lezan. It’s not you—I’ll be engaged to Celia… so please don’t think too hard about it.”

 

His words turned unnecessarily long, like he was making excuses.

 

Ines stared quietly at him, then slowly nodded.

 

“Celia is truly a lucky person. To have someone as kind as Your Majesty as her husband.”

 

Edgar forgot whatever else he had been about to say.

 

“Someone this gentle, handsome, and warm—what wife wouldn’t be happy to have a husband like that?”

 

“….”

 

“I guess I’ll get to feel that just a little too. Thank you for giving me a heads-up, Your Majesty.”

 

She winked playfully.

 

The truth was—he knew.

 

He knew that her feelings were not the same as his.

 

To her, he was the same now as in the past—just a dear friend.

 

So she would never know how much those words meant to him…

 

“I should be the one thanking you for understanding…”

 

His voice was about to tremble badly, so Edgar quickly shut his mouth.

 

That evening, a formal marriage proposal from the emperor arrived at Celia Irope’s residence.

 

 

Eleanor Villa in the Eastern Randeva

 

Rayan was reading a letter again, its corners worn from days of handling.

 

Written in neat handwriting, the letter held only two short lines—Ines’s only reply, sent ten days ago.

 

Thank you for your kindness, but I will only accept your feelings.
Please forgive my rudeness in refusing.

 

There was no flowery introduction or formal opening, which were common among nobles. Just a blunt and shockingly short reply.

 

Rayan had read that arrogant little letter thousands of times.

 

It was something he got by forceful means, but still—it was their first letter exchange.

 

He gently traced her handwriting with his finger.

 

So this is Ines’s handwriting…

 

Worried she might have someone else write it, he’d told the knight delivering it to watch her write it in person.

 

He couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips.

 

“Even her handwriting is pretty.”

 

He had never felt this fluttery before in his life.

 

It was like experiencing first love, something he hadn’t even felt as a teenage boy.

 

Though the contents were cold, at least she responded.

 

Honestly, he never expected a proper reply. Even if the paper had been filled with curse words, he would’ve been satisfied.

 

In fact, he had hoped for something like that.

 

‘She could’ve been harsher, and I’d still be fine…’

 

When three days passed without a letter, Rayan almost went straight to Count Irope’s estate.

 

He would’ve begged her to at least slap him or kick him if she was going to ignore him like he didn’t exist.

 

If it weren’t for Caesar clinging to him more than usual lately, he would’ve done it.

 

Did he enjoy being hated? Absolutely not.

 

But waiting endlessly for a reply was worse than provoking her and getting some reaction.

 

What he feared most was Ines’s silence.

 

Because the dead… don’t speak.

 

He knew the logic didn’t work that way.

 

But when it came to Ines, he couldn’t think rationally.

 

The longer she stayed silent, the more it felt like he was back two years ago—standing quietly in front of her coffin, waiting.

 

‘…Still, I got one reply.’

 

Rayan carefully folded the letter and its envelope, tucking it into the inside pocket of his jacket.

 

He had once lost the handkerchief Ines gave him and still regretted it. So he couldn’t bear to let this letter leave his side.

 

Only after the letter was safely in his coat did he sink deep into the sofa.

 

‘So, what should I do next?’

 

Maybe pretend to run into her by coincidence?

 

He already knew all of Ines’s movements. Creating an opportunity would be easy.

 

His heart started to flutter a little again.

 

When should he go see her so she wouldn’t be too surprised?

 

How long had he waited for a day like this, when he could even consider such thoughts…

 

But his excitement shattered the moment he entered the palace that evening for the roundtable meeting.

 

“Congratulations, Count. It’s already a blessing that your daughter recovered safely, and now your family has earned great honor.”

 

“Thank you. Honestly, it still feels unreal seeing Celia smiling at me like she used to… And now a marriage. I feel happy… and a little sad, too…”

 

All the nobles gathered around the roundtable had only one topic to discuss.

 

The emperor’s engagement to Lady Irope.

 

Rayan looked at the teacup in front of him and quietly repeated the word.

 

“Engagement…”

 

Hearing his low voice, Count Irope and Marquis Leches both froze. They exchanged uneasy glances.

 

‘He seemed fine the past few days, but now again…’

 

Lately, the Grand Duke didn’t bother hiding his mood. When his expression hardened, everyone around him tensed.

 

He never drew his sword or caused trouble in public, but he didn’t need to.

 

He could silence and overwhelm a room with his presence alone.

 

Whether or not he noticed the wary glances of the high-ranking nobles, Rayan slowly rose and walked to the window.

 

Once his back faced the roundtable, Count Irope, believing it safe to speak again, forced the conversation forward.

 

“So… after the engagement ceremony during the foundation festival, the royal wedding would be held during His Majesty’s birthday celebration this fall…”

 

But before he could finish—

 

Crash!

 

A chilling shatter rang out as porcelain shards scattered across the floor. Everyone turned to the window in shock.

 

A vase had exploded, now in pieces across the window ledge.

 

It hadn’t been thrown.

 

The Grand Duke’s hands were still in his pockets.

 

An icy silence filled the room.

 

“G-Grand Duke…?”

 

Ignoring the tense voices, Rayan scanned the window ledge and picked up the sharpest shard.

 

He clenched it tightly in his fist without hesitation. His scarred palm tore open.

 

Blood dripped steadily down his hand, and a faint light finally returned to his dark green eyes.

 

“…Count Irope.”

 

Still holding the bloodied shard, Rayan turned and looked at the frozen count.

 

“Did you say your daughter is marrying Edgar?”

 

The count paled, stumbling over his words.

 

“Y-Yes, that’s right. I suppose the news reached you late, Grand Duke. Well, what happened was…”

 

The rest was just noise.

 

Rayan slowly processed what he had just heard.

 

Ines—marrying another man?

 

More than anger, the thought felt foreign.

 

How? One question followed another.

 

With someone other than him?

 

As long as he was still breathing, that didn’t make sense.

 

After everything—without even a real conversation—he was going to lose her like this?

 

If that’s the case…

 

Then maybe…

 

‘It would be better to return her to her original body right now—’