I've Tried Going Back to Life After Dying - Chapter 29

“May I offer my congratulations?”

“Yes, Aunt.”

Hildegard finally understood. Atrey’s mother was rejoicing over her son’s long-awaited feelings being fulfilled.

“He was so fixated on you, it was like he couldn’t see anyone else.”

“Mother, please stop.”

Listening to Atrey and his aunt exchange words right in front of her, Hildegard who had a decently long married life behind her found herself oddly embarrassed.

“We’ll settle the formalities in writing later,” her father said to the aunt, and Atrey’s parents nodded in unison.

Hildegard watched it all with a strange sense of wonder.

Just a little while ago at least until this morning she never imagined things would turn out like this.

She had been too preoccupied with adjusting to this world after her return from death, too overwhelmed by the thought of Lauren’s future opening up, to spare any time for self-reflection.

And yet. Atrey had been looking at her from the very beginning.

That’s right, Atrey. “You’ve always been like that.” Maybe the reason you remained single all this time was…

She decided not to dwell on it any further.

Just as the past version of herself had gradually changed into who she was now, the Atrey from back then had also chosen a different path from the one he walked today.

If that was the case, then Clifford whom she had once passed in the hallway was also someone living a life Hildegard knew nothing about.

Goodbye, my lord.

Though the mourning had long since ended, she finally felt like she had properly bid him farewell.

“Atrey, look—Her Majesty’s gown is stunning.”

“Hm? You’re beautiful too.”

Hm? That was her line.

Atrey, who was usually so reserved, had just said something so saccharine that Hildegard could only stare in bewilderment.

The king declared the ball open, the royal family performed their dance. A sight she had witnessed countless times in her past life and yet, Hildegard’s heart fluttered as if it were all new.

Lately, she had been thinking.

She was gradually drifting away from her past life.

The Hildegard who had loved Clifford, grown distant, raised Austen, and lived for the sake of the marquess house. That woman was slowly, slowly fading away.

She felt a pang of loneliness at the thought, yet also a strange nostalgia.

“Hildegard, will you dance with me?”

Today, Atrey had been like this the entire time—sweet, coaxing, yet carrying an unshakable firmness that left no room for refusal.

This was a side of him she had never seen before yesterday, and it made her realize that he, too, had desires. The fact that she was the one bringing them out filled her with a joy and confusion that transcended both her past and present lives.

Their hands joined without hesitation.

As they stepped onto the floor, gazing into each other’s eyes, the families who knew them seemed to understand.

Though it hadn’t been publicly announced yet, whispers had already spread. Lauren had stepped down as heir, and Hildegard would succeed as the next head of the family. Lately, letters of courtship had begun to mix in with the usual correspondence, some even proposing marriage into her house.

To think she would end up facing Atrey like this.

The hand at her back burned. Their clasped palms grew slightly damp with sweat, but the moment Atrey took the first step, she forgot all about it.

Dancing with Atrey, led by him. Dancing through the rest of her life with him.

The once socially adept marchioness had completely transformed into a maiden stepping into high society for the very first time.

“Hildegard.”

Atrey’s voice was unexpectedly close to her ear. When she instinctively looked up, her own face was reflected in his amber eyes.

No, Hildegard. Don’t make that face.

It was the face of a maiden in love. The kind you’d see in novels or on stage.

She was falling for someone again.

She had thought it would never happen a second time.

Tears threatened to spill, but she forced them back with sheer will.

On such a radiant day, even happy tears felt like a waste. She would enjoy every moment with Atrey.

“Atrey, I’m having fun.”

At her words, Atrey smiled—a shy, pleased expression. “I’m glad.”

This, too, was a first. Ah, we’re going to walk forward together into lives we’ve never known before.

The thought filled her.

Even as the orchestra began their second piece, Hildegard and Atrey remained facing each other, unwilling to part. They danced again, their movements now on display before the nobility just as they had on the final night of the ball.

A glimpse of her parents caught her eye. Atrey’s parents stood beside them.

She couldn’t make out their expressions.

Atrey spun her smoothly, changing their direction as if to prevent their parents from interfering, guiding them deeper and deeper into the hall.

Before long, the two were dancing at the very center of the floor, eyes locked.

“Atrey, did you bring us here on purpose?”

“I’d rather not risk any more courtship letters reaching you, ever.”

The possessiveness in his words, something she had never seen in him before nearly swept her away.

By the time they stepped out of the hall, her throat was parched.

Looking around for a servant, she hoped for a cold drink.

“Ah, there’s one over there.”

Just as she spotted a waiter and moved toward him, a familiar pale gold caught her eye.

A shimmering platinum hue, neither quite gold nor silver. She stared before she could stop herself—and the owner of that hair noticed her gaze.

Clifford turned and looked straight at Hildegard.