When You Started to Regret - Chapter 25

It was time for Elaine to return home.

She had promised Fernando Aiola that although she was now an adult and allowed to date, she would return before the family’s evening dinner whenever possible.

But the closer it got to that time, the more Elaine hated the idea of parting from Dominic. She tried every excuse she could think of to delay it.

“Just a little longer, okay?”

Perfectly composed again—as if she’d never been disheveled just moments before—Elaine slipped into Dominic’s arms with a pout.

“I don’t think my dessert’s fully digested yet. So even if dinner’s a bit late, it’ll be fine.”

“But if you go back too late, your family might end up waiting for you, hungry,” Dominic said gently, stroking her hair as she nestled against him.

Even though she knew he was only saying it out of care, the words still felt like he was trying to push her away, and it left her feeling a little hurt.

As if he could sense her feelings, Dominic let out a soft chuckle and gently lifted her chin. Then he kissed her—tenderly, politely, sweetly. It was a gentle goodbye kiss.

“There’s always tomorrow. We’ll see each other again soon, Elaine.”

“…”

“Please don’t sulk. If you’re really that sad about leaving, should I walk you back to the estate?”

“Really?”

Elaine’s eyes lit up at once, her earlier sulky mood disappearing like it had never been there.

“But you said you were busy today.”

“To finish everything Her Majesty gave me by tonight will be a bit tight, but… if it’s for you, I don’t mind staying up a little late.”

At that, Elaine suddenly remembered—Dominic hadn’t gotten any work done all day because of her. And even so, instead of complaining, he was being so patient, so kind. Realizing this, she flushed with guilt and embarrassment and took a step back.

“No… I know you’re busy. I can’t keep clinging to you like this. I’ll really go now.”

She had spent all this time stalling, coming up with excuses not to leave. But the moment she realized she was becoming a burden, she let go without hesitation.

“Oh, right. Dominic—here.”

Just as she was about to leave, she handed him a small envelope.

“What’s this?”

“An invitation. You’re invited to Vanessa’s birthday party next week.”

Dominic took the envelope, his grip tightening slightly as he did. He used the paper knife on the desk to open it. Inside was an invitation written in an elegant, noblewoman’s script.

Pretending to be surprised, Dominic turned to Elaine.

“You wrote this?”

“Of course. I had to write dozens of them.”

“But this handwriting…”

It looked like Vanessa’s, yet something was subtly different. Dominic recognized it. It was the formal script often used by women of the Carta Imperial family. He’d heard that many noblewomen trained desperately to master it—many gave up, unable to keep up with its complexity.

Still, some succeeded. So it wasn’t entirely shocking that someone could use it. But for a young noblewoman from Hermanda, far from the imperial capital, to write in it so flawlessly—that was unexpected.

“Oh? You recognize it?” Elaine said brightly. “My mother taught me. She was born into the imperial family of Carta.”

“But Elaine… I thought your mother…”

Dominic trailed off, caught off guard by her words. Noticing the confusion on his face, Elaine gave a small, knowing smile.

“She passed away when I was six.”

“…”

“I learned to read and write by the time I was four. Unlike Fernando, our parents were extremely strict. From a very young age, I was taught everything—how to speak, eat, walk, write… nothing was left to chance.”

She laughed softly and stepped into his arms again. But Dominic’s hand, still holding the invitation, trembled in the air—unable to return her embrace.

“What is it? Surprised that I could read and write at such a young age?”

“……”

“I know. I was an exceptional child. If I hadn’t eaten that cookie when I was six, I might’ve become someone even more brilliant than I am now.”

“Cookie…?”

Elaine giggled playfully, but Dominic’s expression darkened. His heart began to pound with a strange sense of dread.

“I told you before, didn’t I? About the poison of Carlotta.”

Still in his arms, Elaine tilted her head back slightly and smiled.

“That poison… you were exposed to it from a cookie?”

Dominic stared at her, imagining a six-year-old Elaine. Even now she was small, but back then she must’ve been so much smaller—her tiny body suffering from poison. The thought of such a young, helpless Elaine Aiola made his chest ache.

After that day, Elaine didn’t visit. She had become busy preparing for Vanessa’s birthday party.

A servant from the Aiola estate came instead, bringing a note from Elaine. “She’s sorry,” he said, “and hopes you understand.”

“……”

Even after the servant left, Dominic stood there, staring at the small note written in her graceful script. After a while, he crumpled it in his hand and tossed it carelessly onto the desk.

A sudden tightness in his chest made him undo the top buttons of his shirt. He gulped down cold water, but it did nothing to calm him.

What is this?
Am I… frustrated? Just because I haven’t seen her in a few days?

Dominic scoffed inwardly at himself. He was irritable, on edge—and he knew it. He should be looking forward to the reunion at Vanessa’s party, and yet, something kept gnawing at him.

Three days later, Bella came to see him.

“What’s the matter? Isn’t the Aiola estate busy with party preparations? Should you really be sneaking out like this?”

Dominic gave her a cold look, his voice sharp. He knew he was being unnecessarily curt, but he didn’t bother correcting it. Fixing his tone would mean admitting he was agitated—and worse, that it was because Elaine Aiola wasn’t around.

“I brought the guest list for Lady Vanessa’s party.”

Bella handed him a sheet, her eyes carefully scanning his face. Dominic glanced over it, committing the names to memory before setting it aside. There were a few names that bothered him, but none worth paying much attention to—least of all the poor crown prince of Hermanda, who harbored a hopeless crush on Elaine Aiola.

It wasn’t premium intelligence, but it was useful nonetheless. Dominic gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

“It helps. Thanks.”

“As you said, things are hectic… but I managed to slip away. We haven’t spoken in a while.”

Bella’s tone held a hint of reproach. Recently, Dominic had spent nearly all his time with Elaine or on assignments from the queen. He hadn’t reached out to Bella, and she—desperate to see him again—had come bearing information as an excuse.

“Dominic.”

She looked at him with longing, waiting for the next step. Their relationship had always been simple and transactional. Bella helped him with his revenge; in return, Dominic gave her… what she wanted.

Unfortunately for her, what she wanted and what Dominic gave were two very different things.

Long ago, when Vanessa was still a royal princess rather than the mistress of House Aiola, Bella had served her—not as a noble’s maid, but as the crown princess’s personal attendant.

Back then, Dominic wasn’t the man he was now. He’d been a boy—taller than his peers, rough around the edges, wild in a way that set him apart from the perfectly polished boys of the palace. And yet, he was beautiful enough for a princess to secretly cherish.

Bella had fallen for him back then. She hated seeing such a striking boy reduced to Vanessa’s plaything. She despised Vanessa for using him. Over the years, her crooked affection twisted into obsession—dark, desperate, and deep-rooted.

And Dominic? He was just rotten enough to know how to use that obsession to his advantage.

“Oh, Bella.”

Dominic smiled faintly, looking into her eyes—eyes stained with pure but ugly longing.

“You should go. You’re busy.”

Even though it was a clear dismissal, Bella couldn’t bring herself to move. She stood there, staring at him.

She was desperate. It had been too long since she’d last seen him, and she didn’t know when the next chance would come. Dominic had been preoccupied lately.

Because of Elaine Aiola.
Just a meaningless noble girl—supposedly just a pawn in his revenge.

“I… I want to stay with you a little longer, Dominic.”

Bella grabbed his collar, pleading. Dominic just stared at her, his faint smile never wavering.

Growing more frantic, she sank to her knees in front of him. He looked down at her with cold detachment. Her cheap, reddish hair—dyed in imitation of Vanessa’s—shook as she moved.

“Dominic, please… please…”

She reached out, hand trembling toward the same part of him that Elaine couldn’t even touch without flinching. It wasn’t something he’d asked her to do, and yet—after days of frustration, it should’ve been a welcome distraction.

But nothing stirred.

What’s wrong with me?

It had only been three days without Elaine Aiola. He’d been irritated, restless, convinced it was because of pent-up desire. And now, the opportunity to release it was right in front of him and still, he felt nothing.

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