When You Started to Regret - Chapter 28

“When exactly did that man become your man? At the palace ball, the two of you didn’t seem that close.”

“Well, we weren’t.”

Elaine replied with a faint smile, momentarily lost in the memory. Turner frowned, clearly confused.

“And you got that close in such a short time? Hold on, Elaine, don’t tell me.”

He suddenly turned to her with a look of suspicion in his eyes.

“You didn’t use your status to coerce him, did you? Forced him into being yours?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”

Irritated by the look on his face, Elaine grabbed the small cushion behind her back and hurled it at Turner’s head. She was aiming to ruin that annoyingly handsome face, but he caught the pillow effortlessly and held it to his chest like a prize.

Still, he looked at her with that same suspicious glint.

“Do you even know he’s working for your mother?”

“I heard he helps Her Majesty. I don’t know the details.”

“There’s going to be a major clash soon. The Queen is pushing for tax reform. A bunch of unfamiliar young nobles, including your Dominic, are supporting her. Naturally, Fernando and the rest of the old guard won’t take that lightly.”

“Hm…”

Elaine looked thoughtful. The idea of Dominic being in political conflict with Fernando didn’t sit well with her.

“You don’t seem too concerned. If the tax system changes, it’s the established nobles who’ll take the biggest hit.”

“That’s true—for the petty ones. Like that Belotte girl who gave me dirty looks just because her crush liked me. But I’m an Aiola, Turner. Elaine Aiola.”

Elaine lifted her chin with a proud little smile.

“And something like that isn’t enough to change who I am.”

“…Wow.”

Turner could only let out a dry laugh at her arrogance.

“So your man might end up in direct conflict with your brother. And even if that shakes the very foundations of the nobility, you think that won’t matter to someone like you?”

“Now that I think about it,” she said with a dreamy sigh, “it’s actually impressive. Standing up to those arrogant elites and helping the Queen? He’s going to leave a mark in history.”

Blushing, Elaine pressed her warm cheeks with her hands. The proud noblewoman from a moment ago had vanished, replaced by a bashful girl deeply in love.

“Hearing you talk about him only makes me like him more. Dominic really is incredible.”

Watching her shift so easily from smugness to pure affection, Turner Herdean Bert felt his chest tighten again. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to suppress the swell of emotion. Every time he let his guard down, he fell for her all over again. He hated that part of himself. And he hated even more that she never felt the same.

Still, he pushed all that bitterness aside and spoke with a crooked smile.

“You’re amazing too, Elaine Aiola. To go and claim such an incredible man for yourself.”

“Oh, ‘claim’ him? That’s such a scandalous way to put it!”

Startled, Elaine jumped to her feet. She flung the window open and began fanning her face, as if the air would cool the heat rising to her cheeks.

“Dominic isn’t something I can just claim like property.”

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, carried off by the breeze through the window.

“…Elaine Aiola, speaking with humility? Now I’ve seen everything.”

Turner sounded genuinely stunned. The woman who always acted like the world belonged at her feet was now whispering shyly.

Elaine turned back from the window, hands clasped together like in a prayer.

“He’s not mine to own. But he is my everything.”

Yes, my everything. A man I would give everything to—my heart, my pride, even my name. My Dominic.

“…He’s here.”

The words slipped from her smiling lips in a breathless murmur. She had just spotted his carriage pulling through the estate gates.

With joy lighting her face, Elaine dashed across the room and out the door. She ignored whatever Turner was saying behind her.

Her steps down the stairs were light and eager. The black lace shawl draped over her shoulders fluttered like wings. She looked like a fairy in flight—so graceful and radiant that everyone she passed had to stop and stare.

But Elaine, blind in her love, noticed none of them. She ran straight outside, her gaze fixed only on one thing.

And finally, at the end of her path, she saw him—her everything.

“Dominic!”

She called his name, breathless.

Just stepping out of the carriage, Dominic paused at the sound of her voice. Then, he planted his feet on the ground and turned to her with a soft, gentle smile tugging at his lips.

“Lady Aiola.”

As always, Dominic did not rush toward her. Instead, he offered a deep, formal bow from where he stood.

“…?”

Elaine blinked, puzzled by the sudden distance he was putting between them—until she realized they weren’t alone. Curious onlookers were watching them from nearby, whispering and sneaking glances.

Of course they were curious. The young lady of the Aiola family had come all the way outside to greet someone personally. Naturally, questions would arise. Some were probably already imagining scandalous stories in their heads.

But so, what?
Was she, Elaine Aiola, supposed to care about their prying stares?

With not even the slightest flinch, Elaine lifted her chin proudly and strode up to Dominic. Then, smiling brightly for all to see, she boldly looped her arm through his—openly affectionate, deliberately intimate.

The onlookers weren’t the only ones startled.

So was Dominic, his expression briefly frozen. Elaine leaned in and whispered softly so only he could hear.

“It’s fine. I’m going to make things clear today.”

“…Ah. If you’re forcing yourself… for my sake…”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m doing this for me.”

Slowly, the confusion faded from Dominic’s face. A graceful smile spread across his lips.

That face—so devastatingly handsome—made Elaine’s heart pound.

“You’re incredibly kind, Elaine,” Dominic said in his rich, low voice. “So kind it makes you far too good for someone like me. To the point where I can’t help but love you.”

And just like that, Elaine felt herself fall for him all over again. Her arms clung tighter to his.

“Come on, Dominic. The party hall’s this way.”

Elaine tugged him toward the bustling annex, already lively with early guests. She could feel the weight of lingering stares on her back, but she merely scoffed.

Let them wonder. Let them whisper.

Who was this unknown noble welcomed so personally by a daughter of the Aiola house? Let their imaginations run wild. As if they had any right to question her choices.

Elaine led Dominic into the annex’s grand party hall. Unlike the main residence, which exuded a classic, dignified charm, the annex—used for entertaining guests—was designed to impress: elegant, lavish, and modern.

“You’ve been here before, haven’t you? On the day we first met.”

Dominic didn’t reply, but smiled quietly and followed her lead. Since the party hadn’t officially begun, the main floor was still relatively empty, with small groups chatting in corners. They bypassed the crowd and headed straight for the second floor—to the private lounge where Vanessa and Fernando were likely waiting.

Sure enough, standing just outside the lounge was Vanessa’s lady-in-waiting, Bella. She bowed to Elaine as the two approached.

“Is Vanessa inside?”

“She is, with Lord Fernando.”

Elaine tilted her chin toward the door, signaling for Bella to open it. Bella nodded politely, knocked once, and then opened the door wide.

Inside, Fernando and Vanessa stood by the window, deep in conversation. As the door opened, they both turned—and froze.

There, arm in arm with Elaine, stood him.
Dominic.

The very same man they had seen just two days ago at the Queen’s council chamber.

Dominic… the filthy, lowborn slave boy once raised by Prince Edmund…

“…Elaine.”

Fernando’s voice was faint, his gaze fixed on Dominic, his face ghostly pale.

“Guests have already started arriving, and yet here the two of you are, looking so grim. What’s going on?”

Elaine, sensing the strange tension in the room, forced a playful smile and drew Dominic even closer.

“I wanted to introduce someone to you both. Vanessa met him briefly before, but I thought today would be a good chance for a proper introduction. The man I mentioned before—Sir Dominic Cheshire.”

Fernando and Vanessa’s expressions soured visibly. Elaine could feel it now—a creeping unease. But she pushed it aside, refusing to let it show.

“Dominic Cheshire,” she prompted with a light tap on his arm.

Dominic took a step forward and bowed with effortless elegance.

“It’s an honor to meet you again, Lady Vanessa Aiola. And…”

His gaze—icy and deliberate—swept from Vanessa to Fernando.

“…Minister Fernando Aiola. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Elaine’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Wait—Brother, you know Dominic?”

But before Fernando could respond, Dominic answered for him, his voice gentle and composed.

“We crossed paths at the palace. Just briefly.”

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