When You Started to Regret - Chapter 29

At that moment, Fernando’s pale complexion turned even whiter.

“Ah! At the palace.”

Elaine nodded lightly, glancing between Fernando and Vanessa. Even blinded by love as she was, Elaine wasn’t so dull as to miss the tension thickening in the room. No one needed to spell it out, she could feel it. The atmosphere had shifted into something sharp, and unpleasant.

Do they dislike Dominic that much?

She suddenly remembered something Dominic had once said:

“If just if your family disapproved of me, what would you do then?”

She had dismissed it outright at the time, claiming it was nonsense. But now, standing in this room, that hypothetical felt uncomfortably real.

Elaine’s grip on Dominic’s arm tightened.

She forced a radiant smile, her eyes curving into cheerful crescents as she spoke to Fernando and Vanessa:

“I plan to introduce Dominic to the other guests at the party today. But before that, I’m glad I could introduce him to the two of you first.”

“Wait! Elaine…!”

Fernando, who hadn’t even properly responded to Dominic’s earlier greeting, suddenly raised his voice. His tone cracked, sharp and unsettled. It was nothing like his usual calm, aristocratic manner.

“Is something wrong, Brother?”

Elaine’s voice was laced with forced sweetness, but there was a growing tension underneath. The unease that had been blooming inside her since she stepped into the room now began to fully unfurl.

No, that can’t be right. This isn’t what I think it is.

She tried to reassure herself—but her eyes were beginning to tremble. And then came the words from Fernando’s lips that confirmed her fears.

“This feels a little premature.”

It was the first time Fernando smiled all day. But the smile he wore now was anything but warm—it was strained, uncanny.

“Of course, your guest is… well, he’s very impressive. Truly. But to introduce him as your official partner at an event like this… perhaps it’s a bit much.”

“…”

“What I mean is, it’s all just happening too fast. Everything in life has its proper order, doesn’t it? Today, you’ve introduced your… very distinguished guest to us. That’s enough for now. We can take the next step after a bit more… thought.”

He rambled on, clearly grasping for polite words—but Elaine’s smile was already fading.

“So, you’re refusing to acknowledge Sir Cheshire’s greeting because he’s my guest, and not yours or Vanessa’s?”

Her voice had lost all warmth. It struck the room like frost.

“…Did I say that?”

Fernando flinched. Awkwardly, he turned to Dominic.

There stood the man in question—poised, graceful, eyes lowered beneath long lashes, wearing a quietly sorrowful expression. It was the face of a statue carved to perfection. And Fernando hated it.

He shoved down a bitter groan.

“My apologies, Sir Cheshire. Forgive me. I was… caught off guard.”

“No need, Your Excellency,” Dominic answered politely, with a wistful smile.

“Of course you’d be surprised. Anyone would be, seeing me standing next to the esteemed daughter of House Aiola.”

There was no humility in those words—only deliberate brazenness, and it made Fernando’s blood boil.

“If you know that—”

His voice dropped, low and dangerous, like a growl.

“Brother!”

Elaine’s voice cut in sharply, stopping him in his tracks. Fernando ran a hand over his face, realizing how far he’d just let himself go.

Ever since discovering that the man courting his beloved sister was none other than that wretched boy—Edmund’s cursed slave—he hadn’t been thinking clearly.

“…Forgive me. That was out of line.”

He exhaled stiffly, then added in a quieter voice, “This isn’t the time or place. Let’s speak privately.”

“What is it you want to say, Brother? Is it something I’m not allowed to hear?”

Fernando tried to rein in his fraying composure, reminding himself that the girl standing before him was Elaine. He attempted to steer the conversation into a private exchange with Dominic—but Elaine, sharp as ever, immediately stepped in to block him.

“It’s not like that, Elaine. I only want to protect you—as your guardian—”

“If that’s the case, then say it in front of me.”

Elaine’s voice was firm, unwavering.
“I’m old enough to know and decide for myself. If it’s something that can’t be said in front of me, then keep it buried deep in your throat forever.”

Fernando stared at his sister, stunned.
Even Dominic had to suppress a laugh.

So she had this side to her, too…
A woman he thought belonged to a world completely unlike his, a delicate flower of the Aiola family now sounded more like a back-alley rogue. Like someone who came from his world.

“It’s alright, Elaine,” Dominic said gently. “It’s only natural for your brother to be shocked. After all, compared to the name Aiola, I must be an utterly disappointing presence.”

Though his voice was humble and his smile subdued, there was mockery underneath directed at Fernando, who, despite his pride, couldn’t bring himself to expel Dominic outright.

And everyone in the room everyone except Elaine felt that duality behind Dominic’s sorrowful expression.

Dominic glanced at Fernando and murmured pitifully:

“A man with nothing must be hard to trust.”

“That’s not true at all, Dominic!”

Elaine, outraged, tightened her grip on his hands.
“The Fernando Aiola I know would never dismiss his only sister’s choice for something so shallow. Right, Brother?”

Fernando remained silent.

Elaine’s green eyes—so like his own, but sharper—bore into him with unmistakable disappointment. His lips pressed into a tight line. He couldn’t answer.

Dominic was delighted.

“Since it seems you both refuse to acknowledge my guest, I’ll take him elsewhere.”

Elaine’s tone had cooled to ice.

“It’s the Aiola family’s duty to treat guests with respect.”

“Elaine…! Where are you going? Today is Vanessa’s—”

“Her birthday. Yes, I know.”

Elaine turned to look at Vanessa, who had remained silent, her face stiff.

Her sister’s expression said everything—it matched Fernando’s. She had disapproved of Dominic from the beginning. Merely because he bore the name Cheshire.

“Happy birthday, Vanessa. I hope your party is enjoyable.”

Without waiting for a response, Elaine took Dominic’s hand and walked out.

Dominic let himself be led, glancing down at the small, determined figure beside him.

Where did she get such fire in that slender frame?

The girl he’d once dismissed as a pampered aristocratic flower… had surprised him.

He followed in silence, his gaze fixed on the back of her head, his eyes softening unknowingly.

By the open doorway, Bella had been standing awkwardly. She caught a glimpse of Dominic’s expression as he passed—and felt a shiver of unease ripple through her.

They exited quietly through a less-traveled corridor, away from the gathering noise of the party.

Elaine had no desire to air the Aiola family’s discord in public.

The cool evening air brushed against her cheeks. Her fast-paced footsteps slowed, and soon she came to a halt.

All around was stillness except for the sound of her heavy, trembling breaths.

Dominic, who had followed her without a word, finally spoke.

“It’s alright, Elaine.”

“…”

“I’m fine.”

At that, Elaine spun around, her eyes stinging.

She remembered the night they first met, just near this annex, on another quiet evening like this one. He had spoken then with the same calm, gentle voice.

Even now, after being humiliated by her family, his voice carried no trace of bitterness. And that made it hurt even more.

Why wasn’t he angry? Why wasn’t he even sad? Why did he accept their cruelty as if it were expected?

“To think Fernando could be so stupid… and so blind.”

Elaine gripped both his hands tightly, threading her fingers between his.

She met his eyes, clear and resolute.

“I love only you, Dominic. Don’t worry. No one can deny my feelings—not even my own brother. No one will take you from me.”

“…But…”

“I love you, Dominic.”

It was a declaration that sounded almost like a knight pledging loyalty before battle.

Dominic paused. Then, in a soft voice that held a rare flicker of sincerity, he replied:

“…I love you too, Elaine.”

Just for a moment, he meant it.

Elaine Aiola—who had just silenced Fernando and Vanessa with a steel will—was admirable, even lovable. Her strength stirred something inside him.

Elaine flushed at his reply, her earlier anger momentarily forgotten. She didn’t know that his words were a lie—just a beautiful, well-spoken lie.

Dominic chuckled under his breath.

Ah… my lovely Aiola. How foolish you are.

So blindly in love. My poor, naïve little daffodil.

Slowly, Dominic leaned toward her. And in the shadows of the night, their lips met and stayed that way for a long, long time.

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