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The Regressed Villainess Tore Up The Annulment Papers - Chapter 3
🕑 Added 2024-09-01 06:14:00 +0000 UTCChapter 3: The Villainess's Regret (2)
Aria, unable to hide her confusion, parted her trembling lips.
"Why are you here...?"
"Because I was the one who found you collapsed in your manor. By the way, this is my family's estate."
Eugene spoke calmly, pulling a chair from the corner of the room and settling down beside her bed.
Aria flinched at his sudden movement.
"I apologize for moving you without your permission. But you were in such a critical condition when I found you that I had no choice."
"That's not the problem. Don't you understand? I'm not allowed to leave that manor. If they find out..."
Her sentence included not only expulsion from the academy, but also lifelong confinement within the Floris estate.
"You don't have to worry about that. I've already spoken with the imperial family."
"What...?"
His casual words only deepened her confusion.
How could he have settled such a matter without her knowledge?
...No, even more fundamental questions remained unanswered.
Her voice laced with suspicion, she pressed him.
"We're already over. I don't know why you brought me here, but... I have nothing left to give you."
It was a humiliating confession, an admission of her utter downfall after rejecting the man before her.
She braced herself for his mockery.
But Eugene simply replied, "I didn't do this expecting anything from you. There's no need to be so wary."
"What do you... ?"
"If you insist on a reason... let's just say it's because I still care about you, out of old affection."
His answer was straightforward, devoid of any ulterior motives. Aria couldn't refute his words, despite the lingering unease.
If he hadn't come for her, she would likely be a cold corpse in her dust-filled room by now.
Her condition had been that dire before she lost consciousness.
"I know you have many questions, but for now, focus on recovering. We can catch up later."
With that, Eugene rose from his chair, pushing it back as he moved away from her bedside.
But he paused, turning back towards her, and gently adjusted her blanket, which had become tangled in her sleep.
"Get some more rest. I'll instruct the kitchen to prepare something light and easy to digest for you when you wake up."
Aria was overwhelmed by his unexpected act of kindness. She couldn't resist the gentle touch of his hand on her blanket, the unexpected warmth and care.
Since her expulsion from the academy, no one had shown her such simple kindness.
As warmth spread through her chest, she took advantage of their close proximity to observe his face more closely.
Her gaze was drawn to...
"...How did that happen?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them. She instantly regretted her impulsive question.
Eugene, about to leave the room, tilted his head at her query.
"That scar... on your face."
A jagged scar, one she hadn't seen before, ran across his face, a stark reminder of the battles he had fought in her absence.
Countless other scars, both big and small, had joined the ones she remembered from their engagement, testament to the dangers he had faced.
"Ah."
It was a rude question, especially considering she had cut off all contact with him after their broken engagement.
But he showed no offense. Instead, he answered in a calm, almost soothing tone.
"Well, let's just say I've been through a lot."
He ran a hand over the scar, a wistful expression crossing his face, then left the room, leaving her with a cryptic answer and a lingering sense of unease.
'…He's right.'
Just as her life had taken a tragic turn, he too had faced challenges and hardships she knew nothing about.
'Five years. That's how long it's been since we last saw each other. It's only natural that things would have changed.'
This realization led her to another, more unsettling discovery, a truth she had been avoiding, lost in her own grief and self-pity.
"Oh..."
After being cursed, everyone - her parents, her brother, the servants, even those who had pretended to be friends, hoping to capitalize on her misfortune - had reacted to her disfigurement with varying degrees of horror and disgust.
Some offered pity, which was bearable. But others couldn't even mask their revulsion, their faces contorting in disgust at the sight of her.
She knew that her former beauty had been a major factor in their initial attraction, their desire to be associated with her.
She didn't hold it against them. She had played the same game, using her beauty to her advantage.
But even knowing this, acknowledging the shallow nature of their affections, their reactions still stung, leaving her feeling utterly worthless, wishing for oblivion.
She hadn't ended her life simply because she refused to give them the satisfaction, refused to let their shallow judgments dictate her fate.
It was a pathetic attempt to cling to her last shred of pride, her only remaining armor against the cruel indifference of the world.
But Eugene was different. Even in their brief encounter...
He hadn't brought up sensitive topics, hadn't offered empty words of comfort.
He hadn't looked at her with pity or disgust.
He had treated her with a quiet acceptance, a normalcy that defied her expectations.
It was as if their relationship had never fractured, as if he had simply stepped back into the role he had played before everything went wrong.
'I don't understand you, Eugene. What are you thinking?'
One thing was certain.
His unwavering demeanor offered a glimmer of solace, a respite from the constant barrage of judgment and rejection.
***
Half a year had passed since she began this strange, unexpected convalescence with her former fiancé.
And this time, brief yet profound, had begun to mend the broken bridge between them.
"The weather's lovely today. Shall we take a walk in the garden?"
He had built a wheelchair for her, knowing she couldn't navigate the estate on her own, a testament to his patience and dedication after several failed attempts.
They strolled through the garden, enjoying the sunshine and the scent of blooming flowers.
When did it happen? This sense of ease, of comfort, in his presence.
She closed her eyes, leaning back in the wheelchair, allowing him to guide her through the garden, inhaling the fragrant air. It soothed her troubled mind, offering a temporary reprieve from the darkness that threatened to consume her.
'This is nice.'
These walks with Eugene had become the highlight of her day, a precious escape from the whispers and stares that haunted her within the walls of the manor.
She couldn't avoid the servants entirely. Their help was unavoidable for everyday tasks.
Some of the older staff still remembered their broken engagement, the scandal that had rocked the family.
They weren't cruel or dismissive, but their coldness, their subtle disapproval, was a constant reminder of her downfall.
Eugene, sensing her discomfort, made an effort to be by her side as much as possible, taking on the role of caretaker, shielding her from the judgment of others.
It was easy to forget, in the peaceful atmosphere of the estate, that the war against the Demon King raged on.
Nearly every corner of the continent was considered a battleground.
Which explained why, when Eugene had first found her, his armor had been stained with blood and gore.
As the head of the Northern Duke's family, he was responsible for leading their forces, and he had come straight from the battlefield.
Yet, he always made time for her, carving out moments of normalcy amidst the chaos and bloodshed.
He must be exhausted, fighting day and night, yet he never complained.
"Is there anything specific you'd like to eat? I'll let the kitchen know."
His thoughtfulness, his unwavering dedication, his simple acts of kindness - they filled her with a conflicting mix of gratitude and anxiety.
'...Why are you doing this for me?'
She wasn't naive. She considered herself intelligent, capable of seeing her actions in an objective light.
She knew, deep down, that she had treated him terribly, that if their roles were reversed, she wouldn't have forgiven him.
"Cough!"
A tightness constricted her chest, a sharp pain that stole her breath. She coughed, blood staining her lips.
The sight no longer shocked her.
Despite the comfortable surroundings, the constant care, her condition continued to deteriorate.
The curse that plagued her body seemed to intensify with each passing day, mocking her attempts at recovery.
"...Are you alright?"
Eugene was by her side in an instant, his hand reaching for her as the coughing subsided.
He gently wiped the blood from her lips with a handkerchief, his brow furrowed with concern.
'...He even carries a handkerchief now because of me. Such a sweet habit for such a large man.'
Her cheeks flushed, despite knowing she should be accustomed to his kindness by now.
"The wind's picking up. Shall we head back?"
Deep down, she knew there were no ulterior motives behind his actions, no hidden agenda.
He was simply a kind man, driven by a sense of duty, offering her a lifeline she didn't deserve.
"...Yes."
The realization stung, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
'If only I hadn't pushed him away... If only I had treated him with respect, with kindness...'
Would things have been different?
She pushed the question aside, knowing it was futile.
Regret, especially regret that couldn't be rectified, only brought pain.
