For the Lady's Wise Regression - Chapter 24

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 24
All of a sudden? I haven’t even answered yet, and he’s already deciding things on his own……
‘Did I… misunderstand?’
‘Um……’
Ah.
Vanessa let out a small sigh.
Ian must have taken it as her answer.
‘What am I supposed to do about this?’
If she said she wasn’t refusing, she’d have to eat breakfast with him tomorrow morning, but if she just went along with it like this……
‘He’ll sulk, won’t he?’
It was rather amusing to be thinking this way while looking at that stone-faced man right in front of her, truly.
Her instincts had kicked in.
“……Then visit thirty minutes earlier.”
And Vanessa’s instincts proved accurate.
Had Ian’s voice ever sounded so lifeless before?
“What? No, I meant an hour……”
At her hurried words, Ian’s gaze turned toward her.
“Actually, I think it might be nice to eat breakfast before we go.”
“If you’d rather not, it’s fine. After all, this misunderstanding was my fault.”
No, but if he says that, who would refuse……
“It was the location I was uncertain about, not breakfast itself. I never planned to turn that down.”
Twitch.
Ian’s lips twitched.
“……True. At this hour, there won’t be many restaurants open.”
“……Right.”
Even though this was a Contract Marriage, she wondered if she had to go this far, but seeing Ian return to his usual self so quickly, she realized that if his earlier mood had persisted until tomorrow, it would have been her problem to deal with. Better to smooth things over.
What’s good is good.
Vanessa swallowed a sigh and forced a smile toward Ian.
“So, would you like to have breakfast at my place?”
Watching the tips of Ian’s ears flush again at her suggestion, Vanessa stopped trying to analyze him too deeply.
Right. If he always acted as expected, he wouldn’t be unpredictable, would he?
He’s unpredictable precisely because you can never guess how he’ll react.
“What about Sharroze?”
“My father? He’ll be heading to the Imperial Palace early in the morning because of the personnel assignment for the Diplomatic Delegation happening the day after tomorrow.”
“……Then let’s just eat at a restaurant in the Capital City.”
At Ian’s murmured objection about being alone together in the manor, Vanessa laughed softly.
‘Does he really believe that just sleeping in the same bed will result in a baby?’
……At forty years old, he’d planned to become a saint. Nothing surprised her anymore.
***
“The Lady Vanessa Sharroze and the Duke Ian Ruscliffe.”
As the mercenary guarding the entrance announced the arrival of the two in a loud voice, all eyes in the hall turned toward them.
‘It feels like I’ve stolen the spotlight.’
Well, if they’d seen the article, this reaction was natural.
This morning, a newspaper article had coincidentally been published featuring photographs of Vanessa and Ian’s backs side by side.
Them entering a craftsman’s workshop and sitting across from each other dining at a restaurant on Pommelod Street.
And their silhouettes gliding into Nirvana Hall, and then climbing into a carriage together.
Seeing the photographs arranged chronologically, it was the work of a proper paparazzo.
As a result, Vanessa was more than satisfied with the article, having indirectly shown how good her relationship with Ian was.
Ian, however, was not.
He’d been insisting just moments ago that the newspaper should be shut down immediately.
‘In the photographs you looked like a couple on the verge of marriage, and I was happy about it. But you weren’t?’
At those words, he’d quieted, as though he’d never been angry at all.
Though it bordered on performance, these were the very things that made them appear like true lovers.
It would have been better if they’d captured them looking at each other and smiling.
Vanessa glanced briefly at Ian and shook her head slightly.
‘Don’t expect too much.’
He didn’t seem to have that kind of willingness in the first place.
Given that such an article had already been published, they needed to appear closer than a simple escort arrangement, so she was relieved that he’d accepted the linked arm she’d suggested rather than shaking it off.
As they drew closer to the bridal waiting room, Vanessa’s lips curved upward while Ian’s expression grew increasingly rigid.
This wasn’t just about watching a wedding ceremony, so if he stayed like this, it would become slightly problematic.
Tap.
“Ian.”
She’d definitely nudged his ribs with her elbow, soft as she could manage—yet…?
“……!”
His eyes looked ready to pop out of his head.
Anyone watching would’ve sworn she’d just pressed a blade to his side.
“So… once this is over, want to go on a date?”
Vanessa had cleared her throat quietly, just a small sound, but Ian went rigid where he stood. She whispered the question near his ear.
“……A date?”
“Last time, Ernasilla mentioned there’s a beautiful garden nearby—worth visiting. Not many people go there, and it’s peaceful.”
“…….”
“We could see a bit of the Southern Region while we’re at it. What do you think?”
……He nodded.
Good. His expression was better than before.
Once Vanessa confirmed that Ian’s face had loosened a little, she finally spotted Ernasilla in the bride’s waiting room.
“I’ll stay here.”
When Ian stopped at the entrance to the waiting room, the people nearby began slipping away quietly.
With a look like that in his eyes, it was hard to want to stay close.
He hated crowds so much—Vanessa found it odd he hadn’t insisted on a smaller ceremony.
She kept the thought to herself and nodded.
“Alright then. I’ll be back soon.”
She stepped into the waiting room without waiting for a reply, and Labien’s face lit up as their eyes met.
“Your Highness!”
“Congratulations again on your marriage.”
“Thank you so much for coming.”
Vanessa studied the radiant bride quietly.
She’d always had a reputation for beauty, but dressed and done up like this, the word “beautiful” escaped almost of its own accord.
“I hope you’re happier than anyone could be.”
It was a loaded statement, but Labien seemed to take it simply as a well-wisher’s blessing and nodded.
“I will be, Your Highness. Thank you again for all your help.”
“Don’t thank me too much—it was help to keep a promise.”
At Vanessa’s words, Labien’s eyes widened slightly before softening again.
“……I’ll always send you an invitation first.”
“I’d be grateful for that.”
“Oh, and my mother wanted to meet you. I told her about all the help you’ve given me. I wasn’t sure if you’d have time, so I just had the message sent, but…….”
“As it happens, I was just about to look around a garden near the Southern Region.”
“……Oh! Then I’ll have a maid tell her right away.”
The bride’s waiting room had filled so densely with people that there was hardly room to stand—everyone except those in Vanessa and Labien’s immediate circle.
How strange. It seemed they’d all kept their distance because of her.
Vanessa stepped back slightly and took her leave of Labien.
“I should go. I seem to be monopolizing the bride.”
At her words, Labien’s eyes went wide as she glanced toward the entrance.
“Goodness! Maril, Casey! I was told you couldn’t come……!”
“Labien, it’s your wedding—of course we had to make it. We rode through the night to be here.”
“Don’t even mention it. Your old trick with horses when we were young, that skill of yours—it hasn’t faded one bit.”
Vanessa left Labien to chat with her childhood friends and turned toward Ian.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“……Not particularly.”
“The ceremony’s about to start. If you don’t mind, should we watch for a bit before we go?”
“Alright.”
The moment those words left his mouth and they moved to go.
The hall’s entrance stirred.
“The Marchioness Belladonna Leonard and the Prince Calais Leonard are entering!”
Click, click.
Thud, thud.
The moment the two figures appeared to the sound of footsteps, Vanessa’s eyes flashed with predatory intent.
‘Leonard……!’
She’d expected to encounter the Marchioness here, but seeing her in person—there was no helping the irritation.
She wanted nothing more than to pour curses on them all right then…….
Unfortunately, as things stood now, Calais was nothing more to her than an ex—no more, no less—so she had to keep her rage in check.
I’d thought returning to the past would be purely a blessing, but it wasn’t.
Especially not when everything they’d done to me had now become something that hadn’t happened yet.
Yet unlike before, letting it all pass without doing anything felt unbearably wasteful.
I knew I had to restrain myself, but the anger wouldn’t obey.
As a result, I found myself staring at Calais with an intensity that could bore holes, though Vanessa had no mind for such things.
‘There’s no way I could land a punch right now, plan or no plan, is there?’
Given that he’d popped up so suddenly, I’d already heard Ian say once more that he might divorce me if this happened again…….
My head understood it, but my heart kept making my clenched fists twitch.
Hold it together. Just hold it together……!
Grit, grit. My teeth ground so hard they began to ache.
Vanessa’s state reached Ian with perfect clarity, cementing one conviction in his mind.
His marriage to her, it seemed, had hidden depths after all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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