For the Lady's Wise Regression - Chapter 44

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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 44
‘Did I not wake up properly?’
Vanessa rapped her own head with her knuckles.
Rather hard, too.
Hoping desperately that this was a dream she could wake from.
It was unfortunate that Ian, had he noticed her doing this, would have said something about it—but his attention was elsewhere, focused on whoever was calling to him from a distance, so he didn’t see Vanessa at all.
“Ian… whose ship did you say?”
At her repeated question, Ian’s lips parted to respond, then he drew gradually closer to Vanessa.
And like a butterfly settling softly, he whispered quietly against her ear.
“His Imperial Majesty.”
Had there ever been a word that sounded so violently in the course of a lifetime?
Because he had pronounced it so decisively and distinctly, Vanessa found herself unable to ask again.
‘…Is he mad?’
Who simply borrows a ship from the Imperial Family to go to the Northern Region?
Setting aside the matter of expense, the very act of asking for such a thing was already a tremendous hurdle, wasn’t it?
For Vanessa, this was a reality she could scarcely accept.
Whether it was Ian borrowing the Imperial Family’s ship to go to the Northern Region, or whether it was His Majesty agreeing to such a nearly absurd request.
Vanessa could not comprehend either.
Yes. It must be a dream.
No matter how unpredictable Ian Ruscliffe was, committing madness without batting an eye was a different matter entirely.
That explained it. When I hit my head just now, it didn’t hurt at all.
As Vanessa raised her hand to strike her cheek again, she saw the ship’s lights flickering on, one by one.
Starting from the stern and illuminating in sequence until the bow was finally ablaze with light.
Vanessa could only stare blankly at reality, unable to weep or laugh.
A lion’s form looming plainly at the bow.
A pearl held in the lion’s mouth like a sun.
The moment Vanessa saw that far, she could not close her gaping mouth.
It was closer to the terror of witnessing something she was never meant to see.
That was the genuine Imperial Family’s emblem…!
And when she further confirmed with her own eyes the Imperial Seal carved large across the ship’s hull, a hollow laugh burst from Vanessa’s lips.
Oh, my God…
Though she had thanked the devil for being given a second chance at life, wasn’t this going too far?
This wasn’t a dream—it was real?
‘I’m finished…’
In front of the moored ship, Vanessa glared hard at Ian as he conversed with what appeared to be the captain.
You could have given me some warning about this!
You found time to learn unnecessary pleasantries from the butler, but not a moment to tell me about this?
Her clenched fists trembled.
The pain of her nails digging into her palms proved that this was no dream.
It was a reality she truly did not wish to accept.
She had believed this sort of feeling would come to her for nothing else save what Marquis Leonard had done to her in her past life.
‘How am I ever to face His Majesty now?’
Since her father was the Emperor’s advisor, Vanessa’s memories of encounters in childhood were scant—and her only recollection of meeting him as an adult was after her marriage to Carlyle, when she had announced that marriage before His Majesty.
An unexpected weight of burden pressed down upon her shoulders.
Of course, if the destination lay beyond the Sea Route, a ship would be necessary.
But the destination was the Northern Region.
If it was the Northern Region, one could travel by carriage—why the Emperor’s own ship?
Her father, being the Emperor’s advisor, would see His face frequently, but as for herself, she had only glimpsed His Majesty from a distance at imperial gatherings—was that all?
She had not even met him face-to-face until after she married Carlyle in her previous life.
‘That’s right. How the Duke’s daughter has grown so quickly…’
Those eyes of His Majesty regarding her with fresh sentiments—she could not forget that gaze even now.
Had she married for nothing?
No matter how she looked at it, it seemed a mistake.
To make matters worse, the day she was to meet His Majesty was scheduled for the very day after her return from the Northern Region.
At the thought of how His Majesty would regard her this time, bound together with Ian and looking like madpeople, a sigh escaped her unbidden.
Just then, finished with his conversation, Ian walked slowly toward Vanessa.
At the same moment, the ship let out a long, mournful cry.
It was the signal announcing departure.
“Come.”
Ian extended his hand.
At least after I mentioned the escort, he kept readily extending his hand, so I was grateful he seemed to remember what I’d said.
But with that memory of his, it would’ve been nice if he’d mentioned these things beforehand.
Vanessa swallowed down a sigh that threatened to break loose a second time, then reluctantly raised her hand.
She forced her dragging feet to move.
As she was hauled along after Ian to the ship, it looked even grander up close—imposing and absurdly ornate.
It made no sense, even on reflection.
To take this to the Northern Region.
A distance that took only half a day by carriage.
A stretch that would take less than an hour by ship.
A sharp throb shot through Vanessa’s temples.
“……Ian.”
This time too, they simply locked eyes in silence.
“You…….”
She was about to ask why he’d borrowed the Emperor’s own ship just to sail to the Northern Region, when she caught sight of the dark circles hanging heavily beneath his eyes.
‘Right…… this was supposed to be a honeymoon.’
After a week of dashing about in confusion, she’d only just realized that his purpose and hers for going north were different.
She’d thought they were only going to visit a hot spring or two, so she hadn’t given much thought to the transportation.
And since Ian hadn’t said anything particular about it, she’d simply let it slide.
“……I’m grateful. I should have paid more attention too—I feel like I’ve made you do all the work.”
So Vanessa offered thanks instead of reproach.
He would have thought of this trip as a honeymoon and prepared accordingly.
Though it was somewhat excessive, she didn’t want to dismiss the effort he’d put into planning it.
And besides, it wasn’t her place to complain when she’d been inattentive herself.
More than anything, those dark circles—far deeper than they’d been a week ago—bore all the marks of how much he’d agonized over arranging this journey alone.
“……I didn’t think of it as hard work.”
But saying that while wearing such shadowed eyes under them wouldn’t convince anyone.
Now that she was close enough to see, his skin looked dull—it was clear he’d prepared all this without proper sleep.
“Your skin is damaged.”
“That’s because there were many things that needed handling.”
In other words, he’d cut back on sleep because he couldn’t get things done on time due to the trip.
Which explained why he was still awake when she arrived at the mansion nearly at dawn.
“Next time, let’s prepare together.”
Ian hesitated at Vanessa’s words.
“Next…… time too?”
“Of course. It’d be a shame to come just once.”
“……Y-yes, that’s so.”
Why was his face flushing?
True, for now they had the purpose of finding Jinjeongcho, so they wouldn’t be able to enjoy it properly, but there was so much to see in the Northern Region.
The hot springs were famous, but what was even more renowned was the Snow Sculpture Festival held only in the north.
Because of its geography, heavy snow fell frequently in the Northern Region, and after those blizzards, people would carve the accumulated snow into sculptures and display them at a festival.
Those ice sculptures were so intricate and beautiful that even the Imperial Family awarded prizes for them—so much so that if you were going north, you had to go in the depths of winter, after a heavy snowfall.
Moreover, during that time, the Northern Duke’s Residence would open its doors, displaying sculptures by renowned carvers from each region in the great hall on the first floor, making it the top priority to see on any Northern Region trip.
If you didn’t see that festival, you couldn’t say you’d truly experienced a journey to the north.
Conversely, that meant the Northern Duke’s Residence only opened during the festival, but…….
She’d think about that when the time came.
Vanessa boarded the ship after Ian.
What was done was done; if it couldn’t be undone, she might as well enjoy it.
When else would she get to ride the Emperor’s ship?
***
How had it come to this?
The moment Vanessa stepped onto the deck, she let out a gasp of wonder at the interior, which was even vaster than the Sharose Mansion.
Her weary mind snapped awake at the sight.
The reason most nobles, even if they each owned a mine, rarely possessed a ship was now clear.
So that was why even the wealthy hesitated to purchase one.
Buying it wasn’t the end—it was only the beginning.
‘It seems there are more cabins than in the Sharose Mansion…….’
What, a reception room in every room?
It was the Emperor’s ship, so it made sense it would be more lavish, but setting that aside, it was undoubtedly an object that cost a fortune to maintain.
After touring every room except the one she and Ian would stay in, Vanessa finally made her way back out onto the deck.
As she emerged, the briny scent of the sea reached her along with the sound of the ship cutting through the waves.
In the distance, she could see Ian’s figure sitting in a simple chair.
There was another chair beside him, which suggested it was meant for her.
“Ian…….”
Vanessa began to call out to him, then caught herself and fell silent.
The boat moved slowly through the water, and Ian sat in the simple chair on its deck—the scene resembled a painting so perfectly that she didn’t want to disturb it.
She approached him carefully, holding her breath.
When she sat down wordlessly in the empty chair, his gaze—which had been fixed on the horizon—turned toward her.
“……Did you enjoy the sights?”
His voice emerged like something submerged in water.
It harmonized perfectly with the boat cutting through the dawn sea, the subtle salt-spray, and the quiet silence.
Vanessa swallowed, unaware of herself doing so.
“Yes. It was beautiful.”
Ian handed her the tea cup from the simple table without a word.
“The wind is cold.”

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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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