My Former Lover Didn't Die And Came Back - Chapter 28

In the dining room, only the intermittent sound of cutlery clinking could be heard, since neither of the men nor women opened their mouths. It was natural. Blair and Cedric sat at opposite ends of a long table, silently cutting their meat.

Blair reflected on what had just happened.

「You shouldn’t be running yet, Blair.」

He gently restrained her as if she was a fragile glass doll that was about to break. …He’s such a funny man. Telling her she shouldn’t run yet. Treating her like a child when she’s fully grown. As if he wouldn’t do the opposite at night.

…It seems he’s been frustrated these past few days because he couldn’t satisfy his desires.

It seemed he didn’t like that she had been ill these past few days. That’s why he’s worried she might end up in bed again.

“…You look beautiful.”  

The man, who was usually short of words, complimented her attire. Today, she was dressed in a formal dress for the first time in a long while.  

“…The dress and jewels, did you send them?”  

She asked even though she knew.  

“If they don’t suit your taste, I’ll buy you new ones.”  

“…Why are you suddenly buying these things?”  

Cedric stopped cutting his food.  

“Just like you said, I have nowhere to go.”  

The man froze with cutlery in both hands and repeated what he had said in the past.

「Dresses? Jewelry? What do you need them for? You have no one to show them to except me, right?」

The man’s mouth closed tight like a clam.  

“Do you want me to be pleasing in your eyes? Are you saying you’re dressing up because you want me to see you?”  

“…That’s not it, Blair.”  

The man struggled to find words, only moving his lips. While Blair was fighting for her life, Cedric had been reflecting on the past few months.

He could never forget the moment he entered the Cavendish mansion after only a few days. It was like a nightmare.    

Mark was on top of her when she collapsed. Mark’s voice pierced Cedric’s ears as he hurried his steps.

「Look at this woman! She’s been wearing the same clothes for months. Is there a man who would leave his beloved woman like this?!」

Riiip—.

Blair’s old pajamas tore too easily in Mark’s hands.

At that moment, Cedric drew his knife from his waistband and separated Mark’s head from his body.

“Huh? Cedric. Why did you suddenly buy me some dresses?”

“…….”

Cedric did not answer. He didn’t know what to say. He only wished that people would never look down on her again.

“……Don’t you like pretty clothes?”

“I do like them.”

Blair liked fancy clothes and accessories.

“Then that’s it. Just keep looking pretty.”

“…….”

Blair sighed once and continued her meal. Cedric slowly watched her plate empty.

It seemed her health was getting back on track. Thankfully. Cedric also resumed his meal quietly.

「Is there a man who would leave his beloved woman like this?!」

He would never forget that sentence in his lifetime.

He despised Mark. Yet, he found himself being judged by him. What made it worse was that he had no words to counter.

At that moment, something unbearable surged within Cedric, prompting him to swiftly cut Mark’s throat. But at that time, he didn’t know there was another neck he wished to cut.

When Blair was almost done with her meal, she spoke up.

“Does buying me clothes mean I can go outside?”

“Of course not, Blair.”

Cedric answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“……So I have to stay locked up here?”

“It’s because your body is still not healthy.”

The man said soothingly.

“Do you want me to keep talking to the walls?”

“There are maids here, aren’t they better than Mary’s ghost?”

“Making new friends drains energy. Bring me my original maids. We were close like sisters.”

Cedric stopped cutting his food.

“……You mean you want me to bring them from the grave?”

He looked up at the woman who was making an impossible request.

“If Mary would appear to me even as a ghost, I’d be happy.”

Blair answered with a bright smile.

“…….”

Cedric suddenly wondered if she would welcome him if he appeared as a ghost. A laugh escaped him at the absurd thought.

“……I’ll grant you anything else.”

“There’s nothing I can do in this house. I want to go back to my home.”

“You want to go back to a house where such things happened? It’s safer here.”

“……But still, that place is my home.”

The man’s lips tightened at those words.

‘……My home.’

She was saying the house with her husband was ‘my home’. His grip on the cutlery tightened involuntarily.

“……This place is closer to the palace and has better security. Tell me whatever you need. I’ll bring it.”

“…….”

“……Blair.”

Cedric’s voice lowered. There was a pleading tone in his soft voice, making it hard to refuse.

Blair sighed once more and silently nibbled on the remaining food, bringing it to her mouth.

If she was allowed to go out, the first place she wanted to visit was the streets of the city. She wanted to go to the post office to send a letter to her parents directly and exchange greetings with the merchants. It had been so long since she socialized, even exchanging greetings with acquaintances would make her feel alive.

She recalled the last time she sent a letter to her parents in the countryside.

Since I sent them a considerable amount of cash last time…… they should still have enough for living expenses.

She glanced at the man sitting opposite her. It was she who had her request denied, yet why the man who denied her looked as if he had chewed on something bitter was beyond her understanding.

* * *

Cedric’s townhouse was the most luxurious in the vicinity. Although it was smaller in total area than the Cavendish mansion located on the outskirts of the capital, its interior decoration was incomparably luxurious. Above all, it was the mansion closest to the palace among the residences of the nobility.

“Miss.”

“Miss Blair.”

Blair found it cumbersome that maids followed her around all day, not letting her lift even a glass of water by herself. Whatever command they received, from the moment Blair opened her eyes in the morning until she closed them at night, they made sure she couldn’t do anything using her own strength. Everything from bathing, and makeup, to putting on underwear and robes was done by their hands.

A typical noblewoman might have actually enjoyed that. But Blair grew up in a destitute family and was a woman who had been active in society.

‘It’s uncomfortable.’

It was more comfortable when she was at the Cavendish mansion. Her body might have been tired from cleaning the mansion and cooking all day, but it kept her from having unnecessary thoughts.

She did not like having spare time. It easily led her into a maze of thoughts, and often, all the exits pointed to depression.

……I must say something to Cedric when he returns today.

‘I’ll ask him to reduce the number of maids.’

In the afternoon, dressmakers came and went again. The living room was once again filled with large hat boxes, shoe boxes, and dresses. What’s with this sudden doll-play when he doesn’t even allow me to go out?

“Oh,”

Blair brought a cup filled with rooibos tea to her lips. She then spread out the newspaper brought by a maid on the coffee table. The only good thing about coming to Cedric’s mansion was having a newspaper delivered every morning.

Blair’s hand stopped turning the pages of the newspaper, and her eyes fixed on one corner of it.

“……Ah.”

Blair’s pupils began to tremble.

[Is Adrian Cavendish Innocent?

Lord Alex Cavendish has appealed for his brother (Adrian Cavendish)’s innocence. Adrian Cavendish was detained early last autumn for smuggling, trafficking, and fraud under his name. Lord Alex Cavendish submitted several pieces of evidence including a petition signed by about 100 market merchants proving his brother’s innocence… Adrian Cavendish’s trial is scheduled for next month.]

Her fist clenched around the newspaper tightened.

‘Ah, oh my god.’

For the first few days after waking up, she focused only on regaining her strength. Afterward, he told her to stay longer because her health hadn’t fully recovered yet. Blair herself had concerns and followed his advice. But she had no idea that such things were happening in the meantime…

Blair’s gaze shifted to the luxury cookies on the table and the soft touch of the dress she was wearing. While her husband suffered in prison, she was… 

The husband who had paid off her family’s debt after their marriage. The husband who had looked at her warmly throughout their marriage life.

She suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

* * *

The carriage stopped at the front gate of the townhouse, and Cedric entered, opening the door, hoping his lady would come down the stairs.  

“Anything unusual?”  

He asked as he handed his gloves and jacket to the butler, but the butler hesitated, recalling the woman who had been radiating a cold aura.  

“……?”  

Puzzled, Cedric turned his gaze towards the sound of footsteps on the stairs.  

A woman, who rarely made a sound when walking, was stomping down the stairs. In one hand, she held a newspaper, and her beautiful brow was deeply furrowed.  

“……What is this?!”  

A gray paper printed with the language of the empire was thrust forward. The newspaper was folded to prominently display an article about Adrian.  

“The trial of my husband is happening……? Why didn’t you tell me about this?”  

“……I just found out myself.”  

Cedric responded in a strained tone.  

“……Don’t lie! It says here that the Eleanor Empire’s army has captured my husband……!!”  

“…….”  

Yet, the man’s expression remained unchanged.  

“If I hadn’t found out from the newspaper, would you never tell me……?”  

Blair asked, shaking her head. Her voice trembled with resentment and disappointment.

She thought Cedric had changed since she woke up from her illness. He no longer touched her at night. Even when he came into the bedroom at night, he would just watch her sleep and then leave. She pretended to be asleep, but in truth, she knew everything.  

Why did she think he changed just because of that? This man was still not being honest with her. Perhaps he was just waiting until she was fully recovered so she didn’t touch her at night.