My Former Lover Didn't Die And Came Back - Chapter 37

Cedric Fitzgerald’s older sister, Evelyn, was always busy. It was in her nature to never rest. Even during this lethargic time when sunlight streamed through the long arched windows, she wasn’t idle. In her arms, dressed in a glamorous house dress, was a small baby.

“Oh, yes. Yes…….”

Evelyn patted her nursing daughter and laid her in the crib. Although there were wet nurses and nannies, she cherished the time she spent cradling her daughter.

After putting the child to sleep, she pushed open the door adorned with elaborate decorations and stepped out of the daycare, feeling a slight chill. It was getting warmer, but it was still winter after all.

Evelyn clutched the layers of her skirt and moved on.

There’s so much to do. Today, she needs to stop by her father’s house.

A few days ago, when she visited her family home, she was bothered to see dust in a room decorated with frames and medals. She planned to order the servants to clean it thoroughly. Her father, a military man, was honorable but not meticulous. It was to the extent that she, who had left home, still needed to come and take care of the house.

In truth, she could have overlooked it, but she valued the honor of her family above all else.

“Marsha! Lia!”

Evelyn called out the names of the maids as she walked out into the corridor and looked around. The wait wasn’t long because the maids, dressed in black maid uniforms, gathered at the end of the hallway.

Evelyn walked towards the maids.

“……Really?”

“Oh my.”

They were engrossed in some amusing story, unaware of their mistress approaching.

“Really?”

“Yes. The young master completely blocked off that street filled with dress shops…….”

“How did you hear about it?”

“My friend works at a clothing store.”

When she stepped closer, the conversation became audible. Evelyn’s mouth dropped open, and color drained from her face when she realized what they were discussing.

The maids were talking about her younger brother, Cedric Fitzgerald.

“Gasp! Madam.”

Marsha was the first to notice Evelyn’s presence and quickly straightened up, followed swiftly by the other maids.

“Madam.”

“Madam.”

Evelyn stood in front of them, quickly lining up.

“……What were you talking so amusingly about just now?”

She asked in a cool voice.

“Ma, Madam. That is…….”

The maids fidgeted with their fingers, only glancing at their mistress’s expression.

“Cedric…….”

Evelyn asked incredulously, shaking her head.

“Cedric…… is seeing a married woman?”

* * *

Neighhh.

A tired whinny escaped from the mouth of the black steed.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Cedric pulled on the reins, soothing the horse.

He was climbing the hill in Baydebury village. As soon as his work at the palace was finished, he rushed here. He had been riding non-stop, but since it was such a remote place, the sky had already turned dark.

Blair’s parents’ house was located at the highest point of the hill. There must be a reason for that. Perhaps they were…… financially struggling.

……If they sold me as a slave, they should at least be living well off the compensation money.

He sighed and leaped off the saddle.

Neighhh.

“Whoa, whoa. Good boy.”

After patting the tired horse once, he looked for a stable to tie it up and then entered the house without delay.

“……Blair.”

He called her name as he moved forward.

Clang.

‘……?’

His foot stumbled on something hard and solid. It was too dark to see clearly. He found a candlestick nearby to light up the area and looked down. Cedric’s brow furrowed.

“……Ha.”

Empty bottles were rolling around. Judging by the emanating smell of alcohol and grapes, they were definitely wine bottles. One, two…… there seemed to be about a dozen bottles.

“……Hoo,”

It had been a week since he last visited this house, during the funeral, meaning at least one or two bottles were emptied each day.

The wine that had pooled at the bottom of the bottles spilled over and stained various places on the floor. Cedric stepped over the purple droplets as he moved towards a corner of the house where a yellow light was glowing.

Creak.

Following the light, he found her lying across the dining table.

“……Blair?”

Blair was asleep with her head buried in her arms on top of the table. The table was small, suitable for a two-person household, with a candlestick, a half-empty wine bottle, and a wine glass placed on it.

“……Blair.”

Cedric brushed away Blair’s disheveled hair to look at her face. She was deeply asleep, not moving at all. Blair’s face was flushed red with tear streaks remaining, and she reeked of alcohol.

……Did she eat anything before drinking?

Her wrist seemed too thin. He then carried her up to her bedroom upstairs without further delay.

Creak, creak.

The old wooden floor creaked as he moved along his path.

Even after he gently laid Blair on the bed and covered her with a blanket, she did not wake up. She must have been terribly drunk.

“…….”

Cedric softly stroked the woman’s face and sat briefly on the edge of the bed.

As he got up, dust scattered lightly following his movement. The man leaned against the bedroom door frame and glanced back at the sleeping woman before stepping out.

Quietly leaving the room, Cedric headed to the bathroom, stripping off his clothes. He wanted to pour water over himself after being covered in dust.

* * *

The small country house had two bedrooms. One was the elderly couple’s room, and the other was for guests. After washing up, Cedric lay down next to Blair, who was sound asleep in the guest room. Water dripped from his hair, wetting the pillow. Looking at the ceiling covered in floral wallpaper, he noticed that the old wallpaper had turned yellow in places. He turned his gaze back to the woman who was sleeping beside him.

He had come here in a hurry after finishing work and didn’t have a change of clothes. So, he rummaged through the drawers and found her father’s clothes, eventually putting on an old white shirt and beige pants. The pants were too short for him, not reaching his shins, but it didn’t matter since they were just a substitute for pajamas. The shirt was too small to button up properly, but Cedric left it half-open, revealing part of his chest.

Rustle.

“…Uh, hmm…”

When he heard a moan, he looked over to see Blair twisting her body as she woke up.

“…Are you awake?”

“Uh, my head hurts…”

She seemed to have a terrible hangover, holding her head with her hand.

“Are you okay?”

When Cedric touched her shoulder, she slowly opened her squinted eyes.

“……”

Bright blue eyes looked at him for a moment. Her red lips slowly parted.

“…Cedric?”

Why is she asking the obvious? When he nodded curtly, Blair stared intently at him. After a moment, moisture filled her large eyes, and a voice mixed with tears flowed out.

“You… why did you come now?”

Cedric froze like a rock because Blair was addressing him casually instead of formally¹‘너’ instead of ‘당신’. It was a term from three years ago when their statuses were as different as heaven and earth—Blair was a noble lady from a viscount’s family, and Cedric was a village mercenary of orphan origin. Back then, she spoke informally to him.

After their reunion, she always addressed him formally, aware of Cedric’s elevated status. She couldn’t speak casually to him as she used to now that he had become a high noble.

Blair looked up with wide eyes and leaned her head against his stiff chest.

“You know, I’ve always been waiting for you to come.”

“……”

He remained frozen like a rock. Her hand gently wrapped around his back.

“Meeting you again was too frightening… That’s why I missed you.”

Her breath touched his bare chest and face. The sweet scent of his body mixed with the strong aroma of grapes made him dizzy. His face heated up.

“You won’t leave me now, will you?”

Her breath reached his ear. Blair pressed closer to him, and he unconsciously wrapped his arms around her lower back. Blair was only wearing a thin house dress. Cedric’s Adam’s apple moved.

“…Cedric?”

Blair looked up at him with large eyes, calling his name. In the darkness, her blue wet eyes shone.

…She’s drunk. Completely drunk. Does she think I’m the Cedric from three years ago? Ah.

Cedric glanced down at the old clothes he was wearing. Did she mistake him because of these clothes? The loose white shirt and beige pants indeed gave off a similar vibe to what he used to wear.

“Cedric, why aren’t you answering?”

…Because there’s a storm in my head.

Cedric stared intently at Blair.

“……”

She had always been uneasy, but especially so since the funeral. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. He had been waiting all this time for those blue eyes to look at him.

He thought she would want some time alone, so he left her alone for a week, during which he was constantly anxious.

What if she forgets about him forever? She’s a woman who married someone else during the three years they were apart. He couldn’t let her go again.

“Cedric…?”

His gaze shifted to the woman in front of him. Her innocent blue eyes, like those of a child, fully captured him, as if she relied solely on him in this world. As they got closer, her surroundings filled with his dark presence.

“……”

Gulp. Saliva traveled down his throat.

…He needed to make a definite move. Even if she became disappointed in him again, or if the truth came out someday, she wouldn’t be able to leave him because of their strong bond. Now that he couldn’t keep her confined anymore.

After hearing too much from Adrian, he could no longer confine this woman.

…If they had a child. If a child resembling both him and her were born, this tender-hearted woman would never be able to leave him.

Cedric ended his long hesitation and opened his lips.

“…Miss.”

A soft voice flowed from the man’s mouth, and Blair’s head slowly lifted. Her blue eyes met his gaze once again.

“…Miss Blair.”

Cedric tightened his arms around Blair, pulling her soft body closer. As Blair wriggled her slender arms and legs, he applied more strength. Even without looking, he could feel power surging through his body.

He knew it in his head. He would regret this moment.

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  ‘너’ instead of ‘당신’