As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 219

Ellena watched a bug crawling on the floor and murmured to herself, “Why would I have any regrets?”

 

She had no regrets at all. She had been more ruthless than anyone, an unworthy parent and a notorious villainess. So, there was no room for regret. In truth, it didn’t matter what anyone said about her; she welcomed it. She smiled with satisfaction.

 

Even if only for a moment, she had occupied a position that she could never have dreamed of in a normal life, standing at the pinnacle of those so-called noble aristocrats. That alone was a luxury.

 

However, sometimes… she felt a small pang of regret when it came to love. It was a regret born from the foolishness of not being able to protect a man from a very small village who knew how to smile innocently. But even that is over now. She had accomplished everything she set out to do. The victor was Ellena di Dayelon—it was she herself.

 

Ellena opened the pendant around her neck and swallowed the black orb inside. The last of the two lives left would be her own, and the other would be the child who carried the blood of both her and him. With this, Ellena would be reunited with him.

 

“He must have fallen into hell!”

 

Whether it was the past or hell itself, it didn’t matter.

 

So, all of this was truly the best choice she could have made.

 

* * *

Ellena di Dayelon was the only daughter of Baron Dayelon. True to the head of a family with a long history dating back to the early days of the empire, Baron Dayelon was strict and valued the old-fashioned etiquette typical of ancient nobility.

 

“Milady, keep your head up straight and your back upright. If you drop the book from your head, you will have no dinner tonight.”

 

“Madam Kelten, I didn’t even get to eat lunch today.”

 

“You’ve gained quite a bit of weight lately, so you can afford to skip a meal.”

 

Ellena made a disgruntled face but quickly forced a smile when she caught her tutor’s gaze. She had already skipped lunch due to a failure to manage her expression earlier, and she didn’t want to repeat the mistake.

 

Such days were common. Any behavior deemed improper, failure to keep up with her lessons, or a corset not tightened enough often resulted in her being denied meals.

 

When she couldn’t afford to lose any more weight, they would beat a servant’s calves right in front of her. The servants being punished were usually girls around her age. At first, Ellena found such punishments horrifying, but she gradually became desensitized to the pain inflicted on others. She also became adept at smiling under any circumstances and at pretending to be frail and pitiful to escape uncomfortable situations.

 

Ellena had to be careful not to let her guard down or frown, always maintaining a perfect, beautiful appearance—because that was expected of a noble lady.

 

One day, while reaching for a beautifully bloomed rose in the garden, Ellena pricked her finger on a thorn.

 

“Ah.”

 

As she calmly took out a handkerchief to wipe away the blood, a gardener approached to check on her finger. He was a young man with black hair and green eyes similar to her own.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“You’re bleeding. Even a small thorn can lead to a serious infection if not treated. I recommend you get it disinfected. Perhaps you should see the healer.”

 

“My father would worry if he knew I was injured.”

 

In reality, her father wouldn’t be worried—he would be furious, scolding her for not valuing her body.

 

Ellena was the only daughter of the Dayelon family. Unless her father brought in a son-in-law, she would be expected to marry into a family of higher status to continue the family line. If her body were blemished, it would reduce her value as a ‘product,’ and her father would certainly be enraged.

 

“In that case, why don’t you stop by my workshop for a moment? I’ll disinfect it for you. It’s close by.” The young man smiled harmlessly and pointed to a small shed to the right, a space set aside for the gardeners.

 

Ellena had been taught since childhood not to get too close to servants. Nobles were fundamentally different from them. But she didn’t want the wound to fester, nor did she want her father to discover it and punish her. And she was a bit curious.

 

“You’ll keep it a secret, right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Ellena was curious about what life would be like as an ordinary person, not as a noble lady. So, she entered the gardener’s workshop.

 

* * *

The old shed, which she was seeing for the first time, was filled with small, unnamed seedlings, various seeds, and tools used for tending the garden. Sunlight from the afternoon filtered in through a small window and the gaps in the wooden walls. On one side was a worn-out bed and some simple clothing.

 

“My name is Terion. This is my workshop, though it’s more like my hideout. There’s a room for servants, but I find it more comfortable to rest here. Can you keep my hideout a secret as well?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Ellena looked around with curiosity. It was a small, cozy space, like something out of a fairy tale. She found herself liking the place.

 

From that day on, Ellena often ran into Terion while strolling in the garden. Whenever that happened, she naturally thought of the cozy shed. I wonder if I’ll have a chance to go there again. She repeated this thought for about ten days until one day, she encountered Terion again.

 

Today, there was a beautifully bloomed rose in front of her. If I prick myself on this, I’ll have an excuse to go there. With a casual expression, Ellena reached out to the rose and pricked her finger on the thorn.

 

“Were you pricked again while I wasn’t looking?” Terion looked visibly flustered. It was rare for anyone around her to show their emotions so openly.

 

Amused by his reaction, Ellena let out a small laugh. Terion, in turn, looked at her with a shocked expression.

 

“Why are you laughing like that, as if it’s funny? Milady, if it hurts, you should cry, not laugh. Otherwise, no one will know you’re in pain. Let’s disinfect it first.”

 

This happened once or twice more after that. Clueless as he was, Terion only realized something was amiss by the third time, and by the fourth, he finally figured out Ellena’s intentions.

 

“Milady, do you like this shed?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So, you pricked yourself on purpose… didn’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Terion looked at Ellena, who was smiling sweetly, with a shocked expression. “Why didn’t you just tell me? From now on, feel free to say so. Or better yet, you don’t have to get hurt—just come over.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. I’ll move the shed.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave the bed, blankets, and basic things here. The estate is big, so there are plenty of sheds like this one.”

 

As Terion started to grab the clothes hanging on the wall, Ellena quickly caught his arm. “Wait.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I like being here with you.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“I enjoy your stories, I like seeing your reactions, and this space is so cozy because of your touch. I like that.”

 

Terion’s face flushed red. He stammered for a moment before finally speaking. “If master finds out you’re spending time here, I’ll be kicked out.”

 

“Can’t we keep it a secret? Just between you and me.”

 

“But…”

 

“If not, I’ll prick myself on a rose every time I want to come here. If you’re treating me, it’ll be a good excuse, right?”

 

“You mustn’t hurt yourself,” Terion replied firmly.

 

“Then I’ll only pretend to touch the roses. After that, you can bring me here and pretend to treat me.”

 

Terion hesitated, groaning as if torn, but finally nodded. “Alright. But it’s really a secret.”

 

“Yes, a secret. Promise.”

 

The two of them linked their pinky fingers.

 

* * *

Baron Dayelon began searching in earnest for a marriage prospect for Ellena. In the meantime, Ellena, who had started visiting the shed periodically—once a week, then every five days, then every four—was now seeing Terion every three days.

 

“That’s interesting. Did that really happen?”

 

“Yes. And in my village, this kind of magic is nothing special.”

 

Terion demonstrated a simple dark magic spell. A withered seedling danced in place, brought to life by the magic.

 

“Not all dark magic is scary and evil, I see.”

 

“It’s all just a matter of perception. When used correctly, there’s no force more fair and balanced.”

 

“Can you teach me?”

 

“What?”

 

“Is that a problem?”

 

“N-No. I’ll teach you.”

 

The two grew closer quickly. Spending time alone together, given their similar ages, naturally led to a budding mutual attraction, though neither openly acknowledged it.

 

“Ellena, I’ve arranged your marriage.”

 

“Marriage? But Father, I haven’t even made my debut in society yet.”

 

“The groom is none other than the Marquis of Steen. Do you think such a match is common, even if he’s a bit older?”

 

“I heard he lost his wife not long ago….”

 

“That’s why he’s willing to take you as his new wife.”

 

Marquis Steen was thirty years older than Ellena. While it wasn’t uncommon in noble marriages for there to be a significant age gap, it was still jarring to think of a husband older than her parents. But her marriage was something her father decided, and Ellena had no choice in the matter.

 

Feeling distraught, Ellena headed to the shed, only to be caught in a sudden downpour, soaking her clothes. Click. As soon as she entered the shed, Ellena let out a breath she had been holding.

 

“Terion, Father wants me to get married. And to a marquis thirty years older than me…!”

 

Terion, who had been frozen at the door in surprise when she came in soaking wet, belatedly checked her expression. Her eyes were red as if she were about to cry, but no tears fell.

 

Ellena, accustomed to suppressing her emotions, took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Do you think I’ll be happy?”

 

“…”

 

“Terion, why won’t you tell me I’ll be alright?”

 

“…Milady.”