Chapter 61: How a Mercenary Avoids Rain with Her Husband (1)

On the way back, Regina even passed by the pudding shop she had planned to stop at.

Of course, she stood there for a while, unable to take her eyes off it. But there were too many customers. If she waited, she’d have to stand in the rain.

Yet her effort was useless. Soon raindrops began spotting the ground, and before long, a heavy downpour crashed down.

The rain was so strong it turned into mist off the street. Regina and Valentin had to run under the roof of a closed shop to hide.

“We won’t be moving for a while, it seems.”

Leaning against the wall, Regina sighed deeply. She unconsciously held her waist. The rain made it ache.

The sticky, heavy air told her the rain would last all night. Which meant another sleepless night, clutching her waist in pain.

“Young ones.”

A careful voice came. Regina had been lost in thought and didn’t notice someone approaching.

The door creaked open, and an old woman peeked her face out. She wore a cook’s headscarf. Only then did Regina notice the small signboard by the window.

“This rain won’t stop easily. Come inside and rest. I’ll be working in the kitchen anyway.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Better to sit inside with the pounding sound of rain than stand outside getting splashed.

Regina didn’t even ask Valentin’s opinion—she accepted the kindness at once. But he gave a small nod to the old woman, showing he felt the same.

The kind old woman led them to a small sofa, gave them a thin blanket, and served warm tea. Then she returned to the kitchen, telling them to call if they needed anything.

They shared the blanket, sitting shoulder to shoulder on the small sofa. Like mist on the floor, a faint unfamiliar air lingered between them.

“You don’t like rain, do you?”

“…Was it obvious?”

Valentin smiled lightly and nodded.

“Yes, I hate it. It brings back bad memories.”

On a stormy night, she had been cut—by a sword, from a traitor she had trusted.

“Would you mind telling me?”

Sitting so close, Valentin’s broad shoulders felt overwhelming. Pressure.

But Regina wasn’t the type to shrink. She tapped her teacup against his and eased her tension herself.

Well, I’ve never told anyone… but why not. Better to say it out loud.

If she didn’t, it felt like she was clinging to her wounds forever. Maybe speaking it out would ease the pain that always returned with the rain.

“It was a stormy night. I lost comrades in battle and drank myself stupid. I let my guard down… and was struck by a rebel spy. A man who had always treated us kindly.”

“The scar on your waist?”

“Yes.”

It had been her fault too, trusting him too much. Remembering the betrayal still ached in her chest.

Perhaps the reason her scar always throbbed on rainy nights was because of that pain etched into it.

Regina leaned back fully, tilting her head up toward the wooden ceiling, and muttered like a complaint:

“Betrayal hurts. He was such a good man—I even gave him my back on the battlefield. I should’ve cut him down back then.”

“Sir Thomas once told me—bad memories should be covered with good ones.”

“Pfft. Doesn’t suit him at all. I wonder if he’s still feeding that cat.”

“Who knows.”

Regina let out a small laugh and turned her head. Valentin had tilted his head back the same way. Their eyes met. And locked. Just three spans apart.

Only the sound of raindrops tapping the window filled the silence. Neither spoke. Both simply stared, searching the emotions in each other’s eyes.

The moment broke when Valentin’s gaze slowly drifted down to her lips. His stare alone burned.

He moved, just slightly. And Regina quickly turned her head upward, as if escaping.

Her lips tingled from his stare. Enough to make her forget her waist pain.

“Well, well, such a lovely couple.”

From the kitchen doorway, the old owner peeked out, chuckling. Regina’s cheeks warmed at once.

“Newlyweds, aren’t you? So affectionate.”

“Very affectionate,” Valentin answered smoothly, smiling.

Somehow, Regina felt as if he truly meant it. It had to be her imagination.

“The rain’s lighter now, but rest until it stops. I can’t hear well in the kitchen, so don’t worry about saying goodbye.”

A warm, easy old woman. Regina liked her at once and thought she must come back to this little shop someday.

When the woman returned to the kitchen, silence fell again. Heavier than before. The softened rain seemed even louder.

Regina usually didn’t mind silence. But this time, it made her restless, itchy. She wanted to leave quickly.

Luckily, the rain soon stopped. Unable to bear the awkwardness, Regina hurried back to the guild. She even forgot her waist pain.

Once there, she climbed the stairs, using the rain as an excuse to go straight to her room.

“Rosie.”

She called out as Rosie walked by in the hallway.

“Follow me. Now.”

At Regina’s sharp order, Rosie lowered her head and followed. The short walk to Regina’s room felt endlessly long. Part of her wanted to open her own door and hide.

She had already been scolded harshly by the others. Even Gyle. That made it worse.

“You know what you did wrong. Even drunk, you went too far.”

The moment they entered, Regina’s scolding began. Rosie’s shoulders drooped low.

“Even if you were upset and wanted to protest, acting like that in front of everyone was childish.”

“…I know.”

Rosie mumbled in a small voice.

“And I’ve never thought of myself as great.”

She had spoken thoughtlessly in anger, but those words had cut deep. Regina’s blue eyes held a distant sadness.

“If I were that great, I would’ve protected them all.”

In the mercenary world, life was cheaper than flies. A clean death was lucky. Most had their bodies torn apart, never even found.

And such cruelty spared no one. The longer one lived, the more painful memories piled up.

Rosie knew the pain behind that calm face. She had seen Regina lose many comrades.

“And if you go on a job and die because of a mistake… I’ll live my whole life crushed by guilt. That’s certain.”

Those words stabbed Rosie’s chest.

Yes. Regina would take all the blame herself. Just like always. Just like every time she drowned herself in drink after losing someone.

Rosie began crying, her small shoulders trembling.

“I-I’m sorry. I won’t say that again. I just… I was upset for being left out of tonight’s job. I wanted recognition.”

“…Haa.”

Rosie cried harder, sobbing like a child. And it pained Regina, who had always cherished her like a little sister.

“I know you were upset about that. But that doesn’t excuse what you said. If you want to be recognized, I won’t treat you like a child anymore either.”

Rosie buried her face in her arms, wiping at her tears. Her small frame shook pitifully.

“Hic… I was wrong. I won’t complain like that again.”

Regina quietly watched, then opened her pack. She took out a small cloth pouch—the poisoned needles she had taken from the young assassin before.

Even if I’m worried, Gyle’s right. If I protect her too much, she’ll never grow.

She held it out to Rosie, who stood there blinking through her tears. Rosie rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, trying to see.

For a moment, Regina almost reached out to gently wipe her eyes.

“What is this?”

“A test. From me to you.”