The Extra's Regressor Wives

When Catrina returned to the upper floor, the maid who had prepared a new meal was already waiting outside the door as instructed.

The moment she saw Catrina approaching, she lowered her head.

"Your Grace."

"Give it to me."

Catrina took the tray and dismissed her with a small gesture.

Only after the maid disappeared at the end of the corridor did she open the door and enter the room herself.

Lathel was still sitting on the bed.

The instant he saw Catrina, there was no surprise on his face.

His eyes simply dropped toward the silver chain around his wrist before lifting back to her, as though reminding her that the most important problem between them was still unresolved.

Pandora immediately spoke inside his head.

"She came back."

Lathel frowned.

Catrina, of course, had no idea what Pandora had said.

She placed the tray on the small table beside the bed.

"Eat something. You haven’t had anything since you woke up."

Lathel immediately pointed at the chain.

This time, Catrina did not pretend not to understand.

"I know."

Lathel paused in surprise.

Finally?

She was actually admitting it?

Then Catrina continued naturally,

"But I’m not taking it off."

Lathel: "..."

Pandora laughed.

"At least she’s honest."

Catrina sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the bowl of soup, and stirred it lightly with a spoon to check the temperature.

"The healer said your stomach shouldn’t have anything too solid yet. Have some soup first. I’ll have them prepare something else later."

Lathel reached for the bowl.

Catrina immediately moved it aside.

He looked at her.

"I’ll feed you."

Lathel shook his head and reached out again.

Catrina still did not hand it over.

"You’re injured."

Lathel immediately signed.

’I can eat by myself.’

Catrina watched every movement before replying calmly,

"I don’t understand."

This time, Lathel did not give up.

He simply stared straight into her eyes.

The two remained like that for several seconds.

Eventually, Catrina sighed.

"All right. I understand."

Lathel was just about to reach for the bowl.

Then she added,

"But I still want to feed you."

Lathel: "..."

Pandora immediately commented,

"Progress. At least she admits she understands now."

Catrina scooped up a spoonful of soup and brought it toward Lathel’s mouth.

He stared at the spoon for several seconds.

Then turned his face away.

Catrina’s hand immediately stopped.

Almost at the same moment, a faint chill ran down her spine and made her pause instinctively.

Before she could think—

Crack.

The silver spoon snapped in half.

One piece dropped straight into the soup.

The room went silent.

Catrina stared at the broken spoon.

Lathel stared at it too.

Pandora remained quiet for several seconds before asking in obvious confusion,

"What exactly is that spoon made of?"

Lathel did not answer.

Catrina calmly set the broken piece aside.

"Looks like the quality of the supplies in this stronghold needs to be checked."

Lathel looked at the spoon.

Then at her.

His expression clearly said he did not believe that excuse for even a second.

Pandora immediately added,

"If that counts as low quality, I’m beginning to suspect the Black Rose is poorer than I thought."

Catrina ignored Lathel’s stare and simply picked up another spoon from the tray.

Before she could scoop up more soup, Lathel grabbed her wrist.

Then he signed again.

’I can eat by myself.’

Catrina lowered her gaze toward the hand holding her wrist before looking back at him.

"No."

Lathel frowned.

"I want to take care of you."

He immediately answered.

’I don’t need you to.’

The eyes behind Catrina’s mask dimmed slightly.

She remained silent for several seconds.

Then she placed the bowl down and suddenly leaned forward.

Lathel did not have time to avoid her.

Catrina’s arms were already around his waist.

She pressed her cheek against his chest, almost completely leaning into him, though she carefully controlled her strength so she would not press against the injuries that had yet to fully heal.

Lathel’s body instantly stiffened.

He placed both hands against her shoulders and pushed.

"Don’t."

He continued.

Catrina tightened her arms slightly, though not enough to hurt him.

"Just for a moment."

Lathel shook his head.

Catrina closed her eyes.

Her voice gradually softened.

"The more you try to pull away from me, the more I feel that if I loosen my arms even a little, you’ll disappear again."

Lathel stopped pushing for a moment.

Only a moment.

Then he continued.

Catrina felt the determination in his hands.

In the end, she released him without trying to hold on any longer.

The moment space opened between them, Lathel immediately shifted to the side and pointed toward the silver chain around his wrist.

This time, he signed very slowly.

Slowly enough that she could no longer pretend there was any possibility of misunderstanding.

’I don’t hate you.’

Catrina watched every movement.

Lathel continued.

’I hate that you’re keeping me prisoner.’

This time, Catrina did not evade the meaning.

"I know."

Lathel paused slightly.

Catrina looked at the silver chain around his wrist.

"But if I remove it, you’ll leave, won’t you?"

Lathel nodded.

"Go to the Academy?"

Another nod.

"Meet Aldric?"

Lathel immediately frowned.

His hands moved quickly as he explained that he had no intention of seeking Aldric out.

Catrina understood perfectly.

It did nothing to reassure her.

The last time, Lathel had not gone looking for Aldric either.

They had still encountered each other on the road.

And Lathel had nearly died before Catrina arrived.

Her eyes passed over the injuries still faintly visible on his face.

Then she slowly shook her head.

"No."

Lathel stared at her.

"I’m sorry."

Catrina’s voice was very soft.

There was no threat in it.

"But you still have to stay here."

Lathel’s gaze immediately cooled.

Almost at the same moment—

BANG!

A loud crash came from the corridor.

Catrina instantly turned her head.

The door opened.

A female knight stood outside with a tense expression.

"Your Grace!"

"What happened?"

"The weapon rack in the training room suddenly collapsed. Three people were injured, but fortunately none of them are in danger."

Catrina frowned.

"Was there a problem with the supports?"

"No."

The knight shook her head.

"All the anchors are still intact. We haven’t found the cause yet."

Catrina fell silent.

Her gaze slowly moved back toward Lathel.

He clearly had no idea what was happening.

Inside his soul, Pandora was merely asking with curiosity,

"What happened outside?"

Lathel obviously could not answer her.

But for Catrina, things were becoming increasingly obvious.

The bird crashing into the window.

The maid slipping.

The teacup breaking on its own.

The silver spoon snapping the moment Lathel became annoyed.

And now even the weapon rack in the training room had collapsed for no apparent reason.

The severity of the misfortune was clearly increasing.

Catrina turned back toward the knight.

"Have the healer treat the injured. Inspect the entire stronghold again. Temporarily close any areas that aren’t necessary, and forbid anyone from approaching dangerous magical equipment without permission."

"Yes."

The knight immediately withdrew.

The door closed again.

Lathel looked at Catrina in confusion.

She did not explain.

Instead, she lowered her gaze and slowly touched the silver cuff around his wrist with one fingertip.

"Your affection brings good fortune..."

Lathel frowned.

Catrina looked up at him.

"So when you hate someone, disaster follows?"

Lathel had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

Pandora did not understand either.

She immediately asked inside his head,

"What strange thing is she talking about now?"

Lathel remained silent.

Catrina studied him for a long time.

She knew the simplest way to test her theory.

Remove the chain.

If Lathel regained his freedom, his attitude toward her would likely improve immediately.

The Dark Curse might disappear.

The Lucky Star Halo might even return.

And yet—

the hand resting on the cuff showed absolutely no intention of unlocking it.

If the price of keeping Lathel alive beside her was merely a little bad luck—

Catrina considered that far too cheap.

Slowly, she stood.

"Lathel."

He looked at her.

"I’m not releasing you just because of what happened."

The helplessness on Lathel’s face immediately became more obvious.

Catrina watched him for a moment, then added softly,

"But I’ll try to make you hate me less."

Pandora immediately said inside his head,

"By continuing to chain you to the bed?"

Lathel did not react.

But the look he gave Catrina clearly carried exactly the same meaning.

She could not hear Pandora.

Catrina simply picked up the bowl again, replaced the broken spoon, and brought another spoonful toward him.

"Now eat."

Lathel looked at her.

Then at the spoon.

Then he reached out.

Catrina instinctively tightened her grip on the bowl.

The two stared at each other again.

After a while, Lathel slowly pointed toward the spoon in her hand.

’Give it to me.’

Catrina watched the gesture for several seconds.

This time, she did not deliberately mistranslate it.

After a brief hesitation, she finally placed the spoon into his hand.

"Only this."

Lathel: "..."

At least it counted as progress.

He began eating by himself.

Catrina remained seated right beside him, watching.

Only after seeing him actually eat did the eyes behind her mask soften slightly.

A little while later, another crashing sound came from somewhere in the corridor.

Catrina turned toward the door.

Then slowly looked back at Lathel.

She remained silent for several seconds before sighing.

"Looks like you really are very upset with me."

Lathel immediately stopped eating and pointed directly at the chain around his wrist.

The meaning was impossible to misunderstand.

Catrina looked at the silver cuff.

Then calmly turned her face away.

"I don’t understand."

Lathel: "..."

Pandora was silent for one beat.

Then burst out laughing inside his soul.

"I was wrong."

Lathel frowned.

Pandora cheerfully concluded,

"You really have met your match."

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