No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

“I recognize her face. But I don’t think I’ve met her separately.”

“Hmm…”

 

The maid hesitated, then started to share what she had learned.

 

“Lady Dorothy of the Count of Antrue used to be close with Crown Princess Dorothea.”

“With Princess Dorothea?”

 

Our original female lead? What’s going on? I feel uneasy.

 

“So, there was an incident where Miss Ariadeline crossed paths with them, and it’s rumored that you caused them a major embarrassment and are still holding a grudge…”

“Me? Embarrassed by me? How so?”

“Well…”

 

The maid glanced around cautiously before continuing.

 

“They say you stole her partner…”

“Wait.”

 

So, Ariadeline did something like that? I couldn’t make sense of it and racked my brain for a moment. The only man Ariadeline knew was Carlothian.

That woman stole someone’s partner? Sure, she could have had one. Since Carlothian didn’t want to be her partner!

But ‘stolen’ implies she took something by force.

As I remained silent, the maids also fell silent. Amid the quiet, something vaguely came to mind.

 

‘You probably have no interest in me.’

 

A man with wheat-colored hair and green eyes faintly came to mind. Honestly, I couldn’t recall his features in detail.

It was such a trivial matter that it didn’t stay clearly in my memory. Who was that man?

I thought about it deeply and then asked the maid.

 

“Who did I supposedly steal?”

“The Marquis of Dolorante.”

“The Marquis of Dolorante?”

 

A marquis is a high-ranking noble, so why is he not in my memory? I looked at the maid, signaling for her to continue.

 

“He attended the eighteenth birthday party of Princess Yermondi.”

 

The eighteenth birthday. At that event, Carlothian entered alone and didn’t keep her by his side. So, Ariadeline must not have had a partner, either.

But unlike men, women who enter without a partner are ridiculed by everyone. So, if Ariadeline needed a partner for official events, she would select any man who asked her to be his partner, only to part ways afterward.

 

‘I think there was an unusually persistent guy.’

 

A man with wheat-colored hair and green eyes. Was that man the marquis? Strangely, I assumed the marquis was someone older.

Why does Ariadeline seem to have no memory of other men?

 

“Was the marquis a man with bright wheat-colored hair and green eyes?”

“Yes, he has only recently inherited the title. Until recently, he was the young lord. It’s widely rumored that he’s a very kind person.”

“A kind man that left his partner and came to me?”

“Well, that’s true. The rumors say that Miss Ariadeline took the partner of the young lady of the Count of Antrue.”

 

I was dumbfounded and recalled what happened to that man. How did it all start?

 

‘You look bored sitting there.’

 

It was a week before the princess’s birthday party, at a small social gathering.

I don’t remember whose social gathering it was, but Ariadeline willingly participated to flaunt her power.

Even if she wasn’t treated well by her husband, a duchess was still a duchess.

At that time, someone approached her.

A man with green eyes that shone warmly and no other distinguishing features that I can remember.

He came up to me and chatted about trivial matters that I don’t even recall. Ariadeline sat there indifferently, listening to his stories.

 

‘So… what does the madam think?’

‘Not much.’

 

At that moment, Ariadelin replied so coldly that it was almost embarrassing for the man.

 

‘What kind of thoughts should I have about it?’

 

I couldn’t recall the man’s expression. From what he said, it didn’t seem like he was pleased.

Scratching my head, I said to the maids,

 

“So, the marquis’s partner was the young lady of the Count of Antrue.”

“Yes. Fortunately, before the banquet, she managed to secure another noble’s partner and entered safely, but there was so much gossip in that circle.”

 

The maid looked around, as if sharing a secret, and whispered.

 

“So, the story turned into one where the cruel Miss Ariadeline stole the partner of Princess Dorothea’s friend, the young lady of the Count of Antrue.”

“As far as I remember, I didn’t steal anyone.”

 

I pressed my fingers against my forehead.

 

‘I have a great interest in you. I don’t need another partner. I want to enter the banquet hall with you.’

 

I vaguely remember that the man wanted to enter with me. And since Ariadelin didn’t care about anyone but Carlotian, she accepted the proposal.

 

‘So, it’s not really my fault?’

 

It was wrong to abandon one’s partner and request another, but it wasn’t my fault if I didn’t know anything, right? But why is it spreading as if it’s my fault?

 

“First and foremost, I understand that the young lady of the Count of Antrue harbors negative feelings towards me.”

“Yes.”

“What about the madame?”

“Well, the madame has been investigating information about Miss Ariadeline and spreading rumors.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“Just that Miss Ariadeline has repented and received forgiveness from Princess Dorothea…”

“And that her personality has changed, and she has become more gentle,” the maid added.

“Isn’t that just flattery?”

“Indeed. Still, spreading rumors about others is a bit much.”

“But it’s strange to question her about why she’s been praising me.”

“Generally, spreading rumors about high-ranking nobles, whether good or bad, isn’t a wise choice.”

“Well, I’m no longer a high-ranking noble.”

 

I answered as if it didn’t matter and roughly guessed the relationship between the two people.

It was probably just the madame of the dress shop and her client. They must have heard my rumors and sent a letter to confirm them.

 

‘Why would someone send a letter just to investigate what’s left of someone who has already fallen to the bottom?’

 

I sighed deeply. It appeared that not all of the rumors surrounding Ariadeline were actually her fault.

The black magic curse wasn’t her work, and she didn’t actually steal someone’s partner; she merely accepted a partner request that came in.

Hmm, it does seem like she directly ruined Dorothea’s dress and caused a scene at the party.

 

‘But isn’t that a bit too little to be called the villainess of the century?’

 

At that moment, the door opened, and Carlothian, seemingly done with his work, walked in.

The maids greeted him with a bow and then left the room with brisk steps, as if nothing had happened. Carlothian watched their retreating figures for a moment before asking.

 

“What were you doing?”

“Nothing much. I’ll handle it myself.”

“It sounds like you’re about to cause trouble.”

“If I do, you’ll come and clean it up, won’t you?”

 

Carlothian frowned slightly, and I burst into laughter at his expression.

He’s really no fun to tease. With that thought, I moved from the sofa to the bed and took off the shawl draped over my shoulders.

 

“I need to find out more about this madness.”

“Did you think I haven’t looked into it?”

“That’s not it, but we can’t just leave it like this, can we? Do you have any related materials?”

 

Carlothian hesitated for a moment before answering slowly.

 

“…There are books related to black magic in the basement.”

“Wow, if the imperial family finds out there are illegal books like that in the ducal mansion’s basement, it’d be a big problem.”

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“As I said before, I have never tried to harm anyone with black magic.”

“You talk well.”

“How unfair would it be if I said something wrong in this state? At least I’m saying it well.”

 

I snorted and then flopped onto the bed. Carlothian removed his outer clothes and slowly climbed on top of me.

I closed my eyes as I looked up at him, casting a shadow over me. The moon would rise soon.

And on his body, the scars I left would grow larger and more pronounced. It’s quite unpleasant—this feeling of touching someone else’s man.

I let myself succumb to the dark, encroaching aura, knowing it was a much better method than resisting.

But Carlothian probably couldn’t do that. He must have struggled, biting his lips and tongue and tearing at the sheets to hold on.

Maybe if Carlothian hadn’t been here, I might have had to do the same.

 

“You must have been lonely too.”

 

With that thought, I lost consciousness.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

“Have you heard the rumor?”

“What rumor?”

 

Dorothy smiled gently, bringing her hands together and placing them beside her cheeks.

 

“The rumor about Ariadeline.”