No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

Why are those two here?

Thump, thump, thump!

 

“Ariadeline? Ariadeline!”

“Open the door!”

“Ah! Just a moment!”

 

I looked at the flustered Dorothy and her friends. Behind me, the banging continued relentlessly. They were really pounding hard.

 

“First of all.”

 

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then I spoke in a quiet voice that wouldn’t be heard outside.

 

“Isn’t it problematic if Lady Dorothea finds out about this situation?”

“……”

 

Dorothy, perhaps out of pride, kept her mouth tightly shut and didn’t say anything. But I knew. Dorothy was close to Dorothea.

And I also knew that Dorothea wouldn’t tolerate this kind of behavior. If it came to light that she had ordered someone to kneel or punished a young maid, it would be quite troublesome.

 

“Let’s handle this quietly. I don’t want to cause unnecessary worry.”

 

At that moment, Dorothy asked:

 

“Let me ask one thing. Why are you blocking the door?”

 

I could feel her gaze, as if she was waiting for the perfect moment to catch me off guard.

Do I really have to explain this? Just blocking the door is already a significant favor, isn’t it?

But Dorothy stubbornly stared at me, as if expecting an answer.

Well, I blocked the door partly because I didn’t want to create unnecessary conflict between the nobles. And…

 

“Being hated is really painful.”

 

I’ve experienced some hatred here and there. Is this like what they call negative comments?

I recalled Dorothy’s pale face when she saw Dorothea. Being disliked by someone you care about really hurts.

 

“I don’t want to make that known to others.”

 

I wondered how my words resonated with her. Dorothy slowly nodded.

 

“…I understand.”

 

As soon as Dorothy answered, I took a deep breath and smiled broadly as I opened the door.

Creek.

 

“Ariadeline! Are you okay?”

“Why did you suddenly close the door? What’s going on?”

“Yes? Well, you two barged in, so I had to briefly explain things to the guests.”

 

Dorothea spoke as if she didn’t understand.

 

“What are you talking about? Ariadeline! Just a moment ago, you were clearly kneeling!”

“Yes? Me? No, that’s not true.”

 

I decided to play dumb for now. When I did that, Dorothea momentarily fell silent, and Carlothian began to glare at me quietly. Don’t glare at me. It’s wearing me down.

As I stood there with a smile and my hands behind my back, the two of them sighed in unison.

 

“Alright. If Ariadeline wants to let it go, we’ll let it go.”

“It really was nothing, though?”

“Dorothy.”

 

Dorothea’s voice was filled with a determination to get an explanation from Dorothy that I hadn’t given.

Wait, I thought we were letting it go! 

 

“Could I have a word with you for a moment?”

 

Dorothy glanced at the floor as if feeling guilty, but soon nodded. This time, I panicked and tugged at Dorothea’s sleeve.

 

“It’s alright, Ariadeline.”

 

Then Dorothea, perhaps misunderstanding something, comforted me and quietly took my hand. Hey, I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but that’s not it.

However, before I could utter another word, Carlothian grabbed my hand. Hey, do you think my hand is public property?

 

“Let’s step out to the garden for a moment.”

“…Alright.”

 

With that, Dorothea and Dorothy left for the garden, leaving me, Carlothian, and Dorothy’s friends standing awkwardly.

I blinked while Dorothy’s friends fidgeted, unsure of how to handle the situation.

After a few minutes of standing awkwardly, I thought they must be having a hard time too. It must be hard to stand here in front of the glaring duke.

When I looked at them with sympathy, the red-haired lady finally spoke up hesitantly.

 

“Um, could we also go and talk with Dorothy for a bit?”

“Oh, sure. But she’ll be with Her Highness Dorothea.”

“I think it would be easier to talk if Her Highness Dorothea was with us.”

“Oh, in that case, go ahead.”

 

I looked toward the maids, and one of them led them out. Only then did I let out a deep sigh.

At that moment, Rodi, who had been sniffing in a corner, spoke softly.

 

“……I’m sorry, Miss Ariadeline.”

 

I blinked and waved my hand dismissively.

 

“It’s nothing. It was my responsibility.”

“I…”

 

Tears welled up even more in the child’s eyes. Why are you crying!

 

“This is my first time working as a maid, but I know that other people don’t usually treat me this way.”

“Those people are the strange ones, not me.”

“Miss Ariadeline is so kind.”

“Hm, that’s a compliment I’ve never heard before in my life.”

 

When I smiled brightly, Rodi ended up shedding tears again.

I wiped those tears away and said,

 

“Children should grow up as children.”

“……”

“Don’t try to carry too much on your own. If it’s hard, you can always ask for help from those around you.”

“Y-yes……”

 

Rodi sniffled.

 

“I can help you anytime.”

The sniffles didn’t subside. I suddenly looked up and met Carlothian’s gaze.

He was making a very strange expression that I couldn’t quite read. So, I just smiled meaninglessly.

He frowned slightly and immediately ordered the maids:

 

“Bring the medicine.”

“Understood.”

 

The maids went outside with Rodi, who was crying.

It wasn’t long before a container with ointment arrived, and Carlothian took it in his hands.

 

“Come here.”

“Why?”

 

When he told me to come over, I walked over and sat beside him. Carlothian shook his head as if that wasn’t what he meant, pulled me by the waist, and sat me sideways on his lap.

 

“Rest your legs on the sofa.”

“W-why are you doing this?”

 

I swallowed nervously, feeling a strange tension. Wow, seeing him in the bright light, his face is really something else.

As I hesitated, Carlothian’s hand smoothly lifted the hem of my dress.

I was startled and slapped his hand.

Slap!

Carlothian, who had been hit on the hand, raised his eyebrows. I laughed awkwardly, beads of cold sweat forming on my forehead.

 

“I-I didn’t mean to…”

 

Carlothian silently glared at me before lifting the hem of my dress back up to my knees. My knees were red and swollen, probably from kneeling too hard earlier.

 

‘Ugh, that looks like it’s going to bruise.’

 

Carlothian, perhaps thinking the same thing, began applying the ointment to my knees with his fingertips.

 

“Hmm…”

 

As the cold ointment touched my warm skin, I felt a strange sensation. Especially since that man was carefully applying the ointment with his large hands, it felt oddly ticklish.

Why is he treating me like this when I’m not that important? He was always cold to the old Ariadeline.

 

“Ouch…”

 

Then, as he applied the ointment, his fingers pressed lightly on a certain spot. I felt a dull pain, as if it were already bruised inside.

 

“Did that hurt?”

“Ah, no. Um, a little?”

 

As I answered ambiguously, Carlothian nodded with a very serious expression and continued to apply the ointment, gently tickling with his fingertips.

Every time his fingertips brushed my skin, my toes curled up. It felt like I was enduring something almost unbearable.

 

“It’s done.”

 

Soon, after applying the ointment, Carlothian neatly lowered my dress. I still felt a lingering sense of unease from his touch, and I looked down with my head bowed.”

Carlothian didn’t let me off his lap, and he continued to stare at the back of my head for a while.

What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have a bald spot or something?”

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Scarlett, Amy, and Angela walked down the hallway with the maid, chatting among themselves.

 

“It seems the rumor that Ariadeline has changed isn’t a lie.”

“…I was really surprised when she knelt down.”

“Um, it must have been for the young maid, right?”

 

Angela then spoke.

 

“I don’t think I could kneel for a maid just to look kind.”

“Couldn’t it be because she is a sinner? She’s lost the pride she had as a noble.”

 

Scarlett replied.

 

“…still, she was born and raised in a ducal family. She wouldn’t be able to let go of her pride as a noble easily.”

 

As they continued talking, they found Ariadeline’s actions increasingly incomprehensible. Kneeling to protect a young maid?

It was something they would never do. The woman, who insisted she couldn’t mistreat the child, seemed to care genuinely for the maid.

They were plunged into confusion. Seeing a different side of someone they had deemed completely evil left them unsure of how to act.

 

“I think Dorothy is being too much…”

“To be honest, we’re not free from that either.”

“…That’s right. We pretended not to know.”

 

The three of them sighed in unison. The maid, secretly eavesdropping on their conversation, scoffed inwardly.

Even if they now regretted how they had treated Miss Ariadeline, the fact that she had knelt down wouldn’t change.

As they spoke, they arrived at the garden. In the distance, they could see Dorothea and Dorothy talking near the garden fountain.

Dorothy’s friends hesitated for a moment before approaching the two.