No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

 

Then he abruptly cut off the conversation.

“There isn’t.”

The knight sealed his lips as if he had no intention of saying anything further and resumed his guard duty.

Hmm, I looked at him and soon turned my body to head down to the third floor.

As I descended to the third floor, I saw a row of doors lined up.

Unlike the area where I stayed with Carlothian, the doors here were closely packed together, and I could faintly hear people talking, suggesting that the rooms weren’t well soundproofed.

I walked lightly towards room 308. Although it wasn’t loud, the sound of conversations among them seeped into the hallway.

Suddenly, a voice pierced my ear, and I had no choice but to stop in my tracks.

“So, that bastard is definitely enchanted by the villainess.”

Villainess? If they’re talking about a villainess, they must mean me, right? I turned my head slightly at the faint voice. Room 307. It was the room right next to Sir Maicher’s.

I tried to pass by pretending I didn’t notice. After all, I was already aware of the bad rumors about me.

But who is the bastard? Surely, they’re not talking about Carlothian.

“Pierne wouldn’t have done anything wrong; it’s clear the villainess must have done something.”

Pierne? As in Sir Maicher? They were talking about him in connection with me.

Could it be that he’s gotten tangled up in some bad rumors just because he’s been hanging out with me lately?

Without realizing it, I inched closer to the door to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Fortunately, the speaker’s voice was quite loud, so I had no trouble hearing.

“Didn’t Phil say the same thing? It’s clear he’s enchanted by the villainess.”

“But wouldn’t it be obvious if black magic was used?”

“Can you recognize black magic?”

“I’ve never seen it myself, so how would I know?”

“Exactly! So how can we tell if Pierne was affected by black magic or not?”

As one person spoke with such confidence, an unfamiliar voice interjected.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s black magic.”

“What? Then what do you think it is?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

The voice was mocking.

“With that face and that body, what man wouldn’t fall for it?”

At that, the room fell silent for a moment.

“Hey, but she’s from a ducal family. Would she really use that kind of tactic on an ordinary knight?”

“She’s already sharing a room with the duke, so why would she bother with someone like Pierne, who only holds a knight’s title?”

“Well, you never know when the duke might change his mind and cast her aside.”

They all seemed to agree.

“That’s true.”

“So, she’s probably keeping a backup close by.”

“Is that so?”

“I thought Maicher was just a dull guy, but I didn’t expect him to fall for that kind of thing.”

Then someone said indifferently,

“Honestly, all men are the same.”

“So, are you saying Pierne has fallen for the villainess’s temptation?”

“Hey, I’d fall for it too.”

Laughter followed. I could only stand there, listening to the conversation.

“Pierne is such a fool. If he’s defending her like that, he must have given her his heart.”

“No way.”

“Who would give their heart to such villainess?”

“Don’t you see how that stone-hearted guy acted on his own?”

“That poor guy.”

“Poor? He’s just stupid.”

I clenched my fists and trembled in front of the door. The things they were saying were utterly vulgar and too filthy for the duke’s knights to utter.

“These bastards…”

Without hesitation, I flung the door open.

Bang!

The sound of the doorknob hitting the wall echoed loudly. Naturally, the knights who were gathered on the bed, laughing, turned to look at the door.

“A-Ariadeline?”

Someone called my name, seemingly startled. They must have been shocked. Still, they should at least use “Miss” when addressing me face-to-face.

Fine, I’ll let that slide. What I’m angry about isn’t something so trivial.

“I heard everything you said.”

I clasped my hands together and looked down at them coldly. Their expressions shifted rapidly.

Of course. No matter how much of a sinner I am, they know I share a room with the duke. His power is my power.

The kind of power I never had as the duchess. It’s funny, really, but I intend to wield it just this once.

“Those were quite interesting words.”

“M-Miss Ariadeline, that’s not it…”

“Enough. I won’t listen to your excuses.”

I stood outside the room and began to scold them.

“How can you, the knights of the duke’s family, utter such vulgar words!”

At my loud voice, doors along the third-floor corridor began to open one by one.

“Those were words I couldn’t bear to hear with my eyes wide open!”

I was furious. My anger has not subsided. My hands clasped in front of me trembled with rage. There are things you can say and things you can’t, yet they had the nerve to say those things out loud?

“What’s going on?”

Just then, Maicher from the room next door burst out. The other knights merely peeked their heads out the door, watching to see what was happening.

“Sir Maicher! You came at the right time.”

Maicher looked into the room and glared at his frozen comrades.

“What did you say?”

Sir Maicher growled. With him at my back, I shouted even more confidently.

“Say it again!”

As I didn’t calm my furious voice, the knights began to fidget, exchanging nervous glances.

“I want you to say what you said earlier, right in front of me!”

“Well, we…”

“Do it!”

“Please calm down…”

“Hurry!”

As I huffed in frustration, they finally squeezed their eyes shut and started to repeat what they had said before.

“We said that Miss Ariadeline used black magic to—”

“Not that!”

The knights hesitated before mumbling the more offensive things they had said.

“…We said that Miss Ariadeline seduced a knight with her body.”

“Not that!”

“Pardon?”

“We also said that the duke might cast you aside at any moment.”

“No, no. Not that!”

As I placed my hands on my hips and continued to express my anger, the knights looked confused.

“You called Sir Pierne an idiot!”

Frustrated, I decided to give them the answer myself. Are these guys goldfish or what? They don’t even remember what they said!

Their faces turned blank with bewilderment. I pointed at Pierne standing next to me and shouted.

“And! A knight as honorable as Sir Maicher!”

I glanced at Sir Maicher. He also seemed a bit dazed.

What’s going on? Why does everyone suddenly look so clueless?

“Do you think someone like him would fall for my so-called seduction!?”

“….”

The knights in the room, along with Maicher and the others who had peeked out, all fell silent. My anger was still boiling, and I continued to huff. Seriously, this is infuriating.

“Where could you possibly find someone like Sir Maicher? How can you spread such nonsense! The reason Maicher plays with me is because he’s kind and caring!”

I now pointed at each one of them as I shouted.

“Apologize to Sir Maicher! What you said is an insult to an honorable knight!”

As I finished my passionate outburst, the room was filled with silence. What’s with this atmosphere? Aren’t they going to apologize?

“Carlothian said the same thing! His knights are not swayed by temptation! You’ve betrayed that belief of Carlothian!”

“Ah, Miss Ariadeline. Wait, just a moment.”

At that moment, Sir Maicher called out to me. I looked up at him, my face flushed red, and grasped his hand tightly with both of mine.

“I’m sorry, Sir Maicher. You had to hear such things because of me.”

“No, that’s not… that’s not the issue right now.”

“Then what is the issue?”

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Of course I’m angry! How can they talk about their comrades like that? Do they have no one else to link to you but me?”

“Sigh… that’s not what I meant.”

Sir Maicher pressed his forehead, looking as though he didn’t know where to begin, then slowly and cautiously asked,

“They said vulgar things about you.”

“Um, yes?”

“Doesn’t that make you angry?”

Let me say it again: I’m not Ariadeline. I mean, I am who they’re talking about, but it’s more complicated than that.

“There’s nothing I can do about it, right?”

“What?”

“I’m a sinner. And I’m a villainess who has done bad things.”

“…”

“Remember what I told you before?”

“…Yes.”

“I don’t have the strength to hate someone. And I…”

I continued calmly.

“I find it easier to think of it as my fault.”

Sir Maicher’s face twisted in distress. I turned back to the knights in the room and spoke.

“Apologize to Sir Maicher properly.”

With that, I turned my back on them.

“And Sir Maicher, I’d like to go outside and get some fresh air. Would you be my escort?”

First, I needed to calm down. I exhaled slowly and continued.

“Carlothian told me to take two knights, so please bring one more.”

“…Understood.”

“I’ll wait on the first floor.”

I quickly left the third floor.

It’s fine. As long as Maicher can receive an apology, everything will be okay.

It’s okay. I’m okay. Really okay. Truly.