No Need For Regrets

Chapter 1

It was a bright and sunny spring day. The gently blowing wind was warm, and the sunlight pouring down was kind. It was the kind of day when all living things thrived, and green buds sprouted.

Despite the clearly wonderful spring day, Seriniel stood alone, tense, with a face as if frozen like someone who had died.

“…”

After staying fixed on my feet for quite a while, Seriniel’s gaze slowly, very slowly, rose, and soon her green eyes were adorned with jewels-like brilliance.

Upon her eyes, a man sitting on a chair decorated with extravagant gems came into view.

Resting his arm on the armrest and crossing his legs, the man looked truly arrogant.

However, Seriniel thought it was unavoidable. No matter what noble or brave person was brought here, it was Lexion Rosenvester. In front of this man, they would end up in a similar situation.

So, left alone in front of a giant beast. It’s like being a helpless little creature abandoned in the face of imminent danger.

It wasn’t entirely groundless talk. People who knew Lexion Rosenvester, whether noble or commoner, would all gather to gossip.

They said that even if Lexion stabbed someone through the heart with a sword, they wouldn’t die.

Conversely, without a single blade, he could easily kill someone and even more. It was as if any life would lose its light and perish before the common-looking eyes of the man. That’s why Seriniel kept trembling involuntarily.

Facing such a man and uttering those words was frightening in hindsight.

Yet, as Seriniel, it was an inevitable choice.

“So, what you’re saying is….”

And after a not-so-short time, Lexion slowly started to moisten his lips.

“You want me to help you divorce your husband?”

“…Yes.”

Seriniel replied with a trembling voice, and Lexion responded with an indifferent expression.

“But you must know. Belles won’t allow it.”

Belles Verdellet.

He was Seriniel’s father’s elder brother, the one who killed her parents and swallowed up their family.

“They have a very close relationship, especially since Calian Helcar started the mining business.”

“…”

“There are significant taxes associated with mining operations. And Belles, using family connections, helped Calian obtain tax reduction privileges. In return, he takes a certain portion of business profits.”

There was nothing wrong with Lexion’s words. It was exactly as he had just described.

These were stories Seriniel didn’t know before unjustly facing death, but now she did. She knew every detail.

With concrete benefits in hand, Belles would never allow Seriniel’s divorce. Her husband, Calian, would be no different.

Moreover, their ultimate goal…

“You made a foolish mistake, Seriniel.”

“…”

“That mine wasn’t originally yours? Even if you hadn’t handed the business rights over to Calian, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

Her own death, that was the ultimate goal.

Taking the mine from the rightful owner, Seriniel, and securing it for themselves.

“So, that’s why you came to the Duke.”

With trembling hands tightly clenched into fists, Seriniel looked at Lexion and spoke.

“If it’s the Duke, he could easily trample over the opposition from my uncle and husband.”

“Ha…”

Lexion chuckled to himself.

Well, it’s not like it’s incomprehensible. Suddenly coming and saying such unbelievable things would certainly seem absurd.

“But I promise. The deal with the Duke won’t be something that harms you.”

“What do I gain from it?”

“Just as my uncle has a relationship with my husband, you and I can have our own understanding.”

“And what would that be?”

Seriniel took a short breath and then replied with a small but clear tone.

“I will share the profits from the mining business with the Duke.”

“You propose an alliance based on that?”

“No one knows yet, but soon there will be the extraction of mana ore in the mine. You must be aware of how valuable mana ore is.”

Seriniel knew the future.

Therefore, she knew how the relatively overlooked mining business would soon amass immense wealth through the discovery of mana ore.

“With that, I believe it will be a significant help to the Duke.”

Of course, the Rosenvester family was one of the largest in the empire, and they were abundantly wealthy. However, the profits from mana ore were substantial and couldn’t be ignored.

Lexion, too, saw no disadvantage in this deal.

…But then, unexpectedly, he responded with an answer Seriniel didn’t anticipate.

“Is that all?”

“…What?”

“I’m not really curious about some mining story, Seriniel Verdelette.”

Lexion slowly rose from his seat. Then, step by step… very slowly, he began to approach Seriniel.

Taken aback by his unpredictable behavior, Seriniel stumbled backward until she hit the wall.

“What I’m truly curious about is not some understanding between Calian Helcar and Belles, but rather, aren’t you different?”

“…”

“You must have been sincere to Calian.”

Seriniel remained silent.

It was true.

Seriniel Verdelette loved Calian Helcar.

Sincerely.

How foolish it was, and she hadn’t realized it alone.

As Lexion, who had come close enough to loom over her, spoke, he said, “Answer, Seriniel Verdelette. What’s the reason for seeking a divorce to this extent?”

With that question, emptiness settled into Seriniel’s green eyes.

[Is he really dead? Just in case, go and check. Even if the doctor comes to remove the death certificate.] [Do I really have to touch it now? The doctor will come to confirm death anyway.]

Seriniel remembered it clearly.

The moment when his breath slowly faded…

“[Anyway, Leraei, there’s nothing to worry about now. Finally, we can live together… you, me, and our child. A real family.]”

Their voices that lingered in her ears.

“[You, me, and our child… three of us. A true family.]”

Again…

“[Seriniel doesn’t know anything. Especially not that I killed my parents.]”

The only family she had trusted and relied on after her parents passed away.

“[But even if Seriniel finds out, nothing will change. She won’t be able to do anything. If her usefulness drops, she can be killed.]”

Her brother’s, Belles’s despicable smile… she could almost see it.

Seriniel tightly closed her eyes.

Her tightly closed eyelids trembled a few times… and not long after, she opened her eyes again.

Then she spoke, facing Lexion.

“I don’t love Calian Helcar anymore. I won’t in the future either.”

Lexion’s handsome eyebrows twitched briefly.

“People’s hearts change, Lord Lexion. That’s all.”

“…”

“I’m not suggesting we maintain a marriage for a lifetime. You also want a divorce, and I’ll do that. Just one year. Until we’re ready to drive Calian out of the mining business and break free from my uncle…!”

“Please, I’m begging you.”

Seriniel’s plea couldn’t continue.

It was because Lexion suddenly grabbed her chin.

“You really don’t know the basics of a deal.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Instead of boasting about what you can do, you should have asked what I want first.”

So naive. Lexion chuckled in a menacing voice.

“Let’s do it this way, Seriniel Verdellete.”

Then he spoke again.

“I’ll give you whatever you want. Divorce, ensuring Belles can’t exert any influence over you. If you want more than that, that’s fine too.”

“…”

“If being the dirty subject of an absurd scandal, claiming you lured a married woman, is something you desire, then enjoy it once.”

Isn’t this what you want?

Lexion’s question made Seriniel’s eyes briefly tremble.

Wondering what kind of price he intends to demand for saying such things.

“In return, you have to give me what I want. Absolutely.”

Lexion slowly reached out his hand.

“I only want two things.”

Then, gently brushing away Seriniel’s tender cheek, Lexion spoke quietly.

“One. Completely getting rid of that insignificant guy.”

“Yes…?”

“Two. Being in a lifelong marriage with me. Forever.”

Seriniel, not understanding the full meaning of Lexion’s words, looked at him in confusion…

Slowly lowering his head, Lexion whispered in her ear with a low voice.

“It means, now stop riding that useless guy and choose me, Seriniel Verdellete.”