No Need For Regrets

Chapter 11

 

“He asked me if I was happy, and I answered that I was.”

 

…The party half a year ago was held at a time when the marriage with Calian was imminent.

 

So I went after receiving the invitation.

 

[…Seriniel Verdellet.]

 

I heard that voice late at night, on the empty terrace.

 

[Are you happy?]

 

At first, I didn’t know who he was. Seriniel, who had always been frail, had hardly participated in social life since childhood, and had few private interactions with others.

 

[…Are you happy?]

 

With no response forthcoming, the unknown man repeated the same question.

 

Who is this person to ask me such strange things? Naturally curious, Seriniel smiled and answered.

 

[Yes, I’m happy.]

 

“And you, sir…”

 

[…That’s enough.]

 

“Then you said that was enough.”

 

That was the end of it. Lexion didn’t say another word, simply turned around and left the party venue.

 

It was truly fleeting. The conversation was also very brief. So it took quite some time to recall it properly.

 

I’ve never seen him since then. He kept going back to the battlefield.

 

Leraie was right. Lexion spent more time on the battlefield than in the territories or the capital. So he was someone who couldn’t find interest in anything other than war.

 

Even when he returned victorious, it wasn’t long before he went back to battle. He didn’t mingle in society, but we heard rumors. Whenever people gathered, they talked about him.

 

Lexion didn’t respond. He just continued to gaze at Seriniel with an inscrutable expression.

 

“So what I want to ask is…”

 

Seriniel paused for a moment, then looked directly at Lexion, her lips trembling.

 

“Why do you, who will go back to war again, have such an interest in my affairs?”

 

Lexion was not naturally interested in others. Everyone gathered to gossip. He was just seen as someone obsessed with war.

 

Even if we generously assume that this newfound interest in trivial matters arose belatedly, she still couldn’t understand why he was doing this to her. After all, the nobility was always full of interesting and dirty scandals to be interested in.

 

“You asked who was trying to assassinate me. I’m curious now. I’ve answered your question, but I can’t come up with an answer if it’s not yours. Isn’t that unfair?”

 

“Unfair?”

 

Lexion snickered.

 

“I don’t understand what’s unfair. From the beginning, between you and me, feeling unfairness has always been my share.”

 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 

It was absurd. It made no sense. Why would Lexion Rosenvester feel unfairness towards me?

 

“And who told you that I would go back to war again?”

 

“Wasn’t that already a story known to everyone in the Empire? It’s not just me.”

 

Lexion lightly chuckled before starting to walk slowly.

 

Suddenly, he approached Seriniel, reaching out slowly. Then, he gently grasped Seriniel’s blonde hair with his hand.

 

“What are you…!”

 

“Then go spread the rumors.”

 

In a low voice, almost whispering into Seriniel’s ear, Lexion said, “The war-mad murderer, Lexion Rosenvester… now he’s lost interest in war. So, he won’t be participating for a while.”

 

“…”

 

“No, maybe he won’t participate again for the next two times.”

 

After uttering incomprehensible words, Lexion finally withdrew his hand from Seriniel’s hair.

 

There was only a speck of dust on his large hand.

 

“Just brushing off a speck of dust, yet you’re so startled.”

 

Lexion chuckled briefly.

 

“Seriniel Verdellet.”

 

He called Seriniel’s name forcefully again.

 

“I understand your situation very well.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I know what you’re aware of and what you’re not.”

 

What I’m not aware of? As far as Seriniel knew, there was nothing like that.

 

…Could it be about Calian and Leraie’s relationship, or that they have children?

 

“Calian Helcar, who might even aim for your life. Or someone very closely associated with him.”

 

Seriniel didn’t respond.

 

“But you have nowhere to turn for help. You have no one to rely on. Even if there is, it might just be a mere servant waiting for you outside.”

 

“…You don’t need to worry about that, Duke. And even if all your suspicions about me were true, I still have family, so please refrain from worrying.”

 

Lexion remained silent for a moment. Instead, he just stared intently at Seriniel with his black eyes.

 

“Seriniel.”

 

And it was only after a considerable amount of time had passed that he spoke again.

 

“Do you really think your parents died in an accident?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Of course, I know that the handling of the case was so clean that one couldn’t even entertain such doubts. But sometimes, what meets the eye isn’t everything.”

 

“Recently, I’ve been thinking like that.”

 

It was unknown.

 

Why did Leraie’s words from last night suddenly come to mind?

 

“Maybe Seri’s parents also earned someone’s hatred. Sometimes when I see Seri, I feel the same way. I’d rather just kill her right away.”

 

“At the time, the investigation… was thorough.”

 

Seriniel’s voice trembled as she spoke.

 

“We tried every possible method…”

 

“If there was someone who could manipulate even the investigators?”

 

“…”

 

“So, if everything was manipulated?”

 

…That couldn’t be.

 

That’s impossible.

 

But no matter how many times the investigation was conducted, the results were always the same.

 

Seriniel’s pupils shook roughly.

 

And Lexion, in a low voice, spoke again.

 

“Shall I help you?”

 

“…”

 

“I can, if you want me to.”

 

“Duke… How could you, in what way, help me?”

 

“Well, that depends on what method you want.”

 

“…It seems like you’re saying you can grant anything if I ask for it.”

 

“I don’t recall ever saying that.”

 

“You’re absurd, Duke.”

 

“If you ask me for something absurd, then yes, it will be so.”

 

Lexion seemed to chuckle lightly, but Seriniel couldn’t laugh.

 

“Do you know, Seriniel? There’s one obvious rule in war.”

 

“…”

 

“And fighting with swords and arrows alone doesn’t define war. You’ve also entered your own battlefield now.”

 

My own war…

 

Yes, maybe that’s true.

 

Seriniel thought to herself.

 

“Once you plunge into the battlefield, there’s no turning back. You have to fight for your life. And to win, you must remember the rule I mentioned earlier. For you, the perfect alternative must be me. I assure you. I hope you won’t make regrettable choices.”

 

“…”

 

“I’m the only one who can cleanly eliminate anyone putting you in danger.”

 

Seriniel knew there was no falsehood in Lexion Rosenvester’s words. If he really helped me, I could easily crush Calian Helcar and Leraie.

 

He was someone with such immense power and influence that such a thing could be possible from the outset. Lexion was.

 

But she couldn’t easily trust him. Especially in a relationship she didn’t properly understand. She didn’t even know what sincerity lay beneath such offered favors…

 

“If you need my help, feel free to come anytime. Of course, you’ll need to prepare very well if you want to ask for it. Just like you did when you paid a hefty silence fee to Paul.”

 

However, Lexion seemed unconcerned with Seriniel’s confusion.

 

With that, he left.

 

Soon after, Paul returned to the shop. He showed various types of silverware, along with detailed explanations of the production time and process…

 

But in Seriniel’s mind, only Lexion’s cryptic words lingered.