No Need For Regrets

Chapter 34

“Hello, Leraie. Thank you for coming.”

Serinial greeted Leraie with a smile on her face.

“Wasn’t it difficult to come? It must have been a long way.”

“…No, it was fine. Sorry for being late.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. There are people who arrived later than you.”

Leraie remained silent for a moment. She seemed quite tense. However, it wasn’t because she felt sorry for Serinial or guilty about anything.

“Goodness…”

And then, a murmur reached Serinial’s ears.

“How shameless. How did she even dare…”

“I heard she was a commoner, but how did she end up here…”

Since I heard it, Leraie must have heard it too. So Serinial spoke to Leraie with a gentle voice.

“Don’t worry about what they say, Leraie.”

“… ”

“I invited you.”

Leraie didn’t say anything in response. She just tightly pressed her lips together. It was a habit of hers that she couldn’t hide whenever her pride was hurt or when she felt ashamed.

When she received the invitation from me, knowing that I wanted her to come…

She must have laughed at me.

Even if she belongs to Calian, I’m the one who’s being foolish until the end.

So, she attended this event with determination.

That’s why Leraie didn’t seem to be affected by Serinial’s actions, but she seemed to feel embarrassed by the critical gazes and words of the people.

“First of all… Happy birthday, Seri.”

After a considerable amount of time had passed, Leraie managed to offer her congratulations to Serinial with difficulty.

“I heard those rumors… so I hesitated a bit, but I still wanted to congratulate you. I mean it.”

Come to think of it, facing Leraie was the first time since that day they met on the street. It was also the first time she talked about those rumors.

“I thought we should have a conversation anyway. You know, Seri…”

“It’s okay, Leraie.”

“… ”

“I have nothing more to say. So you don’t have to worry about that issue anymore.”

“…What?”

“Anyway, I hope you enjoy the party. This event was meant to celebrate my birthday, but that was just an excuse.”

“What are you talking about now? Seri.”

Serinial didn’t respond. She just approached Leraie and whispered softly into her ear, where no one else could hear.

“Just hold on until the end, Leraie.”

“… ”

“Until the party is completely over.”

That’s all. With a kind smile, Serinial once again looked at everyone and left Leraie alone, walking away.

“… ”

Leraie’s eyes reflexively met Calian’s, who was standing in front of her.

Although Calian was chatting with the noblewomen with a smiling face, his gaze briefly met Leraie’s, but it didn’t last long.

“Madam Calian is truly merciful.”

And from behind, someone’s voice was heard.

“Despite knowing that it could stir up trouble.”

“They’ve been close since childhood, haven’t they? I heard she received sponsorship from the Verdellet family.”

“So it’s even more disgusting. Calian or that woman…”

Like they talked about Calian or Serinial…

Leraie couldn’t refute their words or rush to them.

Because she had no right to do so in this place.

That was the intention.

Is that why you called me here, Serinial?

While looking at Serinial walking away in the distance, Leraie clenched her fist.

‘Even if you do that… nothing will change.’

In the end, I will be the winner of this fight. Even if I avoid such a commotion, the nobles’ gossip will be covered up by time, and Calian’s infidelity was not a lie but the truth.

So I’ve captured Calian, and even gave birth to his child.

Leraie believed that without a doubt. Unfortunately.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Although the atmosphere briefly subsided with Leraie’s appearance, it didn’t last long.

The party was gradually picking up momentum. Of course, the nobles were still gossiping among themselves, but no one paid much attention to it.

Serinial expressed her sincere gratitude to everyone who attended, and engaged in short conversations.

Belles was also present. He didn’t particularly engage in conversations with others. Instead, he occasionally glanced silently at Calian.

Although Calian’s gaze seemed to meet Belles’, he didn’t pay attention to Belles. It seemed like he was avoiding him. It wasn’t incomprehensible. Anyway, the situation had turned out like this.

…And Serinial’s presence in front of everyone happened after a considerable amount of time had passed since the party began.

“First of all, I sincerely thank everyone who came today.”

Serinial spoke with a gentle smile on her face.

“I’ve been physically weak since I was a child and couldn’t participate much in social life, so I wanted to interact with you late, even if it was just for my birthday. It was a sudden invitation, so thank you for coming without hesitation.”

Leraie’s pupils looking at Serinial were filled with various emotions.

Disgusting woman.

If it weren’t for those rumors, would these nobles have attended the party?

“Thanks to you, this birthday will be remembered for a very long time.”

Serinial started talking again, as if she had waited for everyone to do so. But she hadn’t mentioned the story that everyone had been waiting for throughout the party.

“…Given the reason why you kindly attended, it must be largely due to the rumors circulating, right?”

Finally, now she’s talking about it. A satisfied smile crept onto Calian’s lips as he watched Serinial.

“There will be a lot of people at the party. With rumors like that spreading, it’s even more likely. It’s better to talk about it confidently in front of everyone.”

I felt more comfortable when Serinial spoke up rather than me. In the latter case, I had to watch Leraie’s reactions, but in the former, I didn’t. Calian thought to himself.

Besides, I expended a considerable amount of energy following Serinial around the party, pretending to be a good husband. In this situation, if Serinial said that the rumors weren’t true, people might believe it more easily than expected.

Of course, on the other hand…

It’s still bothering me, but…

Calian quietly sighed as he stared at Leraie standing stubbornly.

“I have something to say regarding those rumors. It may feel a bit sudden, but I think it’s better to talk about it in front of everyone, so please understand.”

Belles’s gaze was also directed at Serinial.

Yeah, that’s right.

They’ll deny it.

I would have been more relieved if they had secretly talked about wanting a divorce with Calian. Belles gazed at Serinial with a slightly irritated expression.

But what Serinial said next was…

“Calian and I are in the process of getting a divorce.”

It was something I had never expected.

“The reason is because of the rumors you all know about. The rumors were all true, and Calian is also responsible for his actions.”

The space was filled with an uproar that was incomparable to when Leraie appeared.

Belles looked at Serinial with a distorted expression, and surprisingly, Leraie had a somewhat dumbfounded look.

And Calian…

“The reason why we chose the Verdellet mansion as the party venue is also because I ended my relationship with Viscount Helcar.”

He looked as if he had been hit on the head with a mallet.

“But since we’ve been together for so long, Calian expressed his desire to attend the party for the last time. And my dear friend, Lady Leraie, is the same.”

It’s a lie.

That’s a lie.

Serinial Verdellet couldn’t just easily discard Calian. Leraie’s pupils shook roughly.

“You may think it’s foolish, but I also wanted to accept their sincere apologies for the last time.”

Calian, whose face had turned pale, was seen approaching her.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

Calian quickly approached Serinial, grabbed her shoulders tightly, and pressed his lips to hers.

“What you just heard is not true at all. The rumors spread throughout the empire are also false.”

People started to panic and chatter in confusion.

“Furthermore, if there is anyone continuing to spread such rumors in the future, they will be held accountable. It’s just baseless gossip without a single piece of evidence!”

Calian’s words were cut off.

With a loud noise, the door that had been wide open was suddenly closed.

“…Duke Lexion?”

Amid Calian’s bewildered murmurs, Lexion stepped into the party venue. Then, with long strides, he quickly approached Serinial and Calian…

And forcefully pushed Calian’s hand, which was tightly gripping Serinial’s shoulder, away.

“I felt this way last time too, but you have a very bad habit.”

“… ”

“Does your fiancée know about this? Calian Helcar.”