No Need For Regrets

Chapter 36

As Lexion’s words ended, the murmurs of the crowd completely filled the air.

It was an action Seriniel had never heard of as well. But that was to be expected, as all she had planned for this party was to prove the rumors about Calian and Leraie, and to announce the beginning of the divorce proceedings.

“Of course, I won’t rush you. I’ll wait until your divorce proceedings are over.”

Lexion continued speaking.

“You might not know, but waiting for you has never been a big deal for me.”

“….”

“Now, will you give me an answer?”

Above Seriniel’s emerald eyes, Lexion’s offered ring gleamed.

“Seriniel!”

Belles shouted Seriniel’s name loudly and urgently, taking hurried steps towards his niece. This was not something that should happen. Especially when it was Lexion Rosenvester they were dealing with…

But before Belles could get close enough, Seriniel spoke.

“Yes.”

“….”

“I will… accept your proposal, Duke Lexion.”

With her permission granted, Lexion stood up again. Then, he carefully slid the ring onto Seriniel’s slender finger.

“It’s better to refrain from speculating about Seriniel Rosenvester.”

And he said to everyone present.

“If you know what my nickname is, then you’ll know why.”

No one, except for one person, dared to retort to Lexion’s straightforward words.

“When the situation is like this, doesn’t Seriniel have anything to say?”

…Except for one person, that is.

“Seriniel claimed that all the grounds for divorce were due to Calian Helcar, but did she really have the right to say that?”

There was a faint trace of bloodlust in Leraie’s eyes as she glared at Seriniel. She seemed incredibly angry.

It wasn’t hard to understand. Everything she had waited for over the years had crumbled in an instant. From Leraie’s perspective, it was only natural.

“Do you even have the right to say such things, Leraie?”

But Lexion smirked as if it were amusing, his lips curling slightly.

“You gave birth to a child with Calian before he married Seriniel. And using mine and Seriniel’s marriage as an excuse, you lived together in the mansion Calian arranged.”

Although rumors had spread, the fact that Calian and Leraie had lived together in the mansion with the child had not yet leaked out. Perhaps that’s why the crowd reacted even more loudly than before.

“I wasn’t talking about that just now!”

Leraie’s face flushed red as she stubbornly protested.

“Well, Seriniel hasn’t aimed for someone’s life like you did, and she hasn’t desired anything. Isn’t that right?”

With his laughter gone, Lexion spoke firmly.

“Seriniel Verdellet has every right to demand a divorce and claim that all the grounds lie with Calian Helcar. Throughout their marriage, Seriniel has never once committed an offense. If she had, you would have been the first ones not to stay quiet.”

Between Leraie’s tightly shut lips, the sound of her teeth grinding could be heard.

“And did you not see just now? Seriniel’s confusion. Moreover, as I just mentioned, our marriage will only take place after Seriniel’s divorce proceedings are definitively concluded. I don’t know if you can hear or see.”

Seriniel had witnesses to their adultery, but Calian and Leraie didn’t. There was no evidence or witnesses for them.

“I’ve cherished Seriniel for a long time, but she’s never once acknowledged that fact.”

This time, Seriniel hesitated briefly.

She knew that Lexion’s words were meant to defend her as much as possible.

But it was inexplicable. Why did his words, subtly uttered, feel so sincere?

“I’ve harbored emotions unilaterally and confessed at the most appropriate time. So feel free to talk about me. But if you dare doubt Seriniel even a little…”

Lexion’s eyes, staring at Leraie, were incredibly stern. It felt as though he might raise a sword and attack at any moment, causing Leraie to take a small step back.

“I’ll stake everything to prove it. Seriniel has never committed such wrongdoing, and without solid evidence, engaging in such foolish actions will lead to miserable consequences.”

That was the end of it. No one dared to retort to Lexion’s words. Even the murmurs that had filled the space gradually subsided, leaving only a heavy silence among the people.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The party ended as it was.

Even as people left the Marquisate, many whispered among themselves about what they had witnessed today.

Just the mention of divorce proceedings would have been enough to cause chaos, but with Lexion’s unexpected proposal, it was only natural that things escalated.

But for now, there was no time to focus on such matters.

There were still unresolved issues.

“….”

Inside the now deserted Marquisate, everyone involved in this affair remained.

Seriniel and Lexion.

Calian and Leraie.

And even Belles.

“Ha….”

Calian wore an incredulous expression as he looked at Seriniel.

Surprisingly, his face was filled with intense disgust and betrayal. It was unbelievable.

“I never imagined you would orchestrate things like this, Seriniel.”

Seriniel didn’t respond. She simply stared back at Calian.

“You didn’t even say a word to me, and yet… And divorce proceedings? When did we ever talk about divorce?”

“Starting from today, Calian.”

Seriniel replied with a smile.

“Because a few days ago, I already sent documents to the Imperial Court. I attached all the evidence that could prove your infidelity.”

“…What?”

“Even if it’s a few days late, you’ll get a reply. I know you want to live with Leraie as soon as possible, but please bear with me a little longer. You can do that much for me, right?”

Standing by Seriniel’s side, Lexion chuckled briefly, as if mocking.

“What an insufferable woman…”

Leraie, who had been biting her lips, muttered with a voice tinged with resentment.

“You knew everything from the beginning, yet you managed to deceive both Calian and me. So now you feel satisfied?”

“Yeah.”

Seriniel replied simply.

“But wasn’t it you who deceived me first? What’s the big deal about that?”

“Seriniel!”

“You don’t even offer apologies.”

Seriniel chuckled softly.

“Well, if you had the decency, you wouldn’t have done such a thing in the first place.”

And it was Belles who cut off the conversation again.

“I can’t understand, Seriniel.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter about the divorce with Calian. As you said, the grounds lie solely with Calian.”

Calian’s face crumpled at Belles’ words.

“But a marriage with Lexion.”

“….”

“Without consulting me…”

“Is there a need for consultation?”

Lexion looked at Belles instead of Seriniel and responded.

“You didn’t even allow a marriage with a poor marquis who couldn’t even demand a penny of dowry, did you, Belles?”

At Lexion’s words, Calian’s face flushed slightly.

“Moreover, Seriniel is a respectable adult. There’s no reason she needs your permission.”

“Lexion, you—”

“Or do you have a reason why I shouldn’t marry Seriniel?”

As Belles had no excuses to offer, he couldn’t argue further. It was already widely known that his relationship with Lexion wasn’t amicable, but he had never openly confronted him like this before.

“At the very least, I won’t engage in despicable actions like deceiving my wife’s family.”

“W-what…”

Calian murmured.

“Your silence tells me you knew. That Calian Helcar cheated you out of the entire profits from his business and skimmed off money to give to you.”

At Lexion’s words, Calian’s face turned pale blue.