No Need For Regrets

Chapter 5

Seriniel wore an expression akin to someone struck on the head with a mace.

The man in the distance… unquestionably, it was Calian Helcar.

Her husband, who had left due to a mine inspection.

And the child next to him…

“Benny! Be careful. If you trip and fall, Daddy will be really sad.”

In response to Calian’s fatherly voice, the child chuckled brightly.

“Yeah, Daddy is right. Last time, you fell and hurt your knee, remember?”

Above Seriniel’s dazed emerald eyes, a scene unfolded – a child embraced in Calian’s arms, and Leraie smiling as she approached them.

Family.

The figures before her were undoubtedly a harmonious and content family.

The child, smiling with illuminated eyes, had a face that Seriniel could not help but extract from the depths of her memory—their joyous laughter that she never ceased to love.

Dizzy, Seriniel staggered slightly.

[Now there’s nothing to worry about. Finally, we can live together. You, me. And our child… the three of us. A true family.]

“Ugh…”

[Benny, it’s your 7th birthday soon. I’ll send someone to the villa right away. Bring governess and Benny… for the 7th birthday, it will be celebrated here at this mansion.]

Seated, gasping for breath, Seriniel expressed a despairing look.

Throughout her visit to the villa, there was a vast difference between conjuring an unfamiliar child’s face in her mind and facing the reality.

Yet, she still clung to the thought that it might be an unforeseen event. She needed to verify it with her own eyes, reasoning that misunderstandings might have occurred.

However, that was an incredibly foolish notion.

“…”

Seriniel’s hands trembled. Indescribable emotions overwhelmed her.

[It’s my fault, Seri. I just wanted to raise our child, who would be born someday, in a better environment…]

No, it was probably about wanting to raise your child in a better environment. Knowing my eagerness to have a child, that’s why I consulted a doctor, took medication…

How ridiculous I must have seemed. Seriniel sneered with a vacant expression.

The child must be around two years old now. Seriniel silently gazed at the child cradled in Calian’s arms.

No matter how she calculated, the child was born before Seriniel married Calian.

[I’m sorry, Seriniel… My health wasn’t good.]

Upon reflection, Leraie hadn’t shown her face for several months, claiming she needed to rest. Whenever Seriniel worried and inquired if something hurt, she only offered brief reassurances, saying she just needed a bit of rest, expressing apologies for not being able to attend to Seriniel’s marriage.

The foolish Seriniel sought various medicines to send to Leraie, not knowing whose child might be growing inside her womb.

From the beginning, Seriniel’s place was nonexistent.

They were already a perfect family.

“Master, it seems like a carriage has arrived over there…”

A belated realization hit Seriniel due to the discreet voice of the maid.

“A carriage? What are you talking about?”

“There’s a carriage near the villa. Didn’t you call for it?”

“Leraie, watch Benny here. I’ll go and check it.”

Abruptly, Calian walked away anxiously. It wasn’t difficult to understand. Even without this, there were already thorny corners, and Seriniel feared that someone might actually be coming.

Seriniel retreated quietly, suppressing her breath. Hiding behind a large tree, just as she did, Calian appeared only a few steps away.

Frowning slightly, Calian glanced around. Perhaps someone heard my footsteps. The fear of being discovered was unbearable. If by any chance someone had really come, Seriniel might be frightened.

Seriniel tightly shut her eyes, feeling like her heart was about to burst. However, after a short while, Calian’s footsteps started to fade away.

Seriniel cautiously opened her eyes. Calian had moved farther away.

It was only a matter of time before Seriniel realized that Calian was approaching the carriage she could now see in the distance.

“What’s going on? This is my villa.”

“…”

“Why did you come here? I asked you a question!”

In the face of Calian’s anger, the attention of the coachman turned towards Seriniel hiding behind a tree.

But it was only for a very brief moment, and the coachman shifted his gaze back to Calian.

“I apologize. I came because I received a summons, but it seems I got the address wrong.”

“What?”

“Even so, the agreed-upon time has passed. It was strange to wait for a guest who never appeared. If it wasn’t you who called for the carriage, I must have come to the wrong place.”

“Get out of here right now.”

There was nothing suspicious in the coachman’s words. Calian, seemingly in agreement, irritatedly gestured for the coachman to leave.

Without resistance, the coachman took the reins and began driving away.

Left alone in front of the villa, Calian stood still until the carriage disappeared from sight, almost as if to confirm that it was truly leaving.

Once the carriage was out of sight, Calian looked around again, making sure there was no one around. After confirming the absence of anyone, he walked into the villa.

Only a few steps later, unaware that his wife witnessed everything, he entered.

“…”

As Calian disappeared, Seriniel staggered briefly. She then sat under a tree and covered her mouth.

Tears, screams, or nausea—all indistinguishable emotions seemed to well up all at once, threatening to burst out.

After a short while, cold raindrops began falling on Seriniel’s hunched figure. It was a gentle spring rain.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The rain showed no signs of stopping.

Even the long blonde hair, cascading down to her waist, and the black cloak were thoroughly soaked.

Her face turned bluish from the unexpected cold, and her body shivered uncontrollably. Yet, Seriniel continued to walk aimlessly.

“…”

Trudging through the rain, Seriniel’s face remained expressionless.

She was carrying a grief similar to that of a fallen soldier who had lost everything. No, she had indeed lost everything. The term “fallen soldier” didn’t bother her much.

“Dirty… humans…”

In a low voice, Seriniel muttered to herself. Her voice carried an indescribable bitterness.

…She wanted to kill them. Calian and Leraie.

But as the reality unfolded before her, Seriniel began to direct arrows of self-blame at herself.

Why didn’t I know anything?

Why was I so stupid?

Why didn’t I ever doubt them?

Was it because I was so innocent and foolish, as Leraie claimed? Was it natural for me to be the one deceived? Was it really my fault?

With a laughter void of meaning, Seriniel, like someone deranged, smiled quietly. It was a mockery whose target she couldn’t even identify.

But this time is different. Seriniel repeated that thought incessantly. As if it were some sort of incantation.

…First, she needed to find Mister Belles.

“All right… If it’s Mister Belles… he’ll definitely help me…”

A single friend. Another single husband. The ones she loved endlessly.

What remained for Seriniel, having lost them all, was now only Belles.

Of course, she knew about Belles and Calian being involved in the mining business. But Seriniel believed. She believed his promise to fill the void left by the sudden death of her parents.

But how should she take revenge? Even if she took away tax exemption certificates from Calian, would it really deal a significant blow?

If she divorced, would they be happy? Leraie would probably be even happier. There might be minor friction, but they would continue living a happy life.

“…”

Seriniel came to a slow stop. Then, she raised her head and stared blankly at the sky. The despair that emanated above her emerald eyes was vivid.

If there was no definite way to take revenge on them…

Why did I come back to the past?

It’s meaningless…

During the moment she swallowed the nonsensical soliloquy, a carriage approached from a distance, stopping next to her.

“…”

Standing still, Seriniel looked at the carriage in surprise. Did it block the way? She took a few steps back, but the carriage didn’t seem to be planning to leave.

Instead, the closed window opened. Very slowly.

“…Today doesn’t seem like the weather for a pleasant evening stroll.”

Then, someone entirely unexpected revealed their face.

“Indeed? Seriniel Verdellette.”