No Need For Regrets

Chapter 60

[It might be late. No, it will probably be late.]

… In the late afternoon.

Lexion, who had some business to attend to, said to Seriniel.

[There are always guards around the Duke of Rosenvester’s vicinity, so you don’t have to worry about anything. I hope you can rest assured.]

Lexion truly was someone who didn’t know anything. Seriniel’s concern wasn’t about her own safety.

But before Seriniel could say anything, Lexion spoke quickly again.

[…I hope you were asleep first.]

[What…?]

[Just… I wish you were.]

She wanted to ask why, but for some reason, she couldn’t. His smile directed at her seemed different from usual… A bit sad, maybe.

It was strange.

Since Lexion left, Seriniel couldn’t feel at ease at all.

Kina and Vain seemed to have noticed that too.

[Miss, you have nothing to worry about. The Duke also said so, didn’t he?]

Vain said, and,

[That’s right. There’s no one who can harm Duke Lexion. So don’t worry too much… Why don’t you have a cup of warm tea? He wouldn’t like it if you’re feeling uneasy like this.]

Kina said the same.

But no matter how many times she heard those words, nothing changed.

Time passed, and passed.

The sun set with the red glow, the black night with eyes like Lexion’s eyes rose, but…

He didn’t come back.

Despite the assurances from Vain and Kina, Seriniel chose to wait.

Lexion had said he hoped she would sleep first, but it wasn’t so. She needed to confirm with her own eyes that Lexion returned safely… Then she would feel relieved.

But even Seriniel…

“Lexion…”

She never imagined Lexion would return like this.

“…”

Seriniel couldn’t even finish saying Lexion’s name. Instead, she could only stare at him with a vacant expression.

Lexion, covered in blood on his face and body…

He almost looked like a monster.

So, I don’t know…

[…It seems several captives were taken this time, and he killed them all. Even the soldiers following the Duke said they were shocked.]

[Well, wouldn’t someone with the nickname “The Murderer” end up like that if they enjoy killing? It’s pathetic. Maybe because he’s a bastard child.]

[Would a murderer who’s obsessed with killing people have such a conscience?]

Suddenly, words that had been heard before seemed to flash through the mind.

“…”

Seriniel looked at Lexion without saying a word. Lexion, too, was the same. He seemed to have forgotten even to breathe, staring at Seriniel with his face covered in the stench of blood.

With eyes that seemed to have collapsed somewhere.

…Thus, an overwhelming silence heavier than lead fell between the two.

“Let’s go in and rest, Seriniel.”

And it was Lexion who parted his lips first.

“What you just saw… Forget it. It’s not a sight for someone like you to see.”

With those words left behind, Lexion walked away without looking back.

Neither the faint smile he usually wore nor the somewhat playful words, nor the warm voice…

None of them were shown or heard.

“…”

Alone in the dark corridor, Seriniel couldn’t move as if nailed to the spot.

…The image of Lexion climbing the stairs with squeaking sounds, his face drenched in blood, disappearing like a swallowed giant into the pitch-black second floor without a single light, lingered ominously.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The Rosenvester mansion was one of the largest mansions among the noble families’ estates.

The first floor had bedrooms, studies, and numerous rooms, along with a luxurious bathroom where one could indulge in bathing.

The second floor was much the same. Of course, it wasn’t as spacious as the first floor, but that was the only difference. There was no shortage of luxuries to live a comfortable life.

Today, too, Lexion was in the bathroom on the second floor.

“…”

Lexion, folding his body into the bathtub filled with warm water, leaned his head back with a tired expression.

Soon, a large hand with still deep scratches covered his face.

He didn’t move, just like before.

Just recalling Seriniel’s face from earlier.

…What did she think, seeing me like this?

Was she scared? Disgusted? Did she really believe all those rumors?

Maybe she regretted it.

Even if she didn’t receive help from a man like me.

Perhaps she really didn’t know. So maybe I wouldn’t see Seriniel’s smiling face again, looking at me like this.

Even though Seriniel must have heard all those rumors, there was still a huge difference between just hearing rumors and facing the reality like this. Lexion knew that fact.

So he was afraid.

It was an unexpected fear. Despite facing battlefields where arrows and swords flew incessantly hundreds of times…

“…”

Lexion’s parched lips were pressed tightly together. His large, still blood-stained hand covering his face was distorted with pain.

What kind of expression…

Was he making?

It was strange. He surely saw Seriniel staring at him. But he couldn’t remember what expression she had or couldn’t recall her calling out to him.

Was her face distorted? Like mine now.

Was she making a hateful expression? Like the people of the Rosenvester Dukedom used to.

If it wasn’t either of those…

[Monster…]

…Was she making a pitiful expression like the Viscountess?

Drenched in fear, paralyzed by the overwhelming blue.

That fear, soaked in terror.

The face I know too well. That face I’ve seen too much.

Perhaps I didn’t know it would be like this.

There was nothing but Harington Viscount’s nail marks, a small injury. It wasn’t even a significant wound. He had endured far worse injuries countless times…

It truly was something inexplicable.

Why was his heart pounding like this?

“No…”

And after a considerable amount of time, Lexion began to murmur to himself with a trembling voice.

“I had no choice…”

Yeah. It was literal. It was unavoidable.

These unavoidable events would continue to happen in the future. Until he completely eradicated Belles and his gang in front of Seriniel’s eyes. Until he could protect Seriniel perfectly.

But Lexion knew that fact too.

Even if Seriniel, who had witnessed such an unsightly scene today, looked at him with a different gaze… It was also unavoidable. Just the same.

He just had to be satisfied with this. Anyway, knowing that he had kept Seriniel safe.

…Yeah.

That was the top priority. That always had to come first.

Even as he thought that, Lexion’s face, hidden beneath the large hand, still contorted with pain.

And…

It wasn’t long before something happened.

A very cautious presence was felt beyond the closed bathroom door.

It sounded like footsteps.

…Did he mishear?

That couldn’t be, as there was no one supposed to come here. He had instructed Vain and Kina to only come up when called.

Moreover, there was only one person awake in this mansion right now.

Seriniel.

So…

It couldn’t be…

But as if to prove that Lexion’s thoughts were wrong, Seriniel’s voice was soon heard.

“Duke Lexion.”

“…”

“May I come in?”

Only then did Lexion remove his hand from his face, his face wearing an incredulous expression as he stared at the closed door.