No Need For Regrets

Chapter 61

“Lord Lexion.”

Seriniel’s voice trembled ever so slightly as she stood in front of the closed bathroom door.

“May I… come in?”

No answer came even after a considerable amount of time had passed since she asked.

Did he not hear me?

…Or does he not want to see me?

Maybe because I inadvertently looked at the Duke with a strange expression earlier.

With such trivial thoughts, Seriniel summoned her courage once again.

“Lord Lexion, I’m sorry for the intrusion.”

After a brief pause, she slowly opened the bathroom door.

“….”

The first thing that caught her eye was the misty steam. So Seriniel blinked slightly and looked around. It was her first time in this bathroom, so it was hard to tell where Lexion was.

“Here… I’m here.”

Soon enough, Lexion’s voice came from the steam-filled bathroom, very softly.

“Don’t come closer.”

“….”

“As I said before, it’s not a pleasant sight.”

After a while, Seriniel spotted a figure obscured by the steam. It must be Lexion.

But Seriniel didn’t heed his words. Without hesitation, she took a step closer towards him.

And then…

She saw Lexion sitting in the bathtub, which was stained with a deep red hue.

There was probably blood drenching his face and body.

“….”

As Seriniel approached, Lexion, sitting in the tub, seemed to shrink. Perhaps he didn’t want to be seen.

Why would he be in such a state?

Lexion looked like a child who had committed a grave mistake. Afraid of punishment, afraid of being hated…

“Lord Lexion.”

Seriniel moistened her lips slowly.

“…Are you alright?”

Unexpectedly, her question seemed to catch Lexion off guard. He raised his head, meeting her gaze.

Throughout the encounter, he had been thinking about what expression Seriniel might have had. Was it contorted? Filled with fear? Revulsion?

But it was none of those.

Her emerald eyes, filled with him, remained unchanged.

Warm, affectionate, kind as ever.

And so, unexpectedly, Lexion faltered.

It was something he had never imagined.

“Lord, I asked if you were injured.”

“No, I’m not.”

Lexion replied in a low voice.

“It’s not my blood.”

“….”

“I told you. I’ve never lost in a fight like this…”

“Then what’s this?”

Seriniel bent down slowly. She gently took Lexion’s hand, which was protruding from the bathtub.

Lexion flinched, but didn’t push her away.

“You’re hurt.”

Seriniel’s gaze fell on the long fingernail marks, still oozing blood.

“If this isn’t an injury, what is it?”

“….”

“Or perhaps you can’t accept being wounded even to this extent?”

Lexion didn’t respond, confirming Seriniel’s guess.

She let out an inadvertent sigh. Then, she moved closer to his head.

“….Seriniel?”

“If water touches the wound, it tends to fester.”

“….”

“I can at least bandage your head… Please allow me to do so.”

Lexion seemed extremely flustered. He repeated several times that she didn’t need to go to such lengths or worry about him, but Seriniel paid no heed.

“Just stay still. If you move, water might get into your eyes.”

Seriniel slowly, very slowly, began to wrap Lexion’s hair. Even though his hair was already halfway wet, blood still trickled from it…

But it was okay.

As Seriniel wrapped and bandaged his hair, Lexion didn’t say a word. Or perhaps he couldn’t. He couldn’t understand the situation. He couldn’t believe in Seriniel’s kindness bestowed upon him.

“Earlier…”

While silently bandaging his hair, Seriniel murmured softly.

“I was just surprised.”

“….”

“I didn’t mean anything else.”

Being in such a situation with Lexion stripped bare was nothing short of embarrassing.

But if she were to remain silent without saying a word to him, what would Lexion, left alone, think? Somehow, she had a feeling she knew.

[“I didn’t want to show you such a sight. Seeing with your own eyes is vastly different from hearing rumors.’]

That’s what she said then.

“Are you angry… that I came in without asking?”

“….No.”

Lexion replied in a small voice.

“I thought you might have misunderstood.”

“….”

“I never expected you to come.”

“…You’ve said the same thing every time I’ve come to see you.”

Seriniel spoke up.

“Even when I visited your study last time. You asked if something was wrong.”

“….”

“It’s the same today. You always… absolutely, never think I’ll come to see you first like someone else…”

Lexion couldn’t figure out what to say.

Because he really thought so.

And it was only natural for him.

“…I thought maybe one of three things.”

Lexion finally spoke with a trembling voice.

“That you would look at me with contorted expression, with disgust, or with fear.”

“….”

“Everyone who’s seen me like that has reacted the same way.”

There was no deviation. Always one of those three types. It had always been that way.

So he was afraid. If even Seriniel, not just anyone else, looked at him like that…

That’s why he sincerely wished she had fallen asleep first, alone.

“But that’s other people’s reactions.”

“….”

“You said so yourself, didn’t you? That it doesn’t matter how others look at you. That you’re just worried I might think you’re doing something out of character, like playing with children.”

“Yeah, when you went to the temple. You definitely said that. So I blushed and turned my head away, avoiding eye contact.”

“And… you asked me to look at you.”

“….”

“I’m different. I only see the Lexion I know.”

That’s all.

As Seriniel finished speaking, she thought to herself.

…Can I hate the person who spilled blood for me? Can I fear him?

It didn’t seem right.

“And I’m the same.”

Seriniel smiled faintly.

“People in this world will look at me with unfavorable eyes. Just like they do to you.”

“….”

“Someone might say something like that. That I’ve suffered the same fate as Belles and Calian, maybe because I was equally foolish.”

To Seriniel’s self-deprecating words, the response that came back was resolute.

“You’re not like them.”

“….”

“Not at all.”

With a face resembling a child who had done wrong, Lexion suddenly returned to his usual self.

So, if someone contradicts me…

An expression as if he would chase them down to hell and kill them, just like he did to Belles and Calian.

That’s why Seriniel unconsciously blushed a little. His transparent and transparent heart was so clearly visible.

And also, she felt so grateful.

“Thank you, for always saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“But I’m the same.”

“….What?”

“You’re not hateful or frightening, Lord Lexion.”

“….”

“Not at all.”

As Lexion spoke with determination, Seriniel did the same.

“So please don’t get hurt at all, Lord Lexion.”

And then, she brought out what she really wanted to say.

“What makes me scared and frightened right now… is just that.”