No Need For Regrets

Chapter 69

Lexion seemed like someone who shouldn’t hear certain things. Or perhaps, he just didn’t understand.

So Seriniel insisted again, like driving a wedge.

“I want to stay together tonight.”

“……”

“I’ll make a promise. I won’t do anything to the Duke.”

This woman……

Does she even know what she’s saying?

With a vacant expression, Lexion looked at Seriniel.

“I won’t bother you or be annoying.”

She was worried.

Lexion, suffering alone, unable to sleep.

So she wanted to be together. She wanted to comfort him so he could sleep, and she wanted to whisper that he wasn’t just a worthless existence like that letter said.

If he allowed it.

“Do you not want to…?”

Seriniel asked in a very soft voice, and Lexion……

After a short time, he answered quietly in a voice that somehow felt divided.

“…No.”

“……”

“I don’t mind.”

Not at all.

Upon Lexion’s answer, Seriniel finally smiled with a relieved expression.

Then she gently took Lexion’s hand.

“Come here, Duke.”

Putting down Royden’s letter, Lexion quietly followed Seriniel onto the bed.

“It might be the first time, so I don’t know how it will feel… But it won’t be bad.”

…What exactly is she trying to do?

Lexion’s question was soon pleasantly resolved.

Seriniel lay down with a pillow, then patted the bed as if inviting him to lie next to her.

“My parents always did this for me when I wasn’t feeling well or felt depressed.”

“……”

“It worked well for me, but I don’t know about you, Duke.”

Anyway, lie down quickly.

Despite Seriniel’s nonchalant tone, Lexion awkwardly settled beside her.

Afraid he might accidentally crush her delicate arm, he tensed his neck for no reason.

“……”

A heavy silence fell between Lexion and Seriniel as they lay facing each other.

Lexion didn’t say anything. He simply bent his head slightly, holding Seriniel’s arm.

Seriniel gazed silently at him for a moment, then very cautiously patted his back.

“I was worried you might feel bad.”

“Why?”

“In case you thought I was pitying you.”

Kindness from Kina and Vain was similar. Reading such a letter, she was worried he might misunderstand her kindness as pity.

“Everyone likes you.”

“……”

“Kina, Vain… And even the Master and the children from the orphanage, everyone.”

Continuing her words, Seriniel said, “So don’t think…”

“What about you?”

“……Huh?”

“What about you…?”

Lexion’s head slowly turned.

Her face was clearly reflected in his dark eyes.

Reddened cheeks, tension seemed to emanate from somewhere inexplicably.

Seriniel hesitated for a moment, then said in a slightly trembling voice.

“I’m not the kind of person who can lend an arm to someone I dislike.”

“……”

“I don’t know what you’ll think, Duke… But that’s how I feel.”

…How big is the gap between the emotions you hold towards me and the emotions I hold towards you?

The weight of everyone’s affection towards you, and the weight of my love for only you, must be worlds apart.

So, I’ll always be the one leaning heavily alone.

Lexion thought to himself.

He understood Seriniel’s desire to comfort him. He was so grateful that it brought tears to his eyes, but for some reason, he also felt sad.

…But it didn’t matter. It was okay.

“Seriniel, for the time being… Never leave the mansion.”

Lexion, locking eyes with Seriniel, brushed his lips against hers as he looked at her.

“There might be someone targeting you.”

Lexion knew better than anyone what kind of person Royden was. He would be imagining all sorts of things, strategizing how to break me down, how to hurt me the most.

There was only one weakness Lexion had.

And Royden must know it now too.

Seriniel nodded as if understanding. She didn’t want to unnecessarily worry Lexion in such a situation, as her feelings mirrored his.

“I asked Vain to check out the villas owned by the Verdellete and Eren families.”

Seriniel cautiously continued.

“I thought they might have hidden the Magic stone there.”

Lexion had entertained such suspicions before. He had indeed investigated everything Belles possessed, including the villas.

But one never knew. What that wicked man might hide, and how.

“I think it’s best to go see for ourselves. But I won’t go alone. I promise, I’ll go with you, Duke.”

Lexion nodded in agreement. There was no reason not to explore any place that might have the Magic stone. It was crucial to ascertain its whereabouts.

“……The guard has been tightened.”

And then Lexion spoke in a grave tone.

“He even sent a letter to the Emperor to conspire with the nobles who had ill feelings towards me.”

“But weren’t there any hostile individuals among the Rosenvester family?”

Such rumors had never reached Seriniel’s ears. She asked with a puzzled expression, and Lexion remained silent.

“……Someone must be pulling the strings behind.”

And when Lexion finally spoke, it was long after.

“Someone with a strong desire for revenge against me. That’s why they allied with Belles.”

“……”

“……Royden Rosenvester.”

Seriniel hesitated.

“The eldest son of the Rosenvester family.”

…But wasn’t he dead?

Lexion had told her that, hadn’t he?

Seriniel was about to ask something but stopped herself.

The emotions on Lexion’s face, as he uttered Royden Rosenvester’s name, were inscrutable.

[The game is over now. Everything will return to its place, and you, shameless as you are, will become like your mother.]

Suddenly, the sentences from the letter flashed through her mind. Parasite of the Rosenvester family. Even words she didn’t want to articulate.

…So it was Royden who sent that letter.

But becoming like your mother?

Could it be that Lexion’s expression… That Royden wasn’t dead?

Could it be related to the Duke’s mother?

“I plan to go to the guard tomorrow. It’s also important to find out Royden’s whereabouts. I won’t reveal everything easily, but I’ll be able to assess the situation.”

“Understood.”

Seriniel didn’t ask anything. Instead, she made a request.

“Please come back safely.”

“……”

“Don’t get hurt. Neither your body nor your heart.”

There was no reply coming back. Lexion just looked at her with deep eyes.

Seriniel gathered her courage and reached out her hand to him.

“Now, please rest, Duke.”

Then, as she gently closed his eyes, she said,

“I’ll stay by your side… always.”

Her small, white hand patting Lexion’s back seemed like a gesture of concern, of comfort. Perhaps it was both.

“……”

And Seriniel, burying her face in Lexion’s black hair, held him tightly in her arms. She thought to herself,

…There must be cold winds blowing in the Duke’s heart.

As fierce as the winds that blew before the cliff, unstoppable.

My embrace was too small, not as comfortable as Lexion’s. So I won’t be able to block the harsh winds blowing towards him as effortlessly as he did for me.

Still, I could endure it together.

So Seriniel hugged Lexion desperately. He might not even be aware of the pounding of my heart, echoing so loudly.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

It was deep dawn before they knew it.

“……”

Lexion’s closed eyelids slowly opened.

He looked at Seriniel, who was sleeping soundly in an uncomfortable position.

She must have fallen asleep without realizing it, despite trying to comfort him for so long.

Lexion got up quietly, making sure not to wake Seriniel. Then, very gently, he propped her up with a pillow. Just like she had done for him before.

As Seriniel slept, she looked like an angel.

“……See, unfairness seems to be my specialty after all.”

He snorted to himself, seeing her asleep so comfortably. Then, after silently watching Seriniel for a moment……

“Thank you, Seriniel.”

He whispered in her ear.

“You once told me why you kept showing me kindness when I couldn’t understand it.”

It must have been around the time she realized she had been betrayed by Callian and Leraie.

In all those moments, Seriniel had always cared for him with warmth and affection.

Facing Seriniel, Lexion……

Sometimes he felt like nothing more than the bastard son, the parasite of the Rosenvester family, but there were times when it was the opposite.

……Murderer, monster, what’s more important?

As long as I can keep you safe, my beloved.

Lexion thought to himself.

“……I love you, Seriniel.”

And in a soft, barely audible voice…… He conveyed his sincerity.

Seriniel, who was asleep, didn’t reply, but Lexion hugged her tightly. As if to express his determination to protect Seriniel no matter what happens in the future.