No Need For Regrets

Chapter 79

At Lexion’s words, Seriniel’s face stiffened.

“…I knew it was a foolish thing.”

It must have been a lie to cling to life so desperately. Lexion knew that.

But…

“Still, I wanted to hear it.”

“….”

“Even if it meant going to a place completely unrelated to my mother… I could deceive myself….”

Lexion was desperate, and Royden knew that fact all too well.

“In the end… I drew my sword without even realizing it.”

[“You foolish bastard. This is ultimately your true self, always vulnerable, unable to do anything decisive in crucial moments!”]

Watching Lexion with a face as withered as dry leaves, Royden sneered. With eyes like looking at insects.

“I watched Royden fall for it again. In that brief moment, I thought dozens of times. No. I have to kill him right here.”

“Duke….”

“And just before rushing over, he said mockingly. The butler of the Rosenvester house knows where my mother is buried, so ask him.”

“….”

“As I watched Royden move away, I belatedly came to my senses only then.”

Lexion threw the long sword he was holding.

Then, he pulled out the short dagger he had hidden in his embrace.

“I threw the dagger and it hit him exactly in Royden’s chest.”

Royden’s body, mounted on the words, swayed heavily. Lexion bit down on him and ran towards him, but Royden was just as desperate.

“But I missed.”

That’s how Lexion was left alone on the road, splattered with Royden’s blood like a fool.

“The wound wasn’t life-threatening and there was nowhere to escape, so I thought he couldn’t survive. It was my mistake.”

…That’s why those rumors spread, and that’s why Royden was alive. Now, Seriniel understood the whole situation and wore a grim expression.

“Then what about Mother…?”

“….”

“Did you… ask the butler?”

“Yeah.”

Lexion nodded briefly.

“Surprisingly, it wasn’t a lie.”

Lexion immediately returned to the Rosenvester mansion. Then he literally grabbed the butler held by the soldiers he brought with him and shook him.

[“I-I-I… I didn’t do it….”]

The moment their eyes met, the butler blurted out words that weren’t even asked.

So Lexion realized something was very, very wrong.

“The butler knew the location, and I went straight there.”

He couldn’t even remember why he ran. He just ran like crazy.

And when he reached his destination, Lexion, with a vacant face, sat down hesitantly.

“It was a swamp.”

“….”

“Full of spears, and very deep…. Accidents happen every year. But I’ve never found a body there. Royden said they threw the body there like garbage as soon as they got back. No one could stop them, he said”

Sitting on the cold ground, Lexion looked into the murky swamp without revealing his inner thoughts.

“Why go to such lengths?”

“….”

“I was just born into this family, and it wasn’t something I wanted. I knew she treated me and my mother like thorns in her side, but was it necessary to go this far? I couldn’t understand no matter how much I thought about it.”

What could I say?

I couldn’t casually comfort Lexion with pointless words. I was afraid it would hurt him.

So Seriniel just silently looked at Lexion. What he needed now might not be someone to listen to her words, but someone to listen to his own words.

“I thought I was disciplined enough for most things… But, it was truly pathetic.”

Lexion continued speaking.

“In the end, I thought I had endured so hard for this kind of ending. I felt that way. She probably resented me. What was my mother’s life like in the end? If it’s just a swamp in life and a swamp in death….”

A bitter laugh quietly flowed through Lexion’s slightly parted lips.

“At that time, I vowed again. I will never… lose something precious like this again.”

“….”

“And I will definitely seek revenge.”

Just as Seriniel dreamed of revenge for Calian, Leraie and Belles, Lexion also dreamed of revenge for Royden. Maybe that’s why she could understand his heart better than he realized.

Seriniel quietly looked at Lexion and, very cautiously.

“I thought the same way. When I found out how my parents passed away.”

Then her lips began to tremble slowly.

“No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand. So I blamed myself, and it made it even more painful.”

You might have thought the same way. Seriniel thought to herself.

“But now… I’ve changed my mind.”

“How so.”

“At that time, the Duke said so. Especially at times like that, it’s important to do what needs to be done.”

“….”

“The Duke was right. I won’t be trapped in helplessness anymore. And that’s entirely thanks to you, Duke.”

Serinial said, tightly holding Lexion’s hand.

“But like before, I won’t just be sad and resentful. That’s not what our parents would want.”

“….”

“The Duke’s mother would probably feel the same way.”

What was she thinking? Sometimes Lexion wondered about such questions.

What kind of heart did his mother have to endure that time?

“She endured the difficult moments for the same reason… Whatever happened, it was because of the Duke’s desire for a little more happiness.”

“….”

“That’s probably all she thought about. I believe that.”

Seriniel said affectionately, brushing Lexion’s cheek.

“So, to fulfill your mother’s wish, I’ll protect you by your side for the rest of our lives.”

Yes, maybe that’s how it was.

If her dream was that, it had already come true, all thanks to Seriniel.

“And to do that, we need to safely handle the remaining tasks.”

After finishing her words, Seriniel put on a resolute expression, somehow.

In the end, to protect each other, they had to clear away what lay before them.

She didn’t want to dirty her mind with Belles anymore. She had no intention of letting Lexion suffer because of Royden.

So, it was time to act.

“I think I know where it is, The Magic Stone.”

“….What?”

At Seriniel’s unexpected words, Lexion’s eyes narrowed.

Eventually, Seriniel spoke in a quiet voice, and Lexion began to listen to her seriously.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Seriniel and Lexion set out from the mansion in the morning.

Lexion seemed concerned about Seriniel’s condition, but she reassured him that she was okay. Of course, part of it was a lie.

But it couldn’t be helped. They couldn’t delay any longer.

“Madam… Are you really okay?”

Kina’s face was filled with worry. Her concern wasn’t just about the possibility of Seriniel and Lexion being in danger.

She knew it was true. Since the deaths of her parents, Seriniel had avoided going to places filled with memories of them as much as possible. It was too painful.

Kina couldn’t have not known that. She had deliberately refrained from bringing up stories about the former Viscount and Viscountess even as the anniversary approached, out of consideration.

Moreover, where Seriniel and Lexion were going together was a place where she had spent a long time with her parents since she was young, so it was natural for her to worry about such things.

“Kina, it’s okay.”

In response to Kina’s consecutive worries, Seriniel said.

“Because Duke Lexion is here.”

“….”

“Now it’s okay.”

Kina didn’t say anything in response. She just hugged Seriniel tightly, who was slightly trembling.

“You have to come back safely. You must. Because Vain and I will be waiting for you….”

“I thought you were just a talkative one, but you shed a lot of tears too.”

Lexion, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, chuckled briefly and then said, patting Kina’s shoulder.

“Take care of the Duke’s mansion with that butler. You don’t have to clean, but I’m expecting dinner.”

Kina laughed with blush in her eyes at his words.

“Come here, Seriniel.”

Lexion cautiously took Seriniel, who had set out from the mansion. Then he gently sat her down on the carriage that had been prepared in advance.

“Just in case in such situations, horses are better than carriages.”

“I’ll definitely catch him this time.”

“….But do you really have to come with me?”

Lexion asked with a worried expression.

“I could go alone.”

He was still worried. He was worried that something unexpected might happen, and Seriniel might get hurt.

She knew that feeling, but she wanted to go with him.

The place of memories with their parents that had been forgotten in their memories.

It had been a long time since the Viscount had fallen into Belles’ grasp and changed. So he wanted to confirm it even a little bit. The mansion where they had spent happy times together in their childhood.

“….No, I misspoke.”

As if knowing Lexion’s mind, Seriniel also seemed to understand. So Lexion murmured briefly and then mounted on the carriage.

“It’s okay because I’m here.”

With a tender voice, he said.

“You have nothing to worry about, as I will protect you no matter what happens.”

“….Yes, I believe you.”

“This time, let’s make sure to catch him like I said before.”

Instead of answering, Seriniel nodded her head, and then reached out to tightly embrace Lexion unlike before.