Special SS ~ 5
Footsteps echoed through the corridor of the count’s mansion.
“…….”
Lexion, dragging his sword and walking aimlessly, soon came to a halt.
He stood still, staring at Seriniel’s closed door.
Lexion quietly sheathed his sword, with trembling hands, he tried to tidy his disheveled clothes and wiped the blood from his face.
Even though there was no one to greet or watch him.
Knock, knock.
Even though he knew there would be no response from the empty room, he stood there for a long while, as if seeking permission.
After a not-so-short time passed, he slowly reached out and opened the door.
“…….”
The room of Seriniel, which he saw for the first time, was the same as when young Lexion had secretly visited the count’s mansion and caught a glimpse.
Though it had not been maintained for a long time, and dust covered the carpets, curtains, and bed, with rust on the windows, and a gloomy atmosphere proving it had lost its owner.
…He had never imagined coming here like this.
Of course, he had dreamed of it more than a hundred times.
In his dreams, Lexion was not the illegitimate son of a duke’s family but the proud heir of a noble family, meeting Seriniel openly.
They read her favorite fairy tales together and enjoyed tea served by the maid Kina.
Every time he woke from such dreams, Lexion cursed himself.
Why harbor such unattainable hopes, making himself miserable and wretched.
But if he could simply torment himself with such vain dreams.
If Seriniel could live healthily, as she did in the past, it wouldn’t matter if he had to return to those days thousands of times.
“…….”
Lexion, shuffling along, paused in front of the window.
The place where cheerful laughter and a lovely voice always flowed.
The spot where he always hid with his disheveled appearance.
Lexion slowly reached out his hand and forced open the rusty window.
…The view from here must have been splendid.
The splendid garden right in front. The densely packed flowering trees. The wide-open scenery.
Though the flowers were withered now, they would have been incredibly beautiful as spring approached.
Even though he could never appear before her, always hiding, those moments of secretly being with the happy Seriniel seemed to flash before his eyes.
If only he could return to those days.
If only he could save her…
He would do anything.
Even if it meant tearing out his own heart, he would do it.
But there was no way to bring back the already dead Seriniel.
So Lexion helplessly hung his head.
Then, he noticed something on the bedside table.
“A book….”
Lexion muttered to himself in a voice heavy as lead and carefully examined the book.
He knew it too.
“Kina, in today’s book, there was a female emperor. She was so amazing…”
So, there’s a story like that.
Yes, it does seem amazing.
Lexion had also listened to Seriniel’s chatter to Kina, quietly eavesdropping.
“…….”
Lexion endlessly caressed the dusty, worm-eaten old fairy tale book.
…Everything felt sinful.
Recalling such memories and feeling sorrow now, Lexion felt unbearably guilty for making this room lose its owner, for living on shamelessly by himself. He couldn’t even shed tears and instead bit his innocent lips as hard as he could.
Only after a long while did Lexion return Seriniel’s fairy tale book to its original place.
Then, just as cautiously as he had entered, he began to move again.
…For Lexion, despair was a luxury.
No, he didn’t even have the right to despair.
At least not before he finished everything.
So, leaving Seriniel’s room, Lexion began to silently cross the sea of corpses lying in pools of blood.
There were still more to kill.
* * *
“Belles… is dead?”
Calian’s face turned pale upon hearing the news.
“Yes. That mad murderer Lexion has finally done it.”
Leraie looked equally distressed. Pretending otherwise, she couldn’t hide her fear and nervously bit her nails as she spoke.
“It’s true that Belles conspired with Grand Duke Clan, but I have a bad feeling. Lexion came to see us that day too, remember?”
“…….”
“Do you know what relationship Seriniel had with Lexion?”
“No.”
Calian shook his head.
“You know how naive Seriniel was. The only people she was close to were the two of us.”
Leraie knew nothing different.
If Seriniel had any connection with Lexion, they would have known.
“Damn it, then why did he come to us?”
Unable to contain her anger, Leraie shouted in frustration.
“Was he Seriniel’s guardian or something? Did he love her?”
“Leraie……”
“Now that she’s dead and everything was returning to normal! Why now!”
From Leraie’s perspective, her anger was entirely justified.
Five years.
The time she had wasted to reach this position.
Calian had promised to take control of Seriniel’s mine and end the relationship within three years but had irresponsibly failed to find a solution.
So Leraie had found her own way.
– This tea helps women conceive, especially noble ladies like you with few intimate relations. I specially got it for you. I know you don’t like taking medicine, but who knows? You might conceive. Keep drinking it, and I’ll get you more when you run out.
…Exploiting Seriniel’s desperation.
After all, it took a lot of time and effort. Despite being weak and ill, Seriniel had managed to survive another year.
“……I can’t take it anymore.”
“What do you mean? Leraie. Leraie!”
Calian, startled by Leraie’s sudden turn, followed her like a dog. She headed to the couple’s bedroom.
She pulled out the largest bag and began to pack frantically.
“What are you doing, Leraie!”
“We should leave Carteia for a while.”
“Leave?”
“Yes!”
Leraie screamed.
“We don’t know what Lexion might do! We can come back once things settle down!”
“Wait, wait!”
“No matter how crazy Lexion is, he wouldn’t attack in broad daylight!”
“But Leraie, we don’t know. He’s always been a soldier, he might go back to the battlefield!”
Calian wasn’t entirely wrong. Lexion had indeed spent more time on the battlefield than in the Carteia Empire in recent years.
But something felt off.
Why did she feel so uneasy? Why did it feel like they were being chased?
“No, we still need to go. I have a bad feeling.”
“Leraie……”
“I’ll take care of Benny. You finish packing. Put in all the jewels and the most expensive dresses…”
“……Wait.”
Listening quietly, Calian suddenly pressed a finger to his lips.
Surprised by his sudden action, Leraie looked puzzled, and Calian whispered in her ear.
“Didn’t you hear something?”
“What?”
“I mean… like a groan…”
It was at that moment.
“Sir, sir, Sir Calian!”
As if to confirm Leraie’s fears, a maid came running, panic-stricken.
“Duke Lexion, he’s here!”
“What?”
“He suddenly barged in, knocked out the butler when he asked his business, and… he’s coming into the mansion!”
