The Regret Novel Female Lead with Unbreakable Mentality Chapter 100

Vientin’s previously indifferent expression hardened in an instant, turning cold and rigid. Duke Reshaniel, who had just made the provocative remark about whether he wanted to ask about Giselle, watched him with an elegant, measured smile.

 

Before long, Vientin’s face returned to its usual impassive look as he quietly replied, “Why would I?”

 

With a look that seemed genuinely curious, Duke Reshaniel kindly elaborated, “I mean things like your wife’s past, for example.”

 

“What a waste of time.” Though his tone was somewhat stiff, for the first time, a hint of contempt flickered across Vientin’s otherwise detached face. “Keep your interest away from my wife. Don’t you dare let your filthy possessiveness show.”

 

Duke Reshaniel’s ever-radiant expression hardened slightly, turning a bit crooked at the string of words he’d never heard before. He’d never once in his life been called ‘filthy’. Nor had he ever been told he had ‘possessiveness’ toward Giselle.

 

After staring at the now-expressionless Duke Reshaniel, Vientin soon turned his gaze away. As if his earlier change in expression had been a lie, Duke Reshaniel gave a low, almost mocking laugh. “You’re leaving so soon.”

 

“I have no business here.”

 

“Oh? You might, soon enough.”

 

Just as Vientin was about to walk away, Duke Reshaniel spoke leisurely. “If you wish, I’d be happy to take a seat at the negotiation table. Isn’t it my family’s talents you’re after?”

 

“Negotiations,” Duke Kalinos said, turning back to him with eyes gone icy cold, as if to emphasize his words. “Are off.”

 

That couldn’t be. Surely, he really wanted the Reshaniel family’s divine power. The Kalinos family has always needed divine power and healing power… Yet Duke Kalinos walked away with a look that made it clear he’d never intended to negotiate with Duke Reshaniel in the first place.

 

Duke Reshaniel stared intently at Duke Kalinos’s back as he entered the Dainan Castle. That man… the one who has Giselle… His elegant lips twisted in an instant. His expression was impossible to read. No way to tell what he was thinking.

 

Things are about to get interesting.

 

* * *

“B-Brother. So, the alliance with the Reshaniel family fell through after all. Is this the hundredth time we’ve failed…?”

 

“To be precise, since the time of the first head of the family, this is our 191st failure.”

 

Back at the Kalinos Mansion, Vientin placed the holy stone he’d been holding onto the table.

 

“At least we managed to get several decent holy stones from Baron Dainan. That’s a relief.”

 

“It was nothing. As expected, persuasion was easy.”

 

Honestly, who could refuse when his brother asks for holy stones with that face? Count Teren almost nodded to himself, thinking Vientin fancied himself a master negotiator, but stopped short.

 

But for someone who got what he wanted, the holy stones, Brother doesn’t look all that pleased… Maybe it was because he’d met with Duke Reshaniel. Did the duke say something to him? Or could it be… Did he get confirmation of that tumor spreading through society, that Lady Giselle was chasing after Duke Reshaniel?

 

Count Teren, glancing around nervously, put on a gentle face and tried to comfort him. “Still, Brother, at least for now, we don’t have to worry too much about the demon seed problem. We can use the holy stones to deal with it. Plus, the lab is working on a healing potion, and you’ve already ordered the family’s mages to practice healing magic.”

 

“Right. That should put out the immediate fire.”

 

“But in the long run, we’ll need to bring in a new healer, or at least find a truly exceptional doctor who knows powerful healing methods. The blood relatives are all looking for someone named Wot, but no one seems to know where Wot has gone.

 

Vientin, lost in thought, absentmindedly scribbled a note on top of the report. “Wot, huh.”

 

“Yes. Ah, of course you remember. Wot is the one who healed our father. Among doctors, Wot is held in the highest esteem.”

 

Come to think of it, he realized he’d never actually seen the face of Wot, the family’s benefactor. “Find Wot and bring that person before my eyes.”

 

“All the blood relatives are staking everything on finding Wot. Some even joke that if they ever meet Wot, they’ll propose on the spot just to make Wot family. But honestly, just imagining marrying Wot gives me this weird feeling, like I’d be committing some terrible sin and would be struck down by the heavens… It’s almost chilling. Like someone’s going to kill me or something.”

 

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

 

“Yes, Brother…” Count Teren gave a visible shudder.

 

Meanwhile, at the mention of a ‘chilling feeling,’ Vientin was reminded of the strange aura that surrounded Duke Reshaniel. The claim that he could wield both mana and divine power, two forces of completely opposite natures, didn’t seem to be an exaggeration. The miracles he performed seemed quite impressive. And yet, the man reputed to be the holiest in the Empire felt as sinister and dark as a snake. It was distasteful to even hear Giselle’s name coming from his mouth, but not as unpleasant as his aura.

 

That was why Vientin didn’t request any divine-powered people from the Reshaniel family. He never hired anyone with a shady background.

 

…Let’s be clear. My disgust at his mentioning Giselle is a separate matter. Even if he denied it to himself, every time Duke Reshaniel brought up Giselle, his eyes turned sinister. As if Giselle were Duke Reshaniel’s property, as if she were just some topic he could toss around whenever he pleased.

 

Recalling the man’s unpleasant attitude, Vientin lifted his gaze, his eyes icy. “I won’t be asking House Reshaniel for help. Make sure you find Wot.”

 

Count Teren glanced over at him, then scratched his head. “Yep, got it. Oh, and Brother—”

 

“What?”

 

“Well… I know this might be overstepping, but try not to worry too much. Lady Giselle is completely devoted to you right now!”

 

Vientin wore a subtle expression as he faced Count Teren. Just then, from far off beyond the door, the light footsteps of a woman could be heard approaching.

 

“Um, Brother? Why are you suddenly smiling at me like that…?”

 

“It’s Giselle.”

 

“Huh? How did you know…?”

 

“Isn’t it obvious? Giselle’s footsteps are always in three-fourths time.”

 

Whether Count Teren’s jaw dropped or not, whether he muttered, “He’s a real madman…” or not, Vientin kept his gaze fixed on the door Giselle would soon walk through.

 

Moments later, the door opened, and Giselle appeared with a bright smile. For the first time in a while, he felt like he could finally smile a little too.

 

* * *

I didn’t know why, but the moment I entered the duke’s office, Count Teren made a hasty retreat. Why did he look at me so pitifully before leaving? But I steeled myself. I was here for a reason today, after all!

 

According to my informant, Ivanka the hamster, the whole household was abuzz with news that Duke Kalinos had confronted Duke Reshaniel and brought back a holy stone from Dainan Castle.

 

“According to Lord Giyet, it’s not even one-hundredth as powerful as Lady Wot’s healing abilities, but the holy stone completely absorbs and eliminates the demonic energy that seeps out of the monster rifts!”

 

I was about to stroke my chin and sink into thought, but paused. Baron Dainan and a holy stone. That sounds familiar…It felt like the memory was just out of reach.

 

Come to think of it, what is it with this world and the miraculous powers of stones? Like that lucky stone I picked up from the Sirentium family last time. So strange. So, I’d come to see Duke Kalinos partly to dig up more information about the holy stone, and partly because I was curious about what had happened between Duke Reshaniel and Duke Kalinos. But then…

 

“Ah, Giselle.”

 

Seeing his radiant smile made me smile brightly in return.

 

It’d be weird to ask about the holy stone right away. I decided to ease into it, speaking as if in passing. “I heard the whole house was in an uproar today because you met with Duke Reshaniel.”

 

The easy smile that had bloomed on his face faded, and he asked slowly, his expression turning serious. “…Why do you ask?”

 

“Oh, why? Is it classified information?”

 

He’s being awfully prickly… Just as I was about to brush it off, his clear gaze hit me head-on.

 

“Don’t tell me you’re interested in Duke Reshaniel?”

 

Well, I am interested. If wanting to tear him to pieces counts as interest, that is. From my perspective, it was as absurd a question as, ‘Do you actually think that troll is handsome?’

It was when I was still trying to figure out how to answer. He seemed to have misunderstood something and quietly asked, almost murmuring. “…Do you still have affection for that man, Giselle?”