The Regret Novel Female Lead with Unbreakable Mentality Chapter 40

“How dare you avoid my gaze.”

 

“…Big Madam.”

 

“I instructed you, didn’t I? Do whatever you want, but don’t bully the weak. Give them money and send them away.”

 

“That’s…”

 

“And yet you dared to steal valuables and commit abuse right under my nose.”

 

Caitlyn trembled like a leaf in the wind.

 

Oh, Mother, nice shot.

 

Yuliana whispered, glaring at Caitlyn with a cold gaze. “Probation is not the issue here.”

 

“B-B-Big Madam…”

 

“For disgracing our ducal house and tarnishing my name, I’ll formally report you to the imperial court and have you thrown in prison.”

 

From the way Yuliana’s fists clenched, I could sense just how angry she was.

 

An unexpected, yet quite perfect punishment. Caitlyn’s other crimes would be revealed in prison. After all, it’s justified to kill a child abuser.

 

“Big Madam! I’ve served you faithfully all this time…!”

 

“If you have anything more to say, save it for prison.”

 

With just one sharp glance from Yuliana, Caitlyn was dragged away by the servants.

 

“She should be completely destroyed!”

 

I laughed rather ungracefully, swinging my legs, but then I paused. Ah, the punishment is perfect, but why does it feel so ominous?

 

At that moment, Yuliana looked at me and whispered. “Duchess Giselle Kalinos, thank you for handling this matter.” Though it was a curt expression of gratitude, a chill ran down my spine.

 

W-What the? She’s a bigger person than I thought. Objectively, I’d almost undermined Yuliana’s authority. Aside from removing Caitlyn, this was definitely something that should have displeased her.

 

“Your resolve, your irritating demeanor, your sensitivity, your knack for exaggerating things unnecessarily, and your audacity to never back down.”

 

“Huh…”

 

“It’s quite astonishing, to say the least.” Yuliana tapped my head lightly and walked away.

 

Is that an insult or a compliment? I was utterly confused.

 

Is my reckless act going to cost me 5 billion or something?

 

…Somehow, my intuition was telling me that this situation felt strangely ominous.

 

* * *

“Thank you, Madam.”

 

The maids of the Kalinos family looked at me and each said a word.

 

“Today was the first time we realized that Madam Yuliana doesn’t protect Lady Caitlyn!”

 

“Lady Caitlyn, no, that criminal was completely blocking the relationship between Madam Yuliana and us.”

 

“It was so satisfying to see the criminal who blinded Madam Yuliana get punished. It really felt like a knight in shining armor had come to our rescue!”

 

I wanted to say it wasn’t true. Honestly, it really wasn’t. But I was too honest to shoot back at the maids and servants, who were exhausted from harsh labor. On top of that, Rudensha suddenly grabbed my hand and muttered, “Thanks to you, I found the courage. I knew Madam made a big scene for our sake.”

 

“Um, that’s not it.”

 

“You’re even humble about it… We’ll make sure to protect you, Madam.”

 

“We may not be able to do much, though.”

 

Yes, there wasn’t much they could do, which is why their help was limited. Even if they liked me, even if the opinion within the family was favorable, it wouldn’t matter at all if those at the top despised me. Still, at least thanks to me, the workplace bullying by the tyrannical superior has disappeared.

 

“No! Absolutely do not help me and just fend for yourselves.” I hurriedly left the scene, not wanting to hear their praises.

 

The moment I reached the garden to catch my breath, Neslan greeted me with a bright smile. That’s when I realized. My trials were far from over!

 

“To think you’d use my artifact like this.”

 

“…”

 

“I never imagined you’d use an artifact to record and catch someone.”

 

I had handled the head maid in a manner befitting a villainess, and yet, another reward had come my way.

 

Neslan had always been quite kind, but this time, hearts practically sparkled in his eyes. I figured he’d favor me more after this, but… My troublesome behavior would become risky.

 

Feigning arrogance, I raised my chin and said, “It’s all~ because Giselle is just very ve~ry smart. Ordinary people wouldn’t understand, you know?”

 

“Of course, of course! There must be a unique world of Giselle’s that others can’t possibly know.”

 

No, there isn’t!

 

Neslan, filled with excitement, was practically bouncing on his feet. “My artifact was just something I made on a whim, for fun. But to think it would be used like this…!” He seemed quite moved.

 

In a state of resignation, I played along half-heartedly. “Is that so? How did you even make the artifact?”

 

“It was a hobby. I was pretty skilled for a magic swordsman, you know.”

 

“A magic… swordsman?”

 

A magic swordsman, capable of wielding both magic and the sword simultaneously, is exceedingly rare throughout the entire Empire.

 

The head butler, who had been standing by like a statue, chimed in with a satisfied smile. “He was an unparalleled genius. Ah, I’d say he was on par with Count Sehera, your father, Madam.”

 

My eyes widened in an instant. So those artifacts weren’t just collectibles? I had thought only Duke Kalinos was obsessed with research, but it seemed everyone in this family was a research fanatic.

 

It was then that I could see behind him. At the very top of his collection, medals awarded by the Magic Tower to the ‘Mage of the Year’ were neatly displayed. W-What is this? He’s not just an ordinary father-in-law. He’s a father-in-law with hidden power!

 

I suddenly remembered, as if struck by lightning, the goal I had when I entered this family. It was… To become a great mage and beat up all the regretful male leads 1 and 2! But right in front of me was a very tempting prey—I mean, father-in-law. An artifact researcher who can teach me incredible magic…!

 

…A mentor? It was at that very moment that my eyes snapped open.

 

“Seeing my artifacts being used like this, I have no regrets now…” He coughed violently, as if he might cough up blood. “…I must have been too happy. I’m just glad I could witness the Duke’s marriage as part of my final journey.”

 

…What is he talking about?

 

“Pardon? Final journey?”

 

“… I’m terminally ill right now.”

 

…Wait, wasn’t he just supposed to be sickly and reclusive? And now he’s terminally ill too? Is this why there was no mention of him in the original story?

 

I looked at him with a slightly anxious heart. No matter how I thought about it, he seemed like someone who would make a great mentor. Besides, I could probably negotiate a lower price for his teachings. Unlike other greedy mentors, isn’t he someone with plenty of money? Judging by the way he just laughs everything off, it seems like he would find great joy in nurturing a disciple.

 

I’m not someone who gets swayed by emotions. I help because it’s necessary. I clenched my fist tightly as I looked at him.

 

Currently, magic education in the empire is barely surviving. Apart from the Imperial Academy, each family had its own methods of magic training. They even created their own manuals and distributed them secretly, which speaks volumes.

 

“Terminally ill? You must live a long, long life. Should I call a doctor right away?”

 

“Hahaha… I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not someone who deserves to live.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

He turned away with a bitter expression, without answering me.

 

…Ah, could it be? I recalled what Neslan had said when I discovered the note concealed within the teddy bear. He thinks he has no right to live because his child died first, doesn’t he? I remembered the resignation in his eyes.

 

Why is the quest to find a mentor so difficult?

 

“Useless people are left to die. That’s the law of the Kalinos Family.”

 

Oh, what a ridiculous rule!

 

“S-Shouldn’t you live a long, long life? You were a great help in weeding out the head maid. You’re definitely useful.”

 

“That was all thanks to you using the family’s artifact so well. I didn’t do anything.”

 

No, you made all of them!

 

Neslan wrapped his arm around my shoulder with a tender smile. “Thank you so much.”

 

No, I’m the one who should be grateful.

 

How can I possibly help my low self-esteem, frail father-in-law, no, the master artifact maker, and my new mentor? A new quest has appeared.