I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 105

Ricardo stood correctly and took a step back. His neatly dressed appearance was no different from what Mirabel had seen a few days ago.

‘Has he stopped pretending to be mad?’

Mirabel thought cynically. Recalling, he had seemed quite sane even when he was dealing with the butler. Mirabel sighed and said,

“Then please continue on your way.”

“If there’s anything troubling you, I would like to help.”

“I suppose there is.”

Mirabel replied irritably and turned away. Her sharp blue eyes caught Ricardo’s gaze and his expression hardened.

“Not wanting to see the Grand Duke anymore, and not being able to leave Renato right away, that’s my concern. How would you help with that?”

Ricardo’s expression darkened after hearing her cutting words. He looked down and spoke softly.

“I missed you.”

Mirabel listened to his heartfelt confession with a flat face.

Ricardo frowned and covered his mouth with his hand as if suppressing something rising from his throat, then lowered his hand.

“I missed you so much, I couldn’t bear it…”

His voice was hoarse and cracked. Mirabel turned to his voice that sounded as if he had been crying.

It would have been better if he had continued with his mad act. His earnest pleading now only tightened her chest.

“Please leave.”

At Mirabel’s dismissal, Ricardo’s large frame flinched. He looked at her with a distant gaze and said.

“Just let me look at you a little longer.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I won’t even ask for forgiveness.”

Ricardo clenched his fist and moved his lips as if to speak, then averted his gaze.

“Isn’t that okay?”

Mirabel took a deep breath at his earnest plea. Ricardo’s submissiveness made her feel like she’s the cruel one. Even though Ricardo was the true villain.

“Maybe later…”

“Princess, have you been waiting long?”

It was just as Mirabel was about to dismiss Ricardo again.

Sophie, holding the crystal ball, emerged from the connecting room. She hadn’t noticed Ricardo standing by the door and said,

“Prince Charles has been waiting for you.”

“Charles?”

Ricardo repeated the name Sophie mentioned, and at that moment, Mirabel’s heart sank.

‘Stay calm, Mirabel.’

Mirabel swallowed hard. Ricardo likely didn’t know she had been pregnant when she ran away, since she had entrusted Ugo with the secret.

But separate from that, the thought of Ricardo knowing she had a son. She didn’t want to imagine what that might lead to.

Ricardo suddenly looked up. His gaze pierced as he stared directly at Mirabel, unlike moments ago when he had avoided her eyes.

“Who is Charles?”

His question was filled with possessiveness and obsession.

Mirabel clamped her mouth shut. She glanced at the crystal ball Sophie was holding anxiously.

“Prince Charles is…”

“Sophie.”

Mirabel quickly stopped Sophie, who was about to answer Ricardo.

She didn’t know that Charles’s existence needed to be kept hidden from him. Mirabel, looking puzzled, quickly spoke to the bewildered Sophie.

“We were in the middle of something important. Would you mind giving us a moment?”

“Ah, yes! Sorry.”

Sophie’s expression turned apologetic as she curtsied and then returned to the following room with the crystal ball, leaving Mirabel to breathe a sigh of relief.

She had narrowly avoided a crisis.

However, Ricardo didn’t seem ready to let it go. He kept his intense gaze fixed on Mirabel even as Sophie left the room. Mirabel said awkwardly as she avoided his stare.

“You’ve seen enough, now please leave.”

“Answer me.”

“What are you asking exactly?”

Mirabel responded coolly even when Ricardo stepped closer. The distance between them rapidly closed.

Their breath could almost be felt on each other’s skin as Ricardo reached out and grasped Mirabel’s forearm.

“I asked who Charles is.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Mirabel pushed away Ricardo’s hand. Even without much force, he easily stepped back.

His face had turned pale, showing he was struggling to cope with the situation. Mirabel continued, looking at Ricardo who seemed about to faint,

“I need to contact Segolinde, so please leave.”

“A man from Segolinde?”

His earnest question made Mirabel laugh in disbelief.

It was a ridiculous misunderstanding, even though he didn’t know Charles’s identity. But there was no need to correct him. As Mirabel laughed, Ricardo’s expression grew even graver.

“Do you love him?”

“I do.”

Mirabel answered without hesitation because it was the truth.

To Mirabel, there was no one she loved as much as Charles. He was her hope and her future.

It was because of Charles that she had been able to leave Renato, enduring moments when she wanted to end it all.

Even though she had left Ricardo out of hatred, deep down, there was still love for him lingering in her heart.

After returning to Segolinde, she sometimes found herself longing for him.

At the same time, she hated herself for still loving Ricardo senselessly. She felt ashamed for still harboring feelings for him.

Because of this, Mirabel’s emotions were a rollercoaster for a while. She missed Ricardo, then despised herself for it, and even came to hate the world that had put her through such trials.

Throughout it all, Charles was the one who steadied her heart.

A child who looked at Mirabel with clear eyes and a beaming smile.

A child who couldn’t be without Mirabel, to whom Mirabel was the entire world.

How could she not love him?

As Mirabel thought of her son, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

At the same time, Ricardo’s expression twisted as he watched her.

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