I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 110
Lilies fetch a good price, so the commission doesn’t matter. Durante, pacifying an excited Michele, casually mentioned,
“Of course, but there’s something you need to help me with…”
“I will do everything in my power to help you, Count!”
Durante smiled contentedly, pleased with Michele’s response.
With this, support for Ricardo Vittore had grown. Durante’s future of controlling the empire was drawing nearer.
* * *
Mirabel glanced over her shoulder at the auburn-haired young man following her. Unperturbed by her gaze, he continued to trail behind. When Mirabel stopped walking, he looked up with wide eyes and asked.
“Why do you stop?”
“I wish you would stop following me.”
Ezio shrugged at the Princess’s request. He repeated what he had said earlier that morning.
“My lord, the Grand Duke, has assigned me to guard Princess Mirabel. Wherever you go, I will follow.”
“Even within the mansion?”
“Yes.”
Mirabel sighed at Ezio’s blunt response.
The day after Ricardo discovered Charles’ existence, Mirabel had gone to the stables with Sophie to look for Luce.
However, instead of finding Luce, she ran into Ricardo, who misunderstood her intentions, thinking she was trying to leave secretly. As a result, Ezio was assigned as her guard.
“How long will you follow me?”
“Until my lord tells me to stop.”
Not surprised by the predictable answer, Mirabel felt stifled.
She had intended to go to the study to destroy a map she had drawn in the past.
The map contained detailed information on the borders of Segolinde. It was a potentially harmful artifact for her homeland and had to be destroyed.
But if Ezio continued to follow her, she wouldn’t be able to even look at the map, let alone destroy it.
‘This won’t do.’
Mirabel turned sharply with determination. Ezio cocked his head, puzzled.
Princess Mirabel, seeming very familiar with the place, was heading towards the Grand Duke’s office.
She descended the stairs to the Duke’s office without hesitation, as if she had lived there.
“Princess, are you…”
Just as Ezio was about to ask a question as they reached the office, Mirabel, out of habit, knocked on the office door.
A sharp voice from inside responded immediately.
“Who is it?”
Mirabel pressed her lips together. This scene felt like a faint echo of the past. She once knocked on the office door, and Ricardo coldly responded.
It wasn’t something worth reminiscing about. Yet, why did she remember it?
As Mirabel was lost in thought, Ezio, standing behind her, spoke up.
“It’s Ezio, my lord. Princess Mirabel has come to visit.”
As he finished, the door swung open, and Ricardo appeared, smiling warmly.
“I can’t believe the princess has come to see me.”
“I have something to discuss.”
“Please, come in.”
Ricardo, who spoke respectfully to the Princess, shot a sharp glance at Ezio as he started to follow. Ezio awkwardly steps back.
As Ezio retreated, Ricardo closed the door in front of him.
Left alone in the hallway, Ezio stared blankly at the door.
“What did I just witness?”
The lord smiled.
It had been years since Ricardo had last smiled.
Ezio knew the princess was an important guest. But was she important enough to bring Ricardo back to his senses?
Moreover, it was surprising that Ricardo recognized people at all.
And why did the princess seem so familiar with the Renato mansion?
He thought she had stayed confined to her room, yet she didn’t even ask him for directions to the study or the office.
And how did she know her way around the mansion so well without even bringing a maid?
“What’s going on?”
Ezio scratched his head and leaned against the wall of the corridor.
The princess was no ordinary guest.
Although he had thought her special when Ricardo personally ordered her escort, this was beyond ordinary. He furrowed his brow, starting to wait for the Princess.
* * *
“Why did you assign me an escort all of a sudden?”
As soon as Mirabel entered the office, she brought up the main issue. She wanted to avoid discussing Charles or any other topic.
“Sit down. Let’s talk sitting down.”
“I don’t plan on staying long. Just answer me.”
Ricardo’s face darkened when he invited Mirabel to sit. The shadow fell over the expression that seemed as if he had gained the world from her visit.
“I was worried about you.”
“That’s unexpected. You think I need surveillance for just stepping outside? It seems you don’t quite understand why I came to Renato.”
Ricardo shook his head heavily at Mirabel’s cold response. He swallowed dryly before replying.
“I’m aware you’re here for the founding celebration, and that’s also why I assigned the escort. It would be a major issue if anything happened to a guest of your stature.”
“I can hardly go outside Renato with this weather. What could possibly happen inside the mansion?”
“Nobody can guarantee safety.”
“I’m a Princess. No one can harm me…”
As Mirabel argued, Riccardo suddenly pulled her forward. Caught off guard, she ended up in his arms. His strong grip tightening around her slender waist.
The cool scent that hit her made heat rise to Mirabel’s face. Ricardo buried his head in the nape of her neck and took a deep breath.
“Please.”
His deep, low voice was earnest.
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