I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 113
Ezio, feeling increasingly suspicious after her answer, approached Mirabel without lowering his sword.
“What are you, really?”
“I am Mirabel Ettenette, Princess of Segolinde. Is this how Renato’s knights treat their guests? How disrespectful.”
Stung by her sharp rebuke, Ezio flinched.
The Princess was right. She is an important guest who should be protected.
Yet he did not lower his sword. He was burdened by too many troubling thoughts.
“A guest familiar with the layout of the Vittore family mansion, damaging documents in the study, tells a different story.”
“Do you even know what document I just destroyed?”
Mirabel turned coldly, her face nearly brushing against the blade of Ezio’s sword, yet she pointed without flinching at the shredded papers.
“That was a state secret of Segolinde, a map of our borders. As royalty, I destroyed it to protect my country. You should be thanking me for questioning why such a map was here instead of accusing me.”
“That’s…”
“Put away your sword, now.”
Intimidated by the Princess’s commanding presence, Ezio reluctantly sheathed his blade. Mirabel breathed a silent sigh of relief and spoke.
“I will pretend this never happened. Go back now.”
“…how did you know?”
“What?”
“That I was a Commander, Princess?”
Ezio raised his sword again and sliced it through the air. The golden veil fluttered from the tip of his sword.
The veil covering Mirabel’s face lifted, floating gently before settling to the ground.
As the veil hit the floor, Ezio’s pupils that were glaring at the Princess, dilated in shock.
“You…”
“What is this about?”
Mirabel sharply addressed the startled Ezio. She clenched her fist to conceal her nervousness.
“I will report your rudeness to the Grand Duke.”
Without giving Ezio a chance to respond, Mirabel quickly walked away.
Still dazed, Ezio stood frozen until the sound of the study door opening snapped him back to reality.
“Wait a moment!”
Ezio grabbed Mirabel’s shoulder. He said in confusion as he gazed at her golden hair.
“Wait, just a moment. Please wait, Princess.”
“….Enough with the excuses.”
Mirabel almost reflexively responded to Ezio by name but bit her lip instead.
She had already mistakenly referred to him as the Commander and drew unnecessary attention. She couldn’t afford another slip.
“Let go.”
“Please, just one more look at the Princess’s face. You remind me so much of someone I knew.”
“Who?”
While keeping her gaze fixed down the corridor, Mirabel asked. Ezio hesitated before answering reluctantly.
“A poor, clueless…. woman.”
At Ezio’s description, Mirabel smirked.
Poor and clueless? Could there be a more fitting description for Armilla?
As Mirabel stood still, Ezio continued anxiously.
“She loved the Grand Duke dearly. He has been searching desperately for her. Do you know her, by any chance? Her name is Armilla.”
“I don’t.”
Mirabel cut him off sharply and turned away, shaking off Ezio’s hand. As she began to walk down the corridor, he followed, pleading.
“Perhaps she could be a distant relative!”
“I said I don’t know.”
“Please, if you could just consider…!”
As Ezio reached out again to Mirabel, a chill air suddenly swept through his hand. Accompanied by the cold, a man appeared, seizing Ezio’s wrist with a twist.
“Don’t touch her.”
Ezio looked up in surprise to see the man holding his hand.
Ricardo was standing before him.
Ricardo glared at Ezio, his eyes burning with anger for daring to lay hands on Mirabel. Ezio said weakly while letting his captured hand hang.
“I’m sorry, Master.”
“Good, you know.”
With a curt response, Ricardo released him. As he moved towards Mirabel, Ezio raised his voice again.
“Master!”
“What now?”
Ricardo looked at Ezio, clearly annoyed. Feeling the intensity of his Master’s gaze, Ezio glanced back at Mirabel’s retreating figure.
Ricardo noticed where his gaze had fallen and his expression hardened.
“Why did you try to touch the Princess?”
“I’ll explain everything. But first, there’s something urgent I need to discuss with you, Master.”
“Say it now.”
“But….”
Ezio hesitated, torn between the Princess and Ricardo, as both showed no signs of backing down.
“Did you see the princess’s jade eyes? She looks exactly like the Armi… Grand Duchess. If you see for yourself, Master, you’ll understand why I reacted this way.”
Ricardo remained silent at Ezio’s explanation. His face was unreadable as he stared at Ezio before finally speaking.
“It’s a coincidence.”
“What? But—”
“Ezio.”
Ricardo furrowed his brows and called out to Ezio. When Ezio looked at him expectantly, Ricardo spoke in a low, firm tone.
“It’s just a coincidence.”
His words were a clear signal not to discuss it further, causing Ezio to groan in frustration.
The resemblance between the Princess and Armilla was striking, so much so that even Ezio, not known for his observational skills, could see it. Surely, Ricardo must have noticed as well.
However, for some reason, he was pretending not to know.
If Ricardo had decided to act this way, then Ezio must follow suit. A knight must always adhere to his Master’s decisions, even if they don’t make sense to him.
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