I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 115
Ever since arriving in Renato, Mirabel had changed. It was hard to pinpoint exactly how, but overall, her demeanor was different.
Since returning to Segolinde four years ago, Mirabel had been listless. Though she smiled, it lacked the radiant warmth it once had.
Her voice, once clear and melodious like a bell, remained lovely but seemed drained of its former vitality. It was so weak that sometimes Sophie had to strain to hear her.
Initially, Sophie thought Mirabel seemed lethargic compared to the exuberant energy of Asil and Louise. After all, she had suffered a trauma so severe that she lost her memory, which explained her subdued nature.
Although it saddened Sophie to see Mirabel less vibrant than before, she accepted it as inevitable.
However, recently, Mirabel sometimes reminded Sophie of her old self.
She still didn’t seem as bright and happy as before, but compared to her time in Segolinde, she appeared more assertive. There was strength in her voice.
People gain strength for two reasons: falling in love or being consumed by anger.
Since there was nothing in Renato to make Mirabel angry, it was likely the former.
‘She did seem to get along well with the Grand Duke.’
Sophie pulled the blanket closer and smiled to herself. She warmed her hands by the fireplace, hoping her expectations weren’t misplaced.
“Oh, right, the crystal orb.”
Just as Sophie was about to drift off to sleep, she remembered. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at the crystal orb beside her.
She needed to report that Charles would soon be arriving.
Sophie gently placed the crystal orb on her lap. As she was about to recite the spell with her hand on the orb…
A brilliant blue light suddenly emanated from the crystal ball.
Sophie squinted at the bright light and shielded her eyes.
“Sophi!”
She blinked in surprise at the familiar voice of a child. Before she could lower her hand, Charles ran into her arms.
“Prince Charles?”
Sophie was bewildered as she looked at Charles snuggling against her. She quickly glanced at the crystal orb.
[Sorry, Sophie. I couldn’t stop Charles.]
Asil, looking sheepish, sighed within the crystal ball. Sophie hugged Charles tightly as she listened to Asil’s explanation.
[When I promised to send him to his mother, he threw such a tantrum that I couldn’t refuse. You know, none of us can resist Charles.]
“That’s true.”
Sophie agreed with a sigh. Asil’s normally neat blond hair was disheveled, showing how much he’d been struggling with Charles. Sophie smiled at him and said,
“Leave Prince Charles to me. Don’t worry.”
[Thanks. But where is Mirabel?]
“She stepped out for a moment.”
“Mommy, where’s Mommy?”
Charles, who had been quietly nestled in Sophie’s arms, looked up and asked. Sophie stroked his chubby cheeks and smiled gently as he blinked his round eyes.
“You’ll see her soon. Just wait here quietly, okay?”
“How many sleep?”
“What?”
Sophie blinked, not immediately understanding Charles’ question. Sometimes his young speech was hard to decipher.
“How many sleeps until Mommy comes?”
“Um… well.”
Sophie internally broke out in a cold sweat and looked at Asil for help. Catching her desperate glance, Asil smiled broadly and said,
[You don’t have to wait many sleeps, Charles. Mommy will be here soon.]
“Yay!”
Charles clapped his hands and kicked his legs in excitement at Asil’s answer. Sophie lost her balance and fell back. She managed to regain her balance quickly, though, as such incidents were common when taking care of a child.
“Mommy! Mommy! Sophie, call Mommy!”
“Yes, yes. I will.”
Sophie stood up, trying to calm the restless Charles. Fortunately, he had landed on the blanket and didn’t get wet. However, Sophie, still soaked from the snow, needed to change her clothes. She couldn’t walk around the mansion in her current state.
“I’ll be right back after changing my clothes. Ah, thank you, Prince Asil. I’ll contact you later with Princess Mirabel.”
[Alright. Goodbye, Charles!]
“Bye-bye!”
Taking advantage of Charles’ distraction with Asil in the crystal orb, Sophie slipped into the adjacent room to change. She quickly began to undress.
“Prince Charles, stay right there! Sophie will be out soon!”
She called out to Charles while hastily changing her clothes.
One cannot take their eyes off a child for even a second. So Sophie needed to change her clothes as quickly as possible, but her wet dress clung to her body, making it difficult.
‘Why now?’
Sophie anxiously tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them off with all her might. Finally, the dress started to come off. She dressed hastily, keeping her mind on Charles in the other room. As soon as she was ready, she hurried back.
“Prince Charles, sorry to keep you… huh?”
Sophie’s face went pale as she returned to the Green Room in a rush.
Charles was gone.
Only the blanket she had given him remained in the spot where he had been. Sophie stifled a silent scream and dashed out of the room.
* * *
Charles, who had been waving goodbye to Asil, pouted when the light from the crystal orb dimmed. His uncle, who had promised to take him to see his mother, had disappeared. And now Sophie is gone too.
‘Mommy…’
Charles looked around the room with wide eyes. Everything was green—the curtains, the rug, and the wallpaper. It was a strange contrast to the bright cream and gold decor of the Segolinde royal palace he was used to.
“Mommy…”
Charles pushed himself up from the floor and began to toddle around.
“Sophi?”
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