I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 120
Mirabel’s cheeks flushed red as she was held close to Ricardo’s broad chest. It was fortunate that her face was hidden by the veil.
Ricardo didn’t immediately release her but instead gazed down at her intently.
The persistent gaze made Mirabel feel a burning sensation in her neck. She turned her head and whispered softly.
“Please let go.”
Ricardo held her a moment longer with a reluctant sigh before finally releasing her.
Just then, Ugo, who had been examining Charles, spoke up.
“Princess, has the prince had any health issues recently?”
“He vomited not long ago.”
Mirabel cleared her throat and answered. Ugo frowned at her response, sighed deeply, and shook his head.
His reaction seemed ominous.
Mirabel watched Ugo anxiously. Such a demeanor usually signals bad news. Was Charles seriously ill?
Ugo licked his lips and rummaged through his medical bag.
“You need to ensure he remains at complete rest for the time being. Also, make sure he gets regular walks.”
“Is there a serious illness?”
“Not exactly. It’s just that he’s weaker than children of his age.”
“It was a difficult birth, and he was underweight.”
Ricardo, who had been standing nearby, stiffened at Mirabel’s answer. Though his mood seemed tense, Mirabel chose to ignore it and continued.
“However, he’s much healthier now compared to when he was born.”
“He will likely have several more bouts of high fever. As long as you manage these episodes well, he should grow up without major issues, so don’t worry.”
“Why does he experience high fevers?”
“High fevers occur due to a clash of magical energies within the body. This is usually seen in children of mixed Arcangelo and Segolinde descent. However, I’m not sure why the prince is affected.”
Ugo took out a bottle of medicine from his bag and handed it to Mirabel. The bottle contained a strawberry-colored liquid.
“This is a potion to aid in the circulation of magical energy. When he wakes up, mix a spoonful of it into his water and feed it to him. Continue giving it after meals for a week. And if he has another high fever, administer this antipyretic along with the potion.”
Ugo handed her another bottle, this one slightly smaller and filled with an orange-colored liquid. Mirabel carefully accepted the bottles and nodded.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry too much. Thanks to the magic His Grace used to reduce the fever, the crisis has been averted, so he should recover quickly.”
Ugo said this politely and packed up his medical bag. As he and Walter left the room, Ricardo took the medicine bottles from Mirabel.
“I’ll put these in the drawer.”
“Alright.”
Mirabel responded weakly and sat down on the sofa. Her gaze was fixed on the deeply sleeping Charles.
It seemed she could finally catch her breath.
She had been worried because Ugo’s reaction was so serious, but it was a natural symptom, which was a relief.
As Mirabel continued to watch Charles, Ricardo hesitated before speaking.
“The doctor said not to worry too much. He’ll be better soon. So…”
“That’s a kind thing to say. It’s unlike you.”
Ricardo fell silent at Mirabel’s flat response. She continued to speak while keeping her eyes on Charles.
“Are you pretending to have changed, or have you really changed?”
“I’ve changed. Forget the person I was before.”
“The former Grand Duke…”
Mirabel smiled faintly.
“Well, if he was here, he would have killed Ugo long ago. He would have been furious for hiding the fact that I was pregnant and would have killed him.”
Her gaze now shifted to Ricardo. The blue eyes visible through the veil were intense.
“But you didn’t do that. Ugo kept my pregnancy a secret as I asked. So why are you still employing him? Have you really changed? The you I know wouldn’t do that.”
“What kind of person do you remember me as?”
The question in place of an answer caught Mirabel off guard. She frowned and asked sharply.
“Why does that matter?”
“I resent the me that you remember, the me from then. That’s why I’m making different decisions now.”
Ricardo looked down at Charles. As he watched the sleeping child with his mouth slightly open, he suddenly furrowed his brows.
“You probably remember me as a terrible husband, unworthy of being a father.”
“…”
“I’m not saying you’re wrong. It’s just that I’ve changed. No, I’m trying to change.”
“….Why are there no servants in the mansion today?”
Mirabel quickly changed the subject. She felt that continuing this conversation would only pull her further into the emotional turmoil.
Mirabel knew that Ricardo had changed from his past self. She could also tell that this change wasn’t merely a facade. However, she couldn’t trust that this change would last.
The Ricardo she had seen in the past was his true nature.
A man who was cruel, cold, and unafraid to utter words that dug into a person’s soul. That was Ricardo Vittore.
The Ricardo of that time was no different from the one now.
“That’s what I…”
Just as now, the image of him struggling in front of Mirabel would be fleeting.
“What do you mean?”
Ricardo made an awkward expression at Mirabel’s question. He stared intensely at Charles and then sighed.
“The reason there are no servants in the mansion is because I deliberately had all the staff from the main building removed today.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I wanted to see the child.”
Mirabel couldn’t see the connection between that and removing the staff. Feeling a hint of irritation at the vague conversation, she pressed further.
“Explain it clearly. What does that have to do with removing the staff?”
“I wanted to ensure that no one would witness me meeting the child.”
“…What?”
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