I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 135
Ricardo understood this and was persuading her. Although it seemed like an empty promise, Mirabel had no choice but to give in. Knowing full well.
His words were genuine.
The area around Renato was already swarming with beasts. Since Mirabel’s arrival, Ricardo hadn’t been up the mountain.
With no hunting taking place and the leader missing, the beasts had become even more dangerous.
If Asil was here, Mirabel would have asked for Charles to be sent to the Segolinde palace alone.
But Renato had neither Asil nor any high-level wizard capable of teleporting people.
To get Charles to the palace, they had no choice but to travel together in the carriage.
“I know it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable for you. To avoid causing you trouble, I’ll ride outside the carriage. So please, let me escort you for Charles’s sake.”
Ricardo pleaded earnestly. With no other viable options, Mirabel reluctantly agreed.
“Alright. But only to the border.”
“Fine, only to the border.”
Ricardo visibly relaxed and smiled. Mirabel, still with a sour expression, looked towards the door of Charles’s room.
* * *
When morning came, Charles approached Mirabel with red, swollen eyes.
The child clambered up onto his mother’s bed, sniffling.
“Mommy, sob, can you sleep…”
Charles, tears in his eyes, looked at Mirabel, as if he thought he had caused her collapse by throwing a tantrum.
“Mommy, huuh….don’t get sick…”
“Mommy is fine. Don’t cry, Charles.”
Mirabel smiled warmly as she held the child. Charles eagerly nestled into his mother’s embrace and chattered.
“I want to go home. Let’s go home. Mommy and Charles, let’s go right away.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
Mirabel gently patted the child’s head and spoke softly. She had been worried Charles might refuse to leave, so she was relieved he was accepting it.
Continuing in a soothing tone, Mirabel added,
“The Grand Duke will see Charles off. We’ll have breakfast and then set off.”
“Uncle Wolf?”
Charles rubbed his eyes with his small fist and asked. Mirabel wiped the child’s tears with a soft handkerchief and responded.
“Yes, he will…”
“Then Ezio and Nasir? Luce?”
Mirabel was taken aback by the subsequent questions. As Charles started asking about the people of Renato, not just Ricardo, she had to force an awkward smile.
“Do you like Renato, Charles?”
“Yes.”
The child, still squirming in Mirabel’s arms, nodded.
The answer made Mirabel’s heart feel heavy, as if it were being crushed by a stone. She adjusted the child to sit properly and spoke calmly.
“Let’s go home today. And we can come back and visit again later, okay?”
“…Okay.”
Charles responded glumly. Then, hugging his mother tightly, he insisted.
“Don’t be sick?”
“Yes, I promise.”
Mirabel extended her pinky finger to Charles. He quickly hooked his little finger with hers, making the promise. The child seemed pleased, as if he had made a significant vow.
Mirabel comforted him and sighed quietly. Through the window, the dark gray sky came into view.
It was the same hue as the last sky she had seen over Renato when she was Armillia.
* * *
“Please take care. It was an honor to have you.”
Mirabel gave a small nod to Missus Catarina’s polite farewell.
She, Charles, and Sophie, along with the rest of the Segolinde party, were now at the front gate of the Vittore mansion.
Missus Catarina, Walter and all the staff had come out to see off their distinguished guests.
As Mirabel exchanged farewells with the head maid, she glanced back. Behind her, the royal carriage, along with the packed belongings and the accompanying knights, was waiting.
Among them, Ricardo stood out most vividly.
Leading the knights, Ricardo was mounted on a black horse, fully armored.
He exuded a cold, imposing aura with his black armor and dark cloak.
While this presence was familiar to Armillia, it was new and unsettling for Mirabel.
His black hair fluttered in the wind, revealing his intense eyes.
His amethyst-like purple eyes locked onto Mirabel’s. When their gazes met, Mirabel stiffened her expression and turned away.
She just needed to endure until the border.
After that. She wouldn’t see Ricardo after that.
Mirabel clenched her teeth. Although she had agreed to Ricardo’s company for Charles’s sake, seeing him now in the guise she had often encountered as Armillia made her uncomfortable.
“Princess? Is there something wrong?”
Missus Catarina tilted her head, noticing the princess’s silence. Mirabel cleared her throat and offered a smile.
“There’s nothing wrong. Thanks to the head maid, I’ve had a comfortable stay.”
As Mirabel bid her farewell, Charles, who was standing next to her, waved at Missus Catarina.
Missus Catarina curtsied with a gentle smile.
Bending down to the level of the child in the sky-blue rabbit fur cloak, Missus Catarina spoke in a soft tone.
“Please visit us again anytime, Prince.”
“Yes!”
Charles responded with a bright smile. Missus Catarina, with a warm gaze at the child, straightened up. After she stepped back, one of the maids in the line stepped forward. It was Luce.
Luce, who had been crying, repeatedly wiped her tears as she said her goodbyes to Mirabel.
“Princess, take care…”
“Take care, Luce.”
Mirabel took Luce’s hand and spoke warmly.
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