I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 149
Mirabel closed the old door and spoke sternly to Charles.
“And don’t come back here.”
“Why?”
“The owner of this room wouldn’t like it. The Grand Duke ordered that no one should be let in. So let’s keep your visit to this place a secret, okay?”
“Okay…”
Charles blinked at Mirabel’s made-up excuse before nodding in agreement. Only then did she feel relieved and walk down the corridor, eager to distance herself from the Red Room as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, as they walked down the hallway, Charles discreetly fidgeted with something in his pocket.
He felt a small, worn notebook that was slightly smaller than an adult’s palm.
It was the object that had fallen along with the curtain earlier.
‘What to do?’
Charles was deeply troubled.
He had absentmindedly pocketed it when his mother suddenly appeared, and now she said they shouldn’t return to the red room.
So, what should he do with this notebook?
Should he give it to his uncle Wolf, or ask his mother for help?
Since he had promised it was a secret from his uncle, it seemed better to give it to his mother.
But it also seemed like his mother really disliked the Red Room.
“Charles?”
Charles, who had been really lost in thought, raised his head up at Mirabel’s call.
“What are you doing standing there?”
“Coming!”
Charles hurried after Mirabel with quick little steps. The worry about the notebook had completely faded from his mind as he rushed to keep up with his mother.
* * *
When Nasir arrived at the guest sitting room to the princess’s summons, he blinked in surprise. It seemed the topic he had just heard had caught him off guard. Seeing his reaction, Mirabel raised an eyebrow as she sipped her tea.
“It’s sudden, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just an unexpected topic.”
At Nasir’s response, Mirabel lowered her gaze. She gently touched her teacup and spoke carefully.
“If it’s a difficult request, you can refuse. I know it’s not something an outsider should ask.”
“Please don’t say outsider.”
Nasir waved his hands hurriedly. He cleared his throat and continued.
“I apologize, I didn’t expect you to bring up ‘that place’… the red room. As you mentioned, I will block all the passages leading there immediately.”
“Thank you for agreeing to help, Nasir. Actually, a while ago, Charles went there again.”
“Ah… I see.”
Only then did Nasir express understanding with an exclamation. With a serious look, he promised.
“It’s certainly not good for the prince to go there. I’ll take care of it right away. I’m sure the Grand Duke will agree as well.”
Nasir spoke confidently. Given that Ricardo was currently bedridden, he had taken over the mansion’s major duties.
Blocking off an entire corridor would usually require the Grand Duke’s approval, but with the Red Room, it was a different story.
“…I saw a painting there. A portrait.”
Mirabel set down her teacup and spoke. As she began, Nasir, who had been about to sip his tea, looked up. Mirabel stared at him intently and asked,
“Did the late Grand Duchess have black hair and blue eyes?”
“That painting was there?”
Mirabel nodded quietly. He sighed deeply and continued,
“I thought the late Grand Duke had burned it.”
“It seems he truly hated his wife.”
“He loved her.”
Nasir spoke as if there was no room for debate. Rubbing his temples, he continued,
“He loved her so much that he was enraged by the fact that she took her own life.”
Mirabel listened attentively to Nasir’s account.
In truth, she only knew that the late Grand Duchess had died in the Red Room. Therefore, learning that it was self-inflicted came as quite a surprise. But what astonished her even more was the story that followed.
“He was even angrier about the fact that his young son witnessed that scene.”
“Young son…?”
Mirabel’s eyes widened at Nasir’s words.
“Did the Grand Duke witness it? His mother’s…?”
“…Please pity him. I hope he had someone by his side, even if it was only in that way.”
Mirabel clenched her teacup tightly at Nasir’s calm words.
Just days ago, she had felt fear and anger toward Ricardo in the Red Room.
Yet as she listened to Nasir’s story, she felt pity for the boy who must have witnessed his mother’s death.
Just seeing someone die must have been shocking enough. And to have that someone be his own mother…
How traumatic it must have been.
Mirabel felt sorry for the young Ricardo.
A boy who had likely grown up without the affection of a mother, feeling as lonely as Charles did.
‘I shouldn’t feel sorry for him.’
Her grip on the teacup tightened even more.
A difficult upbringing does not excuse the actions he took. Still, Mirabel’s heart felt unsettled and restless.
As Mirabel fell silent, Nasir quietly raised his teacup to his lips. For a while, the sitting room where the two were seated was enveloped in silence.
Suddenly, a loud bang broke the stillness.
“Your, Your Highness!”
Until Sophie rushed in.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry! I was in such a hurry.”
“What’s wrong, Sophie?”
Mirabel asked the breathless Sophie. Sophie spoke urgently to both Nasir and Mirabel.
“The Grand Duke has awakened!”
At Sophie’s exclamation, Mirabel dropped her teacup to the floor. She didn’t even notice the cup rolling across the carpet as she sprang to her feet.
Mirabel rushed toward Ricardo in a daze. Her vision swayed, and she could hear the frantic cries of people around her.
Nasir, who had been running alongside her, said something from behind, but Mirabel couldn’t hear it.
All she could think about was reaching Ricardo as quickly as possible.
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