I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 169
“So, did you find it?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t believe it…”
Mirabel, holding her teacup, couldn’t continue speaking immediately. She clenched her teeth, then smiled faintly.
“I feel so ashamed. I can’t believe one of my maids did such a thing.”
“Those below us are all the same, aren’t they? At least I got the item back, so it’s fine.”
“Such generosity from the Count. I see now.”
Mirabel spoke warmly, then offered Durante some tea.
The warm spring-like demeanor of the princess made him feel at ease, and he drank the tea. Mirabel looked at him with a calm smile.
He seemed like someone who could be chewed up and spit out.
How dare he frame Luce.
According to Luce, he had pressured her, asking whether Armilla and the princess were the same person.
With Bianca by her side, there was no need to investigate further.
It was clear why they wanted to confirm that fact.
Durante had been desperate to obtain the ‘Fairy’s Breath’ bulbs.
For that, he’d be willing to lick the princess’s feet. It wasn’t surprising that he’d go so far as to orchestrate a kidnapping within the palace.
Mirabel could easily understand why Durante’s eyes were so bloodshot.
Until the day she met him in the chapel, she hadn’t been able to guess the reason. But after visiting the country house, it all became clear.
‘He must be on the verge of bankruptcy.’
Mirabel thought of the Adalberto family’s country house. On the surface, it looked fine, but it was obvious the family was burning their last flame before collapsing.
The luxurious curtains by the window were already frayed, and the beautiful walls showed marks where paintings had once hung.
It meant they couldn’t afford to renovate the house, and they were likely having to sell the artwork due to their financial troubles.
Also, the servants’ clothes were ragged, and their salaries seemed to be severely overdue.
At first, Mirabel had planned to reject the Crown Prince’s request.
But Durante had touched her people, her precious Luce.
That changed everything.
Mirabel now intended to take an active role in bringing him down.
And the fact that it would help Ricardo made her even more willing.
It could serve as a small compensation for the loss of the radiant person he once was.
In any case, Mirabel would make sure Durante ended up on his knees and begging at her feet.
Including the arrogant actions he had committed against Armilla, she would see him truly repent for his sins.
“To think the Count is such a good man. I’ll have to reconsider my stance on the ‘Fairy’s Breath’ bulbs.”
“Really?”
Durante’s face brightened at her words. Mirabel nodded, her smile genuine this time.
It was a smile that came from the heart, not a fabricated one.
* * *
“Hop, hop!”
Charles placed both of his hands over his head and perked up his ears like a rabbit. After jumping up and down and running around a few more times, Charles looked up at Ricardo and asked,
“What?”
Ricardo, who had been watching the child’s wholehearted performance, put on a serious expression.
“…A rabbit?”
“Yes!”
Charles beamed with joy when Ricardo guessed correctly. Then, he held out his hand, clearly expecting something. Ricardo chuckled softly.
“How about a chocolate cookie?”
“Yes!”
“Alright, come sit here.”
Ricardo patted his thigh, and Charles immediately ran over to him. After lifting him up, Ricardo handed him a cookie.
Charles pretended to nibble on the cookie with just his front teeth. It seemed like imitating a rabbit was quite fun for him.
“Eat it properly. Otherwise, you’ll get cavities.”
Ricardo took the cookie back for a moment, then gave it back to Charles. He was currently looking after the child at Mirabel’s request.
Two hours ago, Mirabel appeared suddenly, looking distressed, and asked him to take care of Charles. She said she had to leave the palace for something urgent, but hadn’t returned yet. It seemed like something complicated had come up.
‘Has she not returned yet?’
Ricardo glanced at the clock again. The position of the minute hand hadn’t changed since the last time he checked.
“More, pwease.”
“Alright.”
Still staring at the clock absentmindedly, Ricardo grabbed another cookie at Charles’s request. Charles happily took the cookie and began munching on it.
Watching the child peacefully nestled in his arms, Ricardo smiled. His previously troubled heart seemed to have found some peace.
Charles was such a good child. Unlike Ricardo’s worries, the child didn’t throw tantrums asking for his mother. He was calm and well-behaved.
‘Maybe it’s me who misses Mirabel.’
Ricardo bitterly smiled as he absentmindedly checked the time again.
The child was doing just fine, yet Ricardo was growing more anxious, counting the minutes until Mirabel returned.
After being told that everything was over, he had scarcely been able to meet her. He stopped visiting her at night, so it became even harder to see her face.
Even if he did run into her by chance, it was just awkward, like a stranger.
In fact, it was only Ricardo who felt awkward.
Mirabel seemed unaffected. She had claimed she was happy before meeting him again, and now, she seemed completely at ease.
Seeing her like that made Ricardo’s heart ache.
To her, he was probably just an uncomfortable reminder of the past.
“Charles, are you sleepy?”
Having finished both cookies, Charles rubbed his cheek against Ricardo’s chest. Ricardo, pulling his gaze away from the clock and lifted the child.
“Let’s lay down and sleep.”
As he was about to carry Charles to the bed, Ricardo suddenly stopped in his tracks. The child’s body was hot.
‘Has he got a fever again?’
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