I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 178
As the princess stopped speaking, Valerio, who had been standing behind her, tilted his head.
“Princess? What’s the matter?”
“You said it wasn’t because of an injury I caused?”
Mirabel, unable to address Ricardo directly, asked Ugo. Her question sounded almost like a reprimand, caused Ugo to furrow his brow in discomfort.
“He’s recovering.”
“What kind of illness is it? Why is the recovery taking so long?”
“I can’t say.”
Mirabel tilted her head. She was not particularly curious, but still feeling uneasy.
‘Well, it’s none of my business.’
She sighed as her expression turned slightly displeased.
“Fine.”
“Don’t worry, Princess. Even if I’m ill, it won’t interfere with your plans.”
The hoarse voice pierced Mirabel’s ears. It was Ricardo. When Mirabel frowned, he pressed his chest and continued.
“I’ll attend the mass as well.”
“Mass?”
“The schedule changed. The coronation has been postponed for a week due to the noble council’s insistence. After the mass, the funeral will take place.”
“Then…”
“Durante has moved.”
Mirabel’s eyes widened at the news Valerio gave. She swallowed hard and stared at the exhausted Ricardo.
Her face stiffened slightly as she gazed into his deep violet eyes.
“It’s quicker than I expected.”
Mirabel spoke in a calm tone. Ricardo nodded in agreement.
Just as the heavy air seemed to settle, he suddenly clutched his chest. His shoulders jerked, and he broke into a violent cough.
“Cough…!”
Red blood leaked from Ricardo’s lips as he coughed. Mirabel’s eyes widened at the sight of blood running down his chin.
“Ricardo!”
As Mirabel moved to approach, Ricardo raised a hand to stop her. She froze in place, shocked that she was rejected.
Ricardo had pushed her away.
“Your Grace, the medicine, quickly!”
“Hey, Ricardo! Are you okay?”
Ugo’s panicked voice and Valerio’s shout echoed in Mirabel’s ears. She didn’t blink and just watched Ricardo.
His broad chest heaved in pain, and the sound of his ragged breaths filled the room. Every groan of agony made Mirabel’s spine shiver with a chill.
‘What is happening?’
Something was going wrong.
It is very, very wrong.
But she couldn’t understand what it was.
‘This is strange.’
Mirabel’s fingertips twitched as she continued to watch Ricardo.
While she had no medical knowledge, she could tell his condition was far from normal. Yet everyone, including Ricardo, seemed to be shielding her from the truth.
She had noticed earlier when Valerio was angry with Ricardo, it was certainly related to his condition.
“Kugh!”
As Mirabel was lost in thought, she watched Ricardo vomit blood again. She frowned at the sight.
“Recovering? Is this what you call recovery?”
“He’ll be fine soon.”
Ugo replied in a neutral tone as he laid Ricardo down on the bed. As he had said, Ricardo’s complexion had clearly improved compared to earlier.
However, the waves of anxiety still churned within Mirabel’s heart.
“What kind of illness does the Grand Duke have? Is he truly recovering?”
“…Speaking of mass.”
Ricardo, having regained some calm, ignored Mirabel’s question as if he hadn’t heard it. Mirabel was about to press him further, but clenched the inside of her cheek in frustration.
Ricardo had drawn a line.
He stopped Mirabel from approaching and refused to reveal anything about his condition.
This was exactly what Mirabel wanted. So, she couldn’t complain about the distance he was keeping.
Mirabel had to accept this distance.
If she couldn’t accept it, then she had to turn her gaze away from him.
“Right, we were talking about the mass. So, for now, will it just be the mass and the funeral?”
Mirabel asked Valerio. The Crown Prince, who had been staring at Ricardo with a stern expression, turned his head to meet her gaze.
“Yes, that’s how it will be. It’s the noble council’s decision, but it’s probably Durante’s influence.”
“Even though the Count’s power is great, they can’t just delay the Emperor’s coronation. What’s the reason?”
“They say the Crown Prince’s qualifications are in question.”
“And the evidence?”
“Not much, really. It’s funny, but once Durante speaks, the noble council moves.”
Valerio spoke bitterly as he swept his hand through his hair.
“It looks like the day we keep our promise with the Princess will be delayed. It might even be impossible.”
“It’s too early to talk about giving up. Doesn’t the Crown Prince have any supporters? Like the Empress’s family?”
“The Adalberto family has already finished their work.”
As Mirabel and Valerio were talking, Ricardo, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. With Ugo’s assistance, he got up from the bed.
“Most of them have been hiding in the countryside since the Empress passed. They haven’t even been near the capital, so there’s no way they can build a power base.”
“So, there’s no family in the Empire that can defeat the Adalberto family?”
“None, except for the Vittore family.”
Mirabel crossed her arms. She slowly tapped her fingers on her arm, and spoke.
“Then, the Vittore family should make a move.”
“Exactly.”
Ricardo nodded and looked straight at Mirabel, as though nothing had ever been wrong with him.
“How do you want me to act?”
Mirabel uncrossed her arms and stared at Ricardo. The tension between them thickened, but then Mirabel smiled.
All the cards were in Mirabel’s hands. What she needed to do now was place those cards in the right places for Durante’s downfall.
So that Durante would never rise again.
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