I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 26

Chapter 26
Translator: effe

“I will be a faithful wife to Your Grace.”

Ricardo’s expression changed strangely at Armilla’s answer. Relief, satisfaction, and faint obsession flashed in his violet eyes.

“Yes.”

Ricardo spoke briefly and let go of Armilla. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand that had touched her.

Although it was simply an act of wiping his wet hands, a corner of Armilla’s heart ached as he looked at that sight. It felt as if she was something dirty.

Even though Armilla’s face darkened, Ricardo did not ask any further questions. Well, he wasn’t one to wonder about Armilla.

Why was Armilla wet, what did she talk about with Ezio, why were there scattered pieces of torn paper at her feet.

Everything was out of his interest.

All Ricardo wanted to know was whether Armilla would be completely his.

“Well, I will keep my eyes.”

At that moment, Ricardo turned when he heard the sound of Ezio approaching from behind. He said a word to Armilla as he walked by her.

“My wife.”

Armilla looked at Ricardo’s back with a trembling heart.

He said she’s his wife.

Ricardo calls her his wife.

Even if Ricardo didn’t pay attention, Armilla was happy enough with this.

* * *

The palace, decorated with gold, was black only at dawn. In the Crown Prince’s palace, which was constantly crowded during the day, only the sound of birds could be heard intermittently.

Valerio, who was lying on a wide bed, woke up reflexively at the sound he heard among the birds chirping.

The sound of fallen leaves getting stepped on.

Assassin.

Valerio put his hand under his pillow, his purple eyes shining resembling those of the Emperor. Just when he felt the sharp dagger on his hand, the balcony window gently opened.

Whip!

“Ugh!”

Valerio hurled his dagger at the black shadow with an undisturbed posture. When the assassin fell down after being stabbed in the vital spot, Valerio got down from the bed with flashing eyes.

“This one is easy.”

When Valerio muttered. Two assassins hiding behind the balcony suddenly jumped out and attacked him. Valerio quickly stepped back and pulled out the dagger he was wearing on his thigh.

The blades clashed against each other, reflecting the moonlight, and the assassins’ breaths became shaky.

Swish!

Whoop!

Valerio stabbed the assassins in the heart one after another with swift movements. The assassins fell helplessly to the floor, leaving only Valerio standing in the moonlight.

Valerio approached the assassin who was not yet out of breath. He bent down and made eye contact with the assassin and spoke with a gentle smile that matched his gorgeous appearance.

“Who sent you? Just say that. Then I will spare your life.”

But conciliations did not work. The assassin glared at Valerio and bit down on something in his mouth. With no time to stop it, the assassin took poison and committed suicide.

“Ha.”

Among the corpses of the assassins, Valerio sighed in futility. He looked at the bright moon with a bored expression.

Suddenly, attempts to take Valerio’s life became more frequent.

Assassin, poison, ambush……. The methods also varied. Thanks to this, getting a good night’s sleep has become a luxury.

Who on earth does something like this?

Has a rumor spread that the Emperor’s chronic illness has become more serious?

Even so, there was something puzzling. Currently, Valerio is the only heir to the Empire. If he were in danger, the Empire would be shaken. Who would pull a trick like this?

Valerio’s purple eyes shined as he felt the cold wind coming through the window.

There are two suspects.

Either they want the Empire to fall.

Or …….

Someone who knows that Valerio is not the only heir to the Empire.

* * *

Renato, located at the northern end of the Empire, had notoriously harsh cold. But today the wind was particularly strong. It was difficult to open the eyes properly because of the snowstorm mixed with the wind.

Armilla, who had wrapped herself tightly in a blanket, blew on her hands, which were red from the cold. Even though it was midday, her whole body was shaking from the unbearable cold.

In the past month since Ricardo announced his marriage, Armilla has been subjected to all kinds of harassment.

‘But this is so cruel.’

Armilla’s teeth chattered from the cold.

The cold wave is at its peak, but they don’t put firewood in her room. Of all the bullying she had experienced over the past month, this was the most primitive and childish.

‘I wish we could get to the ceremony soon.’

If they just had the ceremony, she wouldn’t be treated like this. Armilla trembled and thought.

But unfortunately, they have not yet received the marriage permit from the temple.

When Armilla accepted the proposal, Ricardo offered to apply for the marriage permit by placing a message in the temple.

Since it was said that it would take a month to apply, the ceremony was scheduled to take place a month later, on the day the permit arrived.

And just a few days ago, it was already one month.

However, perhaps because the roads were blocked by heavy snow, the marriage permit did not arrive. So today Ricardo personally went to the temple with Nasir.

When the head of the house vacated the mansion, the employees began to get mean to their heart’s content.

At least in the meantime, they were wary of Ricardo and brought firewood.

There was not even that today.

Armilla moved her body back and forth, holding the blanket together. Doing this made her feel like she could forget the cold a little bit.

“Whoo…….”

Even when she was in the room, white steam came out of her mouth. Armilla let out a breath and shook the bell on the nightstand just in case.

But as expected, even when the bell rang, no one came.

‘The firewood…… It was near the stables, right?’

As time passed and the cold became more unbearable, Armilla recalled the location of the firewood.

If the servants don’t bring it, she can bring it herself.

It looks like she won’t be able to eat at all today, so she needs to at least stay warm.

Armilla pulled out the thickest clothes from the closet and layered them tightly.

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