I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 31

Chapter 31
Translator: effe

As their lips met, Armilla gently closed her eyes. Her heart raced. Ricardo’s lips were incredibly soft and warm.

It wasn’t the first time they had kissed, but this time it felt completely different. She was now Ricardo’s wife, sharing kisses in the same bed.

“Open your mouth.”

As Armilla obediently parted her lips, Ricardo gently cupped her face. Armilla compliantly opened her lips, and then a thick warmth invaded her mouth. The cold she had felt just moments ago was quickly replaced by a rising heat within her body.

Ricardo kissed Armilla fervently, their bodies entwined. He positioned himself on top of her.

Armilla forgot her embarrassment and clung to him, her hands on his broad shoulders. Whenever Ricardo briefly paused their kiss, she gasped for breath. The longer they kissed, the tighter her lower abdomen and the tingle between her legs grew.

“Haa, Your Grace….”

As their lips briefly separated, Armilla called out to him in a voice filled with excitement. She opened her eyes with flushed cheeks, only to be met with the man’s cold and unfeeling gaze into her.

With longing eyes, Armilla looked at him. She knew it was her own feelings, but still, she loved him.

Armilla gazed into his vivid purple eyes and confessed her heart.

“I love you.”

The moment Armilla made her confession, Ricardo’s eyes flickered with turmoil. He furrowed his brow slightly, as if hearing words he shouldn’t have. Unfortunately, Armilla didn’t notice his slight change. She was too overwhelmed with happiness about becoming Ricardo’s wife. She felt like dreaming.

“Before we begin, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Ricardo ran his hand over her exposed, smooth thigh through the gap of her skirt and spoke slowly. Armilla looked at him with a dazed face.

“Yes?”

“This won’t take long. Maybe a year.”

Armilla looked at Ricardo with a puzzled look, unable to follow what he was talking about.

“What do you mean?”

“Time for you to be my wife.”

Armilla had a blank look. A year? Did that mean there was a limit to the time she could spend as his wife?

When Armilla understood Ricardo’s words, she felt a chilling sensation run through her entire body. Her mind went blank. Armilla stammered.

“You, you never mentioned such a thing.”

“I said it was a deal.”

Ricardo responded with an attitude that seemed to suggest he couldn’t understand her confusion.

“You give me what I want, and in return, I give you what you want. A deal like that.”

A deal.

Certainly, he said that, but what he wanted was merely one year of married life. It was shocking.

As Armilla listened to Ricardo’s calm explanation, her body trembled. The cold she had momentarily forgotten was creeping back in, sending shivers down her spine.

She swallowed a dry mouthful as the bone-chilling cold penetrated her very core.

“What I….. wan..t…”

“Yes, you said you wanted to leave Renato, so once this marriage solves my problem, I’ll grant your wish. If I marry now, Durante won’t be able to push through his daughter’s marriage. And even if we divorce, it won’t matter. The Count won’t send his daughter for a second marriage.”

Armilla maintained a puzzled expression as she listened to Ricardo’s words. His words seemed like a riddle.

She couldn’t fathom why the Count’s daughter was coming up in this conversation. With a pale and dismayed face, Armilla said.

“I don’t understand at all what Your Grace is talking about.”

“You don’t have to try to understand.”

Ricardo offered no further explanation to Armilla’s confusion. He seemed satisfied with just letting her know that the deal had been made. There was an oddly contented look on his face as he gazed at Armilla, but she felt nothing but despair.

Armilla knew that Ricardo didn’t love her. She was aware that he intended to marry her for the sake of convenience. Nevertheless, she had been happy at the prospect of becoming his wife.

But one year? Having to leave his side after just one year was something Armilla couldn’t bear. She desperately clung to Ricardo.

“I don’t want to leave. I belong to you.”

“Don’t worry. I’LL provide adequate compensation when we divorce.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Armilla shook her head vigorously. Holding onto the broad chest of the man with her slender arms, she said passionately.

“I love you.”

Ricardo’s body stiffened at the heartfelt confession. He clenched his jaw and remained silent. In fact, he tried to pull Armilla away, as if he had heard something unpleasant.

As Ricardo attempted to remove her arms wrapped around his back, she clung to him even more desperately.

“Your Grace, please.

Armilla was desperate. Her confession, meant to melt his heart, seemed to be pushing him further away instead. However, she had no other options. Besides her confession, she didn’t know how to hold onto him.

“I won’t ask for anything else. I’m happy with just this. This is all I want. I don’t want to leave Renato, or Your Grace.”

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