I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 42

Chapter 42
Translator: effe

So standing pathetically behind Ricardo as he turned his horse with the knights, Armilla had to remain docile.

“Stay quiet.”

As if being told to stay still and quiet like a doll.

After Ricardo left and the employees who had come to see him off returned to their positions one by one, Armilla continued to stand quietly with Luce until they all went back inside the mansion.

“Hmph, someone else is going to have fun for a while.”

Just as the cold was causing her to shiver, the loud noise as if on cue attacked Armilla. When she turned her head, she saw Bianca standing with her arms crossed.

Bianca snickered and spoke to Luce, who was beside Armilla.

“Are you going to slack off like this woman too? Come with me.”

“Lady Armira…”

Luce hesitated as she looked at Armilla. The sadness filling her round eyes made her look like a small puppy gazing at its owner. But Bianca didn’t show any mercy as she grabbed Luce’s arm.

“Hanging around this woman won’t get you anywhere. She’s just a worthless Grand Duchess with no power over employment.”

Bianca laughed coldly. Armilla clenched her fist, unable to retort.

Most of the employees didn’t know how to treat Armilla and usually pretended not to see her.

But Bianca was different. She showed animosity more actively than before.

“What Grand Duchess? I bet she’s from a lowly background.”

“Wait.”

Armilla stopped Bianca from taking Luce away. She took a small breath and glared at her opponent.

“Luce is my attendant. Why are you bothering the Grand Duchess’s attendant?”

“What’s wrong?”

Bianca laughed as if it were all trivial and looked at Armilla.

“Since the Master says you’re the Grand Duchess, you must feel like you’re something, huh? You’re just a warmer. A mere waterbag warming the Master’s bed.”

Armilla’s face flushed at the explicit metaphor. It was especially bewildering to hear such words after she had come to know Riccardo’s true feelings.

Armilla searched for a retort and bit her lip. But her mouth wouldn’t open easily.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t special to Ricardo. And Armilla knew that fact all too well.

“I am not. I am…”

Yet she couldn’t continue to let Bianca have her way. Armilla spoke with determination in her eyes.

“I am the Grand Duchess. I will carry on the bloodline of Grand Duchy Vittore.”

Armilla swallowed hard.

It was a lie.

It was a pitiful lie that would be revealed eventually, but it was the only weapon she had.

“What?”

Bianca looked momentarily stunned by Armilla’s counterattack, then her face contorted and she burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha! Who does what now?”

Armilla was taken aback by Bianca’s boisterous laughter. She had expected anger or mockery, but she hadn’t anticipated this reaction.

Seeing Armilla’s dismayed expression, Bianca stopped laughing and took a deep breath before speaking.

“Get real. You’ll never bear the heir to Grand Duchy Vittore.”

Bianca’s firm words left Armilla’s mind reeling.

‘How does Bianca know that?’

In Armilla’s bewildered gaze, Missus Catarina entered her view. As her eyes met with Armilla’s, she finished her conversation with the butler and turned her body toward Armilla, Bianca, and Luche.

Even as she approached, Bianca continued to mock and speak with confidence.

“Without the seed, how does a plant sprout and the flower bloom? His Grace is so thorough. I prepare his medicine every day.”

“What…what are you talking about?”

“If you didn’t understand, it’s fine.”

“Explain it in detail. I want to know too.”

“Chief, Chief Maid!”

Bianca’s face stiffened at the Chief Maid’s appearance.

Armilla breathed a sigh of relief at the Missus’ arrival. She needed her support.

To think that the Grand Duchess of the Empire borrowed the power of a mere chief maid would be laughable to anyone. But for Armilla, even that amount of power was desperate. She looked at the Missus and said,

“Bianca gives medicine to His Grace every day. Do you know about this, Missus?”

“Medicine, you say?”

Missus Catarina questioned with a sharp glance at Bianca.

“What is this about?”

“That…”

Bianca faltered at the direct question from Armilla, perhaps not expecting her to ask so openly.

Without giving her a chance to come up with an excuse, the Missus continued to push.

“The well-being of His Grace is a matter of great importance for the future of Renato. If you have been administering medicine to His Grace without proper authorization, you will face serious consequences. I guess your life isn’t valuable?”

“Why are you treating me like this? It was a request from His Grace!”

Bianca exclaimed indignantly. She hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“It’s called Agaphia, it’s a herb known only to the Jaquette. When its juice is extracted, it has a contraceptive effect for men. I have been giving it to His Grace.”

Armilla gritted her teeth as she listened to Bianca’s explanation quietly.

To be so thorough.

Just how far was Ricardo willing to make her miserable?

“Using a remedy from folk medicine, and not even being a doctor, yet you’re giving it to His Grace?”

“Once you know the effectiveness, you can’t ignore it.”

Bianca, who had been flustered in front of the Missus, suddenly looked at Armilla with a smug smile. She looked at Armilla, who had turned pale, with a satisfied gaze and spoke.

“Since you got married, he has been looking for me every morning and night.”

Even though she was just delivering the medicine, Bianca added a subtle nuance to her words.

It was a cunning move to confuse Armilla’s mind.

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