I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 51

Chapter 51
Translator: effe

For some reason, Ricardo was extremely angry and, as a result, forbade Armilla from having anything to eat or drink.

Because of this, Armilla had to survive with small pieces of bread and water that Luce secretly delivered through the hole.

“Thank you, Luce.”

With Armilla’s gratitude, Luce’s laughter could be heard from the other side of the door. Armilla smiled faintly while listening to Luce’s laughter.

The name ‘Red Room’ alone instills fear. Nevertheless, it was grateful and commendable that Luce bravely moved to help Armilla.

“I’ll come again later!”

Luce giggled and disappeared quickly as footsteps were heard from afar. Armilla leaned against the door, listening intently.

“It’s pathetic. Didn’t I warn you? Get lost.”

The first thing she heard was the unfriendly voice of a young man. Armilla’s expression disappeared as she recognized the owner of the voice.

Ezio.

The commander of the Black Wolf knights, had never liked Armilla. After the marriage, he didn’t openly taunt her like before, but he would often glare at her as if he could kill her at any moment.

Armilla returned to the way she was before Luce’s arrival, folding her knees.

Ezio would be very pleased now. She didn’t want to provide material for mockery to someone like him.

“Why so silent? I saw you whispering with that servant earlier!”

Even though Armilla didn’t respond, Ezio was relentless outside the door.

“Damn it! Because of you, the Master left me behind at the mansion. I’m stuck in this mansion because of some woman!”

Bang!

Ezio, who was spouting curses, forcefully kicked the door. Due to the impact, Armilla, who was leaning against the door, tumbled forward.

When a thud sounded from inside the door, indicating someone falling down, Ezio chuckled.

“Looks like she’s still alive.”

Clang!

The sharp sound of a metal object hitting the floor echoed. Armilla, who was trying to get up, reflexively looked at the hole.

Through the small hole, there was a dagger. At that moment, Ezio kicked it and pushed the dagger through the hole.

“If I were you, I’d choose to die cleanly now. It wouldn’t be bad to be the second Grand Duchess to die in the Red Room, right?”

Armilla looked at the dagger with a helpless face. Ricardo must have left Ezio at the mansion to keep an eye on her. He was compelling her to take her own life.

“Why do you hate me so much?”

“The precious person finally opened her mouth.”

Ezio responded to Armilla’s question with a sneer.

“I don’t want you to delude yourself into thinking you’re the real Grand Duchess. And it’s annoying how the Master has changed because of you lately. Leaving me behind on a subjugation, does that even make sense?”

Listening to Ezio’s complaints, Armilla raised the dagger. As she unsheathed it from the scabbard, the sharp blade was revealed.

“There are rumors that the Master, bewitched by the mistress, made her the Grand Duchess. Thanks to that, the prestige of our knighthood has plummeted. The Master is not that kind of person, damn it.”

“…Just because of that.”

Armilla muttered softly. She was angry at Ezio’s selfish demands. The audacity to demand her to take her life for the honor and pride of the knighthood. And the audacity not to even realize that it was wrong.

“I won’t die.”

Armilla said as she sheathed the dagger. Ezio sneered and kicked the door again.

“Do as you please, I warned you clearly.”

If the Master’s interest wanes, don’t come crying later.

Despite the warning, Armilla didn’t draw the dagger. She had made a vow to endure whatever happened in this place, no matter what.

* * *

Even though the fever had subsided, Armilla’s body didn’t feel well for a while.

It seemed to be due to the environment.

The environment itself was crumbling, not to mention that her daily life was completely falling apart.

Armila struggled with prolonged insomnia. Whenever she tried to sleep, the cold gaze of Ricardo seemed to haunt her, making her uneasy.

Unable to sleep deeply, even when awake, her body felt sluggish.

Was a person so influenced by sleep?

It felt hazy just because she couldn’t sleep well. Starting a few days ago, her head even started throbbing.

In short, Armila’s condition was a mess. It was natural since she couldn’t eat, sleep, or rest properly.

Armila massaged her shoulders. Due to spending the whole day crouched, her shoulders were sore.

She desperately longed for a soft bed. However, she couldn’t lie down on the bed in the Red Room. Besides being covered in dust, the mattress springs had collapsed. The bed in front of Armilla was nothing more than a looming object taking up space.

Armilla looked at the window with blurry eyes.

How many days had it been?

No, how many weeks?

Now, she wished Ricardo would return soon. She hoped he would return and, please, take her out of this room.

Armilla’s condition deteriorated day by day to the point where she longed for Ricardo. As each day passed, new symptoms appeared.

Today was no exception.

Until yesterday, it was a moderate fatigue, but now her whole body hurts too much. She felt nauseous that it became difficult to speak. She clung to consciousness only with a strong will to live.

“Lady Armira, are you in a lot of pain? Have some soup.”

“No, Luce. I’m …”

Armilla, who was about to respond to Luce, covered her mouth.

“Uugh!”

After a dry heave, Armilla took a deep breath. The air in the room, mixed with the smell of the soup, felt repulsive. Once the thought crossed her mind, the Red Room became unbearably unpleasant.

She wanted to leave this place.

She wanted to smell the fresh air outside, not the smell of old paint and stagnant dust.

However, she couldn’t. Armilla’s freedom depended on Ricardo.

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