I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 53
Armilla spoke with a calm tone.
“I guess it’s been tough staying here for a long time. Thank you for your concern, Missus.”
“…Understood.”
The Missus responded after a brief pause. She seemed perplexed by Armilla’s sudden change in attitude. However, she didn’t ask any further questions. Instead, she reprimanded Luce.
“Since I’ve spoken to Paolo, starting tomorrow, you’ll be responsible for cleaning the Black Room.”
With the sound of keys jingling, the Missus, who had given orders to Luce, moved away. As the rhythmic footsteps gradually faded, Armilla’s heart pounded.
‘I need to escape.’
Armilla lowered the hand that had been covering her belly. In the short time she had learned about the pregnancy, numerous thoughts had overturned her mind. Anxiety, joy, restlessness, fear, and the desperation to survive.
Armilla loved Ricardo. However, she didn’t love his cruelty. If he was going to kill the child, she had to get away from him.
“Luce, are you still there?”
“Yes, Lady Armira. What do you need?”
Hearing Luce’s innocent voice, Armilla nervously bit her lip.
Her head felt like it was about to explode. However, she couldn’t afford to panic. She didn’t know when Ricardo would return, so she had to escape before he came back.
“I need the key.”
“What key?”
“The key to this room.”
“Whaat? The key to the Red Room?”
Luce asked, doubting her ears. Armilla calmly explained.
“Listen carefully, Luce. I have to leave here before His Grace returns. No, I have to leave Renato.”
“Why? Where are you going, Lady Armira?”
When Armilla said she wants to leave, Luce asked on the verge of tears. In a hurry to console Luce, who seemed ready to burst into tears, Armilla spoke desperately.
“Shh, Luce. Don’t cry. Be good, okay?”
“Do you have to go?”
“I want to stay with Luce too. But when His Grace returns, he won’t spare me. If I want to live, I have to escape. Can you help me?”
“Lady Armira must not die!”
Luce exclaimed in surprise, pressing herself against the door. Soon after, the sound of the rusty door latch rattling echoed. Startled, Armilla looked at the shaking latch.
“Luce, what are you doing?”
“I’ll open it. Wait!”
“How…”
Before Armilla could finish her sentence, the door swung wide open. In the pouring bright light, Luce rushed in and hugged Armilla.
“You must not die, Lady Armira.”
Frowning, Armilla embraced Luce. She had considered retrieving the key to the Red Room through Luce, but she thought it wouldn’t be easy. Yet, Luce already had the key.
“What happened? How does Luce have the key here?”
“When Paolo, the butler, told me to clean here, he gave it to me. I haven’t been responsible for this place since then. So, I kept it.”
Luce explained tearfully.
“He told me never, never to open it, or he would kick me out. He said the Missus would scold me. Still, still… I just can’t bear Lady Armira to die.”
Armilla hugged Luce tightly. She lifted her head, as she patted the lovely maid’s back.
“If anyone asks, say you lost the key. You have to insist on that. Understand?”
“Ung…”
“Thank you, Luce. I’ll never forget you.”
“Can’t Luce come with you?”
Luce looked at Armilla with teary eyes. Armilla gazed at Luce with a mix of emotions.
“It would be nice if we could go together. But… It’s too dangerous. Luce should stay in the mansion.”
Armilla spoke with a heavy heart.
Her heart wavered for a moment at Luce’s suggestion. However, she couldn’t just take Luce along without a plan.
Armilla would now have to raise the child alone. She couldn’t risk exposing Luce to the hardships she would face.
“I don’t want to. Luce wants to go with you. Take Luce with you, please?”
When she heard that they couldn’t go together, Luce tightly hugged Armilla. Trying to comfort Luce, Armilla spoke gently.
“I’m sorry. Instead, I’ll come back to get you later.”
“…Really?”
“Really.”
“Then promise.”
Luce let go of Armilla slightly and extended a pinky finger. Armilla smiled and hooked her finger with Luce’s. Luce bit her lip and wiped her eyes with a swift motion.
“Lady Armira…”
Before Luce could say more, the bell tolling echoed throughout the mansion, indicating the return of the Master of the Black Castle.
The sound made Armilla’s heart sink. Supported by Luce, she felt her emotions fluctuate.
“What, what to do? The Master has returned!”
“It’s okay, Luce.”
Armilla comforted the trembling Luce and closed the door to the open Red Room.
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