I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 55
The reason for that was well known to all the knights.
Upon arriving at the mansion and seeing the lord rushing urgently towards the Red Room, the knights exchanged knowing glances.
The lord was obsessed with the Grand Duchess.
The only one unaware of this fact was the Grand Duke himself.
While the mansion’s servants were already aware of the situation, the knights now truly felt it.
As the expedition dragged on, Ricardo became increasingly restless and nervously aggressive. He went so far as to ruthlessly slaughter the beasts, as if pouring out his anger.
Losing control during a subjugation was not characteristic of the usually composed Grand Duke.
In the subjugation, he even suffered injuries from the beasts, a fundamental mistake that left the knights in shock.
However, the problem was not that the Grand Duke made a mistake.
The issue was that the Grand Duke’s mind seemed to be sold to the Grand Duchess.
“How did this happen?”
An oppressive aura emanated from Ricardo as he stared at the empty Red Room. Nasir was left speechless at the unexpected sight.
“I asked how this happened, Nasir.”
“…I apologize.”
Ricardo’s cold eyes flashed. He stood firm at the entrance of the room, clenching his fist.
“Who did it?”
His harsh voice echoed through the corridor, making the listener’s spine tingle.
“Who opened the door for the Grand Duchess?”
Nasir couldn’t answer and averted his gaze. Armilla’s disappearance was perplexing, but even more baffling was Ricardo’s reaction.
Despite ordering Armilla to be left alone in the Red Room, it seemed his interest in her had not diminished. On the contrary, it had become frightening.
“Hahaha.”
Ricardo laughed sarcastically. That sound was even more terrifying.
Nasir couldn’t say a word to the angry lord. Ricardo, who had been silently examining the room, suddenly turned sharply.
“Paolo!”
The Grand Duke’s deep voice echoed through the mansion’s lobby. The butler, who was directing the dinner preparation to welcome the lord’s return, hurriedly came out.
“Yes, Master!”
“The Grand Duchess has disappeared. Prepare the horses.”
“…What?”
“Have you gone deaf?”
Flames flickered in Ricardo’s eyes as he looked down at the butler. It seemed Paolo’s throat would be slashed immediately if he didn’t respond promptly.
Panicking, Paolo rushed towards the stables. Watching Ricardo, who observed the butler’s frantic movements, Nasir silently caught his breath. He carefully opened his mouth.
“I apologize. I don’t know what happened. Surely until today….”
“This responsibility…”
Ricardo slowly began to speak, his voice carrying a chilling tone.
“After finding the Grand Duchess. I’ll ask you for it.”
Nasir bowed his head. Meanwhile, the sound of someone giving orders echoed.
Ricardo walked steadily, climbing onto the horse with a hop. Settling into the saddle, he held the reins and instructed Paolo.
“Release the hounds. She couldn’t have gone far.”
“What? That much…”
“Don’t test my patience.”
“I’ll do it right away!”
The bewildered Paolo hastily replied. Ricardo glared at him and kicked the horse. The black horse stomped its front legs and neighed. Ricardo pulled its reins.
“Yah!”
The horse grazed and kicked the snow. Under the gray sky, the horse the Grand Duke was riding ran with a frightening force.
* * *
Armilla ran desperately. She could hear the barking of the hunting dogs and the neighing of horses.
Ricardo began tracking her.
This fact was even more terrifying than the cold that froze her whole body. Armilla hastened her steps to get even a little farther away from Ricardo.
“Ugh…!”
Armilla grimaced in pain. She stumbled a while ago, and had sprained her ankle. The pain was becoming unbearable.
‘I have to keep going.’
Now wasn’t the time to complain. She needed to concentrate all her attention on getting away from Ricardo. Everything else could wait.
That was the only way to protect the child.
One of Armilla’s hands had been wrapped around her belly since earlier. It was a pitiful effort to maintain some warmth in the cold. Although her ankle twisted, and her fingertips were freezing red, she would keep her belly warm.
Armilla stopped walking and gently caressed her belly.
‘I have to run away for this child’s sake.’
If caught by Ricardo, she wouldn’t be able to safely give birth to the child. He wouldn’t allow her to give birth.
Armilla couldn’t leave it like that.
This child was something she desperately wanted. A life conceived as a miracle. She couldn’t let it be taken away so easily.
Armilla took a deep breath. The breath that escaped her lips turned white. After catching her breath, she tried to move forward.
Then…
“…Armilla.”
The voice of the person she had loved so much, but now feared, echoed.
Armilla, with a pale face, slowly raised her head. Her heart raced as she faced the black shadow enveloping her body. Finally, her legs gave way under the persistent gaze.
“Were you here?”
Ricardo, staring at Armilla with a gaze as deep as an abyss, spoke. Armilla was captivated by his gaze and found herself breathless. In the distance, the howling of hunting dogs could be heard. She bit her lip while listening to the fading sounds.
‘I have to run away.’
She had to run. She had to, but her legs wouldn’t move. Just turning away from Ricardo and averting her gaze seemed like a monumental effort. Even this simple act made her breathless.
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