I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 65
Luce fidgeted with her fingers and glanced towards the door. Two armed knights stood guard outside the dark room. Armilla, noticing Luce’s concern about the guards, spoke to her kindly.
“I’m fine. I’m going to get some more sleep, so you should go and rest too.”
“But… Lady Armira, you look sad. Are you sick?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Armilla gave Luce a bright smile. Finally, Luce left the Black Room room with hesitant steps while continually glancing back at Armilla.
Ever since Armilla had been captured after her escape, Luce had become increasingly worried about her.
To Luce, Armilla seemed like a fragile being in need of protection, especially since she had returned bloodied and had been unconscious for a while.
“If you’re in pain, ring the bell like this, like this!”
Before closing the door, Luce demonstrated how to use the servant call bell, her words were full of concern. Armilla smiled at Luce’s worried advice, and thought to herself.
‘I’m sorry, Luce.’
She had had the chance to bid farewell to Nasir, but not to Luce.
She had avoided giving any hint of goodbye, fearing Luce might break down in tears.
‘I’ve grown quite fond of her.’
Armilla’s face fell as she looked down. If there was any regret about leaving this place, it was leaving Luce behind.
Armilla hoped Luce would be well.
At least recently, Bianca hadn’t been causing as much trouble as before, which was a relief.
“What are you doing? This isn’t the time to dawdle.”
Ezio’s voice broke Armilla’s reverie. He had entered the room unnoticed, leaning on one hand on his waist and tapping the rug with his foot.
“I told the guards to bring a doctor. We need to move quickly before they return. Have you packed everything?”
“Just a moment.”
Rushed by Ezio, Armilla quickly went to the dressing room. She came back out wearing her thickest coat and said resolutely,
“Let’s go.”
“Are you leaving like this?”
Ezio frowned, checking Armilla’s hands. She was wearing gloves, but her hands were empty.
“Are you kidding me? What have you been doing without packing?”
“I don’t have any belongings.”
“Make some sense. You’ve been here for months and you have no luggage? Hurry up and pack something.”
“I really don’t have any luggage.”
Ezio, surprised by Armilla’s response, nodded as if he had just remembered that she had originally arrived here with nothing.
“Come this way.”
After checking for any movement downstairs, Ezio gestured for Armilla to follow him. She moved with a pounding heart while following his lead.
Ezio guided Armilla from the second floor to the first, and then to the basement.
He moved swiftly, always on alert. At the slightest hint of a shadow, he would stop Armilla and hide her.
They encountered a few servants along the way, but Ezio managed to drive them away by finding faults with them. Everyone seemed to accept his behavior as typical and steered clear of him.
Watching him, Armilla thought she had made the right choice in seeking Ezio’s help. After opening a secret passage leading from the basement to the mountainside, he said to her.
“This passage was created for emergencies and is top secret. You won’t be coming back here, so I’m telling you this. If you do come back, I’ll kill you.”
“Isn’t that a strange threat to make to someone who’s escaping?”
“Is it?”
Ezio shrugged his shoulders as he walked through the narrow passage, barely wide enough for one person. It looked crudely dug, like a mole’s work, but surprisingly functional.
The pathway seemed sturdy even as Ezio kicked stones out of his way without causing any disturbance. He glanced at Armilla and said somewhat awkwardly.
“But can you really survive after running away?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“Who said I was worried about you.”
Ezio grumbled as he cleared a large gravel stone from Armilla’s path. He then pointed towards a light at the end of the tunnel.
“You just need to go out there.”
Armilla swallowed hard and clutched her cloak tightly. Seeing her tense face, Ezio said.
“From there, you’re on your own. Head straight south, and you’ll find a convent. Say Ezio sent you, and they’ll take care of you.”
Ezio strode forward and opened a creaking door. As the door opened, light poured in, and a snowstorm rushed into the passage.
Armilla, holding onto her cloak’s hood in the wind, said to Ezio.
“Before the Grand Duke returns, please guard the Black Room. If you’re discovered later, say that I threatened you by harming myself. That might reduce your punishment.”
“Worry about yourself.”
Armilla smiled at Ezio’s blunt response and looked at him sincerely.
“Thank you…. Ezio.”
Ezio’s expression subtly changed upon hearing Armilla’s gratitude. His face was more somber than usual.
“Go far. As far as possible, and never come back.”
Armilla nodded and stepped outside. Taking in the overwhelming landscape of the vast snowy mountains, she wrapped her cloak tightly around her and began to walk away.
* * *
“Master?”
Ezio, who had been guarding the Black Room, couldn’t believe his eyes. The Master, who had left for the palace that morning, was now standing before him.
“How did you…?”
“Open it.”
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