I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 68
It was a necessary burden if it meant finding a proper Grand Duchess. So Paolo, the butler, grumbled a little out of frustration.
Unfortunately, the Grand Duke overheard his complaints.
Feeling his life in danger, Paolo rubbed his hands together pleadingly.
“For, forgive me, my Lord!”
“Don’t just say you’re sorry. Say it again.”
Paolo trembled and kept his mouth firmly shut. If he could, he would rewind time.
“My, my Lord…”
Paolo was sweating profusely trying to find an excuse. He sent a desperate look to the aide next to the Grand Duke. Nasir, catching his gaze, sighed deeply before speaking.
“Your Highness, please calm down.”
“He said that my wife, who is still living well, a corpse.”
“But Paolo has been serving the Vittore family since the predecessor. Even if you must punish him, this is not the way. Please put your sword away. This is not like you, Your Grace.”
“Not like me?”
Ricardo murmured, a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth.
He hadn’t been like himself for a long time.
Since he decided to pursue the woman who ran away from him.
Since he shared a bed with her under the pretense of a clumsy act.
No, since he impulsively proposed to her.
Whenever it came to Armilla, Ricardo couldn’t think straight. Strangely, his heart acted before his brain. His heart urged him throughout his body.
To find her and confine her again. To take her back.
Ricardo’s nerves were exceptionally sharp these days.
Every time he closed his eyes, the vision of the Red Room haunted him. Armilla’s body swayed before his eyes.
Ricardo struggled to shake off the ominous thoughts invading his mind.
And amidst this turmoil, the butler carelessly spoke as if Armilla was dead. Ricardo found it hard to contain his boiling rage.
“What’s unlike you, is you. Since when does an aide overstep and interfere with my decisions? With everyone speaking nonsense, it’s time for a lesson.”
Ricardo spoke lowly with gleaming eyes. The blade at the butler’s neck slowly moved upwards.
“Perhaps cutting out the tongue is better than the neck. What do you think, Paolo? Shall I cut out your tongue and show it to everyone?”
“Hiick!”
“Master!”
Just as Ricardo was about to twist his wrist and complete the action, Ezio’s urgent voice filled the lobby.
With a look of regret, Ricardo lowered his sword.
“You’re lucky. Truly a survivor from generations past.”
Ricardo scoffed at the butler and then turned his gaze toward where Ezio’s voice came from.
Since Armilla’s disappearance, Ezio, who was demoted to a regular knight, had been scouring the snowy mountains. He participated in the search with more zeal than anyone, attending both the morning and afternoon search parties.
Nasir was surprised by Ezio’s eagerness and asked if he was that desperate to return as Commander of the Knights. Ezio responded gruffly.
‘That foolish woman couldn’t have reached the convent. She’s surely lost in the mountains.’
Nasir realized from Ezio’s words that he had directed Armilla to the convent. And also the grim fact that she hadn’t made it there.
“Master! Huff, you are here!”
Ezio ran up to Ricardo with heavy panting. Ricardo wiped his dark eyes and asked in a tired voice.
“What is it?”
“Please, please look at this!”
Ezio caught his breath and presented something to Ricardo.
Upon seeing what was in Ezio’s hand, Ricardo’s pupils dilated. Nasir and Paolo, standing nearby, also gasped at the object Ezio held out.
What Ezio had brought was a golden bracelet stained with red blood.
Armilla’s bracelet.
Ricardo stood still like a broken doll while silently staring at the bracelet.
Armilla’s bracelet was something that was never meant to come off. Yet, here it was, detached.
What could this mean?
A heavy silence filled the hallway.
As Ricardo gazed at the bracelet with cold eyes, his sword dropped to the floor with a clang. The sound echoed, but no one moved.
“…Where?”
Ricardo’s parched voice broke the silence. As he moved his lips, Ezio quickly looked up and asked.
“What?”
“Where did you find it?”
“Uh, there….in the canyon…”
“Which canyon?”
“Well…”
As Ezio struggled to continue, Ricardo took the bracelet from his hand and pressed again.
“Which canyon?”
“The Isota Canyon, downstream.”
Nasir’s eyes widened at Ezio’s answer.
Isota was an area inhabited by the leader beast. A bracelet lost from its owner had been found there.
There was no need to explain what had likely happened to the owner of the bracelet.
Ricardo gripped the bracelet tightly as if holding it could somehow bring Armilla back.
He held the bracelet till his knuckles turned white from the pressure, and Ricardo narrowed his eyes. Then he turned his gaze towards the large window and cleared his throat.
“Follow me.”
With a brief command, Ricardo started walking. Ezio, picking up his Master’s sword, followed him.
Nasir watched their retreating figures with a troubled face. Then he turned a bitter gaze toward the butler, who was catching his breath.
* * *
“What did you say?”
The Black Wolf Knights were taken aback by the sudden order. Just that morning, they had been focusing all their efforts on finding the Grand Duchess.
But suddenly, they were ordered to head to the territory of the leader beast.
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