I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 71
The sound of birds chirping, the sensation of warm spring air teasing her hair…
Surrounded by a cozy and warm atmosphere, Armilla fluttered her eyes open.
“…Mirabel?”
A man with brilliant blonde hair blurred into Armilla’s vision. She struggled to lift her heavy eyelids to see his face clearly.
Then, her gaze met the worried green eyes of the young man.
Seeing the familiar face of the young man, Armilla’s eyes twisted with sorrow and relief.
“Brother, Asil…”
“You’re awake!”
Asil grabbed Armilla’s hand as his voice cracked with emotion. He placed his hand on her forehead and closed his eyes.
As he chanted a spell, a light, similar to the one from Armilla’s bracelet, radiated brightly from beneath his hand.
“Ah, yes… That’s right.”
Feeling the familiar aura of magic, Armilla slowly pieced her memories together.
Armilla was not her true identity.
Her real name was Mirabel Etienette, the princess of Segolinde.
Last winter, Mirabel was on her way to Renato to marry Ricardo Vittore, the Grand Duke of Arcangelo, when she encountered a beast on the road.
“You’ve returned alive. This is a miracle.”
Asil caressed his sister’s cheek as tears streamed down his face. Overwhelmed with emotion, he fondly stroked Mirabel’s blonde hair that resembled his own.
“The lifting of my protection magic must mean you’ve survived a brush with death. When Vittore sent back the lily pendant, I suspected… What happened?”
“Brother…”
Mirabel looked at Asil with tearful eyes then fell silent. She sighed deeply before asking him a question instead of answering.
“How did you find me?”
“You were found collapsed in Tara Forest. Louise wanted Steren salad again, so Sophie went to gather mushrooms. That’s where she found you.”
Mentioning his twin sister, Asil smirked, then added,
“Louise’s stubbornness comes in handy sometimes.”
“Where’s Louise?”
“She went to fetch Sophie. She said it was about time for you to wake up and left just a while ago…”
“I’m here!”
Just then, the cream-colored door to the bedroom swung open, and a blonde woman entered. She briskly walked in led by a maid and pushed Asil aside. She grasped Mirabel’s hand.
“You’ve finally awakened, my sister.”
Louise, with features identical to Asil’s but with finer lines, furrowed her brows.
“Mirabel, you…”
Louise grimaced, clearing her throat as if trying to hold back tears.
“You, um, coming back from the dead, really…”
“Just cry, it looks worse when you don’t.”
“Quiet, Asil.”
As Louise and Asil bickered, the servant who had followed Louise stepped forward. When her eyes met Mirabel’s, she burst into tears and collapsed to the ground.
“Huuh, Pri, Princess Mirabel.”
“Sophie…”
Mirabel looked at the sobbing Sophie with a heavy heart, understanding the reason behind her tears.
Sophie’s sister, Sarah, had accompanied Mirabel on her journey to Arcangelo. Unfortunately, she didn’t survive the encounter with the beast.
On the journey to Arcangelo, it was Sarah, not Armilla, who was mistaken for the princess’s body in Renato because Armilla had gifted her beloved lily pendant to Sarah.
Feeling guilty, Mirabel took Sophie’s hand.
“I’m sorry, Sophie.”
Mirabel apologized with a heavy heart.
“I’m sorry for not being able to protect Sarah, for not being able to bring her back with me.”
“No!”
Sophie quickly shook her head at Mirabel’s somber tone. She hugged Mirabel with a voice mixed with sobs.
“Don’t say such things. Just having the Princess return alive… how relieved and grateful I am.”
Sophie’s loyal words darkened Mirabel’s gaze.
Sarah and Sophie were daughters of County Leontine, Armilla’s childhood playmates, making it natural for them to become her handmaids when Armilla was set to marry in Arcangelo. They both offered to accompany her, but it was impossible to take all the daughters of the Leontine family. So only the younger sister, Sarah, went.
And now…
Sarah had tragically lost her life in an accident, and worse, was buried under a tombstone bearing the name of Princess Mirabel, not her own.
Armilla couldn’t bring herself to voice this part.
For the sake of the child.
The fact that Princess Mirabel was alive could not spread to Renato. If it did, there was a risk that talks of her marriage to Duke Vittore could be revisited.
Armilla needed to eliminate all connections with Ricardo to safely birth and raise the child inside her.
‘But… will everything be alright?’
While comforting Sophie, Armilla swallowed hard.
Surviving the fall from the cliff was a miracle. Aside from minor bruises, she had no serious injuries, likely thanks to Asil’s magical healing.
But what about the baby?
Turning her gaze from Sophie to Asil, Armilla saw her brother solemnly looking back at her. As their eyes met, Asil spoke up.
“But Mirabel, what exactly happened to you during this time? Are you aware of… your condition?”
Asil’s question made Louise cast a sharp look at him.
“Condition?”
“Princess, are you hurt somewhere?”
Sophie, who was still clinging to Mirabel, looked at her with worried eyes. Mirabel lowered her gaze to her belly.
Her family would be shocked to learn of her pregnancy.
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