I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 74
“How did you come here?”
“Is that all for a welcome?”
Valerio looked at Nasir with a lazy smile. With a nod, the Crown Prince’s guard, who had been waiting in the garden, marched into the lobby in formation.
Valerio strolled leisurely through his escort and continued.
“Since the Grand Duke has been absent, I’ve come personally with the Emperor’s decree.”
Nasir, standing at the end of Valerio’s path, kneeled to show respect to the Crown Prince.
“Nasir Joachio, aide to the Vittore family, at your service, Your Highness.”
“Oh, Nasir.”
Valerio raised an eyebrow as he looked down at him. He signaled to a knight to take his cloak.
“Have we become so formal? We weren’t like this at the academy.”
“Back then, we were colleagues studying math together.”
Nasir replied calmly and stood up. He bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince.
“Please wait a moment. I will fetch the Grand Duke.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Valerio caught Nasir’s shoulder as he turned towards the Grand Duke’s office.
With a light smile, Valerio told the perplexed Nasir.
“Let’s go together. There’s no need for such formality when visiting a cousin.”
“…Very well.”
Nasir looked at Valerio with a meaningful look with much on his mind. He stepped aside to make way for the Crown Prince and began to lead the way.
* * *
“I will tell you in advance, the Grand Duke is not in good health. That’s why he couldn’t go to the palace.”
“I know. You wrote to inform us.”
Valerio answered nonchalantly as they walked.
The Emperor was furious to learn that the Grand Duke had turned back to his estate instead of coming to the palace. However, after reading the letter from the aide, he began to worry about the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke, who had never been ill, must be seriously unwell to have turned back.
As the year passed without the Grand Duke’s arrival at the palace, the Emperor even considered visiting him personally.
But for the Emperor of the Empire to visit a border region was not as simple as it sounded.
Thus, Valerio ended up making this reluctant visit, having not informed them in advance out of a bit of spite.
“It’s still cold here. No wonder he fell ill living in such a place.”
Valerio clicked his tongue and shook his head. While spring flowers were already wilting in the palace, Renato hadn’t felt a hint of spring.
Valerio had felt silly dressed in thick winter clothes for the journey from the capital. But arriving here, he regretted not wearing something even warmer.
As Valerio coughed lightly, Nasir apologized with an awkward expression as he led him.
“I’m sorry. Normally, we keep the fire burning strongly.”
“But?”
“As I mentioned, the Grand Duke’s condition hasn’t been good. Keeping the fires burning day and night led to a shortage of firewood.”
“Then just chop more wood. Aren’t knights and workers in abundance here?”
“Well…”
Nasir sighed, struggling to find the words. Valerio noticed his reaction and sensed something was amiss.
‘It seems there’s indeed trouble.’
The Nasir Joachio that Valerio knew was a talent who always found the best solution in any situation.
He entered the academy as the top student and graduated second. Even upon graduation, professors pleaded with him to stay.
Valerio too had made a generous offer to recruit Nasir. Ultimately, Nasir chose Ricardo not Valerio.
“We’ve arrived.”
Reaching a grand door, Nasir gently knocked. Unable to hide his troubled expression, he announced the Crown Prince’s visit to the Grand Duke. Valerio observed Nasir’s face with a keen gaze.
What exactly was happening in Renato?
“Please, go in.”
Valerio stepped through the door opened by Nasir, sensing that his reluctant trip to Renato might turn into an unexpected and intriguing discovery.
* * *
Valerio was puzzled.
The Grand Duke’s office was in complete disarray. It looked as though it had been ransacked, with books and items scattered all around.
Furthermore, the smoke from cigarettes was so severe that one couldn’t see an inch ahead.
Valerio waved his hand through the air as he entered the smoke-filled office. He coughed at the stale air and opened a window.
Upon opening the window, a snowstorm rushed in, causing the heavy velvet curtains to flutter. It was a regrettable chill the moment the fresh air hit. Valerio frowned and closed the window.
“…get out.”
The hoarse voice came from behind as Valerio was closing the window. Turning around, he saw liquor bottles sprawled across the desk and Ricardo’s gaunt face.
“What’s all this? Surely you didn’t drink all that?”
“I said get out.”
Ricardo repeated the same words as if he hadn’t heard Valerio’s question. He looked at the Crown Prince with a twisted smile, his once sharp purple eyes now dull and unfocused.
Feeling uneasy, Valerio pulled out a scroll from inside his jacket.
“I’ve brought an imperial decree from His Majesty. Even if I must leave, this must be delivered. Grand Duke Ricardo Vittore, you are commanded to accept the Emperor of Arcangelo’s decree.”
Valerio announced as he unrolled the scroll. However, Ricardo made no move.
He just sat bored in the leather chair, staring blankly in Valerio’s direction.
“Ricardo Vittore, obey the Emperor’s decree immediately.”
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