I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 76
However, Valerio had no intention of providing any further information. It was already a huge risk allowing him to meet Ricardo.
“I understand what you’re worried about. I know.”
Valerio hurriedly spoke, sensing Nasir’s wary gaze. He ruffled his hair and looked around the office.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I’m not pleased to see Ricardo like this. Instead…”
Valerio bit his lip, struggling to continue.
“It bothers me.”
“You’re worried?”
As they arrived at the guest room, Nasir opened the door for Valerio.
Entering the green-decorated room following Nasir, Valerio nodded heavily.
“In his current state, I can’t even send an assassin. Yet, assassins have consistently sought me out.”
“You doubted His Grace?”
Nasir protested with a face full of disbelief.
“As I mentioned in my last letter, the Grand Duke wishes to distance himself from the imperial family. To think that he would send assassins is absurd.”
“You are Ricardo’s man.”
“So, you didn’t believe me.”
Nasir leaned on his waist and sighed deeply. Then, calming down, he looked at Valerio.
“I understand. When one’s life is threatened, everything seems suspicious.”
Valerio gave a faint smile at Nasir’s rational response. He still coveted Nasir’s capabilities.
There were no such talents around Valerio.
Maybe that’s why he was more aggressive. Maybe that’s why what Ricardo had seemed bigger and more desirable.
“As you might already know, the Grand Duchess disappeared. It’s been about a year.”
“So, the reason he stopped coming to the palace was because of that?”
“Essentially, yes.”
“How did she disappear?”
“That’s…”
Nasir, who had been answering until then, suddenly shut up on the crucial detail. Frustrated by his attitude, Valerio pressed him.
“We can’t leave the Grand Duke like this for the sake of the border’s safety. We need to find the Grand Duchess.”
“She… ran away.”
“The Grand Duchess left the mansion on her own? Why?”
Valerio couldn’t understand. If Ricardo loved the Grand Duchess enough to become so broken, why would she run away on her own?
“I heard the Grand Duchess saved the Grand Duke, and that’s how they fell in love. But did her love cool off?”
Valerio mumbled, trying to make sense of the situation.
“Then they should have divorced, not run away. What a hopeless woman.”
“It’s not like that.”
Nasir stopped Valerio with a troubled face. He bit his lip, adjusted his monocle, and said.
“Lady Armilla loved His Highness. She is a pitiful person.”
Nasir stopped speaking and hardened his face. He looked at Valerio with a stern gaze and said
“Please, under no circumstances should you mention Lady Armilla’s name to His Grace to provoke him in any way.”
“Understood.”
Valerio responded reluctantly.
He still had many unanswered questions, but he knew that Nasir had already shown great generosity in sharing this much.
If they hadn’t shared a past at the academy, Nasir might not have disclosed even this much.
“I trust Your Highness will keep this a secret.”
Nasir spoke softly and offered a smile. He knew that Valerio could be swayed by sentiment in crucial moments.
The Emperor disapproved of his son’s softer side and preferred the icy Ricardo.
“Please rest now.”
Nasir bowed respectfully and left the room. Left alone in the warm green room, Valerio gazed out the frost-covered window, looking deep in thought.
* * *
Ricardo slowly shook the bottle in his hand. Glass bottles rolled at his feet, and the golden liquid formed small puddles.
Surrounded by the strong scent of alcohol that soaked into the office’s red rug, Ricardo had a dazed look.
Someone had visited today.
Who it was or what conversation they had, he couldn’t remember.
It didn’t matter. It wasn’t Armilla anyway.
Ricardo grimaced and covered his face with both hands. He could feel the rough skin beneath.
In the silence, Ricardo removed his hands. He then looked out the window with a cool gaze.
The desolate view of the estate entered his sight. Though the scenery hadn’t changed much since he last viewed it with Armilla, today it seemed exceptionally lonely.
He had proposed to her overlooking this estate.
Armilla had happily accepted his proposal. Her voice, agreeing to become his wife, was filled with happiness. It was even affecting Ricardo with the same emotion.
Armilla was a happy bride, at least in Ricardo’s eyes.
Where did it all go wrong?
Armilla said she didn’t want to leave his side. She panicked at the thought of being freed in a year and clung to him in fear.
Yet, after some time, she said she wanted to leave him. And she did.
She left Ricardo.
Ricardo’s face contorted as he looked out the window. His heart that was once calm as a still lake, now violently rippled. The sensations he had numbed with alcohol sharply awakened.
The thought of being abandoned ignited a fire within him.
Ricardo abruptly stood up and headed towards the door, then crossed the lobby to open the mansion’s main entrance. As soon as he stepped outside, a fierce snowstorm enveloped him.
Undeterred by the wind, Ricardo walked steadily, his steps leading towards the snow-covered mountains.
His empty gaze fixed on the mountain.
The mountain where Armilla had vanished.
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