I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Translator: effe

In the meantime, the only person Armilla relied on left every morning to find his fiance. He then returned with a face of regret saying he couldn’t find her again today.

While he was away, servants whispered about Armilla.

She knew that if she had a small role, she would be less distressed. She thought Ricardo would look at her a little warmly.

So she racked her brain and remembered the border. However, what she got was cold doubt. That fact made Armilla sad and upset.

“If you doubt it, that’s fine. You can throw it. Do as Your Grace wishes.”

Armilla wiped her eyes as she spoke to Ricardo.

She tried to speak rationally, but her eyes burned hot. It was hard to be in front of someone as cold as Ricardo.

Maybe, she just heats up in front of Ricardo. He is Armilla’s only link to the world. Because she has nothing else to herself.

“I spoke too much. I apologize.”

Ricardo caught Armilla as she tried to pass by him. He ran his other hand through his hair and let out a long sigh.

“I’d like you to make a map. You can listen to the specific method from the aide. I’ll tell you in advance, so go to the study from tomorrow…….”

“But you still doubt me?”

“That……”

Uncharacteristic of Ricardo, he was at a loss for words. Armilla, who read the true intention behind his answer, pursed her lips. She said as she wiped her eyes roughly.

“That’s okay.”

Armilla said self-deprecatingly with teary eyes.

“I will be suspicious too. I understand.”

A long sigh leaked from Ricardo’s teeth as he watched Armilla’s sad face. He let her go and clicked his tongue.

“This won’t do.”

“What?”

“I am not defenseless enough to surround myself with a suspected spy. Just now, I was a bit flustered and couldn’t answer right away.”

Armilla nodded to Ricardo’s calm explanation. Ricardo, seeing her shoulders droop, put his hand on her waist and said.

“I feel like I’ve become ungrateful to my benefactor.”

Ricardo’s words made Armilla raise her gaze. When her eyes met his, he spoke slowly.

“Ask me for a favor. Since I made a mistake with you, I will grant you a favor.”

Armilla’s lips moved at his unexpected proposal. It was something she hadn’t even thought of. The thoughts in her head got tangled in an instant. She wanted a lot from him.

She wanted to ask him to not doubt her any more, pay her a little attention, talk to her once in a while…….

But Armilla held back the sound that was about to escape her mouth.

In the meantime, Ricardo had been quite lenient towards Armilla. But it was only visible to her. It was evident from the fact that the servants of the mansion were at a loss for what to do with her.

In fact, the fact that he was lenient towards Armilla was too thin to be counted as ‘kindness’. He was fundamentally an unkind man.

So even if he allowed it, she shouldn’t spit out just any wishes.

“Tell me, whatever.”

With Ricardo’s urging, Armilla drew in a breath. And she spat out the words filled with her own greed.

“Then please teach me Arcangelo language. Your Grace yourself.”

Ricardo looked at Armilla in silence. Armilla looked at him, and her heart tightened.

Is it too much?

The Grand Duke has a lot of work. There is no time. Can she ask for his precious time? Maybe this is pestering him.

“Teach you Arcangelo language?”

Ricardo murmured softly. His dark eyes met her clear face.

“Fine, will that be enough?”

“Yes, that is eno…… ah!”

While answering Ricardo, Armilla lost strength in her legs. She may have been too tense.

As she stumbled over, he reached out and looped his hand around her narrow waist. His firm strength supported Armilla and pulled her into his wide embrace.

Armilla, cradled in Ricardo’s arms, looked up at him. A faint light of confusion passed across the beautiful Grand Duke’s face.

And the light of that confusion came to Armilla as hope.

Armilla is nothing here. While the master of this place was treating her with courtesy. He gives her a cozy bed, treats her, and pampers her.

* * *

After that day, one more thing was added to Armilla’s monotonous routine. It was to study with him in the evening in his office.

Armilla sat at the desk in the study and looked at the practice paper. With her fingertips, she caressed the practice paper on which ‘Armilla’ and ‘Ricardo Vittore’ were written in Ricardo’s neat handwriting.

Ricardo originally wrote only Armilla’s name on the practice sheet.

But Armilla wasn’t enough with just that. She asked Ricardo to teach her how to write his name.

“Ricardo…… Vittore.”

Ricardo’s name flowed sweetly and gently through the dark pink lips.

Armilla put his name to her mouth and straightened her posture with a flushed face. Then she concentrated and started writing.

“You are quite eager.”

Wondering how many practice paper she has filled. Someone knocked on the door of the study and appeared. Armilla opened the door and saw the one who appeared. Her face brightened.

“Nasir.”

The man called Nasir stood at the door and bowed his head politely. He waited for her in his place until Armilla got up.

“Look at this. Didn’t I improve a lot?”

Armilla gave a welcome look and waved her hand at Nasir. Nasir then moved his feet and moved closer to her.

He carefully lifted his monocle with his fingertips, checking her handwriting.

“Yes. The handwriting is changing steadily. You are practicing hard.”

“Thank you.”

Armilla smiled shyly at the compliment. Nasir was Ricardo’s aide, and he was watching Armilla’s progress from time to time according to his master’s order.