I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 80

Rumors painted her as a seductress who bewitched the Grand Duke.

Yet, the Grand Duchess loved Ricardo purely, relied on him, and followed him blindly.

She attempted to embrace Ricardo’s cold nature somehow. It’s somewhat understandable why Ricardo became like this after she vanished overnight.

Moreover, the fact that she was pregnant with his child makes it even harder for anyone to stay sane.

“Take it easy for a while. Leave Renato to Nasir…”

“We need to hold a funeral.”

“What?”

Valerio was taken aback by Ricardo’s words that he said with hollow eyes while staring out the window. He asked back, having forgotten his own suggestion about the Grand Duchess’s funeral.

“A funeral, suddenly? Why?”

As Valerio questioned, Ricardo’s gaze slowly shifted from the snow-covered mountains back to him.

The person who looked at Valerio had eyes dark as those of the deceased. Ricardo spoke softly with parched lips.

“Because it needs to end.”

“…Right.”

Valerio agreed, though apprehensive.

What changed in Ricardo’s heart while he slept was beyond Valerio’s understanding.

But before Ricardo changed his mind again, they needed to proceed with the Grand Duchess’s funeral. Valerio stood up.

“I’ll tell Nasir.”

Ricardo watched emotionlessly as Valerio left the room. Once the door closed, he turned his pallid face back to the window.

The wind was blowing.

Just like the day he first met Armilla. A cold snowy wind.

* * *

The Grand Duchess’s funeral was swiftly arranged. The mansion staff were initially confused by the news of the funeral but soon calmed down.

A week after Ricardo woke up, a funeral was set up in the mansion’s temple.

“I’m not sure if this is okay.”

Missus Catarina, who had been directing the employees, spoke with a voice full of concern.

Her gaze settled on the Grand Duke who was greeting the mourners.

Ricardo stood impeccably dressed in a black suit. His appearance, from head to toe, did not look like the man who had seemed half-mad.

Yet, the precarious atmosphere lingered, deterring mourners from approaching him too closely.

“It has to be okay, it’s been over a year now.”

Standing by Missus Catarina’s side, Paolo whispered softly. He had welcomed the news of the Grand Duchess’s funeral with both hands.

The swift organization of the funeral was largely because of him.

“Now Renato can finally return to its former state. This should put an end to the Master’s aimless wandering. Oh, Count Adalberto has arrived!”

Paolo, with a look of relief on his face, eagerly went off to greet someone in the distance.

Missus Catarina sighed softly as she watched Paolo’s departing back. She then moved towards the maids carrying white linens.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in Renato.”

Behind the woman moving towards the maids, Durante leisurely made his appearance. He was guided by Paolo towards Ricardo.

“Have you been well? It’s been nearly a year. Our Julia has made her debut. Not that the Grand Duke would be interested.”

Ricardo silently observed Durante with an expressionless gaze and then turned away. Durante, who was being ignored so blatantly, twitched his lips and muttered.

“But really, should this be made such a grand affair? A funeral without a body. Would’ve been simpler to just… forget the Grand Duchess ever existed…”

“Count! What a surprise to see you here.”

Just as Ricardo’s sharp gaze was about to return to Durante.

“I was even more happy to see you in Renate. I happened to have something to say to the Count.”

Valerio, who was talking with Nasir rushed over. He quickly pulled Durante away from Ricardo.

“I’d stop if I were you.”

Valerio whispered a quiet warning, gripping Durante’s shoulder tightly.

“Unless you’d like your own funeral to follow the Grand Duchess’s.”

“Crown Prince!”

Durante bristled at Valerio’s remark and raised his voice. The attention of those around were drawn to him.

Through it all, Ricardo stood indifferent, separated from anyone. Durante felt a chill at the strangeness of his demeanor.

He knew of the news of the Grand Duke’s poor health, the reason Renato’s knights from Adalberto had withdrawn.

But this was more than mere illness, wasn’t it?

Realizing Ricardo’s condition belatedly, Durante’s expression turned icy. Valerio released him as he clamped his mouth shut.

“Provoking the Grand Duke right now isn’t wise.”

With a shrug, Valerio turned towards the temple.

“Just know that the Count owes me one for saving your life today.”

Durante stood dumbfounded as Valerio walked away. Above his head, the eerie sound of a pipe organ marked the beginning of the funeral rang.

* * *

In the bitter cold, the funeral of Renato’s Grand Duchess, Armilla Vittore, took place.

The Grand Duchess’s funeral was unusually somber.

Throughout the ceremony, the Grand Duke’s gaze was threateningly fixed on the Grand Duchess’s coffin.

Inside the white coffin, instead of a body, lay a broken bracelet.

The Grand Duke obsessively stared at the blood-stained bracelet. Because of this, the mourners who came to offer flowers couldn’t get a proper look.

After all, what was the point of seeing that? To them, it was merely an ominous object.

The funeral ended with the haunting sound of the pipe organ.

The guests quickly leave Renato as if being chased. Their hasty departure was a stark contrast to the princess’s funeral where they lingered even after the ceremony was over.

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