I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 85

Mirabel hugged Charles tightly, whispering only after making sure Sophie had gone to fetch an umbrella for the child.

“Who’s been cruel?”

However she hadn’t noticed Louise approaching from behind.

Startled, Mirabel looked up at Louise.

“When did you get here? You scared me. Did the noble assembly end early?”

Louise stared down at her sister who had changed the subject and sighed.

“…Well, alright. If you don’t want to talk about it.”

Sitting at the garden’s tea table, Louise gestured for the ladies-in-waiting, who promptly set tea and scones before disappearing.

“Come, have some tea. Charles, come here too.”

Louise clapped and spoke to Charles. Charles ran over with a bright smile. Louise grunted as she lifted him onto her lap, then looked at Mirabel.

Louise, observing her beautiful younger sister with long, abundant blonde hair thickly braided to one side, pressed her lips into a straight line.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, nothing.”

Hiding her troubled thoughts, Louise smiled faintly.

It had been four years since Mirabel returned.

There were many times Louise wanted to ask what had happened during her disappearance and who Charles’s father was. But it was difficult. It seemed Mirabel didn’t want to recall the past.

Instead, Louise tried a different approach.

“Now that Charles is growing up, how about attending a ball? There are plenty who would line up to take Charles in as their own, just for a chance to meet you.”

Louise’s suggestion made Mirabel, who was about to sip her tea, stiffen. She stared at the reddish brew before shaking her head.

“I can take care of Charles on my own.”

Three years ago, Mirabel announced her return.

The people of Segolinde were surprised but delighted that the presumed-dead princess was alive. Of course, they adored the lovely little prince.

While some may have felt pity for Mirabel for losing her memories, no one dared spread malicious rumors about Mirabel or Charles. It was proof of the royal family’s beloved status among the people.

Yet, Mirabel had isolated herself from the social circles of Segolinde.

“Stubborn, aren’t you? Don’t you ever want to date?”

“And what about you, Sister?”

“Well, I’m just too busy.”

“So am I.”

Mirabel responded calmly to Louise, bringing the tea cup to her lips. She savored the tangy aroma of Rooibos tea.

When she lived in Renato, enjoying the fragrance of tea had been an unimaginable luxury. Now, it was a common part of her daily routine.

“Alright, do as you wish.”

Louise surrendered to her sister, breaking a piece of scone to small pieces. She continued while spreading strawberry jam on the scones to feed it to her nephew.

“By the way, Mirabel, how about you take a short trip to Arcangelo?”

“….Why there?”

“The founding celebration is coming up. We should attend this year.”

“There wasn’t a thing like that last year.”

“That’s because there was no celebration. Remember, the price of lily bulbs skyrocketed, causing unrest in the Empire? They couldn’t hold the founding celebration amidst the turmoil of a potential civil war.”

Louise casually explained, adding sugar to her tea. Sophie returned with the parasol, took Charles from Louise, and went back inside.

With her lap now empty, Louise brushed off her skirt and continued.

“I heard a single bulb could buy a mansion in the capital at those prices. Anyway, they didn’t celebrate the founding celebration last year because of the uproar, but they are resuming this year. So, we’ve been invited.”

Mirabel held her tea cup tightly as Louise spoke.

She looked quite calm but she was struggling to maintain her composure whenever Arcangelo was mentioned. Especially when caught off guard like this.

“Do I have to go?”

“Asil has to go to the Magic Tower, and I need to attend the noble assembly till next month. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Mother to go in person to the Empire.”

“That makes sense.”

Mirabel nodded slightly. As her expression darkened, Louise lowered her voice and spoke carefully.

“Is it because of Renato?”

At Louise’s question, Mirabel’s face hardened. Her grip on the tea cup intensified.

Louise smiled softly at Mirabel’s reaction.

“Since you were engaged to the Grand Duke Renato, it’s natural you’d be concerned. Especially since the Grand Duke has been ill for years.”

Mirabel grimaced. Although Louise had mentioned the Grand Duke was ill, she knew the new nickname that had stuck to Ricardo.

Renato’s mad wolf.

It was said that Ricardo would head to the snowy mountain alone every year on a certain day and return only after killing all the beasts he encountered.

Thanks to him, neighboring countries were freed from the terror of the beasts. Though they should be grateful to him, for some reason, the people feared him, calling him mad.

That was all Mirabel knew.

She deliberately avoided learning more, as she didn’t want to hear further news about him.

“The Empire seems to have a lot they want to say, now that Princess Mirabel is known to be alive. They want to discuss the agreements that were brushed aside when they thought you were dead.”

“I understand what you’re saying.”

Setting down her tea cup, Mirabel responded to Louise’s explanation. The princess was supposed to marry the Grand Duke, and her presumed death had left the Empire in debt to Segolinde. Therefore, their agreement fell through without a dispute.

However, with the princess’s return, the situation had changed.

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