I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 89
Nasir received Ricardo’s indifferent reply and decided to convey the request made by Princess Mirabel.
“The Princess wishes to visit her tomb, which she has learned is actually where a maid of the Segolinde is buried.”
“…tomb?”
“Yes, next to the tomb of the former Grand Duchess…”
As soon as Nasir mentioned the Grand Duchess, Ricardo abruptly stood up, his eyes suddenly sharp as if he had never been absent-minded.
“The princess is from Segolinde.”
“Yes, of course…”
“Armilla’s bracelet had Segolinde script on it. Maybe the princess can find some clue if she sees it.”
“But, but, Master, the bracelet is already…”
Nasir was bewildered and was about to respond, but Ricardo left him in the office and strode away rapidly.
* * *
After her bath, Mirabel was handed a warm tea by Sophie to help her warm up. After sipping the tea, she felt a wave of tiredness and walked over to the window.
Mirabel rubbed her shoulders with her free hand. Even though Asil’s magic made the carriage ride comfortable, the long journey still left her tired.
“Are you tired? Shall I give you a massage?”
“That’s alright. You go rest too, Sophie.”
Mirabel gave a smile to Sophie, who was looking at her condition. Sophie bowed slightly and left the room.
Mirabel listened to the door close behind Sophie and looked out the window. Unlike Segolinde’s clear skies, the dark clouds rumbled, looking like it would rain soon.
Mirabel shivered slightly, wrapped in a chill.
Despite a generously lit fireplace, just standing by the window she could feel the cold. Typical of Renato.
‘Maybe I should catch some sleep.’
Mirabel sighed, exhausted by the tension of potentially meeting Ricardo, even though she had done nothing strenuous.
“What’s that?”
As she turned toward the bed, something caught her eye. Narrowing her brows, she approached the window again.
A dark figure was rushing towards the temple.
The figure, moving as if in a daze and was hurriedly running, was unmistakably Ricardo. Mirabel recognized him effortlessly and a hoarse voice escaped her lips.
“Your …”
Mirabel bit her lip to stop herself from calling Ricardo ‘Your Grace’, as if by habit. Her grip tightened involuntarily on the teacup she held.
Mirabel watched Ricardo with cold eyes. Soon, he disappeared behind the temple.
Thinking about what lay behind the temple, Mirabel set down her teacup abruptly.
‘The tomb.’
Behind the temple was the Vittore family cemetery. Mirabel quickly grabbed her veil and stepped out of the room.
She had communicated through Nasir that she wished to visit ‘Princess Mirabel’s’ tomb. Yet, not long after conveying this message, Ricardo was hastily heading to the cemetery.
Though the distance made it hard to see his face clearly, his demeanor was unusual.
‘What is he planning to do?’
Anxious, Mirabel left the mansion without even remembering to call Sophie and headed towards the temple.
Could burying a maid under the guise of the princess have offended Renato’s pride?
Even if so, they could have formally protested to the princess. Why would the Grand Duke need to go to the tomb himself?
As Mirabel walked toward the temple, heavy drops began to fall on her veil. The thick gray clouds started to sprinkle rain. Mirabel paused and looked back at the mansion.
Returning to the mansion would mean getting drenched either way. It would be better to stop whatever Ricardo was planning first.
Mirabel decided so and continued her walk to the back of the temple building. Soon, she was startled by the scene she encountered.
“Armilla, Armilla…”
Ricardo was murmuring Armilla’s name as he dug through a small mound with his bare hands.
It was a chilling sight. Someone digging up a grave. It was clear that Ricardo was not in his right mind.
‘Why is he doing this?’
Mirabel looked around, bewildered.
Fortunately, Ricardo was not disturbing Sarah’s grave. The tombstone he was digging around bore the inscription ‘Tomb of Armilla Vittore’.
Seeing her old name engraved on the tombstone, a tingle shot through Mirabel’s heart.
There was a time when she was secretly delighted in using that name.
When the first name Armilla and last name Vittore were attached, it felt like a dreamy ecstasy. Now, that name remains only on a tombstone.
“Ah, hah… Armilla…”
Mirabel, who was lost in nostalgia, was jolted back to reality by Ricardo’s harsh breathing.
He was now clawing at the soggy earth with his bare hands. He was seemingly determined to completely unearth the grave.
Mirabel clenched her fists while watching from a distance.
She didn’t know what Ricardo was up to, but she couldn’t stand by as he desecrated ‘Armilla’s’ grave. Mirabel took a deep breath and approached him.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah, hah…”
“Grand Duke Ricardo Vittore, I asked what you are doing.”
Though Ricardo seemed to not hear her at first, he froze when she raised her voice.
His violet eyes swirled chaotically, and his lips trembled visibly through the heavy rain.
“Armilla…?”
With a hoarse voice, he murmured Armilla’s name as he looked at Mirabel. His purple eyes sparkled through the wet strands of his black hair.
Taken aback by his intense gaze, Mirabel instinctively stepped back. As she moved to retreat, Ricardo hurriedly rushed forward and grabbed her.
Want to read more? Advanced chapters are available on Patreon:
For update pings, novel discussions and/or to send mistake reports, join our discord server~!