I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Translator: effe
Nasir was different from the other servants who were suspicious of the relationship between Ricardo and Armilla. He was accepting the two of them as they were. So he approached Armilla without prejudice at all.
One day, when Armilla asked Nasir why he didn’t mind the gossip. He said this with his characteristic eye smile.
‘Because he’s too much of a wooden man to have a mistress.’
Armilla’s heart calmed down at those words. She was just grateful that rumors hadn’t swayed him, and he didn’t resent her.
“Oh, this stroke here should be bent inward, not outward. It looks like it’s sticking out, but you have to point it inside.”
Nasir, who was examining Armilla’s practice paper, made a careful point. But it only looked the same in her eyes.
“How?”
“I mean…….”
“Like this.”
Nasir was about to show Armilla the writing. The cold air seemed to come, and she heard another person’s voice next to her.
A hard, large hand grasped Armilla’s quill. Ricardo’s beautiful profile filled Armilla’s vision. The scarlet light from the candle shimmered like they were caressing his face.
“You’ve gotten pretty good at names.”
“…… yes.”
Armilla, who had been staring at Ricardo blankly, looked away in shock.
Her face was hot. She was cautious in case Ricardo or Nasir noticed the heat she was feeling right now.
Fortunately, neither man said much to Armilla. Nasir greeted Ricardo properly and bowed his head.
“Are you back?”
“Yes. Do you have any other business?”
“Right. Actually…….”
Nasir, who was answering Ricardo, hesitated and looked at Armilla. Armilla, who was cooling her cheeks, blinked at his gaze.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Thank you.”
Armilla gave a smile and turned to Ricardo. He was still looking at the name written by Armilla. Even though they were all the same name, he kept his eyes fixed on the letters. As if those writings became her voice.
“Then, Your Grace.”
“…….”
Even when Armilla greeted him, Ricardo did not look at her. It wasn’t until the door closed and made a sound that he blinked his eyes slowly in realization.
As Ricardo stared at the spot where Armilla had been standing, Nasir came into his vision. He took out a letter sealed in wax from within his sleeve and held it out to his master.
“A letter from Segolinde.”
Ricardo accepted the letter from Nasir without a word. As he carelessly broke the seal with a paper knife and looked at the contents in the candlelight, wrinkles formed between his straight eyebrows.
“It’s the same thing again.”
Ricardo spoke calmly and put the letter on the desk. He sat down in the chair where Armilla had sat and sighed deeply.
Nasir quietly bowed his head, feeling his master uncomfortable. There was no need to ask about the contents of the letter.
It had been a month since the princess had gone missing, and Segolinde had been sending letters with the same content every week.
They were asking for the swift retrieval of the princess. It was a bonus that they wanted to hold the Arcangelo Empire responsible for the proposed marriage.
Every time, just the same content, with not a single letter changed.
It was a tricky situation for Ricardo. Despite saying it was the responsibility of the Empire, in reality it was Ricardo’s responsibility.
He had to show at least a sincerity in finding the princess’ body and holding her funeral. Unless Ricardo does that, he cannot avoid being held accountable by both the Emperor and Segolinde.
So Ricardo has to look for her every day. Even if it was snowing, he must.
“Should you have accepted Segolinde’s tracking party?”
“That would have been very helpful.”
Ricardo sneered at Nasir’s question.
As soon as the news spread that the princess and her party were missing, Segolinde said they would send a tracking party. But Ricardo politely declined.
Ricardo judged that Segolinde’s tracking party would not be able to play an active part in the bitter cold of Renato.
The Segolinde side also accepted Ricardo’s judgment. And instead of that, they sent a reminder letter like this every week.
They say that Princess Mirabel is the king’s favorite daughter. It didn’t seem like a false rumor.
That gave Ricardo a headache.
In fact, Ricardo did not believe the rumors about the princess. For it is common to suddenly shower the daughter with affection and embellishment in order to raise their daughter’s value in the marriage market.
If this was the case with ordinary noble families, how would the royal family of a country who had discussed marriage with the imperial family?
He thought it would be a lie to say that the princess was a great beauty enough to be called the flower of Segolinde. It was because, in the first place, it was unreasonable to send such a precious princess to a Grand Duke who was not even the Crown Prince.
It doesn’t matter how her face is. Marriage is not important to Ricardo.
It doesn’t matter who he marries. No matter who becomes the Grand Duchess, she was going to be like anyone else.
That’s why Ricardo didn’t even accept the portrait that was ceremonially exchanged before the wedding.
“…… Should I have accepted the portrait?”
Ricardo, who was staring at the letter, spat out words of regret. He wanders the mountains every day in search of a woman he doesn’t even know the face. What kind of stupid thing is this?
“If you ask for it now, they will send it to you. They draw portraits of the royalty every year. There must have been something drawn last year or this year.”
Nasir bowed to Ricardo, who stared at the letter.
“Then, shall I send them a request?”
“No.”
Ricardo said briefly, turning his head away from the letter. He murmured, brushing his bangs half-heartedly.
“It’s just uncomfortable recognizing the face of a dead person.”
“You seem to think that the princess has already passed away.”
“You get frostbite if you stand outside for an hour in this cold. If it’s a month.”
Ricardo paused for a moment, cutting off his words.
“At least the princess won’t look exactly like the portrait. What is the point in that?”
Nasir silently agreed to his master’s words.
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