I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 90

“Don’t go.”

“Let go of this.”

“I’m sorry for everything. Please don’t go…”

Ricardo pleaded as he fell to his knees before Mirabel. Mirabel was shocked at the sight of his gaunt hands clutching her arm.

What remained of Ricardo’s once well-formed body were only bones and muscles. His face had become unrecognizably gaunt, and his skin had noticeably roughened.

Yet, the most shocking was his mental state. Ricardo was trembling and clinging desperately to Mirabel.

“I’m sorry. Please, don’t go…”

His murmuring was incomprehensible. It was unlike the Ricardo she remembered.

He had always been a rational and logical man.

‘What has happened to him?’

Mirabel looked at him, bewildered. She knew he was called the ‘Mad Wolf of Renato’, but she hadn’t realized that might actually mean he had lost his mind.

She momentarily forgot she should push him away, simply observing him in shock.

The wetness in his once vibrant purple eyes furrowed her brow.

Crying? Ricardo crying seemed impossible. She didn’t want to see him in such a pitiful state.

Clearing her throat, Mirabel spoke.

“Grand Duke Ricardo Vittore.”

At Mirabel’s stern voice, Ricardo’s broad shoulders flinched. He shook as he slowly looked up, appearing terrified.

Mirabel felt confused at his fearful demeanor.

“I am Princess Mirabel Etienette. If I’m not mistaken, you are Grand Duke Vittore, right?”

“Princess…?”

“Yes.”

Mirabel replied curtly and pushed him away. Ricardo, looking lost, stared at her and murmured.

“But… it was Armilla’s voice.”

“Who is Armilla?”

Mirabel asked, hoping her voice wouldn’t tremble. Ricardo’s jaw dropped, and he weakly collapsed, muttering.

“It’s Princess Mirabel.”

Chills ran down Mirabel’s spine as the rain intensified. The veil clung to her face, becoming uncomfortable to wear.

She thought she had to leave immediately, so Mirabel spoke firmly.

“I don’t know why you’re digging up the grave, but stop it. Unless you’re trying to cast some sinister spell.”

“It’s not like that.”

Ricardo answered with his head bowed. He turned his gaze towards the half-unearthed grave.

“There’s something I need to show the princess. So…”

Before finishing his sentence, he abruptly stood up and dashed back to the grave as if the person who had been subdued moments ago was someone else.

“The bracelet. I’ll show you Armilla’s bracelet. Then the princess might be able to find out something.”

“….What did you say?”

Mirabel felt her head spinning. Ricardo was digging up a grave to find a bracelet, implying that it was buried instead of a body.

Why would he show her the bracelet by digging up a grave that had already been given a funeral?

“Grand Duke!”

“Everyone failed to find anything. The only thing left of Armilla’s was this bracelet. Just wait a moment. I’ll get it out soon.”

“Stop it.”

“Help me find Armilla. She must be wandering somewhere.”

“Stop!”

Mirabel shouted as she closed her eyes.

She didn’t want to know why Ricardo was acting this way or why he had lost his mind.

Ricardo Vittore was supposed to be harsh and cruel.

Armilla was supposed to be a neatly forgotten chapter, and he was supposed to remain the cold person he always was.

She doesn’t know this Ricardo.

This broken and wrecked Ricardo.

“Don’t do this.”

Mirabel’s voice was wet. She spoke, denying what she saw.

“Don’t act like you can’t forget Armilla, like you’re suffering because of her.”

As she continued, her voice slowly turned colder. Mirabel looked at Ricardo with resentful eyes and said,

“You’re not supposed to be like this.”

Ricardo looked puzzled by Mirabel’s chilly criticism. Standing in the rain, he stared intensely at her.

“Why would the princess say such things?”

His eyes suddenly sharpened, a clear contrast to their previously foggy appearance. He looked at Mirabel intensely.

“Why?”

“That is…”

Mirabel bit her lip. She was startled by Ricardo’s appearance, and blurted out more than she intended.

She had forgotten that she needed to remain strictly ‘Princess Mirabel’.

Unable to come up with an excuse, Mirable swallowed dryly. Meanwhile, Ricardo slowly approached her.

The sound of Ricardo’s footsteps mingled with the rain, his purple eyes sharply gleaming as if trying to ensnare Mirabel with his gaze.

“How strange.”

The distance between them closed rapidly. Ricardo spoke clearly, as if he had never been lost.

“I have never met the princess. Yet, you recognized me immediately. And…”

As Ricardo moved closer, Mirabel’s heart pounded harder. Despite the urge to flee, her legs refused to move.

“You spoke as if you knew me well.”

Ricardo then grasped the end of Mirabel’s veil. He looked down at her blonde hair, visible through the soaked veil, and said,

“Your voice isn’t the only thing similar to Armilla’s.”

This was a completely different hair color from the red-haired Armilla, yet Ricardo did not waver. Standing before her, he narrowed his eyes and said,

“You have the same scent as Armilla.”

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