I Don't Need the Grand Duke's Regret - Chapter 95
Missus Catarina hesitated to respond immediately. Although Sophie’s suggestion was appropriate, it wasn’t a decision the chief maid could make on her own.
Employment decisions for the household staff were the purview of the mistress of the house. However, the Vittore household currently had no mistress. It appeared that Missus Catarina didn’t hold the authority to make such determinations.
“It seems this decision is beyond the chief maid’s authority.”
Mirabel, having watched Missus Catarina quietly, finally spoke. She addressed her with a reluctant expression.
“Inform His Grace that I will meet with him tomorrow morning to discuss this matter personally.”
“Understood.”
Missus Catarina bowed once more and then roughly pulled the still-dazed Bianca away.
Even as they left the hallway, Bianca’s eyes remained fixed on Mirabel.
* * *
Before dawn, someone gently knocked on Mirabel’s door. Having just woken up, she cleared her throat and answered.
“Who is it?”
“…Princess.”
At the sound of Ricardo’s deep voice from outside, Mirabel sighed. He was waiting for her response.
Slowly, she got up and put on a robe.
She could guess why Ricardo had come, but she couldn’t understand why he was there so early. Still, it didn’t feel right to send him away when it was clear she was already awake.
‘I still find this awkward.’
The conversation she had with Ricardo during the dinner weighed heavily on her mind.
Mirabel intended to avoid him as much as possible. If it weren’t for Bianca’s insolence the previous night, which made her throw Bianca out, she would have continued to do so.
‘No other choice.’
As she walked to the door, Mirabel considered putting on her veil but decided against it.
Ricardo had already seen her face. Wearing the veil now felt pointless.
Mirabel’s hand grasped the doorknob and pulled the door open. Bright light spilled into the room, momentarily blinding her.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
As Mirabel squinted, Ricardo’s worried voice reached her ears. She turned away, speaking coldly.
“You’re the one who’s unwell, Grand Duke. The light is just too bright. It’s still early.”
“Indeed, it is.”
Ricardo responded calmly. He was waiting patiently for her to let him in.
Mirabel glanced at Ricardo and, with a reluctant expression, gestured for him to enter.
If it was unavoidable, it was better to get it over with quickly.
“I heard about the incident with the maid last night from the chief maid.”
Ricardo began heavily after stepping into the room with Mirabel’s permission. He gazed intently at Mirabel as he continued.
“I will deal with the maid as you see fit.”
“Very well.”
Mirabel felt a bit lost as she responded.
As Armilla, she had endured Bianca’s torment without anyone to help her. Yet now, simply for being rude to a princess, Bianca was about to be dismissed.
How easy it seemed now.
Mirabel was reminded of just how poorly Armilla had been treated.
Indeed, as the Grand Duchess, Armilla had been treated worse than a maid.
So, Bianca’s claim that Armilla was Ricardo’s weakness was certainly nonsense.
“Instead.”
Ricardo added, clearing his throat and speaking cautiously.
“But there is one condition.”
“A condition?”
Mirabel’s tone was sharp as she replied. She spoke icily to Ricardo who had a pleading look.
“The maid wronged me, so her dismissal is only appropriate. But to add conditions?”
Ricardo’s face tightened at Mirabel’s reasonable argument. She continued to speak, meeting his gaze head-on.
“My leniency ended with overlooking the Grand Duke’s rudeness at the dinner. Given that the broken engagement tarnished your honor, I could overlook a single mistake. But that’s all. I can’t do more than that.”
As Mirabel spoke, Ricardo watched her as if trying to see into her very soul. His intense gaze made her heart pound. She averted her eyes from him and continued.
“Don’t ask me for favors. I won’t grant them.”
“The snow in Renato doesn’t stop easily.”
“So?”
“Therefore, don’t leave in haste. You’ll meet with an accident on the road. That’s my request.”
Ricardo’s voice trembled slightly.
He seemed utterly exhausted after uttering just a few sentences. It appeared that simply making his way there had been a considerable strain, given his frequent bouts of falling unconscious.
“I waited just to tell you that.”
Ricardo finished, his large frame swaying. As he lost his balance, he fell onto the bed, dragging Mirabel down with him.
Suddenly pinned beneath Ricardo on the bed, Mirabel struggled with all her might to push him off.
“Don’t go…”
The words, whispered from Ricardo’s throat, made Mirabel pause. She let out a deep sigh, her hand on her forehead.
Everything was so different from what she had imagined before coming to Renato. Ricardo’s drastic change was particularly bewildering.
‘Could it be that he really changed because of me?’
Mirabel frowned. Even if that were the case, nothing would change. Armilla was dead.
Biting her lip, Mirabel finally managed to push Ricardo’s heavy body off her and sat up.
At that moment, Ricardo’s large hand grasped her wrist.
Mirabel twisted her wrist free from Ricardo’s grasp, and his hand fell limply. She observed him carefully.
His eyes remained closed. He must have done it unconsciously.
‘He never once tried to hold onto me before.’
Mirabel rubbed her wrist and thought bitterly.
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