Chapter 13

Since moving to the territory of the Duke of Ugly, Lucrezia had been busy every day buying necessary items, but after a while, things settled down.

When she had some free time, her curiosity was immediately piqued.

I wonder what kind of books are in the Duke of Pastore's library.

When she asked if she could look at the study, Lamirio readily agreed.

"You can read anything in my house. But they're all in this language."

"I've studied it before, so it's fine. Then, I'll borrow them."

Lucrezia carefully examined each book in the study.

Thinking that most of them were published about a hundred years ago, she found the diary of the person who had collected the books. It was Lamirio's ancestor.

As she read it with great interest, Lamirio appeared and checked on her.

"What are you reading?"

"It seems to be the diary of the head of the household from a hundred years ago. It was a turbulent year, and apparently, cult groups that preyed on people's fears were popular. The thrilling battles against a cult group that believed in suspicious black magic... I'm enjoying it very much."

Lamirio also glanced at the open book.

"...It sounds interesting."

"If you're interested, I can make a digest of the interesting parts for you later!"

"Really? That would be great."

A relaxed smile appeared at the corners of Lamirio's lips.

"I'm glad you're not bored. Still, staying cooped up at home all the time must be dull. How about going somewhere for the weekend? We can go to the mountains or the river, or visit the comedy opera house for some shopping. If you don't have any preferences, I'll make some arrangements."

Lucrezia was a bit taken aback.

She thought he might be a good person in moments like these.

Even though they weren't engaged, Lamirio was trying his best to make her enjoy herself.

"Lord Lamirio, what do you usually do on the weekends?"

"Me? I don't leave the house. I don't like crowds."

"Then let's go to the mountains or the river."

"...No, you don't have to worry about me. The mountains and rivers might be boring for a young lady."

"Oh, I love camping. I can bring a tent and go to the mountains for a few days. It feels great to eat freshly grilled river fish and bacon while looking at the stars!"

When Lucrezia spoke enthusiastically, Lamirio smiled warmly.

"Then let's go to the mountains. An overnight stay might be a bit difficult, but we can probably catch a duck during the day."

"Great, you're good at hunting too!"

Lucrezia had many conversations with Lamirio that day, and she was very satisfied.

—He's very approachable and easy to talk to.

I wish he would propose soon, but maybe I'm being too impatient.

—It would be nice if we could get closer in the mountains.

Lucrezia was looking forward to the weekend.

The next day, the butler appeared in Lucrezia's room with a large box.

"Miss, your dress has arrived."

"Oh, really? I'm so happy."

Lucrezia eagerly unwrapped the package and pulled out a silk dress with a gentle gradient from pale blue to light pink. The fabric seemed to change color infinitely depending on the light.

Lucrezia was momentarily captivated by the beautiful luster of the fabric.

For Lucrezia, who only had dull black, brown, and gray clothes, this dress was like a dream.

—If Rosa saw it, she would probably take it right away.

She smiled, thinking of her absent sister. This dress would have suited her too.

"Would you like to wear it tonight? I'll assign a female servant to you from the afternoon."

"Thank you, please do."

Lucrezia started getting ready in the evening.

"What's your name?"

"I was called Anne by the previous lady."

"Then, Anne, please take care of me."

First, Lucrezia had her hair curled with a curling iron and tried to tie it up, but Anne stopped her.

"Recently, not tying it up is the trend. Why don't you try a half-up style?"

Lucrezia was puzzled.

She knew there were trends. Her sister Rosa always let her hair down naturally and often touched it during meals.

Apart from that, Lucrezia had another concern.

"...My hair looks like it's turning white, doesn't it?"

"What are you saying? In Pastore, white hair is a sign of intelligence and is highly respected. Besides, your silver hair is lustrous and will complement the light-colored dress beautifully."

Lucrezia looked at herself in the mirror, thinking. Her eyes were dull, and her silver hair was left loose.

Would it really suit her?

"Please try it once."

Encouraged by Anne, she thought, well, why not.

"...Alright. Then, please do it."

"You'll look beautiful, I'm sure."

Anne fixed the hair around her face with hairpins without touching it, pulled it all back, and let the rest fall naturally.

"You have such beautiful skin. Do you have a special skincare routine?"

"Not really... just morning and evening cleansing..."

"Your eyes are beautifully shaped, so you don't need eye makeup. With such a great base, a little foundation will give you a more polished look. As a dresser, it's so easy to work with you."

"Hehe, thank you."

She put on a petticoat to puff out her skirt and slipped into the dress.

Lucrezia was encouraged by Anne's praise as she looked at her finished appearance in the mirror.

Wishing that Lamirio would like it too, she headed to the dining room.

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