Chapter 16

The next day, the peak of the mountain visible from Ramilio's mansion was cloudless, the sky was clear, and it was a fine day.

The weather outside was warm, and with his mountain gear, he felt a bit too warm.

"It's a good thing it didn't rain!"

Lucretia said happily.

Seeing her outfit, Ramilio was surprised. She was wearing the same plain dress she had when she first came to the house.

"Recently, all the clothes I've made are hard to move in... This is the only one I can get dirty."

Hearing this, Ramilio felt a strong sense of regret.

—She just got here. It's not like new clothes can be made quickly. She probably doesn't have any outdoor gear.

While it seemed easier to move in than a regular dress, it would be reckless to walk long distances in this outfit and these shoes.

Ramilio decided to significantly change his plans.

"...The weather is supposed to be bad today and tomorrow, so let's skip the mountain. I have a cottage in the outskirts. Let's head there. It will take several hours by carriage, so it might be a bit boring. Is that okay?"

It wasn't a distance suitable for a day trip, but it was much better than making her walk in the mountains with this outfit.

"As long as you're there to talk, I can handle any number of hours."

Her bashful response made Ramilio feel something strongly.

—She's so cute, damn it.

Ramilio, inwardly squirming, got into the carriage with her.

"I have hunting dogs at the cottage. The garden is so large that even if all the dogs are let loose, there's still plenty of room. We can cook something there. Do you like bacon?"

"I'll eat anything. Cheese, bread, and sweets too."

"Sweets won't be grilled, right?"

"Oh, that's not true. Anything tastes better when grilled. Wafers and gaufres, when grilled, become crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth when served with butter on a hot plate. It's absolutely delicious."

Ramilio's appetite was whetted by her description, and he swallowed hard.

"...Let's give it a try."

"Yes!"

Lucretia seemed to be a food lover.

She also seemed to know a lot about delicious things to cook while camping, and Ramilio found it interesting just listening to her trivia. He wasn't bored at all.

Even after they arrived at the cottage, Lucretia's chatter didn't stop. This time, she took the initiative to hold the poker and started cooking.

Ramilio also liked bonfires, so they worked together, discussing and arguing about the best way to do things.

They wrapped hastily made bacon, made from pork, in freshly grilled crepe batter and ate it.

They finished the exotic fruits they had ordered from the market and turned the excess into jam using the still-burning bonfire.

While watching the jam cook, they chatted idly, and the surroundings grew dark.

"Lord Ramilio, look. The stars are coming out."

"It's completely dark now. We'll have to stay here for the night."

Lucretia looked at him with a glance, as if gauging his reaction.

"Um... We aren't engaged yet, are we..."

"No, I don't intend to do anything, so don't worry."

"Is that... so..."

Lucretia stopped stirring the spoon and looked down.

The fire crackled, and the jam simmered quietly, filling the air with a sweet aroma.

Lucretia's silver hair, illuminated by the bonfire, was orange. Since then, she had always worn her hair down.

—If I could get more compliments from him, I couldn't stop...

Ramilio remembered the voice of Lucretia he had overheard.

Ramilio, heart racing, opened his mouth.

"However, your hair is beautiful."

Lucretia didn't respond.

—Damn, did I mess up?

He must have thought it was sudden. He wanted to check her reaction but was too embarrassed to look at her.

—She said she wanted compliments... Was I mistaken?

During the long silence, as Ramilio worried that he had made a mistake, Lucretia finally spoke.

"...When will you marry me?"

Ramilio was greatly shaken. He had a strong belief that a lovely girl like her wouldn't want to marry a man as ugly as himself, who was even called the "Ugly Duke."

—Is she saying this because she has to. For her family. ...How pitiful.

"You're a good girl."

Ramilio said sarcastically.

"I think it would be for your own good to tell the duke clearly that you can't marry such an ugly man, no matter what your father asks. A beauty like you could easily find a much better man."

"I don't think Lord Ramilio is ugly... I don't think I'm that beautiful either."

Ramilio felt a shy and adorable charm in Lucretia's soft denial.

"However, if I were to describe my overall impression of you, including your personality, in terms of appearance..."

Lucretia's voice became even softer and more bashful than before.

"I think Lord Ramilio is very handsome and wonderful."

Ramilio forgot to respond and stared at Lucretia's face intently. He had never been told such a thing in his life. Lucretia, blushing and shrinking, looked adorable, but the fact that this beautiful girl was saying it made it feel even more artificial and strange.

—It's impossible.

Despite thinking this, he couldn't help but feel incredibly happy.

"The newspaper in the capital said you have donkey ears. But Lord Ramilio has normal ears."

"...The rumors have grown that much?"

Ramilio involuntarily touched his ears.

"Lord Ramilio has a clear and distinct face, and you don't look ugly at all. Why are you called the 'Ugly Duke'?"

Ramilio, who had touched his ears, now pulled his hood deeper over his face. Lucretia watched him intently.

"I don't think there is such a thing as beautiful or ugly in appearance. I think it depends on whether someone has good intentions or bad intentions. ...My former fiancé was a golden-haired, blue-eyed prince from a fairy tale, but when he cheated on me, he didn't seem handsome or beautiful at all."

Lucretia said, "So..."

"I think, no matter what Lord Ramilio looks like, you are beautiful to me."

Lucretia put down the spoon and slowly moved closer to Ramilio.

She reached out to touch his hood and said,

"Could you please show me your true face, Lord Ramilio?"

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