Chapter 25

Fortunately, it seemed that Lamirio's words were received with amusement.

The gentlemen tried to suppress their laughter, congratulated them on the engagement, and said, "Well, you two enjoy your time together," before leaving.

The young ladies, who were looking at the handsome Lamirio with envy, were also scolded by their fathers and dispersed.

"Sir..."

"I know, don't blame me. I'm already feeling self-loathing to the point of death."

"No, that's not it."

She was actually delighted.

Lucrezia, as the wife of a marshal, had been educated to be expected to play a role in international relations.

If she were still in the Illuminati, she would have thought, "What a blunder," with a bitter feeling.

But—

"Sir Lamirio, you've always been against the engagement, haven't you?"

"Of course I am. I don't know how to deal with a cute girl like you. I can't act as I usually do because I feel uneasy, and I really don't know what to do?"

"Well, what can I say?"

Lucrezia couldn't help but laugh at Lamirio's absurd words.

A feeling that had been lingering in her heart for a long time finally crystallized into clear words.

—This man can't do without me!

Lucrezia was weak for such things.

In the past, as Falco's wife, she had been persuaded by his parents with the words, "We can't do without your support."

Her grandfather, father, and stepmother, though proud, were completely incompetent when it came to household matters, and she gradually came to think, "I have to be the one to take charge."

—How delightful. This is my chance to show my skills.

The more she was put in a difficult situation, the more she burned with enthusiasm.

Moreover, since the person in question was not a completely uncharming father but a handsome and charming Lamirio, she was even more motivated.

"Congratulations on your recovery. Could you tell me about the circumstances?"

—Here they come.

It seemed that the nobles had left, and the timing was right.

The journalists she had called in advance gathered around Lamirio.

"Of course. Let's go to a quieter place and have a meal while we talk."

Lucrezia led everyone to a separate room.

After relaxing them with special dishes served only to them, she told a touching story, embellished with details.

"Sir was very devout and lived a disciplined life. He not only followed the dietary rules but also avoided the extravagance that is common among nobles, living like a virtuous monk. Perhaps his excellent attitude caught the eye of God. Sir's eyesight improved dramatically..."

"No, it was Lucrezia who used herbs..."

"It was the prayers that reached God, Sir!"

"...Yes."

Of course, Lucrezia didn't mention that she had used suspicious herbs. The public was still superstitious and didn't look favorably upon medical practices by non-clergy.

She had no intention of providing them with material for unnecessary speculation.

—Sir is probably too honest.

She didn't know how to respond to make a good impression on the public or how to silence the writers.

She had been taken advantage of because she didn't know.

"My grandfather was the previous Duke of the Illuminati. He always ate a rare shellfish. This champagne is also a precious item that is usually only supplied to the royal family... Oh, I'm honored that you like it. If you'd like, please take a bottle as a souvenir."

In the private room, Lucrezia entertained them even better than the nobles.

Their carriages, illuminated by the morning sun, headed back.

As she saw them off, Lamirio muttered,

"…What will they write this time?"

"They will surely write something good."

"I doubt it."

Perhaps because he had been written about so poorly in the past, he seemed to be completely consumed by distrust.

"Regardless of me, if they write badly about Lucrezia, I'll deal with them this time."

It was a threatening statement. Lucrezia should have advised against it, but she couldn't help but be moved.

Lamirio, exhausted from the reception and lack of sleep, had a stern look, but even that expression seemed attractive to Lucrezia.

"Sir..."

She couldn't find the words. Lucrezia didn't know what to say in such moments. She had been called a white-haired lady, a marriage she didn't want, a creepy girl, and a girl with a mysterious gaze, and had been mocked in various ways. When she was treated with care, she didn't know how to react.

Lamirio, noticing that Lucrezia was looking at him intently, looked back at her.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw his beautiful amber eyes.

—They match mine.

Such a trivial thing made her feel unusually happy.

She wanted to keep looking into his eyes, but Lamirio suddenly turned away.

***

"Beauty and the Beast. Ugly Duke regains his original form through the power of love"

A large illustration of a beautiful man and woman embracing was prominently featured in the newspaper.

Falco, who was secretly eating in a café, noticed the headline on the newspaper spread out by the person next to him and froze.

He was captivated by the beautiful woman in the engraving.

—It's Lucrezia!

Falco hurriedly bought his own copy of the newspaper.

—What's going on!? Wasn't she supposed to be unhappy after being married to the Ugly Duke!?

His hands trembled as he held the newspaper, feeling deeply betrayed.

After reading the content, Falco was drenched in cold sweat.

...He was currently a fugitive. Without funds, he had to work as a day laborer and blend in with the workers.

Hard labor.

Poor living conditions.

Days spent on meager wages for food.

It was a continuous series of hardships for the noble Falco, but fortunately, his body was well-trained, so he could quickly take on simple labor jobs like cargo handling in the port town.

Due to the nature of the place, he couldn't help but hear rumors.

His parents, the marshal and his wife, had immediately returned to the Illuminati and were desperately pleading for his life to be spared.

However, the tension with the Kingdom of Rai had escalated to a point where it couldn't be easily resolved, and his pardon was not easily granted.

At this point, Falco was deeply regretting his actions.

—If I had continued my engagement with Lucrezia, this wouldn't have happened.

If you find this story enjoyable, please consider bookmarking it and giving it a 5-star rating. Your support means a lot to me!