Chapter 37

Lucrezia suppressed her feelings, trying hard to put on a polite smile despite her emotionless eyes.

"To enliven the court of Pastore, I believe the support of people like Lady Margherita and Lady Cassia is absolutely essential. Please lend us your strength."

With the discussion about the winter event concluded as the immediate task, the tea party came to an end.

After the Cassia family left, Lucrezia turned her gaze to Lamirio, who stood there blankly, watching the carriage depart.

He looked very tired, perhaps because of Margherita.

Lucrezia couldn't help but ask, "Did you like Lady Margherita, my lord?"

Lamirio's face seemed to be pulled back to reality all at once, and he was flustered.

"No way!?"

Looking up at Lucrezia with a gloomy gaze, Lamirio's eyebrows drooped, and he made a strange face.

"Are you angry?"

Lucrezia placed her hands on her hips, as if to confirm.

"You seemed more cheerful with her than with me."

"Where? I didn't want to meet her at all. I hate that type the most."

"She was a lovely person, friendly and bright."

"Who are you talking about? Margherita is a brat who speaks without hesitation and has no empathy. What's with that look?"

Lucrezia was not convinced.

Lamirio was too kind-hearted. Even when insulted, he didn't seem to be that angry.

Even if he had been rejected in the past, if Margherita were to hint at liking him now, she feared he might easily fall for it.

"Since you were engaged, didn't you have some feelings for her?"

"No, not at all... Lady Cassia took it upon herself to arrange things. Out of respect for her, neither Margherita nor I could strongly object, and that's why Margherita came to live with us."

"You lived together?"

"Yes, but... why are you so interested in this...?"

Lamirio seemed at a loss with Lucrezia's strange behavior, looking quite flustered.

"What... What do I need to say for you to understand? She refused, crying, saying she couldn't stand such a disgusting man. Can you imagine how I felt? Margherita is absolutely out of the question. If she ever hinted at liking me, I'd laugh it off and spread the news throughout Pastore a million times."

"That's not very nice..."

Lucrezia felt as if she had glimpsed a dark side of Lamirio, making him seem distant.

Lamirio, finally unable to contain his frustration, scratched his head.

"Then what should I say? It's a huge injustice to even suggest I like Margherita."

Lucrezia looked up at Lamirio with a slightly resentful gaze.

"Between me and her, who do you think is cuter?"

"Obviously, you win hands down. Margherita has no charm at all. None. You are beautiful, charming, smart, and kind. Comparing you to Margherita is..."

He suddenly fell silent.

"Then what?"

As Lucrezia, feeling a bit happier, urged him to continue, he burst out laughing.

"So, you were jealous?"

Lamirio, still laughing, hugged Lucrezia.

"Really, I don't get it. What was there to be jealous about?"

"Lamirio, you have six ex-girlfriends."

"Ex-girlfriends?"

"One of them might have been serious!"

Lamirio burst into laughter, the vibrations of his laughter even reaching Lucrezia, who was still in his embrace.

"No, you're cute... but you're my benefactor. No matter how many beautiful women I've met in the past, none of it matters compared to what I owe you."

"You did meet them, didn't you?"

"Let's just say it's a hypothetical. You were the most beautiful woman I've ever met. I was shaken when I first saw your portrait."

Lucrezia, intrigued, looked at Lamirio's face.

He gently pinched her cheek with one hand.

"Didn't I tell you many times that you could have married into a much better family? Yet, you chose me, a stubborn fool. Can't you imagine how I feel?"

Perhaps to hide his embarrassment, Lamirio roughly pinched Lucrezia's cheek.

"You said I was 'wonderful' when Margherita said I was 'impossible as a person.'"

While her cheek was being pinched, Lucrezia saw Lamirio's gentle expression become even sweeter and more tender.

Who would believe that this man was once called the 'Ugly Duke'?

"Lucrezia, I have to repay you. I don't know if I can ever fully repay you, but I'll do everything I can."

Lamirio released her and looked straight at Lucrezia.

"What do you want from me?"

"It's obvious."

Lucrezia had already received what she wanted long ago.

But if she had to ask for something more:

"Just saying you love me would be enough to satisfy me."

The resonance and warmth of those words whispered in her ear, Lucrezia thought, would never be forgotten.

***

The war between the Kingdom of Illuminati and the Kingdom of Rai ended with Rai's victory.

The King of Illuminati agreed to cede three port towns and two islands, and the Kingdom of Rai withdrew from the capital.

On the way, several ships suddenly docked at the port of Pastore, raising concerns that the war might spread to the territory of Pastore.

"This seems to be a personal letter addressed to you. Can you read it?"

Lucrezia quickly scanned the envelope handed to her by Lamirio and read the contents.

—It's from the Crown Prince of Rai.

"...The Crown Prince says he has come to deliver my father's legacy. He asks if we can meet on land."

"Understood. If there's no hostility, it's fine."

Lucrezia and Lamirio decided to go to the port town to meet the Crown Prince of Rai.

The port was bustling with people unloading cargo.

Among them was a prominent warship with a triangular sail, displaying the emblem of the Crown Prince.

On a small hill, where one could overlook the entire scene, Lucrezia met the Crown Prince, Raish.

A strong sea breeze blew across the marble terrace, fluttering Lucrezia's dress and the loose, flowing robes of Raish and his companions.

"Lucrezia. I'm very glad to see you looking well."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Since Raish spoke in a language that Lamirio could understand, Lucrezia responded in kind.