Chapter 7

Ramilio did not take off his hood.

"No... I’d rather you didn’t. I may look tough, but I’m actually a bit of a coward. I might seem like a big, imposing figure, but I don’t want to make a young lady feel uncomfortable."

—It seems he gets nervous when he’s being watched.

Thinking it best not to stare at him for a while, Lucrezia averted her gaze.

Changing the subject abruptly, she spoke in a brighter tone.

"I prefer gentlemen who converse with me. It’s wonderful to find someone who seems to share my interests."

"You set the bar pretty low... Don’t most men fit that description?"

"Oh, not at all."

Recalling how Falco and her father never really talked to her, Lucrezia felt disheartened.

Despite appearances, Lucrezia was quite talkative. However, her father would scold her whenever she tried to speak, telling her not to chatter. With her fiancé Falco, she was especially forbidden from speaking without permission.

"A girl like you, if your true nature is discovered, will be divorced immediately. Answer only the questions asked of you, and nothing more."

Falco, oblivious to Lucrezia’s eagerness to converse, always kept the conversation to a minimum.

"...By the way, is this the only carriage? Are your belongings coming later?"

Ramilio looked around, puzzled that no baggage cart accompanied the carriage Lucrezia had arrived in.

"This is all I have."

Showing him the travel bag she held, Ramilio, perhaps misunderstanding, asked another question.

"When do you expect the rest of your belongings to arrive?"

"They won’t arrive. This is all I have."

"Really? Just this much?"

Ramilio’s surprise was understandable. It was inconceivable for a duke’s daughter to arrive for a long-term stay with only one bag.

However, Lucrezia was not pessimistic about the lack of daily necessities. She was confident that even dresses could be managed somehow.

All of Lucrezia’s wealth was packed in this small bag.

It contained securities of immense value, far exceeding the worth of the dresses and jewels she had left behind at home, which were mostly imitations. The real ones were stored in a bank, as she feared her father might seize them at any time. She used imitations for all but the most formal parties where real jewels were necessary.

Thus, to protect her wealth, Lucrezia only needed to bring the securities. She could retrieve the rest when she returned to the city.

As for the dresses, she preferred plain colors, and none of them would fetch much if sold. Her everyday wear, resembling a nun’s, and her old, unadorned dresses, which ignored fashion, were unlikely to interest her flashy younger sister.

"I would appreciate it if you could take me to the bank at some point."

"Oh... I see. So instead of luggage, you were given checks or something?"

"That’s right."

"City nobles are quite practical."

Ramilio was impressed, though there was some misunderstanding. Lucrezia did not bother to explain, as her father had often scolded her for a noble lady to visit a bank, which was apparently a place women should not enter.

This made it difficult for Lucrezia to withdraw money during her journey, but with some help, it would be manageable.

Lucrezia, guided by Ramilio, cleaned the mud from her boots and entered the parlor.

She was offered a heavy leather sofa and a fragrant cup of tea.

Lucrezia began to realize she was being welcomed.

She had expected the worst from her father’s chosen fiancé, even fearing she might be left in a dilapidated stable. The treatment she received was far beyond her expectations.

A smile naturally formed on her face, and her voice brightened as she savored the tea.

"Oh, it’s delicious... Thank you."

Ramilio watched her warmly as she sighed contentedly.

Without many words, one could understand a person’s character through their expressions and gestures.

Lucrezia appreciated Ramilio’s natural kindness, as he waited for her to finish her tea and relax.

After the tea was cleared, Ramilio placed some documents on the table.

"Sorry to bring this up so soon, but let’s go over the contract. If you agree with the terms, we can sign and swear to them. If you have any amendments, please let me know first."

As Lucrezia read the document, she was surprised by its unusual content.

1. Ramilio will take Lucrezia from Duke Sera Valle for a limited period to provide her with convalescence.

2. Ramilio will cover all expenses during Lucrezia’s stay in the territory.

3. Duke Sera Valle will pay for unnecessary items such as jewelry and dresses.

4. Ramilio will make every effort to provide an environment conducive to Lucrezia’s convalescence.

5. Lucrezia will prioritize her health and act accordingly.

After reading this, Lucrezia was shocked.

"Wh-What is this?"

"You will stay in the Pastore territory for a few months and then return. This is the oath for that arrangement."

This was not what she had expected. Hadn’t she come to marry the Ugly Duke?

Even after rereading the document, there was no mention of marriage or engagement.

"Does this mean, Sir Ramilio, that you will not marry me...?"

Lucrezia, with her cloudy, unreadable eyes, tried to plead desperately.

Her father had said she could not escape this marriage and that she should not return to the territory.

If even the Ugly Duke refused to accept her, Lucrezia would have nowhere to go.

Hugging her trembling body, she tried to reassure herself.

—No, Lucrezia. If you’re too happy, you’ll be seen as strange.

Lucrezia was bored. She had been hoping for a challenge that she could not overcome.

—This is exactly what I was looking for!