My Sister Took My Fiancé and Now I’m Forced to Marry the Ugly Duke

Prosperity in the Territory

On the first weekend after the news of her father’s death, Lucrezia donned mourning clothes and was accompanied to the cathedral by Ramilio.

When they were ushered into the special seating area, faint sighs were heard from the people who had come earlier.

She could hear some gossip.

“… It’s Duke Pastore.”

“You’re lying, the rumors were more…”

“What I saw, I’m sure of it…”

Lucrezia was amused and whispered quietly to Ramilio.

“Everyone is surprised.”

“Be quiet in the cathedral.”

“Yes. But, since we’re already here, why don’t you provide some service to everyone?”

“What’s that?”

“I’m sure they would be delighted if you waved to them.”

Ramilio fell silent, expressionless, as if thinking for a moment.

Inside the cathedral, where the morning sun shone brightly, Lucrezia looked up with a satisfied smile.

‘As expected, my husband is the coolest.’

She wondered if he understood his position as he was being glimpsed and spied on. She couldn’t see it from his handsome face, which had a muffled and silent expression.

Eventually, Ramilio quickly pulled up Lucrezia’s hand.

Through his gloves, he dropped a kiss on the back of her hand.

A shrieking sound leaked out, drawing the attention of the entire cathedral to see what was going on.

“Husband… Why did you…?”

“I don’t know. You told me to do something. I just obeyed. Because I’m a loyal dog.”

When she was told so matter-of-factly, Lucrezia could only reply, “I see.”

‘He seems to have gained a lot more confidence already.’

There was no sign of the days when he was desperately trying to hide his face with a hood.

***

Lucrezia solemnly wrote in her diary while mourning for her father.

Lucrezia’s motto was to include current events as much as possible and make it enjoyable since it was to be read by future generations.

She was writing diligently on the terrace when someone’s shadow suddenly appeared.

“What are you writing?”

Even without looking up, Lucrezia knew it was Ramilio, so she answered without stopping.

“It’s the life story of Ramilio-sama!”

“Eh… m-me?”

“I will write down exactly how wonderful Ramilio-sama was and how much he was loved by the people of his territory! Then, in one hundred years, the nickname “Ugly Duke” will disappear somewhere!”

Ramilio’s expression suddenly relaxed.

“I haven’t heard that nickname in a while.”

“Good grief​, I wonder who came up with it. I want to catch them and make them pay for their crimes!”

As she emphasized her argument while writing, she was suddenly embraced by Ramilio.

“You’re really….”

Lucrezia was ecstatic to be embraced, and a little troubled. Recently, Ramilio often tried to touch her.

Even on the day she wore her mourning dress, he kissed her many times.

“It may be inappropriate, but you’re just too cute.”

‘I can’t get mad at him for saying that to me.’

Since then, Ramilio had been kissing her all the time for some reason or another.

Lucrezia was suddenly startled and closed her eyes as a hand was quickly placed on the nape of her neck.

Just as she was preparing herself to be kissed again, Ann, a servant, called out.

“Madam, the guests you invited are here.”

“A-already? They’re early.”

While quickly moving away, she stole a glance at Ramilio.

His face was bright red. She was sure that she was the same.

The guests had arrived with their families in a large carriage.

The Cassia family is the head of one of the four provinces of the Duchy of Pastore, and in the kingdom, they are what one would call a prestigious aristocracy.

The family had been out of touch due to an epidemic that had just broken out around the time Ramilio took over.

Lucrezia had recently been communicating with influential families from all over in order to govern the Duchy of Pastore collectively.

“I haven’t seen you since the get-well celebration, how are you?”

Mrs. Cassia greeted her and said that she was happy to see Lucrezia.

“My name is Margherita! It’s an honor to be invited, Lady Lucrezia!”

The young girl who came down, still young, was probably the eldest daughter of the family. She shook Lucrezia’s hand with excitement and looked a little awkwardly at Ramilio, who was standing beside her.

‘Oh? What is this atmosphere?’

Ramilio was also a bit uncomfortable.

Perhaps reading Lucrezia’s puzzled expression, Mrs. Cassia smiled at her.

“This girl was Ramilio-sama’s third fiancée.”

“Oh, dear….”

Lucrezia looked at Margherita with stunned eyes and smiled softly, but inwardly she was a little flustered.

‘I had heard there were six of them, but I’m surprised when I actually meet them.’

“But this girl, she cried so hard before she even saw Ramilio-sama’s face saying that she didn’t like him, she’s really a pathetic girl.”

“Well…”

“At the get-well party, she was so embarrassed that she said, ‘I didn’t know he had such a nice face!’”

“Mother, stop it, it’s really embarrassing….”

Margherita’s face turned red and she covered it with her hand.

Then, she shook her head and said.

“T-that, I’m not saying that I have any objection! I’m really happy to see a couple as close as the two of you!”

“Even though my daughter is foolish, I let her do as she pleases.”

Mrs. Cassia chuckled.

We then moved to the terrace, where tea and cakes prepared for the occasion were served.

Mrs. Cassia was greatly pleased and thanked Lucrezia profusely.

“You have a really nice young lady here, Duke Pastore.”

Ramilio’s face was already smiling.

Lucrezia, who was watching nearby, became embarrassed.

“When Miss Margherita dumped me, I thought I was going to die.”

“Wait a minute, Your Excellency, we weren’t that close?!”

“After all, I was even told that I wasn’t human enough for her.”

“Wow, he’s got a grudge against me!”

“But, well, Lucrezia came along, and so I survived in the end.”

Lucrezia watched the exchange in amazement, but a question suddenly occurred to her.

“… I was told that the communication between the two families had been cut off…”

“Yes, since the duke hasn’t held any court events for a long time, I haven’t had the chance to interact with him, but we did have a small relationship.”

Mrs. Cassia laughed.

“We are very grateful that Lucrezia will be taking over the court events from now on.”

“I’ve always wanted to go to a ball in a castle! Last time’s get-well party was a lot of fun too!”

Margherita was innocently pleased.

Ramilio was looking at Margherita with a suspicious look on his face.

At this rate, there really seemed to be nothing between the two.

‘But, I wonder if Ramilio-sama is prolonging it out a bit?’

She wondered why it made her feel uncomfortable.