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

The Crown Prince’s Courtship

“But, I was surprised. You look a lot brighter than when you were in the Illuminati.”

“I-is that so….”

Lucrezia tensed, wondering if he was implying what a dissolute daughter she was during her father’s mourning period.

“I’m sure the climate here suited you. You look much better now.”

But Reisch didn’t seem to have any hidden meaning, and he simply praised her.

Lucrezia glanced at Ramilio next to her, feeling her cheeks dyed.

If Lucrezia had changed, it was because of Ramilio.

“I’m just relieved that the war has been brought to a successful conclusion.”

“…. Yes, I, for one, am more than happy that peace has been made again without any prolonged delay.”

“… I’m sorry about your father.”

Lucrezia was at a loss for words to reply to Reisch’s words.

She still didn’t know what to make of her father’s death in the war.

“I understand your remorse. Please don’t say anything. I feel responsible as well.”

Lucrezia was rather flustered, as Reisch said it with regret.

“Such words are more than I deserve!”

“But, I couldn’t face you if I’d only cared a little more.”

“Your Highness…”

Ramilio suddenly leaned closer to Lucrezia and asked quietly.

“Have you had any previous interactions with the Crown Prince?”

“Yes. My father and I were quite friendly with him.”

“Really…”

Ramilio reached out to him and shook his hand.

“My name is Ramilio, Grand Duke of Pastore. Lucrezia and I plan to marry as soon as the mourning period is over.”

“Is that so? Congratulations.”

She stared at the two of them, a little caught up in the statement as if she had just learned about it for the first time.

‘Is it just me or does the atmosphere seem… tense?’

However, there was nothing else strange about it. A casual conversation soon began between the two of them and flowed along without any incident.

“Of course, we would like to thank the people of Rai for their support….”

Conversations such as “Let’s get along with each other” continued.

‘I wonder if it was my imagination.’

Reisch was outwardly a nice young man when he was in his home country, but he also made the occasional off-the-cuff remarks, and she had known for some time that he was a very hard-line pro-war person.

That’s why, when he asked to see her today, she was a little nervous, thinking that he was after Pastore this time.

‘But, Pastore is a little too inland, right? Considering the hassle and cost of resupply, it’s not worth it to keep it even as an enclave.’

While she was speculating about his intentions, Reisch cut in.

“This is my own way of saying thank you. At the Illuminati, the Serravalle family really helped me with everything.”

Lucrezia became more vigilant.

‘Although our relationship with them was normal, we were never in a position to help each other…’

Lucrezia realized belatedly that it also pointed to the folly of Rosa and her father, which had triggered the war.

‘Are you trying to say that the port city was taken because we were foolish?’

Reisch smiled at Lucrezia, who was feeling unpleasant.

“I hope you will accept it, even though it is a small repayment compared to the generosity of the Serravalle family.”

On the terrace, large boxes were brought in one after another.

Reisch took one of them and opened it.

A diamond necklace, brilliantly shimmering in the sunlight and the reflection from the sea, was placed atop the white silk.

It was the jewelry that Lucrezia kept in the safe deposit box.

“Is this all your father’s belongings? I want you to check.”

Lucrezia inspected the boxes one by one in disbelief.

As you can imagine, she couldn’t remember everything, but all the major pieces of jewelry were there. She thought they were never coming back.

“Your Highness purposely deliver this….?”

He would’ve had no obligation to return it. Although the international community had come to criticize looting in war zones, there was no real crackdown on it.

“You don’t need to thank me. Please don’t ever worry about repaying me. The benefits I have received from you are immeasurable.”

Reisch smiled pleasantly.

There was really nothing behind it, and it seemed that he was simply returning the favor.

“Then, I will receive it. Thank you very much.”

Then, Reisch grinned.

“If I offered to give you three times this amount of jewelry, would you marry me?”

Lucrezia was extremely bewildered.

“Considering that our country will prosper even more with this latest victory, it’s a small price to pay.”

Lucrezia quickly snapped out of her state of shock.

‘What, you just wanted to brag about it, didn’t you?’

In truth, he probably wanted to openly brag about the profits he would get from the port town. However, Lucrezia was from the Illuminati, and it would’ve been rude to be so blunt.

He must’ve been in the mood for a good laugh.

Lucrezia, with a sullen look on her face, quickly pondered what to say to refuse―

“If Your Highness is willing to pay three times as much.”

An unexpected voice cut in from the side.

“I’d have to give three times as much to keep her.”

Reisch was delighted by this as well.

“A tremendous amount of gold and silver treasures will be in Lucrezia’s hands. I don’t mean to be rude, but is this possible for you?”

“Because she’s worth it.”

Glad that he made it clear, Lucrezia’s face soon became red.

“What do you think? Who will bring you more treasure, me or him?”

Lucrezia responded in a composed voice, but both of her hands were placed over her grinning face.

“Right now, Your Highness has enough gold to fill all your ships, but…”

Once she flattered him, she continued.

“For me, His Excellency the Duke of Pastore is a person who cannot be replaced by any treasure.”

Reisch laughed and shook his head as if to say, “Oh dear.”

“I see you’ve had a wonderful encounter. Then, I, the foolish rejected man, shall leave quietly.”

“Your Highness, since you’re here, why don’t you come to our house? I would like to thank you for delivering the items.”

Ramilio insisted, but Reisch laughed and said “No need.”

“No, it’s okay. Don’t worry about returning the favor, really. I miss my home country. I want to return home as soon as possible.”

Reisch then pulled himself up to his room.

Around twenty guards and attendants followed, and the terrace suddenly became deserted.

Lucrezia waited until they were out of sight, then pounced on Ramilio next to her.

“Whoa, what?”

Lucrezia looked into Ramilio’s face. He seemed to be surprised in a normal way.

“It’s unusual to see you so publicly attached to me like this.”

“That’s because…!”

Lucrezia put a lot of effort into her facial expression. It was important.

“I was so happy.”

When she hugged him tightly, Ramilio seemed taken aback but smiled at her.

“I’m glad you got your jewelry back.”

“That’s not the point!”

Lucrezia became impatient. Why couldn’t he understand?

“Ramilio-sama said he would buy me for nine times as much!”

“Well… no, that’s right, I did say it, but I didn’t think I could really get it out….”

She didn’t think she really wanted it either, but it was too much trouble to explain.

She wanted to indulge and share this happy feeling with Ramilio just a little longer.

Later, she received the news that the Crown Prince had departed from the port earlier that day.