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

The Big Ordeal

Ramilio made no attempt to remove his hood.

“No…… please forgive me for this. I’m a timid person in spite of my appearance. You may think I’m big and pathetic, but I don’t want to make a young lady of your age feel uncomfortable.”

‘I guess he doesn’t feel comfortable being watched.’

Lucrezia removed her gaze, thinking it would be better to avoid staring at him for a while.

She changed the subject and brightened her tone.

“My type of person is a gentleman who is willing to talk to me. I’m glad that we seem to be compatible.”

“You’re setting the bar pretty low again…. don’t you think most men would fall into that category?”

“Well, I don’t think so.”

Lucrezia was disheartened when she remembered how Falco and her father never spoke to her.

Lucrezia, despite her appearance, is a talker. However, her father would scold Lucrezia as soon as she tried to open her mouth, saying, “Don’t waste your time talking”. He was especially angry whenever she spoke without permission to her fiancé, Falco.

“A girl as weird as you are, the moment he finds out your true character, he will leave you in a heartbeat. Answer only the questions you are asked, otherwise, don’t talk.”

And Falco, too, was oblivious to Lucrezia’s desire to talk, and always spoke only the bare minimum.

“…… By the way, you…. is this the only carriage arriving? Will the luggage arrive later?”

Ramiro looked around. He seemed to wonder why there were no wagons accompanying the carriage in which Lucrezia rode.

“This is all I have.”

When she showed him the suitcase in her hand, Ramilio asked another question, perhaps misunderstanding the meaning somewhat.

“When will the additional luggage arrive……?”

“Nothing will arrive. This is all I have.”

“Oh…. really? That’s all?”

Lucrezia thinks that Ramilio’s surprise is understandable. It was unthinkable that a duke’s daughter would come for a long-term recuperation with only one bag.

However, Lucrezia was not pessimistic about the lack of daily necessities.

Because Lucrezia’s entire fortune was packed in this little bag.

The bag was filled with securities of immense value, a sum that dwarfs the dress and jewelry Lucrezia left behind at home.

In the first place, most of the jewelry in her room was imitations, and the real thing was kept in the bank. She had no idea when her father might take them away, so she used imitation kneaded glass for everything except for the most prestigious parties where the real thing was absolutely necessary.

So Lucrezia only needed to take out the deed to protect her personal property. She would eventually have the opportunity to return home and retrieve them.

As for her dresses, she preferred to wear only subdued colors, so there was nothing that would be worth selling. Her younger sister, who liked to show off, wouldn’t want a nun-like dress for everyday wear or a less ornate dress that ignored fashion trends and that an old woman would wear.

“I would appreciate it if you’ll take me to the bank at a later date.”

“Oh…… Oh, I see. Instead of luggage, you brought a check or something of the sort.”

“Yes, that’s what I meant.”

“The Illuminati aristocrats are very reasonable.”

Ramilio was very impressed. There seemed to be some misunderstanding, but Lucrezia did not dare to explain. She had been scolded by her father many times that it was wrong for a daughter of a noble family to go in and out of a bank. Apparently, banks are places that women are not allowed to enter.

Thanks to this, Lucrezia had a hard time withdrawing money, but as long as she had someone to help her, she was all set.

After she cleaned the mud from her boots, Lucrezia was ushered into the parlor by Ramilio.

He urged her to sit on the sofa and drink a cup of tea.

Lucrezia was beginning to understand that she was apparently welcome.

He was her father’s chosen fiancée, so she had no idea what she would be in for. She had even feared that she would be thrown into a crude place like the stable and left alone, so it was safe to say that she was treated exceptionally well.

She naturally smiled and said.

“It’s delicious…… thank you very much.”

Sighing, Lucrezia looked warmly at Ramilio.

Even without exchanging many words, one can get some idea of a person’s personality by looking at their face and observing their gestures.

Lucrezia liked the natural kindness of Ramilio, who was willing to wait until she had finished her tea and was comfortable.

After she put away the tea, Ramilio put the papers on the table.

“Now, I’m sorry to start this so early, but let’s first sign the contract. If you are satisfied with the terms, please sign and swear to them. If you have any amendments, let’s hear them first.”

Lucrezia looked down at the document, wondering what the contract was about, and found an eccentric deal written there.

First, Ramilio is entrusted by the Duke of Serravalle to take care of Lucrezia for a limited period of time so that she could recuperate.

Second, Ramiro will pay for Lucrezia’s expenses during her stay at the estate.

Third, The Duke of Serravalle will pay for jewelry, dresses, and other unnecessary items for recuperation.

Fourth, Ramilio will try to provide Lucrezia with a conducive environment as much as possible.

Fifth, Lucrezia must put her own health first and act accordingly.

Lucrezia was shocked when she read that far.

“W-what is this all about?”

“You are to stay in the Pastore territory for a while and return in a few months. This is a written vow for that.”

That’s not what she’s talking about. Didn’t Lucrezia come here to marry the Ugly Duke?

Impatiently, she read it again, but there was no mention of marriage or engagement in the document.

“Are you telling me that you won’t marry me, Ramilio-sama…..?”

Lucrezia turned her eyes, which were dazed and unsure, to him and tried desperately to convey her pleading.

Her father had said that she would never get out of this marriage. He also told her not to even come back to the estate.

If even the Ugly Duke wouldn’t accept Lucrezia, she would have nowhere to go.

Lucrezia hugged herself, her body almost shaking with anxiety and nervousness.

‘No, Lucrezia. If you’re like this…..people will think you’re a strange girl.’

Lucrezia was tired. This was the biggest ordeal that she had ever faced.

‘This time, I will successfully overcome it!’