CH 8

The True Appearance of the White-Haired Lady

Lucrezia looked straight at Ramilio, who was peering at her from behind his hood.

Daring to look at him as he anxiously tried to escape her gaze, Lucrezia asked.

“How did you come to the conclusion that I am in need of medical treatment? It is not the intention of the Duke of Serravalle. Please explain.”

“Ah, no, about that…….”

Ramilio was nervously pulling down his hood, trying to maintain a gentle tone.

“After all, it was so sudden. You must be a little upset, too, having just had your engagement broken off. I thought it wouldn’t be too late to take some time to recover and then think about it.”

“I am not upset.”

“But you don’t have to go through all this trouble to marry me. After a little rest, why not return to the royal capital?”

Lucrezia quietly listened to this unexpected turn of events.

“I’ve had my engagement broken off six times already, so if for the seventh time you say, “I had nothing to do with the Ugly Duke”, it will probably pass without any problem. I’m not proud of it, but I’m still innocent, so―What the hell!”

Suddenly, a hand flew out from the side and struck Ramilio on the head. The man who hit him whispered in his ear, “It’s vulgar, my Lord”. Lucrezia felt a little awkward because she heard it perfectly.

Ramiro regained his composure and coughed softly.

“Well, anyway, no matter how long you stay in this territory, it won’t tarnish your reputation. You can rest assured and go take a rest. I’m also…… Never mind. I’m a little tired. For the time being, I acknowledge that you’re my fiancee…… I want to take a rest.”

As he said it, Ramilio seemed to be affected by his own careless words, and his voice at the end of the sentence shook as if he was about to cry.

‘He’s a very sensitive person.’

Lucrezia was somehow beginning to like Ramilio.

“I won’t go back.”

Lucrezia said clearly. She wanted to make eye contact with Ramilio, but the hood and dark glasses prevented her from doing so. She couldn’t wait to see his true face.

“I have come here to be your wife. I also feel that you’re a wonderful person.”

As she said this, Lucrezia noticed that she was also wearing a veil, half concealing her true face.

She thought that wearing such a thing wouldn’t convey her sincerity, so she quickly lifted it to reveal her true face.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll go back. But if you’re not dissatisfied with me, please go through with the engagement.”

‘Show me your face too.’

Lucrezia leaned forward with this thought and stared at Ramilio, but he made no move to remove his hood until the end.

“…… O-Okay, okay. Let’s discuss this matter again later. I have other plans for today, so I’ll leave you alone for now. I’ll assign one of our butlers to take care of you for the time being, so you can rest in your room and let me know what you need.”

Ramilio said curtly and left with his entourage.

That was the end of her first meeting with Ramilio.

***

Ramilio quickly returned to his study with his aide, Bosco.

He closed the heavy, wiretap-proof walnut door, looked around for any signs of life, and then whispered to his aide.

“…… It’s a marriage scam, isn’t it?”

The aide looked at his own master who was practically in a panicked state, and discreetly asked back with a twinkle in his eyes, “Why do you think so?”

Ramilio’s voice was emotionally strained.

“Because it’s too convenient, isn’t it?! Did you see what she looked like? She was more beautiful than a fairy!”

“She was a beautiful young lady, wasn’t she?”

“I was so surprised! Who would have thought that she was more beautiful in person than in her portrait?”

She is a pale girl, with silvery-white hair and pale golden eyes like the moon. Her skin is as white as the moon. Her emotionless gaze reminded him of an innocent doll.

The girl wore plain, inconspicuous clothing and a veil over her face to cover her prominent figure.

Even beautiful silvery-white hair looked like an old woman’s gray hair when it was tightly tied up and covered with a veil. This was probably why Lucrezia was given the dishonorable nickname of “The White-Haired Lady”.

“Hahaha, I’m glad to see that she’s a person who suits Ramiro-sama’s judgment.”

“No, I have a problem!”

Ramilio was completely stirred up.

He was prepared to accept any girl, no matter what she looked like, but this was unexpected. He hadn’t thought about what to do if the girl was too beautiful.

“A beautiful girl with no faults is asking me to marry her, saying that I’m a wonderful person. I, the so-called “Ugly Duke”! I’ve never seen such wishful thinking, not even in a three-sentence vaudeville[1] play!”

The aide looked up to the sky with a condescending gesture.

“You’re completely distrustful of human beings….. It’s so heart-breaking.”

“Don’t give me that condescending pity. Anyway, she’s crazy. She’s definitely hiding something. Society hadn’t been kind to me that much! I won’t be fooled!”

His eyes, hidden behind a pair of tinted glasses, were filled with the dark, twisted color of those who have suffered in the world.

Although the Ugly Duke’s six broken engagements had been circulating as a funny story, the person in question had been hurt each time. Moreover, being made a laughingstock by the public had damaged him once more. His self-esteem was in tatters.

“What is it? Is the Duke of Serravalle in such financial trouble? That’s why she has been ordered to make a connection with me? Otherwise, there’s no way that such a beautiful girl would be interested in me, right, Bosco?”

The aide named Bosco held up his hands to pray.

“He’s terminally ill. My condolences.”

“Shut up! Watch me. I’ll definitely expose your true intentions…..”

Ramilio mumbled to himself.

“I want you to reassess the Duke of Serravalle’s household some more. See if there are any signs of money problems! And also do a background check on her! She could be a money-grubbing woman!”

Ramilio sighed as he watched Bosco, his aide, said, “Yes, sir,” and then left.

“What are you thinking….. Saying that I’m a nice guy. Do you think you can fool me with such obvious flattery….?!”

It was no concern to him that his defense had been dealt a heavy blow and his face was flushed up all the way to his ears under the hood.

Translator Notes:

1. Vaudeville is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition or light poetry, interspersed with songs or ballets. ↵