CH 29

Unforeseen Reunion

When Lucrezia showed up for dinner, she was greeted by Ramilio.

“Hi. How are you feeling?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine. I think I’ve been hit by the heat. I’m all right now.”

Ramilio murmured that he was glad and smiled softly.

The change in his facial expression that had been hidden behind the glasses was now clearly visible.

Perhaps that’s why Lucrezia was somewhat out of sorts.

She sat down nervously but didn’t have an appetite, so she reached for a glass of water.

“Tomorrow, at dawn, we will leave the mansion and go to the largest cathedral in the country. I want you to go to bed early.”

Lucrezia almost spewed out her water at the outrageous declaration.

“It’s just a ceremony for now, so you can wear your usual dress. We’ll have a parade to coincide with the winter event rush. Then I will have a wedding gown made for you that’s fancier than that of the queen of a great kingdom. We just had some wonderful cloth and precious stones come in from a port town….”

Lucrezia listened as Ramilio rambled on and on about his grandiose vision for the wedding outfit, but her mind was completely blank.

“…. Like this. I’m sure it’ll look good on you.”

He said it smoothly and smiled at her.

Lucrezia was overwhelmed.

‘Husband, I thought you were a timid and reserved person…..’

Now that he was pushing for marriage, he was so forceful that you would think he had changed.

‘I must reprimand him. But….’

She just couldn’t do it, because somewhere deep down she was happy to do so.

She even got the feeling that she was being enthusiastically persuaded by Ramilio, which made her nervous.

It was a little too much stimulation for Lucrezia, who loved to be depended on by others but had been treated coldly by her fiancé and father, and hadn’t been rewarded in any way.

“It would be a little difficult to invite people to the mansion for a reception today or tomorrow, so we will substitute by taking our vows in the cathedral in front of a large crowd of people. Our notary has also prepared a marriage certificate, which you can sign tomorrow morning before you leave. Also….”

Lucrezia was slightly impressed by the smooth flow of the arrangements.

‘Ramilio-sama, you’re much more efficient than I thought you’d be,’

Before, Lucrezia usually took care of most of the arrangements. Since Lucrezia had taken the liberty of organizing the recent get-well party, she didn’t know what kind of work Ramilio was capable of.

‘I’d thought that I’d have to take care of all the troublesome matters in order for things to proceed, but…’

How wonderful it was to have someone who would proceed on their own.

Lucrezia could see how much trouble Ramilio was having by trying to force his absurd arrangements because she did the same thing all the time.

‘After all that I’ve done, if someone interrupted me by saying, “I don’t like it after all,” because of their mood, my conscience would be hurt…’

It was really hard when you’ve made all the arrangements and then it was ruined by the selfishness of an individual.

Because of the selfishness of her sister Rosa and her father, Lucrezia could understand Ramilio’s hardships.

“…. Like this. Was there anything you didn’t understand?”

Lucrezia had already lost the will to pay attention.

‘It’s fine, isn’t it? I’m beginning to think there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just a wedding. What’s important is whether or not there is love.’

She was sure Ramilio will take good care of her since he wanted it so much.

At that thought, the voice of the angel who admonished Lucrezia disappeared somewhere.

‘I’m sorry, Rosa. I thought you were a foolish girl, but I can’t laugh at you anymore.’

Now, Lucrezia’s head was filled with love too.

Her dull eyes were probably shining a little more brightly now.

“No. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

‘Oh, how silly of me. But… it’s fun!’

Lucrezia ate the bread with a nonchalant expression on her face, while inwardly squealing with excitement.

***

The next morning, Lucrezia signed the documents presented to her as she was told.

The first step of the marriage was clear.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Ramilio briskly took her hand and they got into the carriage.

Lucrezia was very embarrassed and nervous to be touched, even though it was a gesture only done out of necessity.

Sitting next to each other was also somewhat embarrassing.

Ramilio was concerned about Lucrezia’s silence, so he talked to her a lot.

“Did you sleep properly?”

“Not really…”

“You just have to be patient a little while longer. When the vows are over, you will officially become my wife. Sleep well when you get home.”

‘H-his wife, that’s….’

She wasn’t at all prepared for this.

Then Lucrezia realized a very important fact that she had overlooked.

‘…. Will I be sleeping with my husband from today on?’

Common sense would dictate that since she was his wife, she must be.

Lucrezia was so flustered that she couldn’t look at Ramilio’s face properly.

Conversations didn’t flow well, they were both filled with inattention, and so the carriage arrived in no time.

The interior of the cathedral, the largest in the Duchy of Pastore, was dazzlingly bright as if it had been built to let in an abundance of natural light.

‘It’s amazing, the ceiling is filled with paintings of angels.’

While admiring the beautiful frescoes, the ceremony went smoothly and they were asked to make our vows.

“…. I swear to love Ramilio-sama for the rest of my life.”

With the oath, they were encouraged to kiss.

Lucrezia’s heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to break, Ramilio gently leaned in and dropped an affectionate kiss on her lips.

When the bell rang to celebrate the consummation of the vows, the moment they stepped outside, they were greeted with words of congratulations from everyone around them.

“Was it a wedding?”

“Yes, it was. Thank you―”

Lucrezia’s eyes were glued to the man she turned to see.

He had lost some weight in the past few months, but he was unmistakably familiar to her.

“Hey, sis, who is that man?!”

Her sister, Rosa, came up to her loudly.

It was Ramilio next to her, who quickly embraced and protected Lucrezia.

“…. May I help you with my wife?”

The man grinned arrogantly at the somewhat challenging Ramilio.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot accept the marriage. After all, she is my daughter. The “Ugly Duke”―Ramilio Pastore.”

“… I see. You are Lucrezia’s father, Prince Antonio.”

The bright sister’s voice, which was out of place, interrupted the tense exchange.

“Hey, what’s so ugly about this person? He’s so cool!”