CH 37

The Words That You Wish to Hear

Lucrezia tried her best to put the utmost affection in her emotionless eyes while keeping a lid on her feelings.

“I believe that it is essential to have the help of people like Miss Margherita and Madam Cassia in order to make the court of Pastore prosperous again. Please lend us your help.”

The tea party ended with a discussion of winter events as a task in hand.

After the Cassia family left, Lucrezia looked at Ramilio, who was standing idly next to her and looking at the carriage.

He looked very tired, but was it still the fault of Miss Margherita?

Lucrezia couldn’t restrain herself.

“… Did you like Miss Margherita, Ramilio-sama?”

Ramilio suddenly looked flustered, as if he had been brought back to reality all at once.

“No, of course not?!”

When Lucrezia gazed up at him with gloomy eyes, Ramilio’s eyebrows lowered and his face became somewhat strange.

“Are you mad at me….?”

Lucrezia put her hands on her hips as if to say yes.

“You seemed to be having more fun than when you were with me.”

“When did I…. She said she didn’t want to see me if she could. I don’t like that type the most.”

“She was a lovely person, friendly and cheerful.”

“Who are you talking about… Margherita was the kind of kid who said things without fear and had no compassion. What…. why are you looking at me like that?”

Lucrezia wasn’t convinced.

Ramilio was too nice at heart. Even when he was verbally abusive, he didn’t seem to be that angry.

Even if he had been rejected in the past, she had a fear that if Margherita glanced at him and said, “But right now, I think I like you a lot,” he might easily roll over.

“Since you two were engaged, you must have had some feelings for her, right?”

“No, not at all… Mrs. Cassia used to take care of me on her own. And because of Mrs. Cassia, neither Margherita nor I could say anything strongly about it, so Margherita came and lived with us.”

“You lived together?!”

“I know, but…. is that really something to get worked up about….?”

Ramilio seemed to be very upset with Lucrezia, who was acting strangely.

“What…? What do I have to say to make you understand…? That child cried and refused to be with me, saying that she didn’t want a creepy guy like that. Can you imagine how I felt when she told me that? Margherita is definitely not the one. If she ever turned around and gives me any indication that she has feelings for me, I’m going to laugh a million times and tell the whole territory about it.”

“That’s kind of unpleasant, though…”

She sensed some darkness that she didn’t expect from Ramilio.

He finally seemed to be losing his patience and scratched his head.

“Then what am I supposed to say? It’s surprising that you think I like Margherita.”

Lucrezia looked up at Ramilio with a bit of resentment.

“Who do you think is prettier, me or her?”

“You win hands down. There is nothing cute about Margherita. Nothing at all. You’re beautiful, charming, smart, and kind. Compared to Margherita….”

As he said it, Ramilio suddenly fell silent.

“…. And?”

When Lucrezia, feeling a little happier, urged him to continue, he suddenly burst out laughing.

“What, are you jealous?”

Ramilio said with a laugh and gave Lucrezia a hug.

“No, really, I don’t understand. Was there anything that would make you jealous?”

“Ramilio-sama has had six women in the past.”

“It’s the past.”

“One of them might have been your favorite!”

Ramilio laughed out loud. Lucrezia, who was attached to him, could feel the vibration of his laughter.

“You’re adorable, but…. you’re my benefactor. I owe you so much that no matter what beautiful women I’ve met in the past, it all doesn’t matter.”

“So, you did have a favorite after all!”

“I’m just speaking metaphorically, so relax. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. When they showed me your portrait for the first time, I was shocked.”

Lucrezia looked at Ramilio’s face, intrigued.

Ramilio pinched her cheek with one hand.

“How many times have I told you that there are plenty of better choices for you to marry? But you’re the one who insisted that I was the one for you. Can’t you imagine how I feel?”

Perhaps embarrassed, Ramilio rubbed Lucrezia’s cheek a little roughly.

“Margherita turned me down, saying she couldn’t have me as a person, and you said I was ‘lovely.’”

Lucrezia, with her cheeks squeezed, saw Ramilio’s face up close as he leaned over her cheek.

Who would believe him now if he said he was the man they used to call “Ugly Duke”?

“Lucrezia, I owe you a debt. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to pay you back, but I’m going to do the best I can.”

Ramilio took his hand away and looked straight at Lucrezia.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want to be known.”

Lucrezia had already received what she wanted.

Still, if she can ask for one more thing…

“I will be satisfied if you simply tell me that you love me.”

Lucrezia thought that she would never forget the sound and the heat that she felt when he whispered it in her ear.

***

The war between the Illuminati Kingdom and the Kingdom of Rai ended with Rai’s victory.

The Illuminati king agreed to cede three port towns and two islands, and the Kingdom of Rai withdrew from the capital.

Along the way, several ships suddenly stopped at the port town of Pastore.

It was feared that war would break out in Pastore.

“This is a letter addressed to you, can you read it?”

She quickly glanced at the envelope handed by Ramilio and read its contents.

‘It is from the Crown Prince of Rai.’

“… His Highness says he has come to deliver my father’s belongings. He asked if we could meet him on land.”

“I see. If he doesn’t have any hostile intentions, I don’t mind.”

Lucrezia and Ramiro went to the port town to meet the Crown Prince of Rai.

The port was crowded with people hurriedly unloading their goods.

Among them is a prominent triangular-sailed warship, which holds the insignia of the Crown Princes.

Lucrezia was reunited with Crown Prince Reisch at an inn on a small hill overlooking the harbor.

A strong sea breeze blew on the marble terrace, fluttering Lucrezia’s dress and the loose long robes worn by Reisch and his companions.

“Lucrezia. I am happy to see you looking well.”

“Yes, Your Highness too.”

Reisch spoke to her in a language that even Ramilio could understand, so Lucrezia responded in that direction as well.