Chapter 36

On the first weekend after her father's death was reported, Lucrezia, dressed in mourning clothes, went to the cathedral with Lamirio.

When they were led to a special seat after making a donation, a faint sigh could be heard from the people who had arrived earlier.

Whispers could be heard.

"…Duke Pastore…"

"No way, I heard he was even more…"

"I saw it with my own eyes, no mistake…"

Lucrezia, feeling amused, whispered to Lamirio.

"Everyone is surprised."

"Be quiet in the cathedral."

"Yes, but since we're here, why don't we do something to entertain everyone?"

"What, like what?"

"How about waving at them? They would surely be delighted."

Lamirio fell silent, as if thinking, with a blank expression.

Inside the cathedral, bathed in the morning sun, Lucrezia looked up contentedly.

—My husband is still the most handsome.

Does he understand his current position, being ogled by everyone? His handsome face and stoic silence gave no clues.

Eventually, Lamirio gently pulled up Lucrezia's hand.

He kissed the back of her hand through the glove.

A sigh like a scream escaped, and the entire cathedral turned to see what was happening.

"Sir… What was that…?"

"I don't know. You said to do something entertaining. I just followed your suggestion. I'm a loyal dog, after all."

Hearing this matter-of-factly, Lucrezia could only respond, "I see."

—He seems to have gained a lot of confidence.

There was no trace of the time when she had tried desperately to hide her face under a hood.

***

Lucrezia, while in mourning for her father, wrote her diary diligently.

Since it was meant to be read by future generations, her motto was to include as much current news as possible and make it enjoyable.

As she wrote enthusiastically on the terrace, a shadow fell over her.

"What are you writing?"

Without looking up, Lucrezia answered without stopping her hand.

"It's Lord Lamirio's biography!"

"Ah… me?"

"I'm going to write in detail about how wonderful Lord Lamirio is and how much he is loved by the people. Then… a hundred years from now, the nickname 'Ugly Duke' will be forgotten!"

Lamirio's expression softened slightly.

"I haven't heard that nickname in a long time."

"Exactly, who came up with it? I'd like to catch them and make them pay!"

As she spoke with conviction, she was suddenly pulled into Lamirio's embrace.

"You really are something…"

Lucrezia, feeling a bit flustered and her heart racing, was a bit troubled. Recently, Lamirio had been touching her frequently.

On the first day she wore mourning clothes, she had been kissed multiple times.

"Maybe it's inappropriate, but you're just too cute."

—When he says things like that, I can't get angry.

Since then, Lamirio has been kissing her all the time.

His hand suddenly wrapped around her neck, and Lucrezia flinched and closed her eyes, bracing herself for another kiss. Just then, a voice called out from the servant, Ann.

"Madam, the guests you invited have arrived."

"Already? They're early."

She quickly pulled away and glanced at Lamirio.

He was blushing, and she was sure she was blushing too.

The guests had arrived in a large carriage, the whole family together.

The Cassia family, one of the four governors of the Duchy of Pastore, were considered one of the noble families in the kingdom.

Due to the epidemic that had spread when Lamirio took over, their interactions had been cut off.

Recently, Lucrezia had been deepening her relationships with influential families to consolidate the governance of the Duchy of Pastore.

"It's been a while since the convalescence celebration, how are you?"

Lucrezia greeted Mrs. Cassia and expressed her pleasure at their visit.

"Margherita! I'm honored to be invited, Lady Lucrezia!"

The young girl who had just descended was likely the eldest daughter of the family. She took Lucrezia's hand with gratitude and gave Lamirio a slightly awkward look.

—Hmm? What's this atmosphere?

Lamirio also seemed a bit uncomfortable.

Reading Lucrezia's puzzled expression, Mrs. Cassia smiled.

"This girl was Lord Lamirio's third fiancée."

"Oh my…"

Lucrezia looked at Margherita with a vague smile, but she was a bit anxious inside.

—I knew there were six, but meeting them in person is surprising.

"But this girl, she started crying and refused even before seeing Lord Lamirio's face. She was really pitiful."

"Oh…"

"At the convalescence celebration, she shouted, 'I didn't hear he was so handsome!' It was really embarrassing."

"Mother, stop, it's so embarrassing…"

Margherita's face turned red, and she covered it with her hands.

Then, she exclaimed, "Ah! No, I don't have any objections now. I'm really happy that a couple like you two has formed!"

"Despite my unworthy daughter, please be kind to her."

Mrs. Cassia chuckled.

They moved to the terrace and served the tea and pastries prepared for the occasion.

Mrs. Cassia was very pleased and expressed her gratitude to Lucrezia.

"You really have a wonderful daughter, Duke Pastore."

Lamirio looked very proud, to the point where Lucrezia, watching from the side, felt embarrassed.

"When you were rejected by Margherita, I thought I would die."

"Wait, Your Grace, we weren't that close, right!?"

"After all, I was told I was 'impossible as a human being.'"

"Wow, you're really holding a grudge!"

"But in the end, Lucrezia came, and I survived."

Lucrezia, watching the exchange with surprise, suddenly had a question.

—You mentioned that the interactions had been cut off…

"Yes, Your Grace hasn't participated in any court events, so we haven't interacted there, but we've maintained a small relationship."

Mrs. Cassia laughed.

"Since Lady Lucrezia will now take over the court events, we are very grateful."

"Ballroom dances at the castle are so dreamy! The convalescence celebration party was so much fun!"

Margherita, looking innocent and happy.

Lamirio, however, looked at Margherita with a suspicious expression.

From this, it seemed there was really nothing between them.

—But, is Lord Lamirio still a bit hung up on it?

Why do I feel a bit uneasy?

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