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First off, the name is supposed to be Deatrice, not Deadrace... Now that I got that off my chest, on to the next thing...
So first, the reason behind the MC blowing off the ML 6 years prior is because of her father. We learn later that her father had hired the woman who claimed to be the ML's mother as an actress. ML isn't an illegitimate son, he was framed by the MC's dad because he didn't want her to marry the ML. When she does learn this, she plans to have the subordinates to reveal this after she leaves. Oh yeah, the ML's plan, he wanted to annual the marriage with MC because he planned to expose her father and reveal his true lineage [which he was in fact the count's nephew as he had said before and raised like a son, his mother married the count], but that ends up being put on hold.
He gets sent by the emperor to do some relief work, which happened to be in the same area MC runs off to in disguise. She's working there, and he knew, but he played with her knowing who she was. Btw he did find out why she abandoned him from the servants when she left which is why his plans were on hold. She didn't want her to be the reason he didn't get his revenge on her father.
After some teasing and whatnot in the town, they get back together and return to reveal the truth. ML wages war on the MC's father, who is shamed by everyone. Things go down and the Duke in a plea for his life proposes a deal to make the ML his next heir.
It's just a mess of a series... I can see why people don't find the FL or ML likeable -_-
Oh big surprise, the previous fiancé, Fredrick, he's still alive and returns at some point. Wasn't clear in the spoilers.