I feel like I'm the only person in the world who likes Lucrezia, so screw it- I'm standing up for her.
1. I remember someone calling her a gold digger, which entirely isn't the case- she straight up said she's just trying to get her family to treat her like family again. If you literally had a mother and father who didn't call you their child while watching other children be desired more than you, there's a high possibility that you could end up like her and trying to do what you can to make them love you again. What she needs is family, and no one cares and just sees her as a problem.
2. Bona is NOT a better choice politically. She has bestowal magic, and therefore could use it AND teach it to any children they have, whereas Lucrezia never could learn it and therefore couldn't teach it even if their children have it. She's safer because she can't teach the bloodline magic, meaning it's still up to the Twin Kingdoms if any children from Capua can learn it.
3. It's not like Zenjirou is a saint, nor is really anyone in this story. Everyone has their ulterior motives and side dealings. Aura takes advantage of Zenjirou for the sake of the kingdom. The Twin Kingdoms take advantage of their own children- even those who are considered lesser- for the same reason. Freya took advantage of the fact that Zenjirou was a 'safe option' for a husband first as well for the sake of being able to still be free. Why does it feel like no one's remembering any of that in these stories? Why is everyone hating Lucrezia more than any of the other two-faced people, just because her two-facedness is overtly done and comedic instead of coming from a 'gentler' voice like the others in this story?
Honestly, I like Lucrezia, and I hope her story develops and grows. Whether or not she becomes the next concubine, I want her story to continue and seriously look forward to what happens to her.