Claude's the ML nephew. He married the friend but she fell in love with his brother so they eloped, to everyone she's dead, but the ML knows the truth and is okay with that.
Tysm for explaining !!
To add, both MC and Duke know the truth about the previous Duchess - that she eloped after giving birth to Claude and didn't die.
The ML didn't seem to love the previous Duchess specifically, it was an arranged marriage, and doesn't seem to feel resentful at all towards their choice. As he said, he felt like his brother had left Claude to him as a gift.
So yeah, no issues with the two getting together imo. Even in other people's eyes, they believe the Duchess died 6 years ago, and I think it would be seen as more romantic than not if the two were to get together.
Sorry for being lazy, but I just binge read this and I don't feel like going back.
If the Duke is the ML, is she going to get with her friend's baby's father or was the friend pregnant with someone else who wasn't the ML? I'm just curious because I legitimately can not remember the detail of the family tree ┐('～`;)┌