103 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Blind Peacock and Engagement Chapter 103
"Elmis.""
Marin called Elmis, and she came over to pour tea and stood against the wall.
"That maid who used the Sword well last time. Duke, are all the maids in the Duke's family so good at using Swords?"
"There's no way."
The Duke said bluntly with a blank face, and the Crown Prince gave a bitter smile.
"Then that maid is special."
"Maybe."
The Duke answered casually and leaned back on the sofa.
Marin rolled her eyes to the side and glared at the Duke.
If you're going to make it so obvious that you don't want to participate in the conversation, why are you sitting here?
"Schwentz Young Lady, have you seen the capital?"
"Yes. Only the downtown area for a short time."
The Crown Prince said with a delighted face.
"There are many better places in the capital, would you allow me to guide the Young Ladies? There's a very delicious restaurant in the capital-"
"Impossible."
The Duke cut in coldly.
"Ah, then there's a very beautiful park in the capital, would you like to go there together-"
"Impossible."
Marin now openly glared at the Duke.
Hey. I have a mouth too.
The Crown Prince also smiled and continued to speak without giving in.
"Then how about a dessert shop-"
"Im-"
"I'll go! I really, really want to go!"
Marin stopped the Duke's words and answered enthusiastically.
The Duke raised his eyebrows with a 'what are you doing' face and turned his head towards her, who was sitting next to him.
But Marin couldn't afford to pay attention to the Duke. Her mind was racing.
The Crown Prince mentioned a dessert shop.
What if he brought it up on purpose?
In the garden, Dia revealed her ambition to become the Crown Princess and then talked about the dessert shop.
I thought he couldn't have heard our conversation when I received the letter.
Did he really hear it, or didn't he?
It was then that Marin's mind became confused.
"Impossible."
The Duke said in a low voice, his head fixed in her direction.
Only then did Marin turn to look at the Duke.
The Duke's face, with his chin raised as if daring her to try, was annoying.
Why does he keep interfering?
"Impossible."
The Duke repeated the same words again.
"Duke, how about calming down for a moment?"
The Crown Prince interjected with a troubled expression.
"Why do you want to go out with His Highness the Crown Prince so much?"
The Duke's voice lowered ominously.
Marin hid her complicated feelings and stared at the Duke's closed eyes.
There were too many reasons.
Dia wants the position of Crown Princess. Having already come to love Dia like her own niece, she wanted to support Dia's desired path.
And if their love is achieved as in the original story, the Duke will be able to open his eyes as the story progresses.
More than anything, she was afraid that the Duke would never be able to see again.
Hadn't she seen him in agony to the point of self-harm?
To her, the Duke was no longer the male protagonist in a novel, but a living being.
She didn't want his pain to continue.
Marin swallowed the inexplicable reasons in her heart and racked her brain.
"As I said before, the opportunity to see His Highness the Crown Prince often-"
"Could it be that you like younger men?"
"Pardon?"
Marin blinked, not understanding for a moment.
Why is he suddenly asking if I like younger men here?
"I asked if you like younger men."
The Duke whispered in a low voice with a serious expression.
"Well, it's not like I dislike them."
Marin said honestly, still not realizing his intention.
If I have to answer with a dichotomy of like or dislike, it's not on the dislike side.
Then, a haze seemed to rise from the Duke's body.
Oh my. What is that?
"Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am physically tired and it will be difficult to attend to you any longer."
He spoke very politely, but his head was fixed on her side and did not move.
The Crown Prince also seemed to sense that the atmosphere was unusual and hurriedly got up from his seat.
"I see. Duke, get some rest. Young Lady, I will write to you again."
"I will see you off..."
"It's alright. Then, goodbye."
The Crown Prince waved his hand and hurriedly said goodbye and left the room.
Elmis, who was standing against the wall, also followed him out.
Only the Duke and she were left in the quiet reception room.
I want to leave too.
Marin glanced at the reception room door and wondered how to escape this awkward atmosphere.
"You like younger men?"
"No, I don't dislike them. It doesn't mean I like them."
Marin mumbled, feeling somewhat intimidated, while watching the Duke's expression.
"Isn't that the same thing? I'll have to get rid of all the young ones in front of you."
"Pardon?"
"Uvis too."
"No, what are you talking about? He's not even an adult yet."
Marin raised her voice with a bewildered face.
"I can raise him."
The Duke muttered with a meaningful face.
What kind of Age-gap romance is this!
How can you bring up a child who isn't even an adult yet?
"Why do you keep doing this?"
"Is it that it has to be the Crown Prince?"
The Duke asked again as if talking to himself.
"Excuse me?"
"Eliminate the Crown Prince-"
"Wait!"
Surprised, Marin blocked the Duke's lips with her hand as he was about to utter treason.
Her heart was pounding.
Is this Duke really crazy? He seems to have lost his mind again? Why do you keep going crazy when you can't even see?
Fortunately, the Duke did not try to remove her hand.
Marin looked at the Duke and tried to think calmly.
"I think you're having a very big misunderstanding right now. Could it be that you think I like His Highness the Crown Prince? Nod if that's right."
The Duke frowned deeply and nodded slightly.
Marin looked at him with a dumbfounded gaze.
"It's a misunderstanding! How could I ever be worthy of His Highness the Crown Prince?"
The frown that had slightly eased at the word misunderstanding deepened again.
Did I make a mistake again?
"Anyway, I absolutely don't think of His Highness the Crown Prince that way, so please clear up the misunderstanding. Okay? Nod if you've cleared up the misunderstanding. Then I'll let you go."
The Duke remained still without moving.
Because he didn't nod, Marin had to keep covering the Duke's lips. The feeling of his moist lips was directly transmitted to her palm.
"I'm telling you, it's really a misunderstanding. It's not that I like younger men, it's that I don't dislike them. I prefer older men if possible!"
One of the Duke's eyebrows shot up. Suddenly, he nodded vigorously.
"Does that mean you've cleared up the misunderstanding?"
The Duke nodded greatly again.
Only then did Marin feel relieved and removed her hand from the Duke's lips. Then she brought it to her chest and hugged it tightly.
The palm that had been pressing against his lips was burning hot, and her face turned red as well.
"How old?"
"Pardon?"
"You said you prefer older men to younger men. How much older?"
"Um, wouldn't two or three years be appropriate?"
The Duke frowned again.
Why again? What?
"Aren't you thinking of raising it by one more year? I think a four-year difference would be appropriate."
Marin looked at the Duke with curious eyes.
How did he know that?
"Well, about one year..."
Only then did a satisfied smile appear on the Duke's lips.
The haze-like energy had disappeared somewhere.
Marin sighed deeply.
I don't know why the Duke is so difficult to handle.
