106 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Episode 106
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What on earth are you saying?
Marin stood up from her seat, holding the Mandelesong.
The Duke's face, standing some distance away, was obscured by the shadows of broad leaves and hard to see clearly.
If it weren't for the Duke's unique aura, she wouldn't have recognized him.
Holding the Mandelesong tightly in both hands, she slowly approached the Duke.
The Duke stood still with his eyes closed.
"What did you say?"
"I said it twice."
"It was too far away, I couldn't hear you. What did you say?"
"I told you, I said it twice."
"Are you too stingy to say it a third time?"
Marin glanced at the Duke, who had a blank expression and closed eyes.
"That's right."
The Duke's lowered eyelashes fluttered slightly, but Marin didn't notice.
The Duke extended his large hand.
Marin, holding the Mandelesong in her arms, naturally tried to take his hand but stopped mid-air.
Dia's words had come to mind.
"His Grace must really love you, Teacher."
No way. It's all just an act.
Why did this man have to be the male lead?
Staring intently up at the Duke, he still had his eyes closed.
Shadows from the leaves fell upon his numerous long eyelashes. Beneath them, his straight nose bridge and red lips were full.
He's really handsome. Enough to be greedy for.
But he was someone she couldn't afford to be greedy for. Because the Duke needed to fix his eyes.
For a moment, her heart plummeted to the floor, feeling terribly sore.
Marin made a hand visor over her eyes, as if blocking the sunlight in the dim, shadowy place under the leaves.
Is the sunlight strong? My eyes keep stinging.
Soon, her lowered gaze fell upon his firm, large hand. It was big enough to envelop her small hand completely.
"...Is it because of my wrist?"
The Duke said bluntly.
"Five steps."
"You don't need to hold hands for five steps. There's no one here to see us, so we don't need to pretend to be friendly."
After enunciating each word clearly, another chilly wind blew through her chest, but she tried hard to ignore it.
"...I misspoke. It's a wrist inspection."
"Okay."
Right, he could misspeak.
Marin placed her wrist on his palm. She saw him curl his fingers around it, inspecting her wrist.
Marin guessed what he was about to say and said it for him.
"It's still not fully grown, right?"
"That's right."
"I eat very well, so don't ask me when it's going to grow."
"Why are you saying what I was going to say?"
"A nag only works once or twice."
As she grumbled, his long, curled fingers naturally slipped between the joints of her fingers.
Marin's eyes widened in surprise as she looked down at their intertwined hands.
Without a word, he turned his body and started walking forward.
"My hand..."
"It's a finger inspection."
Marin stared blankly at his broad back with a dumbfounded expression, then suddenly burst out laughing.
This guy really likes inspections, huh.
"As you know, fingers don't grow any more."
"That remains to be seen."
He answered bluntly and tightened his grip on their interlocked hands.
Marin stared down at her captured hand, then blushed.
She needed to keep her distance, but this Duke kept closing the gap.
Ah, what should I do?
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Finally, the day of the Debutante dawned.
The Debutante, which lasted for a week, had its most important day on the first. The young ladies who had just come of age dressed more beautifully than anyone else.
Marin went down to Dia's room, carrying a white velvet box.
Knock knock.
Dia's maid opened the door.
"Dia..."
Marin's words trailed off as she saw Dia standing in front of the mirror, her eyes wide.
A mesmerizing black swan floating on a lake.
Her hair, black as ebony, was braided and fixed in a circular shape like a wreath, decorated here and there with pearls and diamonds. Her transparent skin and pink lips were moist, plump, and beautiful.
Most young ladies who had just come of age wore dresses in bright pastel colors. But Dia boldly chose a black silk dress with a subtle sheen.
The diamond dust attached to the hem of the dress sparkled like the Milky Way in a black sky.
Dia, who had woken up early in the morning and busily prepared herself, was dazzlingly beautiful.
"Dia! You're so beautiful! The dress your mother chose is so pretty too!"
At Marin's admiration, Dia smiled shyly and gently stroked the hem of her dress. It was because the time when she and her mother had chosen this dress briefly came to mind.
"Thank you."
"This is a Debutante congratulatory gift for you."
Marin held out the white velvet box she had brought.
"Am I allowed to receive this?"
Dia's eyes widened as if she hadn't expected it.
"Of course. Open it quickly."
Dia carefully opened the box.
Inside the velvet box was a black opal necklace, its various colors harmoniously blended together, looking mystical.
"This... it's an Opal, right?"
"Yes."
"I heard from Peridot. He said there were only two of these gems. But you already gave one to Garnet."
A hint of apology flashed in Dia's deep jade-green eyes.
"I wanted to give the remaining one to you as a gift, so I entrusted it to a jeweler. You might have prepared jewels already, but could you wear this one today?"
When the female lead first wore the Opal necklace and went to the party, all the young ladies looked at her with envious eyes. Naturally, she became the star of the party.
She wanted to make Dia the star of today's Debutante.
Dia handed the box to the maid standing beside her and immediately put on the necklace.
The black opal, shimmering with iridescent colors, suited Dia as perfectly as a painting.
"It's really beautiful!"
The maid looked at Dia, her mouth agape, and praised her sincerely.
"Perfect, Dia!"
Marin also nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Dia smiled shyly.
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The Diamond Carriage arrived at the imperial palace.
Nobles who had long heard the rumors gathered not to enter the Debutante hall, but to see the Diamond Carriage.
Meanwhile, the Western Duke, leaning on his cane, got out of the carriage first, then extended his hand back into the carriage.
Then, a platinum-blonde young lady in a salmon-colored dress appeared.
"Is that person His Grace the Duke's fiancée?"
"She's... cuter than the rumors said?"
"You're right. Rumors really aren't to be trusted."
As the platinum-blonde young lady who had exited first stepped back a pace, the Duke extended his hand into the carriage again.
Soon, a young lady in a sparkling black dress slowly descended from the carriage.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my."
"She's beautiful..."
"I knew the Adria Count's family was famous for their beauty, but I didn't know she would be this* beautiful."
Marin listened intently to the murmuring conversations of the nobles in the distance.
Seeing the nobles marveling at Dia's beauty, a proud smile formed on her lips.
"Let's go."
As the Duke, leaning on his cane, offered his arm to Marin, she naturally linked arms with him.
With the Duke in the middle, the three of them walked slowly and entered the hall.
The palace attendant announced their arrival at the door.
"Announcing His Grace Duke Gerald von Weins, his fiancée the Young Lady Marin Schwentz, and the Young Lady Dia Adria."
The nobles who had already arrived stared intently at the three.
"So that young lady is the Count's young lady debuting this year. Her dress suits her so well."
"Oh my. That necklace, what gem is it? I've never seen a gem like that before?"
"She's radiant."
The female nobles were captivated by Dia's dress and jewels, while the male nobles were enchanted by her face.
Dia stood there with a noble expression, completely unbothered by the people's gazes.
"Gerald, you must be busy, right? Please go ahead. I'll stick right by Dia's side."
Gerald's eyebrows shot up.
"Why have you been like this lately?"
"Like what?"
"It feels like you're avoiding me?"
Typical sharp Duke.
Marin averted her gaze slightly and fabricated an excuse.
"Me? No, not at all. It's the first time here for both Dia and me, her Chaperone. If you stay close, people will crowd around us, won't they?"
Dia, who was listening to the conversation beside them, nodded slightly, just as the attendant shouted loudly.
"Announcing His Imperial Majesty Leonheim von Oman, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Alexfet von Oman."
"Your Imperial Majesty!"
All the nobles bowed in unison.
