108 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
“The Debutante seems to cherish those two.”
The Crown Prince looked at her, seemingly surprised.
Dia’s lips curved into a soft line.
“Because they’re my family.”
“Family, huh… Is that what family is supposed to be like…”
Dia’s gaze returned to him at the Crown Prince’s murmur, which sounded like a soliloquy.
She had heard from her parents that the Emperor, jealous of the Crown Prince, neglected him.
A father jealous of his son. It was unheard of.
“May I ask you a question as well?”
“Anything.”
The Crown Prince replied, straightening his face as if waking from a thought.
“Why do you speak like that?”
“Is there something strange about the way I speak?”
He tilted his head as if he had never received such a question before.
Dia burst into a clear laugh at the sight.
The world brightened momentarily as the refined beauty smiled.
The Crown Prince closed his eyes and then opened them again. The hand holding hers involuntarily tightened.
“Your Highness?”
Dia called him with a puzzled expression.
“I retract what I said just now.”
“Pardon?”
“It wasn’t love at first sight, but I’m in love now.”
A deep smile spread across the Crown Prince’s lips.
\ \ \
After moving away to avoid the Emperor, a white-haired old gentleman approached this time.
“Duke, where is my son?”
Marin cautiously examined the old gentleman who demanded his son as soon as he approached.
“He will arrive soon.”
“Tsk. I came early to see my son, but.”
The old gentleman’s gaze turned to her this time.
“Debutante, I heard you and my son are close?”
“Well…”
Marin hesitated, unsure how to answer.
I mean, who is your son?
The Duke next to her spoke.
“Branin Rodel, the Northern Duke.”
Marin was startled and quickly bowed.
“I greet The Duke. I am…”
“I know, I know. I’ve heard a lot about the Debutante from my son.”
The Northern Duke’s blue eyes were full of curiosity.
“Yes…”
Marin smiled awkwardly, unable to agree because she didn’t know what he had heard.
Surely he didn’t just hear about the fights, did he?
“I heard you read well? I also like someone reading to me, so read to me once-”
“Enough.”
The Duke coldly cut him off.
“Tsk. Colder than the northern wind.”
After clicking his tongue, the Northern Duke glanced up at the Duke’s closed eyes. A look of pity flashed across his eyes.
Marin nodded inwardly as she watched. The Northern Duke’s family was the only Duke family in the novel that didn’t antagonize the Duke.
Is he treating him like a son because he’s his son’s friend?
“Your father wasn’t like that.”
Ah- So their fathers were friends.
It was then.
“Everyone’s gathered here.”
A young man in a dark blue dress uniform and a middle-aged man in a black dress uniform approached.
“Ah, is this the rumored Duke’s fiancée?”
The young man with sharp eyes stared intently at her.
Marin timidly avoided his gaze. The only person who could call the Duke ‘Duke’ without adding ‘Your Excellency’ would be another Duke.
“Southern Duke, what brings you here?”
“Ah, I was with the Eastern Grand Duke, and I saw you two were here. I wanted to greet the fiancée as well.”
“I greet The Duke. I am Marin from Schwentz Barony.”
“Nice to meet you, Debutante. I am Smith Jin Patayan, the Southern Duke.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
As Marin was about to greet the Eastern Grand Duke next, the Grand Duke waved his hand with a kind face and a friendly smile.
“There’s no need to be so formal with me, Debutante. I’m just a mere Eastern Grand Duke.”
Marin looked up at her ally next to her with a bewildered expression.
“Do you all have too much time on your hands?”
Wow, as expected of the male lead. It’s a talent to be able to sneer with such a cold voice.
Marin anxiously watched the Dukes’ reactions.
The Northern Duke chuckled and laughed out loud, the Southern Duke gritted his teeth as if holding back anger, and the Eastern Grand Duke smiled gently.
Marin carefully observed the Southern Duke and the Eastern Grand Duke among them.
The Eastern Grand Duke, who was replacing the Eastern Duke, the leader of the noble faction, was an unpredictable type.
However, he disappeared without a trace in the novel, so he wasn’t a very important figure.
And the Southern Duke, who was about the same age as the Western Duke, considered the Western Duke his rival on his own.
Could he be the one who killed the Count and Countess? Since they were in the same Southern territory, it was highly likely.
It was frustrating that the culprit wasn’t revealed in the novel.
Just as Marin’s green eyes were darkening, the Duke called her.
“Marin.”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to quench your thirst?”
“…Ah, yes. My throat has been parched for a while, so I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”
Marin, who was a shrimp caught between powerful Dukes, bowed and stepped back.
Only the Northern Duke slightly nodded in response to her greeting.
Marin sighed inwardly and approached the champagne.
Her throat was really parched, and she wanted to drink anything.
However, she had been abstaining from alcohol since she got drunk.
As she stared at the sparkling champagne glass, wondering whether to drink it or not, she suddenly heard a playful voice.
“Are you having a staring contest with the alcohol?”
Turning to the side, the man she had seen at the dessert shop was standing there with a smooth smile.
Bright yellow lemon-colored hair, tanned skin, playful sparkling black eyes, a straight nose, and seductive red lips.
Wearing a white dress uniform with ornate jewels, he was an exotic beauty who stood out.
“You…!”
“You recognize me?”
The man softly creased his eyes. His smile was truly beautiful.
“How did you get here?”
Considering you’re a criminal.
She swallowed the rest of the words.
He was being chased by men, so was it okay for him to be in a place like this?
As if reading her gaze, he smiled and added a detailed explanation.
“I ran away back then because I was annoyed by the guys who said they would escort me, and now I’ve been invited here with dignity. What about the Debutante, what are you doing here? You don’t seem to be at the age to have Debutante parties. Don’t tell me you’re planning to meet another man while you’re supposed to be dating me?”
Marin stared at the man with a bitter look. No matter how handsome he was, she didn’t like such a frivolous style.
The man, noticing her gaze, burst into laughter as if he found it amusing.
“Debutante, you looked at me with disdain just now, didn’t you? I like you even more? I like women who treat me roughly.”
His sparkling black eyes were full of interest.
“But why have you been speaking informally since a while ago?”
Marin subtly dropped the honorifics, clearly showing her displeasure.
“Debutante, you speak informally too.”
The man winked one eye and smiled prettily again.
She felt a strong sense of déjà vu from the man.
“Are you perhaps from the Sanders Empire?”
She mumbled to herself, hesitant to speak completely informally. She had never met anyone from the Sanders Empire other than Surenne, so she was unsure.
“Debutante, you have a good eye. I’m the Third Prince of the Sanders Empire.”
“Ah, I see… What did you say?”
Marin casually nodded and answered, then startled and raised her head.
“I’m Tan Leoram Sanders, the Third Prince of the Sanders Empire. And you, Debutante?”
Marin froze stiffly as she looked at the exotic beauty in front of her.
It wasn’t because he was a prince from another country.
This man is going to die soon!
She gasped involuntarily because it was the first time she had seen someone destined to die.
She quickly lowered her head to hide her shocked face.
“What’s the Debutante’s name?”
Tan asked persistently, smiling brightly.
“Marin… Schwentz.”
“Oh! Marin, nice to meet you. But why did you suddenly start speaking formally again? I’m about to feel really sad?”
His feather-light tone gradually offset the shock.
Marin cautiously raised her head and carefully examined him.
Is this man really the Third Prince? The Third Prince who dies embroiled in the struggle for the throne?
“When did I speak informally…”
“You did. ‘Are you perhaps from the Sanders Empire?’ Like this.”
“That was a soliloquy.”
Tan burst into a refreshing laugh.
“I think I’ve fallen for the Debutante too. Are we really dating from today?”
“Huh?”
“Shall we go somewhere quiet and have a glass of champagne that the Debutante was having a staring contest with?”
Tan winked one eye.
What kind of endlessly frivolous man is this?*
Before she could even worry about how to deal with his destined death, she was thrown into confusion by his ‘let’s date’ attack.
“Um, Your Highness the Third Prince.”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“Pardon? Sweetie?”
“Don’t you like this nickname? Then my goddess?”
“Wait, just a moment! I have a fiancé!”
“Yeah. Break it off.”
Tan smiled prettily, tilting his eyes as if it were nothing serious.
