112 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
“I like the happy ending. Read only those kinds of books from now on.”
“Pardon?”
Marin looked up at the Duke with a look that said, What nonsense is he spouting now?
“My taste has changed.”
“Ah, taste.”
There was nothing to say when he said his taste had changed.
“But what brings you here?”
“A gift.”
The Duke held out a square, red velvet box.
“I’ve already received so much.”
Was it okay to keep receiving things from the Duke?
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Saying that there must be a condition for me to give you something.”
“It’s not necessarily that, but you keep giving me things, so…”
Marin trailed off, flustered.
She had refused because she wasn’t used to receiving gifts without expecting something in return, but after hearing his words, she felt sorry for perhaps ignoring the Duke’s goodwill.
“Let’s do this. Consider it repaying a debt.”
“What debt?”
“Your maid was injured, wasn’t she? Let’s consider it repaying that debt.”
“Then Yuria should receive this, not me. She was injured trying to save me.”
“I’ll compensate the maid separately. This is a debt of the heart I owe to you.”
“I understand.”
Marin accepted the box and opened it.
Inside was a circular bracelet that glowed with a light green hue. In the center, blue, red, and black gems were neatly set in a row.
“It’s a bracelet?”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s pretty.”
“That’s a relief. Try wearing it.”
The bracelet was quite thick. It was large enough to slide up to her forearm when she put her hand through it.
Should she call it an armlet instead of a bracelet?
“This is quite big, isn’t it?”
Marin looked down at the bracelet with a troubled expression.
“Take it off again.”
As the Duke instructed, she obediently took off the bracelet.
“Press the blue gem.”
As she did as he said, the bracelet transformed from a circular shape into a straight bar the size of her palm.
“Extend it forward, and press it one more time.”
When she pressed the blue gem again, the straight bar extended like a Triple Staff. A sharp blade, only the size of a finger joint, popped out at the end.
“Wow.”
Marin’s eyes sparkled as she swung the Triple Staff Sword around. It was definitely easier to use than a dagger.
“It’ll be easier to carry around than a dagger. Usually, wear it like a bracelet. If you press the red gem, it’ll deflect anything like it did with the wine before, and if you press the black gem, fire will come out, I’m told.”
“Fire? Did Lord Jeromian make this?”
“Yes. A collaboration with Surenne. The black gem function was just thrown in, so if you meet Zero, ask him to change it to fire or water.”
So, besides Butler, the Duke was also the one who asked Surenne for a Sword.
Marin looked at the Duke with grateful eyes.
Such a gift—she hadn’t expected it. She liked it even more than when she had received the jewels.
“It seems you like it.”
“Yes!”
“Then do you love me now?”
He tilted his head slightly, as if gauging her reaction, and asked.
“Pardon?”
“Good posture.”
“Ah, no. Wait! That ‘yes’ wasn’t an affirmative ‘yes,’ but a questioning ‘yes’ out of surprise.”
Marin hurriedly corrected herself.
“Why are you surprised?”
The Duke crossed his arms in front of his chest and frowned as if he didn’t understand.
“Most women like gifts, I’ve heard.”
“According to that logic, if I loved someone just because they gave me a gift, I should have loved Lord Gerald a long time ago.”
“Exactly. Why don’t you love me yet?”
Marin thumped her chest in frustration.
What kind of frustrating conversation was this?
“Who says women fall in love because of gifts?”
“Olive.”
“Ah…”
Olive, who was flustered in front of Surenne, came to mind. He should have asked the right person.
“You chose the wrong person to ask for advice.”
“Then you tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“What you need to do to make you fall in love with me.”
Marin stared at the Duke with wide eyes.
“Do you have to go that far for the sake of acting?”
“Yes.”
He answered firmly in a cold voice.
Marin stared at him with a confused expression.
Was he some kind of perfectionist?
“Well, I…”
When Marin hesitated for a long time without answering, he unfolded his arms and turned away.
“I’ll give you time.”
The Duke’s retreating figure looked lonely for some reason.
* * *
Marin headed to the drawing room with Dia.
Dia looked pure and innocent today in her ivory dress. Her luscious black hair was half-tied with a ribbon of the same color as the dress, cascading down her back.
A servant opened the door to the drawing room, and Marin and Dia entered.
“Greetings, Schwentz Young Lady, Adria Young Lady.”
A man with brown hair and a man with red hair jumped up from their seats.
“Welcome. Sanchez Heir, Johnren Heir.”
The two men couldn’t take their eyes off Dia.
Dia lowered her gaze slightly and stood demurely.
They’re smitten, completely smitten.
As Marin and Dia sat on the sofa, Elmis approached and poured tea for them.
Soon, small talk ensued.
Marin, as the Chaperone, sat quietly as if she wasn’t there, listening to their conversation and clicking her tongue inwardly.
Tsk, tsk. How can they appeal to her charm with such clumsy attempts?
It was then.
Knock, knock.
After the knock, Butler Canolam entered and bowed slightly.
“What is it?”
“Miss Dia has a guest.”
“We have guests now?”
Marin asked with wide eyes.
Dia brought the teacup to her lips, hiding her smile.
“I seem to have come at the wrong time.”
The Crown Prince emerged from behind the drawing room door with a stiff expression.
The two men sitting on the sofa jumped up and greeted him.
“Philip of the Sanchez County, I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yarus of the Johnren County, I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Rise.”
Marin and Dia also rose from their seats and greeted him.
The Crown Prince looked at Dia with a meaningful gaze.
Dia met his gaze without looking away.
“Are you busy?”
“Yes.”
The Crown Prince’s golden eyes turned to the two men.
They lowered their heads slightly, looking guilty for no reason.
“I understand. I apologize for the intrusion.”
“Yes.”
Dia answered obediently, lowering her gaze.
“I hope the two heirs also have a good time before you leave.”
“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness.”
The two men bowed simultaneously.
“I’ll escort His Highness the Crown Prince out.”
Marin gestured to Dia and turned around.
She looked at Elmis, signaling her to keep a close watch on the two men, and she nodded slightly.
Outside, unlike her composed demeanor just now, the Crown Prince’s shoulders were slumped.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, Young Lady. I didn’t come without an appointment this time.”
“Yes…”
Dia must have deliberately called him at this time to make the Crown Prince anxious.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s dejected appearance made her feel a little sorry.
“Your Highness, I apologize. I’ll make sure to arrange a proper time next time.”
“…Young Lady.”
The Crown Prince called her cautiously.
“Yes.”
“Do you perhaps know what Adria Young Lady thinks of me?”
His golden eyes were visibly trembling with anxiety.
Marin knew Dia’s goal, but she didn’t know her true feelings.
“Well, I don’t know. But Dia doesn’t dislike Your Highness the Crown Prince. That much is certain.”
“Thank you. That’s an encouraging answer.”
He smiled faintly.
“What does Your Highness think of Dia?”
“I want to propose to the Young Lady.”
His golden eyes shone strongly.
But at that moment.
“Your Highness always chooses the difficult path.”
“Duke!”
The Crown Prince looked at the Duke, who had come down to the first-floor lobby, with a welcoming expression.
The Duke greeted him with an expressionless face.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I thought I wouldn’t get to see the Duke before leaving, what luck. Haha.”
“Please continue on your way.”
The Crown Prince, pretending not to hear the Duke’s dismissal, asked the Duke a question.
“Duke, am I taking a difficult path?”
“Yes.”
“The easy path isn’t fun, though.”
The Crown Prince grinned.
“It depends on the path.”
Marin, who was listening to their cryptic conversation from the side, shook her head.
So, what the Duke meant was, ‘Don’t even think about marrying my niece.’ The Crown Prince meant, ‘I won’t give up.’ The Duke’s words were summarized as, ‘Do you think I’ll let that happen?’
“I must be going now. Please deliver this to Adria Young Lady.”
“Yes.”
When the Crown Prince held out a letter, Marin quickly accepted it.
After he left, the Duke stood askew and gestured with his chin.
“What did the Crown Prince give you?”
“A letter.”
“Are you going to give it to Dia?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’ve felt this for a long time, but why do you dislike His Highness the Crown Prince so much, Lord Gerald?”
“It’s not that I dislike him, he’s just annoying.”
“That’s the same thing.”
The Duke’s jaw twitched.
“I’ve felt this for a long time, but why are you so kind to the Crown Prince?”
“He’s His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“So?”
“I’m weak to power.”
“Is that why you were so kind to the Third Prince of the Sanders Empire as well?”
No, why is the conversation going in that direction?
