113 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Betrothed to the Blind Duke 113
“So, is that why you were so kind to the Third Prince of the Sanders Empire?”
No, why is the story jumping in that direction?
Marin stared at him with wide eyes.
“Why can’t you answer?”
“That’s right. I’m weak to power. That’s why I can’t do anything to Lord Gerald.”
“Can’t do anything? You slip out of my hands every time.”
“When did I ever?”
Suddenly, the Duke reached out his hand.
Marin naturally tried to place her wrist in his hand, but hesitated and hid her hand behind her back.
“Now.”
The Duke frowned unhappily and tightly grabbed her hidden hand.
Again, their fingers intertwined.
Marin quietly looked down at their hands.
This shouldn’t keep happening.
Her heart was sending out warning signals.
“What are you thinking about now?”
“I’m thinking that the wrist examination has changed to a hand examination at some point.”
“Hands grow too.”
“They don’t!”
Marin pouted her lips before asking.
“But what brings you here?”
“The Empress invited us. You and Dia.”
“Us?”
Marin gaped at the invitation from an unexpected person.
She would be meeting the Empress after the Emperor.
“I understand.”
Marin pulled her hand out of his grasp and walked ahead.
“Where are you going?”
“To the drawing-room. I’m a Chaperone. I can’t leave Dia alone with the young gentlemen for too long.”
She quickly answered and slipped into the drawing-room.
The Duke, looking down at his empty hand, slowly closed it as if regretting it.
\ \ *
Marin and Dia followed the Empress’s maid and walked through the Empress’s palace garden.
The garden, mainly filled with white flowers, was elegant and serene. Even the vines that wrapped around the arched gate were adorned with dainty white flowers.
Soon, as they passed through the gate, they saw the blonde Empress sitting at a garden table.
Despite the relatively warm capital, she seemed to be sensitive to the cold, as she wore a soft-looking white cape.
The Empress’s maid stepped aside and bowed her head.
“I have brought them.”
“Very well.”
“Marin of the Schwentz Barony greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Dia of the Count Adria greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Welcome. Please, have a seat.”
The Empress, with a pale complexion, offered them seats with a kind smile.
Marin and Dia sat demurely across from her.
While the Empress’s maid approached and poured tea, the Empress’s gaze was fixed on the two of them.
“It feels good to meet such young ladies after a long time.”
The Empress smiled gently and spoke to Marin and Dia.
“We are honored to meet you as well.”
Marin slightly bowed her head and spoke on behalf of both of them.
The Empress gazed intently at Dia.
“Count Adria’s Young Lady.”
“Yes.”
Dia lowered her gaze and answered modestly.
“The Count and Countess’s passing was truly unfortunate.”
As the Empress expressed her condolences, Dia bowed her head.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“I once saw the Countess. She was a truly lovely person.”
Dia looked up at the Empress with a surprised expression.
Only then did the Empress’s blue eyes soften with kindness.
“You resemble the Countess very much.”
Dia smiled slightly, thinking of the person she missed.
“Please, have some refreshments.”
“Yes.”
The Empress, watching Dia drink her tea, had a gentle smile on her lips.
Turning her head to the side, the Empress spoke to Marin this time.
“Schwentz Young Lady, I heard about the Diamond Carriage. Did you ride it here today? The rumors have spread even to the Empress’s Palace. The Duke of the West must cherish you very much.”
Marin’s face flushed pink.
The carriage, created because of her trauma, was being perceived by others as a symbol of the Duke’s affection for her.
“What could be better than being cherished by the person who will become your husband?”
A bitter smile appeared on the Empress’s lips.
The Empress had a political marriage. It was a political marriage arranged long ago by the current Emperor to solidify his position.
It was a marriage without love, but the Empress gave birth to a son. The Emperor later took in many consorts, but they all only bore daughters.
The only reason the sickly Empress had been able to endure in the palace until now was the Crown Prince.
“Count Adria’s Young Lady, let me ask you directly. What do you think of our Crown Prince?”
Dia, who had not expected the Empress to ask so directly, widened her eyes. Marin, who was beside her, also became tense.
Dia carefully opened her mouth with a cautious expression.
“I believe he is a good person.”
“Isn’t he a bit rigid? Frustrating, and like an old man in a child’s body?”
“Ah, no.”
Dia shook her head with a flustered expression.
“Still, as you said, he is a good person. He will become a wise ruler.”
The Empress looked proud as she thought of the Crown Prince.
“Yes.”
Dia also smiled slightly, as if agreeing.
The Empress’s face lit up with a smile as she saw that.
“I entrust our Crown Prince to you in the future.”
Just then.
“Such requests should not be made lightly, Empress.”
Marin and Dia jumped up at the dissatisfied voice coming from behind.
“Marin of the Schwentz Barony greets His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Dia of the Count Adria greets His Majesty the Emperor.”
The Emperor stared at them with cold eyes.
“Rise.”
The Empress’s expression hardened at the Emperor’s sudden visit.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
“I stopped by on my way.”
The Emperor said with a relaxed smile.
“So suddenly after so long?”
There was a sharp edge to the Empress’s words, but the Emperor ignored it and changed the subject.
“It’s good to see the young ladies often.”
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
However, unlike his affectionate tone, the Emperor’s eyes were extremely cold.
“Yes. Why were the two young ladies invited?”
“It was a meeting to entrust the Crown Prince to her.”
“I see. Shouldn’t such requests be made without consulting me?”
The gaze directed at the Empress was as cold as ice.
The Empress met the Emperor’s gaze and opened her mouth with a voice filled with resentment.
“I have conceded everything until now. And you promised me just one thing. That you would give me the authority regarding the Crown Princess.”
The Emperor frowned and glared at the Empress with a displeased look.
Marin and Dia were sitting on pins and needles, their heads bowed.
The Empress turned her head to Marin and Dia with a stiff expression.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen His Majesty, and we have important matters to discuss. I will invite the young ladies again next time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Marin and Dia quickly replied.
The Emperor stared intently at the Empress with a displeased look and gave his permission.
“Very well. Do as the Empress wishes.”
“Yes. We will take our leave now.”
The Empress’s maid quickly approached the two and guided them out.
Marin and Dia followed the maid with stiff faces.
As soon as they left the Empress’s garden, the maid quickly said with an anxious face.
“Just go straight down this corridor. I think I need to go back. Then.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As Marin greeted her, the maid hurriedly turned around and disappeared, worried about the Empress.
Marin and Dia looked at each other, sighed, and held hands tightly.
“Dia, are you alright?”
It felt like they had glimpsed the other side of the Imperial Palace.
Dia gave a bitter smile, but her eyes were shining brightly.
“It’s something I was prepared for.”
At that moment, a servant hurriedly approached them.
“Are you Schwentz Young Lady and Count Adria’s Young Lady?”
“Yes.”
As Marin answered, the servant smiled brightly.
“I have been waiting for you. I came from the Crown Prince’s Palace. If possible, may I escort you there?”
Marin looked at Dia and passed the choice to her.
Dia pondered for a moment before opening her mouth.
“I understand.”
“I will escort you right away.”
