120 - I Got Engaged to the Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Episode 120
Dia's deep emerald eyes widened dramatically.
Revenge?
She clasped her hands tightly and her lips trembled.
"......"
But no words came out, as if her voice had vanished.
"I found the one who killed your parents and killed them with my own hands. It was too late. I apologize."
The Duke slightly bowed his head.
Dia tightly shut her trembling eyes and slowly shook her head.
The Duke had done it.
Though she hadn't been able to personally conclude her parents' revenge, his vengeance must have been incomparably cruel and brutal.
The feeling in her chest, which had always felt blocked somewhere, suddenly cleared.
Slowly opening her eyes, Dia stared directly at the Duke.
"Don't apologize. Thank you. ......Uncle."
Dia sincerely bowed deeply to him.
\ \ \
Upon receiving word from the Duke of the West's household, a servant from the Eastern Duke's household came out to collect the former minor Duke's body, which had been discarded like a dog on the street.
The servant, having placed the body in a sack, traveled by carriage.
The place the servant arrived at was the capital's vast garbage dump.
After throwing the sack into the garbage dump, the servant spat, "Ptooey." He was a knight from the Eastern Duke's household disguised as a servant.
"Trash belongs in the trash dump."
The knight, dusting off his hands, boarded the carriage again and departed.
And in the place where the knight had left, a figure wearing a black mask appeared.
Zelmia rushed into the garbage dump and found the sack.
Upon untying the opening of the sack, her lover's face was revealed.
Zelmia hugged her lover and shed tears.
"My lord...... You shouldn't have left like this, my lord."
Her crimson eyes burned with vengeance.
"The final command you gave me, I will surely carry it out."
Zelmia carefully picked up and held the sack, then left the garbage dump.
\ \ \
"We still haven't found Zelmia."
Although Meron had been eliminated, she, who had acted as his hands and feet, had gone into hiding underwater again.
"Pests must be eradicated completely."
In response to the Duke's cold command, Olive answered immediately.
"Yes. We will pursue her to the end. And Jenny, who completed her mission, left yesterday."
Jenny, who had brought the grandchild to the Eastern Duke's household, stayed quietly near the Eastern Duke's townhouse for a few days.
It wasn't on the Duke's orders.
It was from a desire to check if the child she had cared for over the years was doing well.
And yesterday, she left with a relieved expression.
The spies stationed in various places take long vacations after completing their assigned missions, but Jenny said she would leave the Empire altogether.
Olive finished her report.
"Give her a reward tripled."
"Yes. I'll arrange it."
Olive, who had bowed her head and then raised it, continued speaking.
"And inquiries from nobles wishing to purchase Opal continue unabated."
"I've handed over the Opal Mine to Marin, so discuss it with her."
"Understood. Miss Marin will soon become rich."
Olive smiled with a pleased expression.
"I suppose so."
A slight relaxation was visible in the Duke's stiff lips.
Lately, whenever a topic related to Marin came up, the Duke's expression softened.
"When she first came, she was so moved by a temporary contract paying just 1 Gold per week."
The Duke lifted his head towards Olive.
"Olive, you did well back then."
At the Duke's rare praise, Olive's shoulders practically shot up towards the sky.
"I'm the one who should thank you for believing in me. Given Your Excellency's visual impairment, and Miss Marin possessing such an ability... It was truly like fate."
At that moment, the Duke's face hardened stiffly, but Olive failed to notice.
"I see. If I could see, she would have no need to stay by my side......"
At the Duke's grave tone, Olive looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Huh?"
What did that mean?
"You may leave now.At the Duke's heavy order to see her out, Olive concealed her doubts and left the office.
In the silent office, Gerald slowly lifted his eyelids and cast his gaze out the window.
Kay, who knew his eyes had already healed, remained quietly silent.
By killing Meron himself, he had succeeded in avenging his sister.
If the Emperor had been involved in his sister's death in any way, he was prepared to commit treason.
However, the cunning Emperor had not interfered in Meron's actions.
He had merely intended to monopolize the interests of the West if Meron's deeds led to his own downfall.
That Emperor, having seen the Monster up close and been frightened, would likely exercise restraint for a while.
Having defeated his political opponents in one round, he had intended to confess to Marin that he could see before leaving for the West.
But he had foolishly forgotten.
That she would only remain by his side if he couldn't see.
Reading reports to him, reading books to him when he suffered from insomnia—it was all because he was blind.
If he could see ahead, she would leave.
Hadn't Dia's Debutante also concluded successfully? According to the contract, the contractual engagement was also over.
On top of that, the Opal Mine and her salary... She had earned more than enough money to last her a lifetime.
Therefore, Marin had no reason to remain by his side from now on.
Damn.
There was only one way for her to remain by his side now.
For him to remain dependent on her, continuing in a state where he couldn't see.
Within that, he had to make her truly love him.
He had stubbornly ordered Marin to love him, but he knew that the heart doesn't move by command.
If she said she was leaving, could he let her go?
No.
Absolutely not. He could never let her go.
Since falling in love with her, his own dark desires towards her frightened even himself.
At first, she seemed insignificant and laughable.
She seemed so fragile, as if she'd break with a touch, that he wanted to protect her. Sometimes, when she bravely stood up to him, he even felt proud.
And now he desired her. He wanted to possess her madly.
Gerald covered his eyes with his hand.
It was dark.
If it meant she would never leave, there was a way to never open these eyes again.
A cold resolution formed in his heart.
\ \ *
"Come in."
Marin took a deep breath and hesitantly entered the office. The Duke was sitting alone inside.
"Hello."
At Marin's hesitant tone, one of the Duke's eyebrows shot upwards.
"What is it?"
"What is what?"
"That greeting, it feels like you're gauging my mood?"
Typical perceptive Duke.
Marin's pink lips trembled slightly, and she twisted her fingers. She needed to speak, but her mouth wouldn't open easily, so she lowered her gaze to the floor.
"What is it?"
"What now?"
When she lifted her head and looked at the Duke, he was frowning.
"That atmosphere where you have something to say but find it difficult to bring up?"
No, how does he know everything? Is it written on my face? But the Duke can't see.
"Fine. I'll tell you. Actually, I have a request."
"You hesitated that much to ask me a favor?"
"Yes. Um... I want to go see the Imperial Palace library."
The Duke silently rose from his seat and walked over.
Marin looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Before she knew it, the Duke, who had come close, tilted his head to the side.
"What are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"You said let's go?"
"Aren't you going to ask why? The reason is-"
"Marin. You don't need to explain to me the things you want to do or the places you want to go. You just need to say one word to me."
"One word... what is it?"
The Duke leaned his head close to her face and whispered in a seductive voice.
"Please."
"......?"
Please what!
Marin's face instantly turned bright red, and she looked up at the Duke with a trembling gaze.
"If you say that one word, I'll even cut off the Emperor's head-"
"Wai, wait!"
With a startled expression, Marin stood on her tiptoes and covered the Duke's lips with her hand.
This person, really! Why does he talk about treason so casually?
Her heart beat erratically and noisily.
"Okay, I get it, so please! Don't say things like that. My heart hurts from the shock. If you understand, nod your head."
But the Duke remained perfectly still, not moving a muscle.
Why isn't he nodding?
The Duke was so tall that just reaching his lips with her hand made her heels tremble violently.
And the sensation of the Duke's moist, warm lips against her palm made her heart race for a different reason this time.
