122 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Blinded Duke, Engaged 122
Did he worry because I suddenly cried?
Marin gave a faint smile and buried her face in his broad chest.
How did he know I was crying when he can't even see? I didn't even know until I opened my eyes.
As expected, not just anyone could be the male lead.
"Why did you cry?"
"I was thinking about my dad and brother. We were supposed to come here together."
Then the Duke gently patted her back as if to comfort her.
Marin's nose tingled again. His clumsy but affectionate touch resonated more with her than any words of comfort.
"I'm okay now. Thank you for coming here with me."
"I'll take you anywhere you want."
"Yes."
At that moment, the librarian's voice was heard from the side.
"Ahem, ahem. You can't do this here."
Only then did Marin realize that she was hugging him in a public place, and she was startled and moved away from him.
"I-I'm sorry."
Marin, her face red, hurriedly apologized to the librarian.
"Lord Gerald, let's get out of here."
She wanted to get out of here quickly because her face was burning, but the Duke walked slowly.
Inevitably, she had to take the Duke's hand and pull him along.
Marin, who came out in front of the main gate of the Imperial Library, was looking for the carriage.
"The Duke's Castle archive is bigger than here."
"Yes?"
"I mean, you don't have to come to a place like this again."
It was just like the Duke to offer comfort in a blunt way again.
"Yes. I don't have to come again."
Marin smiled even brighter on purpose.
She turned around bravely and took in the Imperial Library one last time.
Dad, Brother.
Coming here, it wasn't a big deal at all. I'm sorry. I'll live well with Mom. So please watch over us from heaven.
\ \ \
The capital was buzzing.
This was because the Crown Prince and Dia, the daughter of Count Adria, were officially announced to be engaged at the Imperial Palace.
Engagement congratulatory gifts poured into the Duke of the West's townhouse, and the Butler and servants were suffering from working overtime.
Marin also picked up a fairy tale book to do her job and knocked on the door between the Duke's room and her room.
Knock knock.
Then, as if answering, there was a knock from the opposite side.
Marin put a chair in front of the door and sat down, waiting for him to lie down on the bed.
"Lord Gerald, are you ready to sleep?"
"……Yes."
In the Duke's Castle, she read books in the office, but since there was a connecting door like this, she didn't have to go directly, so she was less conscious of others.
"Since we're leaving for the West tomorrow, I'll read hard today. Sleep well."
She read to him during the carriage ride, but the bedroom was the most comfortable place.
"I have something to ask before reading."
For some reason, the Duke's voice was clear.
Isn't he lying in bed?
"Yes. Tell me."
"It's the last night, don't you want to open this door?"
"Yes?"
Marin was so surprised that she jumped up from the chair and stepped back with a rustling sound.
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Because it's the last time."
His subtle voice sounded seductive.
"W-Well, what about it?"
Marin swallowed her saliva without realizing it, her trembling eyes darting around.
"I think you can come to my room and do it yourself."
"W-What?"
Marin screamed inwardly and paced back and forth in the room.
What do a man and a woman do in a room?
What? Huh? What? Huh?
Her face turned bright red and was too hot.
Flapping, flapping. She cooled the heat on her face with a hand fan, and the Duke's laughing voice was heard.
"Marin, what are you thinking about again?"
"N-Nothing? I'm a person with no thoughts. I'm a person who has never thought in my life."
Marin grabbed her red face with both hands and shook her head wildly.
"I didn't know you were such a thoughtless person."
His voice was mixed with laughter.
"I meant, since it's the last day, please read a book in my room."
"……A book?"
Her greenish eyes shook incessantly.
"Yes. What did you think?"
"O-Of course I thought of a book."
"You said you don't think?"
"So, that's too obvious. T-There's nothing else……."
Marin screamed inwardly and hit her head.
Get out of here, you pervert.
"So when are you coming?"
His leisurely voice was heard beyond the door.
Marin stared at the connecting door with trembling eyes.
The temptation was not over yet.
"I can't - no, I won't go."
"Why? You read books in my room when we stayed at the inn."
"That wasn't Lord Gerald's room then."
"It was the room I was staying in then too."
"Anyway, this is different from that."
Her answer was firm.
Gerald chuckled and leaned back leisurely on the chair in front of the connecting door.
"Okay."
"……."
There was no answer from her.
"Why are you regretting it?"
"Me? The word regret doesn't exist in my life."
Marin's voice was heard trembling at the end.
Gerald's lips curled up.
If he just poked her like this, she would react right away, so he kept teasing her.
"Okay. Read."
"Yes. Then please lie down again."
Gerald sat still in his seat.
He could hear her voice well no matter where she was with his hearing, but he brought a chair to the door because he wanted to be close to her.
"Are you lying down?"
"Yes."
He rested his head on the back of the chair.
Marin's calm voice reading the book was heard.
Gerald slowly closed his eyelids while appreciating her voice.
\ \ \
"Please be careful."
Marin got into the Diamond Carriage, escorted by Butler Canolam and the servants.
Dia, Yuria, and Elmis were about to follow, but the Duke pushed them aside and got in first.
When the large Duke sat across from them, the Diamond Carriage suddenly felt cramped.
"Why are you riding here?"
"Because I want to."
"Last time you said it was cramped-"
"It's still cramped. But I still want to ride."
What could she say when the Duke wanted to ride?
Marin turned her gaze to the group outside the carriage.
"Marin, I'll ride in another carriage."
"We'll ride in another carriage too."
Following Dia, Elmis spoke, and Yuria, who was standing behind, quickly nodded in agreement.
"Okay."
As the Duke closed the door of the carriage, the carriage moved immediately.
Marin narrowed her eyes and stared at the Duke sitting in front of her.
"Why are you really riding here?"
"Because I want to be close to you."
The Duke said nonchalantly, crossing his arms.
Marin blushed with a flustered look.
Is he coming on so strong like this?
Her heart was pounding. She pressed her chest tightly, worried that the Duke might hear her heartbeat.
They were still an engaged couple, so they had to continue acting, but the Duke's acting skills were sometimes amazing.
"Marin."
"Yes?"
Surprised, she looked at the Duke, who was tilting his head slightly as if listening to something.
"Do you like these words?"
"What words?"
"I want to be close to you."
Her heart was beating even louder. Be quiet!
"……No."
The Duke was still for a moment as if thinking about something, then he got up halfway from the carriage.
"What are you doing?"
"Experiment."
"W-What experiment?"
Marin widened her eyes and stared intently as the Duke came and sat next to her.
"Do you like it more if I get even closer?"
"Yes?"
Thump, thump, thump.
Marin was startled by the sound of her heart ringing in her ears.
A satisfied smile was drawn on his lips.
"You like it."
