127 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
The Blind Duke and His Fiancée, Episode 127
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The Duke's Castle's pointed spire came into view.
Marin, stuck to the Diamond Carriage, watched the white Duke's Castle grow closer.
Home, home.
Her heart swelled with excitement, then paused at a sudden realization.
She tapped her forehead against the carriage.
Unconsciously, she had thought of the Duke's Castle as her home.
The Duke's Castle was the Duke's home, not hers.
She was just an employed fiancée, a temporary assistant to the aide.
She had been so happy while staying at the Duke's Castle that she had forgotten her place.
"We have arrived."
Elmis opened the carriage door and stepped out first. Following her, Yuria and Dia got out in turn.
As Marin was about to get out last, the Duke's hand appeared.
She naturally took the Duke's hand and got out of the carriage.
"Welcome. The Duke, Miss Marin, Miss Dia."
Sebas Butler and Page Head Maid, whom she hadn't seen in a while, bowed, and the servants standing behind them followed suit.
"Sister! Welcome!"
"Noona! I missed you!"
Rubiana and Peridot ran and hugged Dia tightly. Garnet, who followed slowly behind them, smiled at Dia.
"Sister, you've become even prettier?"
Garnet's tone had become more easygoing.
"How have you been? That hairstyle suits you."
Garnet's short hair had been replaced with a chin-length bob.
Garnet spread her arms wide and hugged Dia tightly.
"I missed you."
"Me too. Have you gotten taller?"
"Yes."
Garnet nodded with a proud smile.
Rubiana and Peridot, who had been squeezed between Garnet and Dia, wriggled out and ran to Marin this time.
"Teacher!"
"Marin Teacher!"
Rubiana and Peridot hugged Marin's waist tightly.
Her face bloomed with a smile at the two little ones' welcome.
"Have you been well? Sleeping well, eating well?"
"Yes! Peridot has been exercising with Garnet Noona these days."
"That's right! I exercise!"
Peridot put both hands on her waist and raised her chin proudly.
"Cool, Peridot!"
"Hehe."
Peridot shyly clasped her hands together and twisted her waist.
"Peridot, can I pat your head?"
"Yes!"
Marin received Peridot's permission and ruffled her hair.
"Teacher, when is Viscountess coming?"
Marin took her eyes off Peridot and looked at Rubiana kindly.
"I received a letter saying that she would be departing soon."
"Wow, that's great!"
Meanwhile, Peridot approached the Duke hesitantly.
Peridot took a deep breath and hugged the Duke's leg tightly.
"Uncle! Welcome back?"
"Yes."
The Duke hesitated, about to pat Peridot's head.
At that, Peridot pushed her head into his large hand as if to say it was okay, and only then did the Duke pat her head.
"Welcome back?"
Rubiana, who had been watching the scene enviously, asked in a shy voice.
"Yes."
Garnet, who had approached, greeted Marin happily.
"It's been a while. But why do you keep losing weight, Sunbae? Did you not eat well in the capital?"
Garnet uttered a forbidden word.
Marin glanced at the Duke nearby with trembling eyes.
At Garnet's words, Olive lowered her head in despair, and the Duke frowned.
"No, no! I gained weight!"
Perhaps because she had been doing a lot of Mandelesong research while traveling, she had lost weight.
"No, you didn't."
"Garnet. That's rude."
Dia scolded with a stern face.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I said it because I was worried."
Garnet quickly apologized with a sorry expression.
"It's okay, it's okay."
Marin was not bothered at all.
She was just worried that the Duke would once again try to fatten her up.
"Let's go in."
Everyone nodded at the Duke's words.
Peridot took the Duke's hand, and Rubiana quickly took Dia's hand.
As everyone paired up, Marin and Garnet's eyes met for a moment.
Garnet looked like she was wondering if she should take her hand with an awkward look, so Marin chuckled and linked arms with her.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
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Marin, who had entered her room after a long time, jumped onto the bed.
Elmis watched the scene and approached quietly.
"Miss."
"Yes?"
Marin only turned her face to the side while lying down. Once she lay down on the bed, she didn't want to get up.
"I will go to the Duke for a moment."
"Ah, are you finally returning to your original position?"
Elmis's cool eyes narrowed slightly as if smiling.
"Yes. I'll be back."
"Okay."
As Elmis left, Yuria came in carrying refreshments on a tray.
"Miss, have a snack."
"What? Already?"
"The aide said for you to eat it, Miss."
I knew it. Marin sighed deeply and slowly got up from the bed and went to the table.
"You must be tired from riding in the carriage too, go to your room and rest."
"No. The aide told me to watch you eat all of this snack—no, to see you eat it."
Marin narrowed her eyes and looked at Yuria suspiciously.
Yuria awkwardly avoided her gaze.
She was definitely going to say 'watch'.
Marin looked at the macaron tower on the table. If she ate all of this, she wouldn't be able to eat dinner tonight.
Knock knock.
She was eating macarons until she was sick of them and resting on the bed when she heard a knock.
"Miss. It's Elmis."
"Come in."
Elmis bowed slightly as she entered.
"I'm back."
"Okay, Elmis. Do you want to eat macarons?"
Marin got up from the bed and sat on the chair at the table. She wanted to get rid of that with someone's help.
"It's okay."
Elmis stood in front of her as if she had something to say.
When Marin raised a questioning gaze, Elmis's cool eyes curved slightly.
"I just quit the Shadow Unit."
"What?"
Marin looked at her in surprise with wide eyes.
"You are a good person, Miss."
"……."
Marin quietly listened to her words.
"To protect you, Miss, you can't just protect you alone. You have to protect the people around you so that you don't get hurt. If I return to being your Shadows, I will only try to protect you. I will hesitate again between my duty and the people around you. Like with Uvis and Yuria."
Marin opened her mouth with a sorry expression.
"The Yuria thing is my fault. Because of the memory of losing my family during the carriage trip, I wanted to see with my own eyes that Yuria was relieved to meet Uvis. It was my mistake."
Elmis shook her head and said as if swearing.
"No. It's my mistake. I should have been faster. I want to become an existence that protects you and the people around you without hesitating even for a moment. So please accept me as your person. Please."
Elmis bowed deeply.
Marin looked at her with complicated eyes.
She was someone who could not stay here forever. But is it okay to accept her?
"Elmis, raise your head. There's something I want to ask. If, if, I mean. Even if I leave the Duke's Castle, you'll serve me?"
Elmis nodded with a firm gaze.
"Yes. Because I am your maid."
"Is it okay? Won't your family or the Shadow Unit stop you?"
"I cannot tell you about the internal affairs of the Shadow Unit because they are top secret, but I have no family. And I have already quit, so it's okay to leave the Duke's Castle."
Only then did a smile form on Marin's face. That's a relief.
It would be reassuring if Elmis was with her and protected her and the people around her. Now that she was rich, she had enough money to hire Elmis.
"Elmis. Do you get paid weekly or monthly? How much do you get?"
When Marin asked excitedly, a question flashed in Elmis's eyes.
Was she really preparing to leave the Duke's Castle?
However, Elmis soon erased the question in her heart.
Now, Marin was her only master. A servant does not question their master.
Just as Kay, the leader of the Shadow Unit, sincerely served the Duke, she also wanted to sincerely serve Marin while protecting her.
"I get paid monthly. I will ask Kay-nim for the exact amount."
"Okay!"
Marin smiled brightly and nodded.
Elmis also smiled slightly.
Her master was kind, cute, and lovely.
