131 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Blinded Duke and Fiancee 131
Marin lifted her gaze and scanned the room.
Elmis was standing by the wall, and Yuria was sitting on one side, embroidering.
"Yuria."
Her voice barely escaped, as if her throat was completely hoarse.
"Yes."
Yuria put down her embroidery frame and approached.
"Who delivered this letter?"
"Ah, it was a maid I've never seen before with scarlet eyes. Shall I bring her?"
"No."
Marin forced a smile and shook her head.
She must have already left the Duke's Castle.
Marin hid her trembling hands in the blanket and bit her lip.
Her heart throbbed and ached, making it hard to breathe.
I mustn't cry. I mustn't let anyone see.
She repeated the same words in her mind once more.
Elmis quietly approached her side.
"Is it bad news?"
Marin quickly shook her head and lowered her eyes.
"...No. Seeing a letter from my mother after so long, I just miss her. Um... Elmis, Yuria. I'm a little tired right now and want to rest..."
"Yes, I understand."
"We'll be outside."
As soon as the two bowed slightly and left, Marin picked up the Video Stone.
Feeling around the red gem, there was a protruding spot. She pressed it, and an image floated in the air.
Loanna was gagged and her arms were tied behind her back. Her mother, who was weakly hanging her head, looked precarious at a glance.
<See you in 12 days.>
With the voice of a man wearing a black mask as the last thing, the Video Stone turned off on its own.
"Mother..."
A shrill voice burst from Marin's lips.
The tears she had been holding back burst forth. The falling teardrops dotted the white blanket with patterns.
What should I do?
She gasped for breath and struck her chest hard. Thud. Thud. Her chest felt blocked as if filled with stones, making it difficult to breathe.
I'm sorry, Mother. Because of me, because of me.
Her mother was the only family she had left. She was more important than her own life. She couldn't lose her mother like this.
The Duke had sent knights along in preparation for such an event, but who on earth had killed even the Duke's knights and taken her mother?
The Emperor faction? The noble faction?
The female lead was dead, and the future she knew no longer existed.
She had to think and judge for herself.
The Video Stone she was tightly holding dug into her palm.
At the stinging pain, Marin looked down at her hand with reddened eyes.
I have to save Mother. I have to.
Marin took a deep breath.
She hastily wiped away the tears that were still flowing down her cheeks.
Get a grip. Marin.
This wasn't the time to be crying.
They want me. So Mother is still alive. Just think about that.
The kidnapper said that she must never be caught by the Duke.
The maid who approached Yuria, the coachman driving the carriage.
She didn't know how many spies were hidden in the Duke's Castle. So that must be why the Duke initially suspected her of being a spy.
The kidnapper also wanted the Diamond Carriage. That meant they wanted her and the money too.
She had worried about robbers trying to plunder the Diamond Carriage, but she never thought she would have to bring it to them herself.
Marin slowly got up from her seat and took out paper to organize her thoughts.
From now on, she had to deceive the enemy more perfectly than anyone else, and even deceive her allies.
She didn't know how far their eyes reached, but for now, she was going to lie low and pretend to follow their intentions.
Some might call her choice foolish.
But with her mother's safety at stake, she couldn't afford to gamble in any way.
Her top priority was unconditionally her mother's safety.
With a cautious face, Marin began to write down a plan on the paper.
There couldn't be any mistakes.
Marin's eyes shone firmly as she devised a plan for her mother's safety and her own.
"Come in."
With a determined look on her face, Marin pulled the trolley inside.
Arriving in front of the desk, she placed the well-brewed Mandelesong tea on the desk.
"Lord Gerald. Please have some."
"What is this?"
"It's Mandelesong tea. And this is medicine for stomachaches. I'll prove the medicine's effectiveness. The experimental results show it subsides very quickly."
Marin placed a pill next to the teacup and spoke quickly without taking a breath.
"I think I said before that I wouldn't drink this?"
The Duke tilted his head crookedly.
She expected him to react like this.
Originally, she was going to study herbs and create the perfect medicine, but she didn't have time now.
If she disappeared, the Duke's eyes might never heal.
So she decided to use what she had kept as a last resort.
Marin took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Yes. You said that before. But I really want Lord Gerald to drink it. Do you remember? The Wish Ticket."
"...Alright."
The Duke paused and then answered slowly.
"I'll use it now. Please drink a cup of Mandelesong tea every day. That's my wish. And the stomachache medicine too. I'm not trying to harm Lord Gerald with poisonous herbs, but I think drinking this will help your eyes."
Marin straightened her back and spoke strongly.
"...You're using the Wish Ticket for me again?"
The Duke said slowly with a hardened face.
"Yes. I'll use it for Lord Gerald. And I have one more thing to say."
"Say it."
"I want to go pick up my mother."
Marin stared intently at the Duke's face and spoke calmly so that her lie wouldn't be obvious.
To be exact, it wasn't a complete lie. It was true that she was going to pick up her mother.
"Didn't the Viscountess say she departed from the South?"
"Yes. So I'll go meet her halfway and come back together. I miss my mother too much..."
Even though she tried to hold it back, a sob mixed into her voice.
"Alright, I understand. I'll go with you..."
"No. I'll go with Elmis."
"Why?"
The Duke frowned instantly.
"Lord Gerald is busy. I don't think it's right to go with Lord Gerald to pick up my mother."
"Five steps from my side. Don't you know?"
"I know. But that was in the capital. And I heard from Dia. You caught the culprit, right?"
"So?"
The Duke's jaw visibly hardened with displeasure.
"The road to pick up my mother will be safe. And the Diamond Carriage is sturdy. I'll take Elmis too."
"Why are you trying so hard to leave me behind?"
The Duke's voice lowered with suspicion.
As expected.
Marin calmed herself inwardly and said nonchalantly.
"It's been months since I've seen my mother. I want to travel slowly with her as if on a trip. I haven't been able to have a proper trip with my mother because I haven't been well off. But if I go with Lord Gerald, my mother will definitely be uncomfortable worrying about Lord Gerald."
She had dreamed of going on a trip with her mother when she had money. When telling a lie, you always have to mix in the truth to make it perfect.
"When are you leaving?"
The Duke seemed persuaded, but he didn't argue further, although he seemed displeased.
"Tomorrow."
"That's fast."
"I have to move quickly to surprise my mother."
"Never stray from Elmis's side."
"Yes, I will. And..."
The Duke raised his head as if he were looking at her.
...I love you.
Whispering the truth she couldn't bring herself to say, Marin gazed at his face.
His red lips, straight nose, closed eyes. The black hair that slightly covered his forehead.
I'll keep it safe in my heart and take it out whenever I miss you.
Her heart ached with a throbbing pain.
I'll do well.
"And?"
"Please drink the Mandelesong. It might heal Lord Gerald's eyes."
Marin took out a piece of truth that she had hidden deep in her heart.
Since drinking only Mandelesong might not be the answer, she had also asked Leia to find out which herbs to mix with Mandelesong.
"Why do you think so?"
"You became less sensitive to sound after applying Mandelesong, right?"
"...Alright."
The Duke hesitated and then nodded slightly.
"I heard from the commoners that Mandelesong is good for the eyes. So please drink it. I'm begging you."
Even if I'm not here. Please. I hope his eyes heal.
