14 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
“So that’s where the money came from, you hooked an old rich man.”
Oksanda scoffed, looking back and forth between Sebas the butler and Marin.
Jorno quickly pulled her away from him. He was intimidated by the butler’s aura.
“We got the money, so let’s go.”
“No. They can’t leave.”
Marin, who had moved to Sebas the butler’s side, said firmly.
All three pairs of eyes turned to her.
Marin met Sebas the butler’s eyes and asked seriously.
“Where is this?”
For a moment, a strange light flickered in Sebas the butler’s eyes. But as if testing her, he pretended not to understand.
“What do you mean…”
“I was asking whose land this mountain belongs to.”
“Since it’s the Vines Duchy, it naturally belongs to the Vines Duchy family.”
The corners of Sebas the butler’s lips twitched as if he was holding back a smile.
“Yes, that’s right. But these people have been collecting rent without the permission of the owner, Duke.”
Jorno, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, hurriedly interjected.
“No! We built that cabin. We received rent for lending the cabin.”
“So. When you built that cabin and gave out rent, did you get permission from the owner of this mountain, Duke?”
Sebas the butler’s voice dropped to a chillingly low tone.
“Th, th, that is…”
Sweat poured down Jorno’s forehead like a waterfall.
Oksanda, who was standing next to him, quickly chimed in when the atmosphere turned strange.
“Duke said that hunters are allowed to build cabins to rest in.”
“I know that. Because this mountain is rough, he allowed a cabin at the entrance for people to rest. But he only allowed a space to rest for free, he wouldn’t have allowed them to build it and give out rent.”
“Originally, I, I was going to rest here…”
Jorno stammered, his face pale.
“Hey, who are you to bring up Duke and intimidate us?”
Oksanda retorted venomously.
“I am…”
Just as Sebas the butler was about to answer, a Four-wheeled carriage with the Vines Duchy family crest largely emblazoned on it arrived. Soon after, servants appeared in droves.
“Butler Sebas.”
A young servant approached him and bowed politely.
“…The butler of the Vines Duchy family.”
Sebas the butler, who acknowledged the servant’s greeting with a gesture, continued, watching Jorno and Oksanda.
“Heeik! Butler Sebas?!”
Jorno, who was out of his mind, lost strength in his legs and collapsed to the floor.
Sebas the butler was a very famous figure in the duchy. He was famous as the deputy commander of the Knights during the previous Duke’s time, and now he was famous as a butler from the deputy commander.
“Yo, honey.”
Oksanda, who was very frightened, called out to Jorno with a face that looked like she was about to burst into tears.
“Take them away.”
“Oh, Butler, please forgive us just once!”
Jorno thrashed around trying to grab Sebas the butler’s legs, but his arms were grabbed by the servants.
“Honey, honey!”
Another servant roughly grabbed Oksanda’s arm.
“Just a moment.”
Marin, who had been watching the situation, said to the servant who was dragging Oksanda away.
When the servant stopped, Marin approached Oksanda. And she snatched the money pouch from her hand, calculated the exact amount, and handed it over.
“You’ll get what you deserve for laying your hands on others.”
Oksanda looked down at her hand and sobbed.
“Save me! Butler! Butler!”
Jorno was dragged away by the servants, endlessly calling out to Sebas the butler.
Marin watched them disappear until the end. She had succeeded in taking revenge on the one who had tormented Loanna, but her mouth felt bitter.
Seeing with her own eyes how people who had committed crimes against the Duke were dragged away, her heart pounded.
The moment her lie is discovered, she will be in the same position as them.
Marin swallowed hard. She had to keep her wits about her.
“Since when did you know that this place was not allowed to collect rent?”
Sebas the butler smiled kindly and hit the nail on the head.
Marin hesitated with a troubled look, then reluctantly told the truth.
“…From the beginning.”
“But you’ve been paying rent until now?”
“There was no place as cheap as this for rent. And even if I reported the landlord to the Duke’s family, it would have been difficult to reach the higher-ups. The landlord has a group of people helping him. My report would disappear in the middle, and we would probably be kicked out of here. It was better to just pay the rent and live here.”
Marin looked at the shabby cabin with a bitter look.
“Then why did you change your mind?”
“Well. I can forgive people who insult me or hit me, depending on the situation.”
Sebas the butler frowned and shook his head slightly.
“You shouldn’t forgive things like that.”
Marin smiled slightly as if she was grateful and continued.
“Yes. That’s why I said depending on the situation. But there’s something that I can’t forgive in any situation. That’s touching my mother. Not my mother.”
Marin’s green eyes shone resolutely.
“Is there anything I can help you with? Have you packed your luggage?”
Sebas the butler, who had been quietly nodding, asked kindly as if nothing had happened.
“There’s not much to pack. I’ll bring my mother out soon.”
“Take your time.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Marin quickly bowed and went inside the house.
Oksanda had broken all the furniture and fixtures the day before, so all she had to pack were a few clothes.
Loanna was sitting on the bed, holding the packed luggage tightly.
“Mom, let’s go now.”
“Okay.”
Loanna carried the light luggage, and Marin carried the vanity that her mother had protected yesterday.
As they came out of the cabin, Sebas the butler quickly approached and took the vanity.
“You could have called me.”
“It’s light.”
“I’ll put this in the carriage.”
A servant who was behind Sebas the butler quickly approached and received the vanity.
“Thank you. Mother, this is Sebas Chen, the butler of the Duke’s family.”
Marin, whose hands were empty, took Loanna’s luggage and carried it.
“Hello. I am Loanna, Marin’s mother.”
Loanna lifted her skirt slightly and bowed politely.
Sebas the butler’s eyes widened slightly as if he was surprised by her aristocratic greeting, but he quickly changed his expression.
“Yes, hello. I am Sebas Chen, the butler of the Duke’s family. Miss Marin, would you give me that luggage you’re holding as well?”
“This is really light.”
“Hehe. I’m stronger than I look.”
Marin glanced at his muscular arm and smiled awkwardly.
You look strong enough.
When Sebas the butler continued to hold out his hand, Marin reluctantly handed over the luggage.
He quickly scanned the inside of the house through the open cabin door with the light luggage in his hand.
“Do you have any more luggage?”
“No. That’s all.”
“Then let’s get going.”
“Yes. Mom, I’ll ride the horse I tied up last night. Get in the carriage.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Loanna guessed why Marin couldn’t ride in the carriage and nodded with a sad look.
“See you at the Duke's Castle.”
Sebas the butler, who had already been told, helped Loanna and got into the carriage with her.
The carriage and servants left, leaving behind the shabby cabin and her.
Marin said goodbye to the cabin where she had lived for several years in her heart and got on her horse without any regrets.
\ \ *
Marin rode her horse at the same speed as the carriage.
The thick, tall white gates of the Duke's Castle were wide open. The carriage and horse passed through without stopping.
After entering the white, shining Duke's Castle for a long time, a three-story, old-fashioned stone building annex appeared.
Olive was already waiting in front of the annex.
As Marin was about to get off her horse, Olive held out his hand.
Marin grabbed his hand and jumped off the horse, greeting him happily.
“Hello. Sir Olive.”
“Welcome. Miss Marin.”
The carriage door opened and Sebas the butler, who got out first, held out his hand to Loanna.
Loanna expressed her gratitude with a nod and got out of the carriage with his help.
Marin took Loanna’s hand and led her to Olive.
“Mother, this is my superior, Aide Olive Lyon.”
“Hello. I am Loanna, Marin’s mother.”
Loanna grabbed her dress slightly and bowed politely.
“Nice to meet you. I am Olive Lyon.”
A strange light flickered in Olive’s eyes, but it was hidden by his eye smile, and no one noticed.
