153 - I Got Engaged to the Blind Duke
I Got Engaged to the Blind Duke Chapter 153
Marin pulled her head back again, sniffled, and carefully studied his eyes.
"Can you see me?"
"Yes."
Gerald raised the corners of his mouth and spoke affectionately.
"How many are these?"
Marin spread two fingers.
"Two."
"Waaah, you really can see!"
Marin hugged his neck tightly again and burst into tears.
Thank goodness. It was truly fortunate.
She didn't know how worried she had been, fearing that because the female lead was gone, he might not be able to see again. Just thinking about it made her heart feel like it was crumbling.
But now he could see.
"But did Lord Jeromian's medicine change your eye color too?"
"No. I heard Zero's medicine can't change eye color. It started changing gradually after I applied the Mandelesong."
"Ah......"
It seemed that while the female lead had created the perfect medicine to cure his eyes, because she had used the Mandelesong in an unconventional way, she couldn't restore his eye color to its original state.
Marin looked at him again and smiled brightly.
"The changed eye color is pretty too."
"You're the only one who says that."
The corners of his mouth softened into a gentle curve.
"It's true."
Marin opened her eyes wide and spoke sincerely.
"You're pretty too."
"Uh, uh, that's......"
Startled by his words, Marin shyly lowered her gaze.
"I love you."
Her heart raced madly at his low voice.
Coming on this strong all of a sudden? She wasn't mentally prepared yet.
With a flustered expression, Marin rolled her eyes around before making a decision.
She'd already confessed, so what was there to be shy about?
Marin took a deep breath and raised her head. Looking into his deep gray eyes made everything feel easy.
"Me too. I love you too."
So it was a phrase she could say this easily.
Screaming internally, Marin unwrapped her arms from around his neck and covered her flushed face.
Gerald hugged her tightly again and spoke in a regretful voice.
"Marin."
"Yes."
"We need to set off again now."
"Weren't we going to sleep here?"
"No. I think it's better to leave the desert quickly and rest somewhere safe."
"Yes. I understand."
She nodded her head as if in agreement.
Gerald carefully picked up Marin, who was light as a feather, and smiled faintly.
\ \ *
The early dawn sky gradually brightened, tinged with a subtle purple hue.
Looking down, Marin was sleeping soundly in his arms. Her peacefully sleeping appearance was unbearably adorable.
Did Marin really need to walk? Carrying her like this every time seemed like a good idea.
Marin wouldn't have sore legs, and he could always keep her close.
Gerald was happily imagining the future when he stared straight ahead.
In the distance, he could see the entrance to the Sairan Desert. Once they got past that, it would be the West.
As he picked up speed, he saw a group blocking the entrance ahead.
Gerald gradually slowed down and carefully called to Marin.
"Marin."
"Mmm."
She had been burrowing deeper into his embrace as if complaining about being woken, but when he called again, her eyes snapped open.
"Uh, did I fall asleep?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry. I was the only one sleeping......"
Marin looked at him with a dejected face, hesitantly gauging his reaction.
Gerald smiled slightly.
"As long as you slept comfortably, that's what matters. More importantly, there's something else."
"What is it?"
"We'll be arriving at the entrance soon."
"Really?"
Marin stretched her neck and looked to the side, but it seemed nothing was visible in her field of view.
"I can't see it."
"You'll see it soon. But it seems the Third Prince has noticed, as he's guarding the entrance."
"What should we do?"
The light in Marin's eyes instantly darkened.
"Marin, do you know the desert's entrance boundary?"
Marin thought for a moment before speaking.
"The place where the dirt path at the entrance changes into the desert sand path?"
"Yes. While I deal with his knights, go exactly to that dirt path and absolutely do not look back. They cannot cross that boundary without my permission as the Duke of the West."
"Alone? No. I don't want to leave Lord Gerald's side now."
Gerald swallowed a groan.
This adorable woman's words were powerful. His heart pounded rapidly at her thrilling words. He too absolutely didn't want to let her go.
"Once we return to the Duke's Castle, even if you say you want to leave, I won't let you, so just follow my words this once. I don't want to put you in a dangerous place."
When he looked down at Marin with an earnest gaze, she opened her mouth as if resigned.
"Alright."
"Absolutely do not look back and go to that place. Understood? The signal is 'Imsi'."
"Yes."
Marin nodded her head with a determined look in her eyes.
Gerald gradually slowed his speed and slowly approached near the entrance.
It seemed Marin had finally spotted the knights too, as he felt her gasp sharply in surprise.
The Third Prince and ten knights stood side by side, completely blocking the narrow path leading to the entrance.
There were now less than ten steps between them and the group.
"Sweetie, are you hurt anywhere?"
The Third Prince asked in a worried voice.
"No."
Marin tightly clutched Gerald's shirt and slowly shook her head.
"Then why are you in that bastard's arms? Come here."
The Third Prince extended his hand with a sweet voice.
"I'm not coming."
Marin answered in a firm voice.
Gerald glanced down at her and smiled a satisfied smile.
The Third Prince observed that scene with a sharp gaze.
The chilly gazes of Gerald, who had raised his head, and the Third Prince collided in mid-air.
"Good thing I came here just in case. Were you from the West?"
Seeing no reason to answer, Gerald ignored the Third Prince's words and set Marin down.
Marin stood right next to Gerald and looked straight at the Third Prince.
She didn't like that so many people were facing off like this because of her.
"Your Highness, please step aside."
"Sweetie. If I was going to step aside obediently, would I be guarding this place?"
Despite his slick tone, his eyes looked sad.
"Why are you going to such lengths?"
"Obviously. Because I don't want to lose you."
When their eyes met, the Third Prince smiled softly and extended his hand again.
"Sweetie, take my hand. I'll give you anything you want."
"The only thing I want is for Your Highness to step aside."
Tan's black eyes darkened and grew heavy.
The Third Prince took one step closer to her. His gaze was directed solely at her.
"Sweetie, you know, I was someone who had no greed for life. But for the first time, I've found something I desire. Shouldn't I take it then?"
Tan smiled a dazzlingly bright smile.
Marin looked at him with a pitiful gaze.
Gerald hid her behind him as if blocking the Third Prince's view.
"Could you come out a bit? I can't see Sweetie."
Tan waved his sword around playfully.
"You should be the one to step aside."
"While I know you're good at fighting, wouldn't it be tough to handle this many people all at once?"
At Tan's words, one corner of Gerald's lips lifted.
"You'll find out if you wait and see."
The tense standoff between the two was brief, as the knights surrounding them drew their swords.
Marin watched them with an anxious face.
"Imsi."
The moment the signal was given, Gerald's sword, as he charged forward, slashed the shoulder of the knight in front of him.
Marin clenched her fists and followed the path he had created.
"Sweetie!"
Tan's voice sounded from close by, but Marin ran forward looking only straight ahead.
Clang clang clang. The sharp sound of clashing swords came from all directions.
Marin desperately ignored the surrounding situation and kept moving forward. The sandy ground ended and finally the dirt path came into view.
It was the boundary the Duke had mentioned.
Stepping onto the dirt path, she immediately turned to look back, and saw Gerald's broad back protecting her.
When Gerald raised his sword high, a white Aura surged forth from the blade and rippled.
As he drew a line along the boundary ground, a deep trench, about a meter wide, was dug between the desert sand and the dirt path.
"Anyone who crosses this line dies."
At his cold warning, the knights who had been slashed and stabbed here and there paled. Fortunately, no one had died yet.
Only after clashing swords did they realize. That he had deliberately not killed them.
When Tan attempted to cross that trench without hesitation, a knight rushed over and stopped him.
["You mustn't."]
["Let go."]
["From here onward is the Omen Empire."]
["Let go!"]
"I'll consider the debt for saving Marin repaid by sparing your lives now. For your information, if you ignore my words and cross over, I'll kindly cut off that head of yours."
Gerald delivered his final warning sharply.
