162 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Chapter 162
Part 2
We arrived at the Duke's Castle.
Marin grabbed Gerald's hand with a determined expression and pulled him toward a dim, secluded area along the back castle wall.
Gerald scanned the sparsely populated surroundings with a satisfied look, mentally preparing himself.
It was still broad daylight, but if she wanted it, he was more than willing.
Just as Marin was vigorously pulling him forward, she suddenly let go of his hand.
Thinking the moment had finally come, Gerald listened carefully for any sounds around them.
Fortunately, there were no signs of people nearby.
As he was about to indicate they could begin, he noticed Marin's odd behavior.
She had knelt on the ground and was feeling along the rough stone wall.
Gerald narrowed his eyes and called out to her.
"Marin?"
"Found it!"
"What?"
"Just a moment."
Marin busily pushed aside the bushes along the wall and began digging at the nearby soil. Soon, a hole was revealed.
"Hah."
Gerald let out an involuntary exclamation of surprise.
He hadn't expected there to be such a hole in the castle wall. It seemed a comprehensive inspection of the walls would be necessary going forward.
"How did you find this?"
"I found it while playing hide-and-seek with Peridot before."
Marin boasted with a proud expression.
"Hide-and-seek seems quite good- Marin?"
Before he could finish speaking, Marin had already stuck her head into the hole and was wriggling her way inside.
Her rear end shook chaotically before his eyes.
"Sigh... Marin."
Gerald slowly turned around with reddened ears and buried his eyes in one palm.
"Yes?"
"What on earth are you doing?"
"Can't you tell? I'm going through the hole."
Her voice came through mixed with tired groans, as if struggling to squeeze through the hole.
His ears burned even hotter.
"So. Why are you going through that hole?"
"You said our absence from the Duke's Castle needs to be a secret. To do that, we need to get inside quietly and discreetly, right?"
"Didn't it occur to you that I could carry you and quietly, discreetly climb over this wall?"
"Ah!"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Marin's shallow scream was heard.
"Marin, are you okay?"
When Gerald turned around in surprise, he saw that exactly half of Marin's body was stuck in the hole.
"Why didn't I think of that? You should have told me sooner."
Hearing her grumbling voice, it seemed she hadn't screamed because she was hurt.
"I thought you came to this secluded spot for another reason."
Gerald complained in a low voice.
"What other reason? I'm sorry. I tend to act faster than I speak."
"For someone with fast action, you only seem to have moved halfway?"
Gerald finally burst out laughing and teased her.
"It's because Lord Gerald keeps talking to me."
Her voice turned sulky at his laughter.
Just then, someone's footsteps could be heard approaching from a distance.
"I won't talk anymore. Hurry and get inside."
"Yes!"
As Marin's rear end began wriggling again, Gerald turned back around and completely shielded her from view.
He would absolutely, under no circumstances, let anyone see this sight.
"Um......"
After sounds of movement continued for a while, Marin called him hesitantly.
"What?"
"Did I mention that I have fast action?"
"You just said it."
"But this wall keeps blocking my fast action."
What was she talking about now?
"What?"
"I was trying to say indirectly that I'm stuck in the hole."
Marin spoke awkwardly in her work assistant tone, seemingly embarrassed.
Gerald turned around with a dumbfounded expression.
Marin's rear view looked little different from before. Meaning, she hadn't managed to get any further inside.
"Lord Gerald, what should I do?"
"Don't worry."
At that moment, the footsteps that had been heard from a distance suddenly quickened and approached them. More precisely, they were coming from inside the castle.
It seemed they had heard their conversation.
Gerald immediately stepped on the high wall and leaped up.
When he landed quietly in front of Marin, he saw her with her face buried in her arms.
"Marin, are you okay?"
When she raised her head, her face was beautifully tinged pink, apparently from embarrassment.
"Yes......"
Finding even that sight adorable, the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
Just then, the rapidly approaching footsteps stopped right nearby.
"Who's there!"
At the voice of a not-yet-mature man, Marin brightened and looked in that direction.
"Uvis?"
"Miss? The Duke?"
Uvis, who had been threateningly pointing his spear, quickly lowered it with a flustered expression.
"Uvis! Have you been well?"
"Yes, Miss. I've been fine, but Yuria has been worried about you- no, that's not important right now. What are you doing?"
Uvis answered absentmindedly before asking back with a bewildered expression.
"Me? I'm exercising......"
Marin awkwardly averted her gaze and evaded the question.
"Huh?"
"Marin, you're a terrible liar."
When Gerald, who had been listening to their conversation nearby, interjected, Marin's face instantly burned bright red.
"...I'm stuck."
Finally, Marin muttered softly with an embarrassed expression.
"Are you alright?"
When Uvis looked at her with concerned eyes, Gerald stepped between them as if to shield her.
"Uvis."
"Yes!"
At the Duke's call, Uvis immediately straightened up and responded.
"Right now, secretly inform the Butler of our return, and tell only those who knew of our absence to gather in the office."
"Yes!"
Uvis answered loudly before quickly running off.
After watching his retreating back disappear, Marin cautiously opened her mouth.
"Um......"
"What?"
"When are you going to pull me out?"
"I'm worried you might get hurt if I pull."
Despite his words, laughter tinged his voice.
"If you don't pull me out, I'll have to live here forever."
"I'll always be by your side, so don't worry."
"Could you please not say such romantic things in this situation?"
As Marin buried her face in both hands and mumbled, Gerald burst into the laughter he'd been holding back.
\ \ *
Marin was moving while being comfortably carried by Gerald.
I should have just let him carry me like this from the start. I needlessly remembered that hole and went through all that trouble.
Gerald skillfully avoided the servants' attention as if he knew exactly where everyone was.
Hiding as if concealed within the lush leaves, he silently entered through the open office window.
To think a person could jump so high without being constrained by gravity.
As expected, the male lead was different.
"The Duke!"
"Miss!"
The delighted voices of Olive and Sebas Butler sounded simultaneously.
Marin waved in response, then tapped Gerald's chest to indicate she wanted to be put down.
With hands that seemed dripping with reluctance, he carefully set her down.
"Miss Marin, are you alright?"
Sebas Butler examined her with eyes full of concern.
"Yes. I'm perfectly fine. Have you been well, Master?"
Marin met his gaze and smiled brightly.
"I've been well."
A smile also formed at the corners of Sebas Butler's mouth at the sight of her healthy appearance.
Olive was also visible, stroking her chest with a relieved expression.
Standing beside them with a displeased expression was Jeromian.
As soon as Marin saw him, her eyes sparkled and she approached, grabbing his hand firmly and shaking it.
"Mr. Jeromian!"
"Yes. Miss Marin."
Jeromian, whose hand had been suddenly grabbed, answered with a bewildered expression.
"Thank you so, so much! The bracelet you made saved my life. You're truly the world's strongest genius!"
At her enthusiastic thanks, the corners of his lips twitched as if about to rise.
Just then, Gerald quickly approached them and swiftly separated Jeromian and Marin's hands. Then he pulled Marin behind him as if to hide her.
