168 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Loanna nodded slightly, meeting his earnest gaze.
“Please take good care of my daughter.”
“I will do even better.”
The Duke answered in a firm voice, as if making a promise.
Loanna looked at him with a satisfied gaze and offered him a seat again.
“I’m planning to propose to Marin soon. If possible, I’d like to do it in a place she likes and with a gift she’d appreciate. That’s why I wanted to seek advice from the Viscountess.”
The Duke continued stiffly, like a carved wooden doll.
Watching the Duke seriously discussing his proposal plans, Loanna covered her mouth with her teacup, trying to suppress her laughter.
She could feel the Duke’s deep love for his daughter in his blunt tone.
How fortunate her daughter was to have met a loving partner.
“As The Duke knows, Marin’s favorite thing is books. Other than that, I don’t really have any advice to offer. Unlike ordinary young ladies, she didn’t care for jewels or dresses, and she loved reading in my room the most, so I don’t really know a place she particularly likes.”
“I see.”
“I wish I could be of more help…”
Loanna said with regret.
“No, this is a great help. Thank you, Viscountess.”
A smile spread across the Duke’s face, which had been stiff with tension, brightening the greenhouse.
Loanna realized once again that her daughter, unlike herself, liked handsome men.
\ \ \
The Empress’s reception room.
Marquis Ligress carefully examined his daughter’s complexion.
“Your Majesty, how have you been feeling lately?”
The Empress smiled gently at the Marquis’s worried voice.
“I’m always the same. Is the Marquis at peace as well?”
“Yes, of course.”
Marquis Ligress replied even more strongly, as if to say there was no need to worry about him.
His daughter, who had been weak since childhood, was becoming increasingly frail while living in the Diamond Palace.
When the Emperor was the 4th Prince, he seemed like an excellent match in terms of character and appearance. But he had been acting very thoroughly to win the favor of the ministers.
If he had known in advance that the Emperor was so greedy and fond of women, he would have resolutely opposed this marriage.
“You came because of the Emperor, didn’t you?”
The Empress asked with a faint smile on her calm face.
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
The Marquis squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.
The Emperor’s endless extravagance was starving the people and enraging the nobles.
The Diamond Palace, which was recently being built, was pouring fuel on the simmering public sentiment towards the Emperor.
The Marquis had come because he was worried about that.
“The atmosphere among the nobles is unsettling. Please, take care of yourself.”
The Empress’s tired blue eyes left the Marquis and turned to the window.
Fresh, dew-laden leaves were lush and green.
The hot summer would be coming soon, but she didn’t know why it felt so cold.
\ \ \
Marin headed to Loanna’s room before going to the smithy.
When she knocked on the door, she heard her mother’s kind voice from inside.
“Mom, did you call for me?”
When she opened the door and entered, Loanna greeted her with a welcoming look.
“Marin.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit you often lately. I should spend more time with you, Mom.”
“No, it’s good if you’re busy.”
Marin scurried to Loanna’s side and chattered playfully.
“Actually, I’m going to propose to Lord Gerald. So I’ve been working hard to make something lately.”
Loanna’s expression changed as if she was intrigued by Marin’s recent news.
“Oh my. You and The Duke really are a well-matched couple.”
“Why?”
Marin tilted her head and asked, but Loanna just smiled quietly.
“I called you to return this book.”
Loanna handed Marin a book placed on the table.
[Where Do Monsters Come From?]
Marin’s eyes widened as she looked down at the book.
“I found it in the carriage and kept it. Elmis said you read that book often.”
“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for keeping it. I should read it again after a long time.”
“Go ahead.”
“Mom, I have to go again…”
Marin hesitated, feeling guilty for not spending much time with Loanna.
“It’s okay. Go on.”
Loanna smiled kindly.
Marin hugged Loanna tightly and left the detached palace, carefully stroking the book she had received back from her mother.
This book, of unknown authorship, was very precious and grateful to her.
It helped her get a job at the Duke's Castle and taught her a lot about Desert monster. It was like a benefactor who saved her life.
Who on earth wrote this book?
If she knew who the author was, she wanted to find them and thank them.
Marin walked slowly, reading the book.
Thump.
“Ah.”
She was so engrossed in the book that she didn’t look ahead and bumped into someone.
But this familiar, solid body?
When she glanced up, she saw Gerald’s expressionless face. It was an expression she hadn’t seen much of lately.
“Marin.”
“Lord Gerald.”
“Do I have to teach you the basics, like not reading while walking?”
The prickly Duke appeared after a long time. His tone was sharp, but his eyes were full of concern for her.
Marin knew she was at fault, so she silently accepted his nagging.
“I’m sorry.”
“What book is it that you were reading so mindlessly?”
When she apologized so readily, Gerald asked in a subdued voice.
“It’s a very precious book to me.”
Marin showed off the book as if boasting.
“This book…”
Gerald raised one eyebrow and stared intently at the book.
“Do you know about this book?”
“Of course.”
“Really? Do you even know who the author of this book is?”
“Yes. But why do you have this book?”
“When I first came to the Duke's Castle, this book was in the staff lounge. I was hired by Olive after reading it. And it was thanks to this book that I was able to avoid the Monster in the desert.”
“I see. So that’s why you knew so much about Desert monster.”
Gerald nodded, his face now showing that the puzzle had been solved.
“Who is the author of this book?”
“Duke of the West.”
“Huuuh?”
She was so surprised that a strange voice came out.
Duke of the West? The person in front of her?
He chuckled, reading her bewildered expression, and continued.
“The 20th Western Duke. I know that The Duke deliberately didn’t write the author’s name because only the heads of the family have seen it for generations. I looked at it once a long time ago and left it in my office. Olive must have organized it without knowing.”
“What generation are you, Lord Gerald?”
“The 23rd.”
“Ah.”
Marin stared down at the book in a daze.
So, if it was a book written directly by the 20th Western Duke, wasn’t it like a family treasure? Such an important book was almost thrown away, but it was discovered by her and returned to the Duke's Castle?
The author of the book was surprising, but the tenacious (?) vitality of the book, which had returned like a boomerang, was also surprising.
Marin stared at Gerald with sparkling eyes.
“The 20th Duke of the West must have been an incredibly smart person.”
“So I’ve heard. The Baines family is focused on martial arts, but it is recorded that he was more academic.”
“I see. Here.”
Marin handed the book to Gerald.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It’s a book written by The Duke of the West. Of course, it should be returned to its original owner.”
“It was a book that was buried without anyone other than the head of the family reading it. Since that book met you and saw the light, you are the owner.”
“Can I really have it?”
Marin asked with a bright smile.
“Of course.”
Gerald nodded as if it were obvious. As if nothing he could give her would be too precious.
Every time she felt his love, a gentle spring breeze blew in her heart.
“I’ll keep it safe. I actually wanted to have it because I was able to get a job at the Duke's Castle thanks to this book.”
“I see. I should be grateful for that fate that led you to me.”
“Fate…”
Marin blankly repeated his words as if she had been hit.
Until now, she had thought that she would not have met him if it were not for the original story.
But even if she knew the original story, she would not have been able to get a job at the Duke's Castle if it were not for this book.
In the end, it was really this book that led her to him.
