175 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke, Episode 175
Marin didn't avoid his gaze, meeting it head-on, and firmly grasped his slightly trembling hand.
"Where on earth did your thoughts wander off to? I'm not leaving."
"......"
His eyes incessantly scrutinized her expression, as if seeking reassurance.
"I'm definitely not leaving, so don't worry."
"Haa......"
A sigh of relief escaped deeply from his red lips.
"Can you tell me instead? Why you don't want a baby."
"Yes. I ransacked the Head of the Family's Chamber to find out if I could tell you."
Marin's eyes widened in surprise.
"The Head of the Family's Chamber?"
"I read everything I could get my hands on there for days."
"Ah......"
Only then did Marin realize where he had been. Not somewhere far away, but within the Duke's Castle.
"Marin, our family has a secret about its bloodline. This secret is only passed down to the Duke, the Duchess, and the direct heir."
Marin's eyes trembled in bewilderment.
She had only wanted to know Gerald's true feelings.
"If it's a secret, then you shouldn't be telling me."
"Normally, I wouldn't. But there have been cases where fiancées were specially permitted. However, if the fiancée who learns the secret doesn't marry, she cannot survive."
Marin swallowed hard without realizing it.
"So, you're saying that once I hear the truth, I can never leave your side. Do you still want to hear it?"
His warning voice was as sweet as a temptation.
"Wow, that's scary."
Marin made a playful fuss.
"Marin, you have no intention of leaving me, do you? Right?"
He urged her in a subtle voice, as if insisting that she hear the secret.
Marin nodded.
Gerald in front of her was the male protagonist. Although it wasn't described in detail in the original story, she had guessed that he might have some abilities while spending time with him.
Like reading minds. Or reading thoughts.
Marin felt her lips drying as she watched his lips part.
"The Head of the Duke's Family has exceptional senses."
At Gerald's candid confession, her heart, which had been tense with anticipation, made its own sound.
"......That's all?"
"Yes. That's all."
He chuckled and echoed her words.
Marin tilted her head, pondering whether having exceptional senses was such a big secret.
As if reading her thoughts, he continued casually.
"The sense of sight is enough to discern the color of a bird's eyes flying in the sky, the sense of hearing can pick up every sound within 50 meters. The sense of taste can distinguish poison, the sense of smell is superior to dogs. The sense of touch is very sensitive......"
"Wait, just a moment."
Marin raised her hand with a flustered expression to stop him.
Gerald quietly looked at her as she wished.
Marin was beyond bewildered and felt speechless.
What had she just heard? Was having exceptional senses such a big deal?
"I just thought it was normal. But it's not normal at all. That's an enormous ability."
He gave a dry smile.
"It's an ability I don't want to have."
"Yes? Why?"
"This ability manifested in me when I was five years old."
Marin's eyes widened in shock.
Could it be?
"The sound of a needle dropping felt like thunder to me, and I kept fainting. Everything I ate was too stimulating, so swallowing food was a chore, and when I washed, it felt like I was being skinned alive every time, so there were more days when I didn't wash."
"Ah......"
Marin covered her mouth, imagining the terrible days he had gone through.
It was too cruel for a child who was only five years old.
"I was trapped here for five years. I was only able to come out after I learned to control my senses myself."
Marin desperately held back her tears. She didn't want to ruin his calm confession with her tears.
"Marin, I don't want our child to feel the same pain as I did. That's why I didn't want to have a child."
Marin slowly nodded.
Even just hearing about it was this painful, so she understood how he, who had actually experienced it, didn't want a baby.
"I understand. I'll give up."
"Marin?"
He raised his head at her answer.
"We can adopt a child later, so I'll follow your wishes."
Gerald tightly grasped her hand and suppressed the emotions surging in his chest.
How far was this kind woman going to yield to him? Even though she wanted a child so much.
Gerald raised his hand and gently cupped one side of her face.
This time, she leaned her face into his hand.
"Actually, I found something in the diary of the 20th Duke."
Looking at her warm gaze, Gerald carefully opened his mouth.
"The person who wrote that book?"
"Yes. He had also been affected by the Demon Flower."
Marin lifted her face from his hand with a startled expression.
As the soft touch she had felt in his hand disappeared, his fingertips felt cold with regret.
"Was he okay?"
"He wrote that he only experienced temporary symptoms, unlike me."
"That's a relief. Ah, could it be......?"
Gerald chuckled. He knew that a smart woman like her would grasp his intentions.
"The poison from the Demon Flower that I ate. Perhaps there's an answer in it. I lost my sight, too. And the second time, I lost my senses. I'm going to try to study that Demon Flower."
Marin felt sorry for him, who was trying so hard for her sake, and she hugged him tightly because she loved him.
"I support you no matter what choice you make."
"Me too. I want to see the baby you want, too."
"But what if the child wants that ability?"
"I manifested it a little early, but most people manifest it when they're a bit older. My father said he manifested it at 13."
"Then?"
"If the child's ability manifests early, we'll have to use medicine. Of course, the research has to be successful."
As he gave a bitter smile, Marin supported his face with both hands to make him look at her.
"Let's not expect too much from the beginning, and let's not give up too early. Okay?"
"Okay."
As their gazes intertwined softly, Marin kissed his lips first for the first time in a long time.
\ \ *
Warm sunlight streamed through the window, gently swimming around the room.
Marin lay on the bed in a straight posture, staring at the air with a serene face.
Yuria, who was watching her with a worried look, whispered to Elmis.
"She's been like that for hours."
Elmis nodded as if agreeing.
"What could be the matter? She hasn't gotten up, and she's skipping meals."
Yuria's voice, which was full of whispers, was filled with concern.
"Yuria. We just have to follow orders. Don't presume the master's thoughts rashly."
"......I understand."
Yuria answered with a sullen face at Elmis's cold advice.
"Ughhhhh!"
Then, Marin suddenly grabbed her hair and banged her head on the pillow.
Yuria and Elmis were startled by this and exchanged glances.
"Ahem. We shouldn't presume the master's thoughts, but harming herself is...... Go see."
Elmis cleared his throat dryly and gently pushed Yuria.
Yuria, who was full of worry, readily approached Marin.
"Um, Miss. Are you perhaps doing nothing, but more intensely doing nothing?"
She asked the best question she could think of, looking at Marin who wasn't coming out of bed.
"What?"
Marin raised her head with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
"Or, are you perhaps sick somewhere? Shall I call the Attending physician?"
"No......"
Marin's voice had no strength, as if she were a person whose soul had left her body.
Soon, Marin, who had wriggled into the blanket, kicked the blanket with a thud.
"Uwaaaa!"
