205 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
“It will be difficult to contact you for a while.”
“Yes. There will be an investigation about Camellia in the Imperial Palace, so it will be difficult until she contacts us first.”
“Understood.”
“Did something happen at the Imperial Palace?”
Lord Gerald fell silent again.
The Emperor’s illness was not something that could be easily mentioned. For now, waiting for Camellia’s contact was the priority.
“Wake me when we arrive at the mansion. I’ll get some sleep.”
“Yes.”
Lord Gerald closed his eyes and fell into thought.
If the Emperor was truly ill, it would be much easier to bring him down.
But if his illness was for another reason… those in the Imperial Palace are in danger.
Hopefully, she hasn’t done anything reckless.
\ \ \
“You’re here?”
Marin greeted Lord Gerald happily in front of the mansion’s main gate.
Lord Gerald, who came out of the carriage with a tired face, stared at her with surprised eyes.
“Why are you standing here? It’s tiring.”
Marin met his eyes and smiled bashfully.
“I thought you would be tired after visiting the Imperial Palace. A consideration for you to feel better by seeing me?”
“I always feel this, but you are really smart.”
Lord Gerald admired her with a serious look.
“Ahem. I am a bit, aren’t I?”
Marin acted even more playfully for Lord Gerald, whose complexion was dark.
Then, his stiff mouth relaxed.
“Marin, have I told you?”
“Told me what?”
“I don’t think I can live without you.”
“Lord Gerald!”
Marin was startled and glanced at the servants standing around.
The shoulders of the servants, who had their heads bowed, were shaking with laughter.
“Why?”
Lord Gerald was looking at her with a blind gaze, as if she was the only thing in the world.
“Let’s go inside.”
Marin said shyly, taking his hand and leading him inside.
Lord Gerald followed behind, gazing intently at her neck, which was turning a sweet shade of red.
Marin, who went straight up to the 4th floor, paused in front of Lord Gerald’s door.
“Aren’t you going further?”
“I’m contemplating.”
“Contemplating what?”
“Lord Gerald looks like he needs rest, so I’m contemplating whether to read a book in my room, or read it in Lord Gerald’s room.”
Marin puffed up her cheeks and looked back and forth between the two doors with a serious look.
Lord Gerald enjoyed watching her, who looked like an adorable squirrel.
This lovely woman is my lover.
He wanted to brag to the whole world, but at the same time, he wanted to lock her up so that no one would know her loveliness and only look at him.
“It doesn’t matter which room. …As long as you’re by my side.”
The gray eyes looking at her darkened. He had to hide it, lest she run away after discovering his sinister possessiveness.
Marin soon opened Lord Gerald’s door with a determined face.
Unlike her room, which was decorated in a light violet color, Lord Gerald’s room was filled with dark-colored furniture and dark olive-colored wallpaper.
“Excuse me.”
Lord Gerald chuckled as he looked down at her, who was greeting the empty room.
“The owner of the room is behind you?”
“Excuse me.”
Marin turned around and said the same words to him, then led him to a comfortable-looking sofa and sat him down.
“I’ll go get a book, so please rest.”
“Don’t go.”
As Marin was about to leave the room, Lord Gerald pulled her hand and sat her on his lap.
Surprised, Marin’s eyes widened.
“Should I not read you a book?”
“I only need you.”
Lord Gerald hugged Marin’s waist and buried his head in her small shoulder.
Warm body temperature. Fragrant scent of flesh. Soft and squishy texture.
Just holding her made him feel satisfied.
Marin gently stroked his hair.
“Did something happen at the Imperial Palace?”
“How can I gain more weight?”
The two spoke at the same time.
“Lord Gerald!”
As Marin’s voice tone rose, Lord Gerald changed the subject with a nonchalant expression.
“The Emperor is sick.”
“Yes?”
Startled, Marin tried to get up, but Lord Gerald pulled her waist tightly and hugged her again.
“I’m resting.”
“Where does His Majesty hurt?”
“I have to find out from now on.”
Marin’s heart was beating rapidly.
How could such a loud sound come from this small body? If her heart beats like this, can her fragile body withstand it?
Lord Gerald gently patted her back as if to calm her down and changed the subject.
“I met the Crown Prince.”
“You met His Highness the Crown Prince too? Well done.”
Perhaps she had calmed down a bit, Marin’s heartbeat returned to normal.
“The Crown Prince is not strong enough.”
At that, Marin narrowed her eyes with a dissatisfied expression.
“Please treat him well. His Highness the Crown Prince is going to be Dia’s husband soon.”
“So….”
“Yes?”
“So he should be more steadfast. Because he’s going to be Dia’s husband.”
“That’s all because of His Majesty the Emperor. Why does he hate His Highness the Crown Prince so much?”
Marin took the Crown Prince’s side.
“It’s because the Emperor is a coward.”
Marin looked around at the empty surroundings and whispered lowly.
“I told you not to say such things carelessly.”
“What else can I say if he ignores his son because he’s afraid of him?”
“His Majesty the Emperor is afraid of His Highness the Crown Prince? Why?”
Marin asked with wide eyes and a puzzled face.
“If the Crown Prince had brothers, they would have fought for the throne. Like the princes of the Sanders Empire. But the Crown Prince currently has no brothers. So the Emperor is afraid of the Crown Prince. He’s afraid that the Crown Prince will covet his position.”
Marin said with a face that she couldn’t understand at all.
“When His Majesty passes away, His Highness the Crown Prince will naturally inherit the position, so why does he think that His Highness the Crown Prince will covet his position?”
“The Emperor killed his brothers and ascended to the throne. In his mind, the throne is something to be usurped. Not something to be inherited. So that’s why the Emperor wants another son so much. To make the children fight each other.”
“But, His Highness the Crown Prince is not that kind of person.”
Marin looked more upset than he did.
“Well….”
Lord Gerald wore a bitter smile.
Marin looked at him with a puzzled face.
“The movements of the nobles are unusual right now. So there may be an unavoidable situation for him too.”
“Then what do we do?”
“We’ll have to wait. For the Crown Prince’s choice.”
At those words, Marin clasped her hands together tightly and hoped that all of this would go well.
\ \ \
A woman with a calm impression entered a bookstore in an alley.
Priana carefully passed through the hallway filled with books on both sides and headed to the counter, which was a wider space.
She saw the broad back of a man putting books on the bookshelf.
His disheveled, dark navy hair and black shirt were covered in book dust.
“Smi.”
“Priana, you’re here?”
Smi, who turned around, pushed up his thick glasses.
But his messy bangs were already blocking his view.
“Have you eaten?”
“I just ate something simple.”
“You mean you didn’t eat, right?”
As if she knew it, Priana placed the picnic basket she was holding on the counter.
“Huh? I really ate.”
Smi scratched the back of his head and smiled innocently.
Priana smiled brightly, following her fiancé.
At first, they met as a bookstore owner and a customer. They gradually grew closer to each other while visiting the bookstore every day for a year.
Although he was a commoner, he was more knowledgeable than any noble she had ever met. When she started a conversation with him on a topic, she didn’t realize how much time had passed from morning to night.
Above all, in a society where reading books was taboo for women, he supported her instead.
How could she not fall in love when she met her dream ideal type?
Her parents also supported her choice, so they were already engaged in a private ceremony.
“My parents invited you to dinner. When is a good time?”
Smi, who took a bite of the sandwich she offered, raised his head and said softly.
“Anytime for me.”
“Then, can we at least tidy up those bangs before we go?”
He always covered his face with thick glasses and bangs, so at first, she thought he had some kind of scar on his face.
How surprised she was the day she saw his neat face when he took off his glasses.
She didn’t know why he was hiding his handsome looks.