207 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Marin and Priana walked instead of taking a carriage, as the bookstore wasn't far from the Duke's Residence. Elmis quietly followed behind them.
"Are you alright?"
Priana asked carefully, studying Marin's profile.
"Of course. Lord Gerald isn't the type to secretly follow someone."
"Pardon?"
Priana asked back, looking surprised.
"That was a slip of the tongue."
Marin realized what she had said and covered it up with a laugh.
He's not really following us, is he?
Priana covered her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter.
"I didn't know The Duke would do something like that. It's so unexpected. He's even jealous."
"It's embarrassing, but I think every man... likes me. How can that be possible?"
Marin, after looking around and whispering quietly, blushed red to her ears, then covered her face with both hands to cool her hot cheeks.
Priana smiled and looked at Marin.
She was so lovely that she could understand The Duke's overreaction.
"You're really loved."
"What about your fiancé, Priana?"
"My fiancé is a calm and quiet person. An ordinary person without any hidden secrets or incidents. I like that ordinariness. I can't handle dangerous men."
Marin's eyes fluttered.
Secrets, incidents. That's exactly what my fiancé is.
Chatting, the two came out onto the main street and entered an alley.
"It's there."
They could see a small building at the innermost part of the alley.
But when they went to the front, the bookstore door was tightly locked.
"I came earlier than the time I promised..."
Priana explained with an apologetic expression.
"It's okay. Let's wait a bit."
"Marin, then let's wait inside. It's dark inside, so I'll go in first and draw the curtains. Can you wait a moment?"
"Yes. I will."
Marin nodded readily.
Priana, finding the key in her handbag, entered the bookstore.
She headed towards the counter to draw the curtains, but she saw a long shadow where the curtains were already half-drawn.
Navy blue hair swept back, sharp eyes, red lips.
"Smi. Were you inside? The bookstore door was locked, so I thought you hadn't come to work yet."
Priana greeted her fiancé, who seemed different today, with a happy voice.
For a moment, one corner of his lips twisted upwards.
"I was right then. Smi... You used to call me that when we were young."
"Pardon?"
He, who always smiled kindly at her, wore a twisted smile.
"Is she his lover?"
"...Smi?"
Priana called him again with a confused look.
"Where is he?"
"...!"
This person isn't Smi.
Surprised, Priana took a step back without realizing it.
The man, watching her, uttered a cold word.
"Catch her."
As soon as the man's command fell, unfamiliar men jumped out from the dark and grabbed her arms.
"Kya-"
Priana, her mouth blocked, struggled, but was soon caught by the men and dragged away.
\ \ \
Marin, standing in front of the bookstore with Elmis, frowned.
"Elmis, didn't you hear something just now?"
"I did. Milady, please stay here. I'll go in and check..."
Elmis, cutting off his words, sharply surveyed the surroundings. The alley was deserted.
Can I leave Milady alone here?
"Let's go in together."
Marin, reading his worries, suggested first.
"Yes. But you must stay behind me."
"Okay."
Opening the door and carefully entering, they saw books piled up on both sides.
Passing through the hallway, they came to a slightly larger space inside.
However, there was no trace of Priana, and only books were scattered on the floor.
Sunlight poured in from the back of the bookstore. The back door was wide open.
Marin and Elmis exchanged glances and hurried out the back door.
Then they saw a large carriage quickly leaving the alley.
The moment she took a step forward, something caught on Marin's foot.
A pair of shoes had fallen on the ground.
"...!"
Marin looked back at Elmis with an impatient face.
"Elmis..."
Elmis's eyes were filled with conflict as he read her mind.
He could guess what his master would say because of what had happened. Milady would definitely tell him to chase that carriage rather than worry about her safety.
"Milady, can you return alone?"
Marin nodded bravely at Elmis's worried tone.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be careful."
"Yes. Then I will chase the carriage."
In the blink of an eye, Elmis climbed up the building wall and began to chase the carriage, leaping over the roof.
Marin watched Elmis disappear into the distance, picked up the shoes, and turned around.
She had to hurry to ask Gerald for help.
As she re-entered the bookstore, she saw a man wearing glasses tidying up the scattered books on the floor.
Is he one of the kidnappers left behind?
Marin took a step back, ready to run away at any time, and fiddled with Jeromian's Bracelet.
The man, raising his head at the sound, made eye contact with her.
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
The two asked at the same time.
"I'm the owner of this bookstore."
"Are you perhaps Smi?"
"How do you know my name?"
A faint wariness was evident in Smi's voice.
"Priana has been kidnapped!"
"Pardon?"
He looked at her suspiciously, as if saying what nonsense she was talking about.
"I'm Marin Schwentz. I don't know if you've heard from Priana-"
"The Duke of the West's fiancée?"
When Smi recognized her, Marin nodded and hurriedly explained the situation.
"Yes. My maid is chasing after the kidnapper right now, but do you have any idea who it might be?"
"Smije..."
He spat out a name as if gnashing his teeth in anger.
"Is that person the culprit?"
He sighed deeply, then took off his glasses and swept back the bangs covering his eyes.
Marin's eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.
There was a very familiar face in front of her. Why is he here?
"...The Southern Duke?!"
Marin stared blankly at the man.
Why is the Southern Duke running a bookstore? Is it another job? Then does that mean Priana's fiancé is the Southern Duke?
As Marin stared at him with confused eyes, his stiff face became determined.
"I am the twin brother of the 'current' Southern Duke."
"Ah..."
Marin couldn't hide her surprised expression and trailed off.
The Southern Duke had a twin brother?
Marin stared at him with a dumbfounded face at the fact she didn't know.
He bowed his head and asked politely.
"May I meet the Duke of the West?"
As Marin looked at him with questioning eyes, he raised his head and continued.
"I don't think I can handle this alone in the current situation."
"I understand. I was about to go right away anyway."
"Please guide me."
\ \ *
Gerald stared silently at the man standing in front of him with a blank face.
"It's been a while, Duke of the West."
Marin stood next to Olive, who was standing back, and watched the confrontation between the two with bated breath.
"Were you hiding near here?"
"I thought the guy wouldn't be able to find me near the Duke of the West's Residence."
"But he found you."
"Unfortunately."
A deep regret was evident in Smi's voice.
"I don't know what you two are talking about right now, but shouldn't we save Priana first?"
Marin urged the two with an anxious face.
"If the 'current' Southern Duke has a brain, that young lady will be fine."
Gerald said to Marin as if to reassure her.
"Wait a minute. Does that mean the Southern Duke kidnapped Priana?"
Gerald and Smi nodded at the same time.
"Why? You said he has a brain? Oh, I'm sorry. I don't want to insult your brother."
Marin apologized to Smi with a remorseful face.
Smi smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"He needs me. So he won't be able to touch a single hair on Priana's head until I show up."
"Then you should go and save her quickly."
"Marin, if we let this man go like this, he will die."
Gerald, who was listening to their conversation, said in a definitive voice.
"Pardon?"
Marin widened her eyes and asked with a face that said what are you talking about.
Gerald stared at the man in front of him as if to see through him.
"Isn't that right? Duke Smith Jin Patayan."