210 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke Chapter 210
Clang.
The aide flattened himself, a glass having just whizzed past his face.
The Southern Duke Smith—no, Smije—looked down at him, drunk and enraged.
“She was the only bait to find him, and you’re just going to let her be taken away?”
“I apologize. The Crown Prince arrived, and there was nothing I could do.”
“Why did the Crown Prince suddenly show up?”
“The young lady said they were close.”
“Ha, you believe that? I’ve never seen the Crown Prince associating with young ladies.”
The aide lowered his head silently.
“Now that we’ve lost the bait, that guy will disappear again.”
Smije roughly swept back his navy hair.
“Shall we kidnap the young lady again?”
“The Crown Prince has intervened. He’ll be watching her for the time being.”
“Then, are we just going to…?”
“Since his lover is in the capital, he probably hasn’t left. Put a tail on that young lady.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Smije closed his eyes to clear his complicated mind.
Why did the Crown Prince suddenly appear? Is all of this really just a coincidence?
\ \ \
“Hey! Not that way.”
Uvis, who was heading down a different path, pulled on his horse’s reins and turned toward Henders.
“Isn’t this the way?”
“You idiot, why do you keep running off when you don’t even know the way?”
Henders frowned and scolded Uvis.
Why did I bring this dimwit along?
He was burning with belated regret, but Uvis had insisted that he could explain best since he was the one who had found her.
“It’s because we need to hurry.”
Uvis corrected his direction again and urged his horse on.
“So don’t run off, just follow closely behind me.”
“Yes.”
As if understanding their masters’ urgency, the two Black Steeds galloped swiftly like the wind.
They would soon be at the Duke's Residence in the capital.
However, there were many people on the roads in the capital, so they couldn’t pick up speed quickly.
“Ugh, seriously! Why are there so many people!”
“It’s the capital. We’re almost there.”
The Duke's Residence came into view in the distance.
The two pulled on their horses’ reins and stopped in front of the main gate.
Henders jumped off his horse and grabbed the arm of a servant near the main gate.
“Where is The Duke?”
The startled servant was about to open his mouth when Butler Canolam appeared.
“Henders? What brings you here?”
“Butler. Where are The Duke and Marin? It’s urgent.”
“The two of them have gone to the Hunting Festival.”
“The Hunting Festival?”
Uvis, who was standing behind him, asked in surprise.
Could it be? With a terrible premonition, Uvis looked at Henders with trembling eyes. Henders’ expression also hardened.
Seeing the unusual expressions on their faces, Butler Canolam quickly ordered a servant.
“Escort these two to where the Hunting Festival is being held.”
“Yes.”
The servant was about to take a step when Henders grabbed him.
“It’s urgent. Come with me on my horse.”
“Understood.”
Henders put the servant on his horse, bowed to Butler Canolam, and quickly left the Duke's Residence again.
The urgent appearance of the two men caused deep wrinkles to form on Butler Canolam’s forehead.
\ \ \
Under a clear blue sky without a single cloud, golden flags announcing the Hunting Festival fluttered.
Hundreds of tents were set up in front of the green forest behind the Imperial Palace.
It was a Hunting Festival that any noble could participate in.
However, the size and color of the tents varied depending on the status of the individual. The Imperial Family had golden tents, the four great Dukes had blue tents, the marquises had green tents, and those below them had white tents.
Eastern Duchess Ederna, who was in a blue tent, surveyed her surroundings.
Nobles who met Ederna’s eyes greeted her with a nod and quickly dispersed.
The noble faction greatly welcomed the Hunting Festival that the Emperor had suddenly organized. It was an opportunity for the nobles to mingle naturally without having to be mindful of anyone.
Meanwhile, the Emperor sat on a high platform, looking down at the nobles scattered below.
He could see the imperial faction and the noble faction moving separately.
The Emperor lowered his eyes and carefully observed the scene.
He had identified the secret movements of the noble faction, but there was nothing they could do.
Even if they incited the weak Crown Prince, there was no way he would act according to their wishes.
Because he had raised him that way.
If you treat someone pathetically, they will grow up to be pathetic.
The Emperor leaned back against the backrest and smiled leisurely.
If he threw something for the imperial faction and the noble faction to tear at together, they would focus on the prey.
That was the nature of the nobles.
The Emperor’s golden eyes flashed as he stared at one spot. He saw the Duke of the West and his fiancée walking together.
Finally, a delicious prey had appeared.
\ \ \
Young noblemen wearing Swords were receiving handkerchiefs from elegantly adorned young ladies. On one side, the children of noble families were playing ball, and on the other side, older noblewomen were gathered and chatting.
“It seems like all the nobles are here. Do this many people usually gather for the Hunting Festival?”
Marin asked, looking around at the dense crowd.
“That’s strange.”
“What is?”
“There are too many.”
Gerald said in a low voice, carefully observing his surroundings.
“Olive. Assess the situation.”
“Yes.”
Olive, who had been following behind with Dia, quickly retreated.
Marin turned to look at Dia, who was left alone.
“Dia, are you alright?”
Gerald and Marin had been walking ahead to block the attention that would be directed at Dia, who would become the Crown Princess, but they couldn’t block all of it.
The nobles’ curious gazes, appraising gazes, and envious gazes were all being poured onto Dia.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Dia straightened her shoulders proudly and accepted it with composure.
Indeed, not just anyone could become the Crown Princess.
Marin looked at Dia admirably and smiled faintly.
\ \ \
Meanwhile, Smije, who was in a blue tent, watched the Duke of the West and his fiancée walking over.
Naturally, he was reminded of the moment he had an audience with the Emperor a few days ago.
“Your Imperial Majesty, I have a man who personally witnessed the Duke of the West’s fiancée communicating with a Monster.”
For a moment, a different light flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.
The Emperor, who was drumming on the desk as if pondering something, gave a bitter smile.
“Bring him to the Hunting Festival.”
“To the Hunting Festival, Your Majesty?”
Smije asked, puzzled.
Not calling him secretly, but to the Hunting Festival where all the nobles would gather.
“I have prepared very amusing entertainment.”
“Yes.”
Smije couldn’t guess the Emperor’s intentions, but he agreed for now.
“You will know what to do the moment you see the entertainment I have prepared, so bring that man before me then.”
“Understood.”
Smije stared at the Duke of the West and his fiancée with expectant eyes.
Whatever the Emperor had prepared, revealing her abilities here would surely be a great ordeal for them.
It felt like he could finally breathe after being suffocated by his inability to find Smith, so he laughed heartily.
\ \ \
Marin, who had entered the blue tent, widened her eyes.
There were expensive-looking chairs and decorations, and a luxurious carpet was laid out.
“Isn’t the Hunting Festival only for today?”
“That’s right.”
“But why spend so much money like this?”
Marin said with a slightly disgusted look.
“Because it’s something the Emperor, who loves to show off, is doing.”
A look of contempt for the Emperor flashed in Gerald’s gray eyes.
Dia, who was listening to the conversation next to them, also looked around the tent with a disappointed expression.
At that moment, Olive, who had been surveying the situation outside, returned.
He met Gerald’s gaze and immediately reported.
“All the nobles in the capital have gathered.”
“The reason?”
“An invitation from His Imperial Majesty was delivered to everyone.”
Gerald’s eyes sank thoughtfully.
The Emperor’s invitations were precious. Only the four great Dukes received them, and even then, only occasionally.
They were so rare that just receiving an invitation from the Emperor was considered an honor for the family.
But he had distributed that precious thing to all the nobles? It was only natural that all the nobles in the capital would attend.
An ominous premonition began to creep up.