212 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Chapter 212
The Duke of the West's cold gaze pierced through the Emperor.
Meeting that gaze, the Emperor smiled joyfully as if to provoke him.
The day that composed face would contort was not far off—how delightful.
Meanwhile, Marin stared at BaniBani with a shocked expression, unable to look away.
She had anticipated the worst, but this was even worse.
Seeing the blue blood staining the rabbit's body made her chest tighten painfully. How much had they tormented it while dragging it here?
Gerald looked down at Marin's face, which seemed on the verge of bursting into tears, with pity before hardening his expression.
Just as he turned his gaze back to the Emperor and was about to speak, a man with a haggard appearance rushed out and prostrated himself flat before the Emperor.
"Your Majesty the Emperor!"
"Who are you?"
"I am Rumus, living in the western region. I have come before Your Majesty because I have something to say. Please listen to my words."
After the Monster, a commoner suddenly appeared at the Hunting Festival, which only nobles could attend. Moreover, he claimed to be a commoner from the distant west.
The nobles alternated their gazes between the Duke of the West and the commoner.
Meanwhile, Rumus lowered his body even further to avoid the piercing stares directed at him.
From the conversations of his captors, he had learned that the one who brought him here was the Southern Duke.
He wished he hadn't known.
To leave this place alive, he would have to do as the Southern Duke wanted.
"Very well, speak."
At the Emperor's words, the nobles' expressions changed subtly.
The Emperor was going to listen to a commoner's words?
But their doubts were short-lived as astonishing words flowed from the commoner.
"Your Majesty, I have come forward because I am well acquainted with that Monster. It is called BaniBani, and it once appeared in the village where I lived. And I clearly saw with my own eyes that this Monster follows the fiancée of the Duke of the West. The fiancée of the Duke of the West is……"
As Rumus paused briefly, the nobles' attention intensified.
"...a terrifying and strange being who communicates with Monsters."
Rumus finished his words while remaining flat on the ground.
The astonished nobles gasped and stared at Marin standing beside the Duke of the West.
"What is that commoner saying?"
A noblewoman covering her lips with a fan spoke to the woman next to her.
"The Duke of the West's fiancée communicates with Monsters……"
"Good heavens. Where does such a person exist?"
"Such a person is a Witch…… isn't she?"
A young lady listening nearby whispered softly.
Witch.
Hundreds of years ago, when Monsters first appeared, there were beings who could communicate with them.
The world called them Witches.
But now, no one could know if that was true. Because at that time, Witches were also targets of eradication alongside Monsters.
While Monsters had tenaciously survived to this day, it was believed that all Witches had been killed back then.
"A Witch?"
"She said Witch."
"Communicating with Monsters—she really is a Witch."
"Did the Duke of the West know that young lady is a Witch?"
The innocent words of the young lady spread like concentric circles.
Through the whispers from mouth to mouth, the word "Witch" grew.
The nobles' malicious gazes, curious stares, and displeased looks sharply turned toward the Duke of the West's fiancée.
The Duke of the West was untouchable, but that young lady from a humble family was a perfect target for slander and criticism.
With the plausible pretext of communicating with Monsters, the glares aimed at the Duke of the West's fiancée turned fierce.
"Is there no falsehood in your words?"
"No. I have spoken only the truth, staking my life."
A satisfied predator's smile appeared on the Emperor's face.
"You wouldn't dare lie to me. However, I cannot overlook the crime of a commoner interfering in my entertainment at the Hunting Festival. Take him away and cut out his tongue."
Just as Rumus, who was lying flat, tried to raise his head in surprise, a knight covered his mouth and dragged him away.
Desperate struggles followed, but no one paid any further attention to him, a mere commoner.
"Duke of the West, it seems your fiancée has quite a talent."
The Emperor looked down at the Duke of the West with a sinister smile.
This time, the nobles' gazes shifted to the Duke of the West.
The Duke of the West faced the Emperor with an expressionless face, offering no reply.
The Emperor, staring directly at the Duke of the West, commanded the knights below.
"Open the iron cage door."
A tense knight opened the carriage's iron cage door and quickly stepped back.
However, even with the door open, BaniBani did not move.
"That Monster has no strength left. Poke it."
Just as a knight with a spear was about to stab BaniBani, Marin screamed as if in terror.
"No!"
BaniBani, which had been crouching motionless, perked its ears and raised its head.
Its silver eyes darted around among the people, searching for Marin.
"Good heavens. Look at those silver eyes!"
"It's chilling."
"The Monster is looking for the Duke of the West's fiancée!"
"Eek! I'm scared!"
"A Witch……"
Screams and exclamations poured from the nobles' mouths upon seeing BaniBani's face.
Meanwhile, Marin wrung her hands anxiously, unable to act rashly as it was the Emperor's presence.
But then.
"Marin, you may go."
As if reading her thoughts, Gerald gently pushed her trembling back.
"...Lord Gerald."
Marin looked up at Gerald with tear-filled eyes.
Rumors had begun that the Duke of the West's fiancée was a Witch. If she approached the rabbit, those rumors would spread even more.
Considering his honor, it was right to stay still.
Gerald spoke softly once more.
"It's alright."
At his words, Marin bit her lip.
Fine. Let them call me a Witch if they want.
Marin immediately grabbed the hem of her dress and ran forward. Elmis followed closely, as if protecting her.
"Henders, Uvis."
At Gerald's call, the two also ran alongside Marin, as if escorting her.
Arriving before the carriage, Marin chewed her lip and whispered softly.
"Rabbit……"
Recognizing Marin, BaniBani shed tears of sorrow, drop by drop.
"I'm sorry, Rabbit. I'm sorry."
Marin also burst into tears.
It felt as though BaniBani suffering like this was entirely her fault.
"Good heavens, look at that! She's really communicating with that Monster."
"Look, the Monster is nodding its head."
"She's a Witch, a Witch!"
The murmuring among the nobles grew louder.
Gerald fixed his gaze on the Emperor and took a step forward.
"Your Majesty."
"Oh! Duke of the West. So, you finally have something to say to me?"
The Emperor greeted him with a sly smile.
"Have you ever seen BaniBani in person?"
Gerald stared directly at the Emperor with a cold face.
"Is it not right before my eyes?"
"That rabbit is not BaniBani. It is a new species called Giant Rabbit, merely my fiancée's companion animal."
At Gerald's brazen lie, the Emperor frowned, his lips trembling.
He wanted to seize the Duke, who dared tell lies before him, and tear his mouth apart, but there were many eyes watching.
"...Is that your choice?"
"Yes. So, please release it. I will not ask why you captured my fiancée's companion animal without a word."
"How far do you think you can cover up with lies?"
"It is the truth."
The nobles, who had been murmuring, held their breath at the sharp confrontation between the two glaring at each other.
Then, the Emperor abruptly stood up and scanned the nobles.
"You all saw it too, didn't you? That young lady communicating with the Monster. That young lady is a Witch. I promise the Holy Sapphire and a promotion in rank to whoever captures the Witch and presents her before me."
The prey of the Hunting Festival had changed.
From Monster to the Duke of the West's fiancée.
While the lower nobles' eyes widened, the higher nobles took a step back. Antagonizing the West was a matter to be judged carefully.
The Duchess of the East stared at the Emperor with an indignant face, while the Southern Duke smiled with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, as the Crown Prince, his face stiffened, tried to step forward, the imperial knights blocked his way.
"Step aside."
"My apologies. It is His Majesty's command. We will escort you inside the tent."
As the Crown Prince was dragged away by the knights, he anxiously gazed at his lover, who had turned pale.
"Let me go! Dia……!"
Hearing the Crown Prince's voice, Dia turned her head toward the sound, but the Crown Prince had already disappeared.
Meanwhile, Gerald shouted as if responding to the Emperor's words.
"Those who wish to die may step forward!"