23 - I Got Engaged to the Blind Duke
I Got Engaged to a Blind Peacock Chapter 23
Fortunately, once rooted, they couldn't move, only tempting him with their petals, unable to budge from their spot.
Gerald quickly tried to cut the flower stalk. The stalk deflected his sword as if made of steel, without a scratch.
Infusing the sword with aura and striking, a slight scratch appeared on the stalk.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
He repeatedly struck the stalk with his sword, as if chopping wood with an axe. Finally, with a cracking sound, the stalk snapped.
The Demon Flower, as if in pain, opened its mouth wide and emitted an even stronger fragrance, then drooped.
Demon Flowers were practically bound to the ground, making them not difficult opponents. However, they had strong hides that withstood even aura, so dealing with them took a long time.
Gerald decided to strike the center they seemed to be guarding first. As if to grab him as he ran towards the center, the heads of the Demon Flower petals all turned towards him.
Gerald slashed at the nearby petals with his sword, ignoring the distant Demon Flowers, and dashed towards the center.
Soon, upon reaching the center, he saw a Demon Flower slightly smaller than the others. Each petal sparkled with a different color.
It was the most splendid flower.
Gerald enveloped his sword in aura and cut down the Demon Flower in the center in one swift motion. Unlike the other Demon Flowers, the central Demon Flower fell in one blow.
Whether the Demon Flower in the center was the leader or not, the other Demon Flowers guarding it began to slowly wither and die.
As all the Demon Flowers completely withered and dropped their heads, only the central Demon Flower, already fallen to the ground, still appeared to be a fresh color.
If it wasn't dead yet?
Gerald stepped on the withered Demon Flowers and approached the central Demon Flower.
At that moment, the central Demon Flower opened its mouth towards his face and shot something before instantly turning to dust and disappearing.
For a moment, it flashed like lightning before his eyes, and he couldn't see anything.
The last thing he saw was a Monster.
Thus, he was blinded by the colorless and odorless Monster poison.
"Good night."
Gerald woke up from his sleep upon hearing Imsi's voice.
It had been a long time since he had a dream. Even if it was a nightmare-like memory of how he lost his sight, it had been a while since he had a dream.
The sound of her careful footsteps gradually faded away before she closed the door and left.
"Kay. How long did I sleep?"
"You slept for an hour," Kay replied, lowering his voice as much as possible.
"Sleep is... a good thing."
Just sleeping for an hour made him feel energized and refreshed.
The senses that were running wild were still there, but it felt like he could control them a little easier.
When he had been enduring without sleep, he didn't know it was this good. Once he tasted it, he didn't even want to think about not being able to sleep again.
"What should I do with Imsi..."
A strange and mysterious woman.
And... a dangerous woman.
She was a woman who could wield infinite power over him. She possessed the ability to free him from this pain or trap him in it forever.
She had now become a dangerous but absolutely indispensable existence to him.
\ \ *
Marin returned to the detached palace and went straight to her room, unlike usual when she would look for Loanna's room.
Sitting at her vanity, she made a dumbfounded expression as she looked at her appearance.
"Oh my goodness. No wonder Olive said that."
Her hair was disheveled, and there was a long scratch on her cheek.
To go meet the Duke looking like this.
It was fortunate that the Duke didn't see her.
Knock knock.
She sighed softly when she heard a knock. Marin tidied her hair roughly and answered.
"Yes."
"Excuse me."
Yuria carefully pushed the tray and entered.
"Marin. Are you okay?"
Yuria looked at Marin from head to toe with worried eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry, I didn't get scolded by His Grace the Duke."
Marin reassured Yuria with a playful smile.
"Whew. That's a relief."
"Are you okay, Yuria?"
Marin carefully examined the face of Yuria, who was still a girl. Fortunately, there were no scars on her face.
"Yes. I'm fine. I've had this happen several times, so I'm all right."
Yuria said it as if it were a daily occurrence, which struck her heart.
This was the life of a commoner.
Moreover, Yuria was said to be an orphan. Receiving help from someone would have been like a miracle.
Marin hid her choked-up feelings and spoke even more vigorously.
"Yuria, if something like that happens again, come running to me! I'll fight with you again! Got it?"
Yuria answered with a bashful smile, as if she didn't want to cause her any more trouble.
Soon, she took something out of the trolley.
"The butler gave me ointment."
"Wow, how grateful."
Just as Marin was about to receive it, Yuria hesitated with the ointment in her hand.
"May I apply it for you?"
"I can do it myself."
"I want to do it for you."
Seeing Yuria anxious that she might be rejected, Marin readily accepted.
"Then I'd be very happy."
Yuria carefully applied the ointment to the wound on Marin's face and opened her mouth again.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For what you said earlier, and for fighting with me. You didn't have to."
"Actually, I have something to confess too."
"Yes, please tell me."
"At first, I was going to pretend I didn't know. I'm just temporarily employed here, and I'm someone who will leave at any time. I didn't want to care much about other people's business. If they hadn't insulted my mother, I would have continued to pretend I didn't know. I'm sorry."
Marin bowed her head and apologized.
Yuria smiled at her honest confession and sincere apology.
Marin and Loanna were both said to be commoners, but their gestures and way of speaking were different from commoners.
So, she had been guessing alone if they might be fallen nobles.
Marin said that she would have pretended not to know if it wasn't for Loanna, but she fought with her and rolled on the ground. And she tells her this honestly.
"Please don't apologize to me. I'm just grateful to Marin."
"I'm grateful too. We're comrades who defeated the same enemy."
Marin and Yuria looked at each other and laughed out loud.
"And Marin, please speak comfortably to me."
"That's..."
Marin trailed off with a troubled face.
"You're older than me."
"That's, right."
"Please. I beg you."
At Yuria's request, Marin reluctantly agreed.
"Okay. I will."
Marin nodded with a soft smile.
"Thank you. I'll comb your hair too. Loanna will be surprised if you go to her with this hair."
"Thank you."
"Hehe."
Yuria smiled shyly.
Marin was a good superior. It was a great fortune to be able to serve such a person as a subordinate.
Yuria decided to do anything for Marin in the future.
When she untied Marin's hair, long platinum blonde hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall.
"Wow, it's pretty. Why don't you wear it down?"
Yuria admired Marin's beautiful hair color, which was a subtle mix of light gold and silver and shone softly.
"It's cumbersome."
Marin stroked her hair as if she was embarrassed, and the dangling dress sleeves were visible.
"Marin. May I alter your dress for you?"
"You can do alterations too?"
"I've been told that I'm good with my hands."
"Really? I'd be so grateful."
"Yes!"
Yuria, who was happy that she could do something for Marin, smiled brightly.
