25 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Blind Duke, I'm Engaged to Him - Episode 25
“I’d like to take your measurements, who would like to go first?”
“Mom, you go first.”
Loanna whispered, glancing at Idre.
“Are you really going to have a dress made?”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
Loanna nodded as if she understood and stood up.
“Please come this way? And the young lady can comfortably look at the catalog.”
Loanna changed her position to make it easier for Idre to work each time she took measurements.
Idre swallowed her surprise. She thought they were commoners because they didn't mention their last name, but she was very familiar with taking measurements.
The measuring ended sooner than expected, and Marin came forward next.
Marin also took measurements with natural movements.
“I’m very thin, right?”
Marin, who felt awkward with the silent measuring, spoke first.
“Pardon? Not at all. Noble ladies would be very envious of your figure.”
Idre widened her eyes with a look that said, "What are you talking about?" and complimented her.
Indeed, there were many noble ladies who deliberately ate only one meal a day to lose weight.
She, on the other hand, was forced to diet due to her unavoidable poor environment.
Marin looked at Idre, who was diligently taking measurements, with fresh eyes.
She could see why the female lead followed Idre.
She seemed to be around her age, but she felt like a much more mature older sister.
“Okay, all done. Would you like to look at the catalog now?”
“Yes.”
Marin, who was sitting back on the sofa, looked through the dress catalog that Idre had personally designed, one page at a time. It was a clothing store catalog she hadn't seen in a long time, so she was instantly drawn in.
“Since Loanna wants a winter dress, it would be good to make it with thick wool in a design with a high neckline like this. I would like to recommend burgundy for the color.”
“Okay.”
Loanna smiled softly as if she liked it.
“Pastel colors suit Marin overall. I would like to recommend this design in light sky blue.”
The dress that Idre confidently recommended had pearls densely embedded in the neckline, as if she were wearing a necklace, and the skirt line spread out wide like a bell.
“It’s pretty. But I want a more active dress.”
“Oh my! You can have this one too, and choose an active dress as well.”
Idre went into sales mode, her blue eyes sparkling.
“I think one active dress will be enough for me. Instead, could you show me one more dress for my mother?”
“Oh my, oh my. Oh dear, the aide was right.”
Idre’s lips, which had closed the catalog, twitched as if she was trying to hold back a laugh.
“What do you mean?”
“He said that if you two don’t choose many dresses, you will buy all the dresses I brought and the dresses in this catalog. In addition to that, shoes and accessories too.”
“Huh?”
Marin asked back with a bewildered face, and Loanna, who was listening next to her, gasped urgently.
“I’d be happy to sell more though. Puhuhuhuhu.”
Idre, who couldn't hold back her laughter any longer, burst into a hearty laugh.
“I, I’ll look at the catalog again.”
Marin hurriedly reopened the catalog.
“Oh my, are you going to do that?”
Idre smacked her lips with a regretful expression and continued with a long explanation of the catalog.
\ \ \
She received many unexpected dresses as gifts. A heavy burden weighed on her shoulders.
Marin slumped powerlessly in the library, flipping through books.
The Duke bestowed upon her more than she deserved.
A warm home, nutritious meals, a large sum of money, and even dresses.
Before she knew it, she had received all the basic necessities of life.
Unfortunately, it also meant that she had been living a life where she couldn't even afford those basics.
She was grateful to the Duke for allowing her to live a life where the basics were possible.
And she was overwhelmed by the fact that she was only receiving his kindness.
It felt like stabbing a sick person in the back.
Her conscience was pricked to the point of being sore.
All she could do for the Duke was read him fairy tales so he could sleep. The sharp letter opener on the desk kept floating around in her head.
“You don’t look well.”
A clear child's voice was heard from around her waist.
When she lowered her head, Zero, with his adorable appearance as always, was staring up at her with worried eyes.
“Zero.”
“Why are you so listless? Shouldn’t you be happy?”
“What should I be happy about?”
Marin asked back with a face that had awakened from her thoughts.
“I heard you bought dresses all day today.”
“Did that become a rumor?”
Marin looked around nervously with a tense face.
“No. I heard it from Olive. Women seem to like buying dresses, but why are you so listless?”
Zero asked with sparkling eyes, as if he was amazed.
“I like dresses too.”
Marin forced the corners of her lips up weakly.
“Then why that expression?”
Zero narrowed his eyes and carefully examined her.
Marin hesitated whether to speak or not, then confessed honestly.
“I received too much…”
“Why are you worrying about that? The Duke has so much money. He probably has more than the Emperor.”
“That much?”
Marin widened her eyes in surprise.
“The Duke’s family exclusively manages the desert trade.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Marin nodded with a look of realization.
Hearing that he was richer than the Emperor, she felt like her guilt was somewhat diluted.
No, no.
Marin quickly shook her head.
It was shameless to accept so readily just because the Duke had a lot of money.
She had to return what she had received from him somehow.
Marin looked at Zero, who was staring up at her, and recalled the Mandelesong that she had been consciously trying not to think about.
“Um, Zero.”
“Yes.”
“About the poison in that Mandelesong. How bad is the stomachache?”
“It would depend on the person’s constitution.”
“That’s true…”
“Why are you so interested in Mandelesong?”
Zero tilted his head and asked.
“That’s… I heard it’s good for the body in the folk.”
Marin made up an excuse with an awkward expression.
Then Zero nodded and agreed.
“It’s hard for commoners to see a doctor, so there are people who see effects with flowers or grass.”
“Do you know about any medicine that can cure a stomachache after eating Mandelesong?”
“You. I’m not a doctor.”
Zero looked up at her with a sulky expression.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I thought you would know everything, Zero.”
At her words, Zero nodded with a proud expression.
“That’s true. There is medicine to stop a stomachache, but it’s not specifically for Mandelesong. Do you still need it?”
“Yes!”
Marin nodded so enthusiastically that her side hair fluttered.
“Okay. I’ll bring it to you.”
“Thank you.”
Watching Zero’s small back as he walked away, Marin clenched her eyes and made a decision.
Okay, I’ll try eating it once.
She couldn’t bear to hear that she had poisoned the Duke, so she decided to eat it herself and judge how dangerous it was.
\ \ \
Returning to her room, Marin placed the borrowed fairy tale book and the medicine she received from Zero on the table.
The navy blue dress she had been debating whether to wear in the morning was still on the bed.
“This is perfect for work.”
Marin changed into the navy blue dress and packed a picnic basket.
As she stepped out of the door, she ran into Yuria, who had just entered the hallway.
“Marin, where are you going?”
Yuria scanned her dress once and asked with a surprised face.
“I’m going to work.”
“Work? You’re going to see the Duke in that dress?”
Yuria stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
“No, no. Other work.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
Marin nodded with a sullen expression at Yuria’s relieved appearance. She realized once again how shabby the dress she was wearing was.
“I’ll be back.”
Leaving Yuria behind, Marin left the detached palace.
