34 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Gerald woke up from a dream where he had returned to his childhood for the first time in a long while.
“Hee-hee-ing.”
The horses tied to the Four-wheeled carriage neighed at length before collapsing one by one, foaming at the mouth.
They had traveled a distance that would normally take ten days in just six days, running through the night.
The Mandelesong that Imsi had made was definitely effective.
When he wore the Mandelesong, the piercing pain in his eyes disappeared, and he could even sleep sometimes.
“We have arrived.”
Olive’s tired voice was heard from outside the carriage.
Focusing a little more on the sounds outside, Gerald could hear whispers coming from the Count Adria’s estate.
“The Duke will arrive soon. Damn it. Why is that blind bastard coming all the way here?”
“Honey, someone might hear you.”
“Who’s going to hear me? Damn it. He did that to my brother and sister-in-law…”
“Shhh. I told you to lower your voice.”
“Who’s going to hear what we say in the room?”
Gerald threw the strap that was covering his eyes onto the floor of the carriage, then leaned on his cane and went outside.
His appearance, relying on a cane with his eyes closed, was that of a perfect blind man.
“This way.”
Gerald followed Olive’s voice and footsteps.
The soldiers guarding the estate quickly bowed their heads with tense faces and opened the main gate.
Soon, Gerald and Olive entered the mansion.
Moro, the butler of Count Adria’s estate, rushed out and bowed deeply.
“Y-Your Grace, the Duke. Welcome.”
Gerald stood still with an indifferent expression.
Olive, who also ignored the butler’s greeting, looked around and took a step forward, asking in a stern voice.
“I clearly sent a letter saying we would arrive a day in advance, but where are the Count’s daughters and son?”
Butler Moro stammered, wiping sweat with a handkerchief.
“W-Well, that is…”
Olive pressed him with a sharp gaze.
“Why can’t you answer quickly?”
“Well, we didn’t receive the letter…”
“Welcome, Your Grace, the Duke. You have made a difficult journey despite your eye condition. You really didn’t have to.”
Olive shifted her gaze to where the voice was coming from.
A handsome man with blond hair and clear blue eyes was slowly descending the stairs.
It was Killon, the Baron.
A woman wearing a black dress with extravagant jewels, unsuitable for mourning, quietly followed behind him.
“If you had contacted us in advance, we would have prepared a welcoming ceremony. I’m sorry.”
“I clearly sent a letter a day in advance, but it seems no one received it.”
Olive retorted with a polite smile.
“Butler, did you receive a letter? Then why didn’t you report it to me?”
Killon pressed Moro, who was standing behind him, shrinking his shoulders.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t receive it either.”
Butler Moro made excuses hastily, sweating like a flood.
“Oh, dear. It seems no one received it.”
“Honey. You should introduce me too.”
The woman standing next to Killon gently grabbed his sleeve.
“Ah, this is my fiancée.”
“Hello. It’s an honor to meet Your Grace, the Duke. I’m Zelmia Rose.”
Zelmia gave the Duke a sensual smile.
Olive, who looked at her with a dumbfounded expression, ignored her and asked Killon again.
“Where are the Count’s daughters and son?”
At Olive’s question, Killon’s expression hardened slightly before quickly smiling brightly.
“The children are lost in grief and don’t seem to want to come out.”
“But His Grace, the Duke, has come, so they should at least greet him.”
“That’s right. I’ll scold them severely. These days, children don’t listen if you just scold them with words. Hahaha.”
It was then.
Thump. As the cane struck the lobby floor, the marble cracked with a loud sound.
“Ugh.”
Butler Moro, who had been watching from behind, lost strength in his legs and collapsed.
Killon and Zelmia also stared at the Duke with pale faces.
The Duke’s red lips, which had been closed, drew a cold sneer.
“Noisy. Like mayflies.”
“W-What is this rudeness? We are in mourning!”
Killon raised his voice as if to shake off his fear, but he couldn’t hide the trembling in his eyes.
“To the room.”
The Duke, ignoring Killon as if he were a barking dog, ordered Olive.
“Yes.”
Butler Moro put strength into his trembling legs and stood up.
“I-I will guide you.”
Soon, the two disappeared, following Butler Moro.
Zelmia glanced at the cracked floor before quickly putting on a sad expression and leaning against Killon’s chest.
“Oh, my. His Grace, the Duke, is really too much. Just because Honey is only a Baron, he’s ignoring him like this.”
Killon, who glared at the empty hallway where the two had disappeared as if it were his enemy, gritted his teeth.
He swept back his blond hair roughly and vented his anger.
“Let’s see if he acts like that when I become the Count.”
“Once Honey becomes the Count, how could His Grace, the Duke, ignore Honey?”
Killon’s anger subsided at Zelmia’s sweet consolation, and he hugged her tightly.
“Zelmia, I’ll make you the Countess soon. Just wait one day, just one day.”
“Yes. I’m waiting. Honey, you’re busy, aren’t you? Go quickly.”
Zelmia, gently pushing his chest and naturally breaking free from his embrace, whispered in a seductive voice.
“That’s right. I’m busy. Damn it, the Duke came before I could find that little brat. See you later.”
“Yes, Honey.”
Watching Killon stomp up the stairs, Zelmia scoffed inwardly.
He’s just a puppet, yet he’s so greedy. That’s why he’s easy to use.
After Killon disappeared and Zelmia was left alone in the lobby, she walked lightly to the spot where the Duke had struck the floor.
“I didn’t expect the Duke to actually come. It seems he cared for his sister more than I thought. Hohohong.”
Zelmia hummed. Her crimson eyes, filled with interest, were fixed on the cracked floor.
Meanwhile, Killon, who had gone up to the third floor, took out a key from his pocket.
If he kept hiding his nieces and nephew now that the Duke had come, it would seem strange.
“Damn Vines.”
He was sick and tired of the Vines family bloodline.
His sister-in-law, who had interfered with his plans at every turn, had ruined everything by smuggling out the youngest, Peridot, even in her dying moments.
If his brother and youngest nephew had died together, the title of Count, which was originally his, would have naturally returned to him.
If only his brother, who had been weak since childhood, had died young.
If only his sister-in-law, who had only given birth to daughters, hadn’t given birth to a son.
If only his brother hadn’t thrown the Baron title, which even the knights ignored, at him.
He wouldn’t have eliminated his brother and sister-in-law with his own hands.
Killon glared at the air with angry eyes.
It was all their fault.
Killon inserted the key into the firmly locked lock and turned it.
Opening the door wide and entering, the three sisters jumped up from their seats.
He looked at each of his nieces, gathered in the room, with a displeased expression.
Shiny black hair. Deep green eyes like lush green leaves. The eldest, Dia, with her pink lips, looked up at him with indifferent eyes.
Next to her was Garnet, the second daughter, with her deep blond hair like melted gold. Her green eyes, with their cat-like upturned corners, were glaring at him with venomous eyes.
On the other hand, Rubiana, the third daughter, with her sweet-looking light blond hair and light green eyes, was hiding behind Garnet with anxious eyes.
Having inherited only the beautiful parts of their beautiful parents, the sisters were all dazzlingly beautiful.
Garnet and Rubiana, who were 15 and 9 years old respectively, were still young, but he wanted to send them off to wealthy nobles as soon as possible.
