40 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
“Olive.”
Olive, who had been standing quietly to one side, stepped forward.
“Young Lady. The Duke Vines family holds the largest territory and wealth in the empire. The late Countess also inherited a great deal of fortune, and that wealth will now be passed on to the four of you.”
Dia looked at Olive with a surprised expression.
She had never heard such a thing from her mother.
Come to think of it, her mother never splurged, but she always seemed to have plenty.
Dia looked at the Duke with an even more puzzled expression.
“If you don’t want our family’s wealth, then why do you want to be our guardian?”
Gerald silently turned his head back towards the window.
Olive watched him with a sigh and spoke instead.
He really can’t be honest.
“The person behind all of this hasn’t been revealed yet. He’s trying to be your guardian because he’s worried about what kind of danger might befall his nieces and nephew again.”
“Ah……”
Dia lost her words with a pale face. She hadn’t even considered it. It wasn’t over just because Killon was dealt with.
Her dry fingers trembled slightly, and she clasped her hands tightly together.
“Then, until when?”
“Until all the danger is gone.”
The Duke, who had been silent for a while, spoke firmly. His cold tone felt more reliable than Killon, who was full of sweet talk.
“I understand what you mean. Then, if you could stay until we find Peridot……”
Just then, a crow with a full belly flew up and perched somewhere with a flutter.
“Is there a spire here?”
The Duke suddenly cut her off urgently.
Although his eyes were closed, she felt an intense gaze, and Dia quickly replied.
“There’s no spire.”
“Olive. Come here.”
Olive approached the window and craned her neck to look outside.
“I don’t see a spire.”
“A high place like a spire where a bird can perch. Anything is fine.”
“If there is such a place, there is an old temple bell tower hidden in the small forest behind the mansion……”
“Go there immediately.”
“Yes. Young Lady, please guide me.”
Olive quickly opened the door and looked at Dia.
“Yes.”
She didn’t know why he suddenly wanted to go to the crumbling bell tower in the middle of an important conversation, but she quickly took the lead at the Duke’s firmness.
Gerald followed them, lamenting inwardly.
Why hadn’t he thought of it sooner?
[Hey, kid, how have you been? Are you sulking again because I called you a kid? You’ll always be a kid to me, though!
It’s always warm here, unlike the West. It’s a peaceful place where not even a single Monster appears. If only a Monster would pop out on the street so I could show off my swordsmanship.
I came here trusting my husband, and it’s already been a year. A few days ago, I found a space similar to where you live while taking a walk alone. It made me think of you even more.
So, guess what I did?
I went alone without any servants and cleaned and decorated it all myself.
And I started filling that space with the toys you used to like. They might be things you don’t need now, though.
That’s how I created a space where I can miss you. I miss you, kid.]
[My youngest was born a few days ago. It’s a boy. He has black hair like you. No, to be exact, he looks like me.
Our Dia, Garnet, Rubiana, Peridot.
Every time one of my children is born, I swear in my heart. That I’ll protect them for the rest of my life.
You protect the West, and I’ll protect our children. Because I’m a Vines, too.]
[Our kids keep asking why you never come.
You said it. Vines is busy protecting the West.
It’s the truth, but not the whole truth, right? I know. You’re not coming to protect me.
A sister who’s close to the Duke of the West, who has many enemies. Goodness! A perfect pawn to use or threaten.
Vines protects. This sister far away is also working hard to protect you. I miss you, kid.]
[Goodness! A new guest has come to the space where I used to play alone after coming here. Our youngest secretly followed me.
You have no idea how much our youngest loves this place. He says it’s so wonderful! He scolded me for playing alone in such a place.
Mom also knows how to scold, and our youngest is all grown up, too?
I hope our youngest grows up like you. I’m worried because he’s too delicate. He’s only brave with his mom.
By the way, the Young Ladies talk about you so much. You can hear all the news about you if you go to society.
When are you getting married? Ah, I must be getting old now. I’m nagging you like this.
Kid, when you get married. You have to show this sister.
At that time, I’ll throw away all my worries about propriety and meet you no matter what. Got it?
Our youngest keeps peeking at the letters I write to you. Even though he doesn’t even know how to read yet.
Why do kids like secrets so much?
He’s so excited because he has a secret room that only he and Mom know about.
Maybe I should hand this place over to our youngest now.]
\ \ \
Gleaming sunlight gently streamed through the gaps in the closet’s wood.
Dirty, grimy fingers touched the sparkling sunlight dust as if caressing it. It was warm.
Black, curly hair lifted slightly and then sank weakly.
Peridot, who was hiding in the closet, curled up into a ball and breathed raggedly.
Soon, it would be dark again, so dark that he wouldn’t be able to see anything.
He remembered the snack he had eaten as soon as he hid here because he was hungry. He should have saved some. He should have hidden more snacks.
He hadn’t eaten anything for a long time. His stomach no longer growled.
When he was hungry or thirsty, he drank the rainwater he had collected on rainy days. But the rainwater was now running out.
He missed his sisters. He missed his dad, too.
Tears welled up in his black eyes as he thought of his family. Even though he was thirsty, his tears didn’t dry up.
Peridot covered his mouth with his small hands to avoid making a sound and sobbed quietly.
Mom…….
He missed his mom the most.
\ \ \
They hid in a dark cave to escape the scary men who were chasing them. This cave, hidden by bushes, was a place they had discovered while playing forest exploration games with Mom.
Hugging Mom tightly in the cave with no light, his trembling body calmed down.
Was Dad okay?
Mom’s shoulder had been stained red a long time ago, but Mom seemed fine.
Mom gently pulled him away from her arms and pressed her face close to his. Mom’s beautiful eyes, like black beads shining even in the darkness, looked straight at him.
“I smell rain coming soon. As soon as it rains, let’s go to the secret room and collect rainwater in all the cups and dishes. Got it?”
“Yeah……”
When he answered listlessly, Mom repeated the story she had told him many times.
“What did Mom say earlier?”
“After Mom leaves this cave, I have to count to five hundred. And I have to go to the secret room alone.”
“Our baby is so smart. You can go alone, right? You’ve found it from this cave before.”
“Yeah, I can go, but……. Mom, let’s go together. Let’s just go together.”
“Mom will follow soon. But not now. I have to protect our baby from the bad men. Mom has to go somewhere else until you arrive safely at the secret room.”
