46 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Engaged to the Blind Duke Episode 46
“It seems you’ve fallen for me after watching me so quietly.”
“Oh my, goodness!”
Loanna’s voice, which had been consistently filled with worry, lifted slightly.
Fortunately, she seemed to think Marin was genuinely embarrassed.
“It seems you thought of me often while traveling to and from the south this time. They say you missed me.”
Now, Marin began to feel gradually guilty.
Still covering her face, she clicked her tongue at her own lie.
She was no great beauty—how could the Duke fall for her? Moreover, the Duke couldn’t see, so he didn’t even know what she looked like.
“Oh my, how romantic.”
“Y-yes, indeed.”
Marin thought it was fortunate she could hide her awkward expression. The words “Duke” and “romantic” didn’t match at all.
“Marin.”
At Loanna’s affectionate call, Marin hesitated and lowered her hands.
Then Loanna, tightly grasping both of Marin’s hands, stared intently at her with warm eyes.
“Do you like His Grace the Duke?”
“I think… he’s a good person.”
Unable to lie while looking directly into Loanna’s eyes, she changed her words mid-sentence.
And that statement was true.
He was, after all, the male protagonist of this world. Of course, he was a good person.
Especially today, she realized it even more.
He was a good person—so much so that he orchestrated a fake engagement to protect his nephew and willingly took on the role of the villain for his nephews’ sake.
Loanna shook her head slightly with a regretful expression.
“His Grace the Duke is naturally a good person. Besides that. What about your feelings?”
Instead of answering Loanna’s question, Marin looked around the room.
The warm room, luxurious furniture, clean bedding. And her mother, now healthier.
“Mom, I like it here. How about you?”
“I can leave and live elsewhere anytime.”
Loanna wanted her daughter to make her choice without considering her as a burden.
“Did you marry Dad because you loved him a lot?”
“Of course. I fell for his kind nature. He was gentle and kind, so people often took advantage of him, but I still really loved your father.”
Loanna smiled affectionately, as if reminiscing about the past.
As soon as their father passed away, debt collection notices flooded in. They were due to failed investments, but most were likely investments made after being deceived by someone. Their father was too good a person, but he was careless.
“You were really lucky, Mom. How many noble couples marry for love?”
Marin spoke calmly with a slight smile.
“Marin….”
Loanna trailed off with a distressed expression.
“Mom, this is a huge opportunity for me.”
Marin was well aware of her circumstances.
She hadn’t had her Debutante, so she didn’t even have a chance to look for a marriage partner, and her family was ruined, leaving her without a penny.
So, she had given up on marriage early on.
Her life’s goal was to live happily with Loanna, just the two of them, for the rest of their lives.
Although it was a fake engagement that would end in a few months, it would surely be a new experience. That alone was enough. As a bonus, she could earn hundreds of gold.
Loanna, unable to deny reality either, looked at her daughter with sad eyes.
“So, you’ll allow it, right?”
Marin clung to Loanna’s shoulder as if acting cute.
“Do as you wish.”
Loanna gently stroked her cheek.
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
Leaning against her mother’s shoulder, Marin closed her eyes and whispered as if making a vow to herself.
Standing in front of the Duke’s office, Sebas the butler and Head Housemaid Page exchanged looks full of questions.
Since the Duke usually gave instructions through Olive, it was extremely rare for him to summon both of them simultaneously so early in the morning.
“Come in.”
As the butler opened the office door holding a candle, the head housemaid carefully followed behind.
Approaching the Duke’s desk, they saw Marin standing beside him, her face tense with nervousness.
“Your Grace. Did you rest well?”
Sebas the butler and Head Housemaid Page greeted the Duke simultaneously, lowering their voices as much as possible.
“From now on, speak in your normal voices. My condition has been good lately.”
Sebas the butler, who worried about the Duke’s health more than anyone, replied with a voice trembling slightly with joy.
“That’s truly a relief, Your Grace.”
A look of relief also passed over the head housemaid’s face.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Marin, standing beside the Duke, widened her eyes upon hearing this for the first time and looked at him.
He never said such things to her. Come to think of it, he hadn’t covered his eyes since returning from the south.
If his condition had improved, did that mean he no longer needed her reports?
Was she facing unemployment?
Marin’s light green eyes wavered.
“I will be engaged to Marin.”
“Heh heh heh, is that so. With Miss Marin…… Ennnngaged?”
Sebas the butler, who had let out a hearty laugh, shook his head before understanding the meaning and gasped in shock.
“…….”
Head Housemaid Page, standing beside him, froze like a stone statue.
Marin, who had been lost in thought about her potential unemployment, was so surprised her mouth fell open. She hadn’t known the Duke could say her name so naturally.
It was the second most shocking thing after the term “fiancée.”
“Head Housemaid! You heard what I just heard too, right? His Grace’s en-engagement! Please pinch me here! I need to know if I heard correctly.”
Unable to contain his excitement, Sebas the butler thrust his burly forearm toward the head housemaid.
Snapping out of her shock at his words, the head housemaid looked at the butler with a bewildered expression.
“Marin has something to say.”
Both their gazes turned simultaneously toward Marin.
Quickly hiding her surprised expression, Marin bowed her head slightly to them in greeting.
“I am Marin of House Schuwenz. Due to circumstances, I have deceived all of you until now. I’m sorry.”
“Ah, no. Miss Marin—no, My Lady. Please don’t apologize.”
Sebas the butler, who already knew she was a noble, hurriedly stopped Marin.
Meanwhile, Head Housemaid Page, who hadn’t known, quickly composed her surprised expression and bowed respectfully.
“Congratulations to both of you on your engagement.”
“Your Grace! The engagement… Sniff*, congratulations.”
Sebas the butler quickly looked up at the ceiling, swallowing his tears. Having served the Duke for so long, he seemed deeply moved.
“Mr. Sebas….”
Seeing the butler’s genuinely happy expression made Marin feel more than just guilty—it hurt.
Soon, Sebas the butler beamed a bright smile, his eyes crinkling deeply.
“Congratulations, Lady Marin! And from now on, please feel free to speak casually with us!”
“Alright. I will.”
Marin did her best to offer them an unawkward smile.
“Marin and I have agreed to forgo an engagement ceremony. Instead, we plan to hold a celebration party in one month to announce it to the nobility, so prepare for it.”
Marin nodded quietly.
Some nobles announced engagements through letters between families, so no one would find it strange if they skipped the ceremony.
On the other hand, Sebas the butler and Head Housemaid Page looked at each other, their faces pale.
Given the Duke’s personality, they understood the lack of an engagement ceremony.
However, no noble family prepared a party within a month. Moreover, this wasn’t just any party—it was a party to celebrate an engagement.
Such an important party typically required at least a year of preparation.
But it was the Duke’s order. Even if he had told them to prepare the party by next week, they would have had to do it.
“Yes, understood. Then, to what extent shall we send invitations?”
Sebas the butler cautiously spoke up.
Normally, Olive would handle these preparations, but since he was currently absent, Sebas the butler had to manage everything.
“All the western nobles.”
